The Blue Eyes of Sparrow

Chapter 6: More Than a Walk

Fleck was exhausted when a muffled bark woke her. Every part of her was aching because she slept on damp moss, and she was shivering. She growled and turned, trying to hide in warm sleep.

But it never came. Finally, Fleck gave up and looked over to where Finch slept.

Finch was curled around Kiloa, who was sleeping next to him, their pelts touching.

Stiffly, Fleck stood, stretched, and padded over the pool, and drank up the precious water droplets that soothed her dry, sore throat. Muzzle dripping with clear water, she lay down on the sun warmed rock, letting the warmth seep into her chilled body.

Fleck licked her ruffled fur and was about to try to go back to sleep when she found the leftover rabbit bones. She dragged them forward and licked the clear of the marrow, then chewed on them, finally quieted the gnawing hunger in her belly.

The sun rose over the treetops, clearing the last of the rosy dawn from the sky, turning the pool into a shining light that brightened the cave. Fleck turned away from the light until her eyes adjusted, then looked at the glittering water.

A sleepy groan made Fleck look over her shoulder. Finch was stretching his spine, then padded over next to Fleck, drinking heavily, eyes half closed.

Then he flopped next to Fleck on the rock. "So good." He sighed drowsily, then noticed Fleck and spoke sleepily. "Hungry? Why didn't you eat last night?"

His question was light and soft, as if he hadn't ignored Fleck. She fluffed out her fur. "No reason." Fleck said, a little bitterly. Finch met her gaze, the sleep gone from his beautiful green eyes. "I could get some food."

Fleck jerked her head away, sorrow and protest gripping her heart, but she shoved it away ruthlessly. "I'm fine." She growled though gritted teeth.

Finch's searching gaze raked her back. "But are you really?" he mused. "You seemed distant last night."

Fleck jerked her head back and glared with hostility at Finch. "I am fine." She growled slowly; her anger clear in each word. Finch shook his head, lost in thought.

Suddenly he stood, leaped off the rock, and beaconed to her. Fleck followed slowly, still stiff. Finch grabbed some leaves and placed them in front of her. "For your stiffness." He said. "Its smeared with honey." He pointed out the sticky golden syrup with a claw. "For it to taste better."

Fleck ate it slowly, wincing at the bitter taste, even though it had the sweetness of the honey. After a moment, warmth seeped though her body and eased her stiffness. She nodded to Finch as he barked. "Let's go out into the forest."

Fleck lolled her tongue. "I could use a run." She admitted quietly. Finch jumped and ran in circles. Fleck watched him with undying amusement.

"What are you looking at me for?" barked Finch cheerfully. "Come on! Let's go before the forest dies!"

He looked at her slyly and bolted through the tunnel, howling. Fleck yelped in mock surprise and hurt and sped after him. She burst out in the forest, following at Finch's heels. She leaped and bowled into him, knocking him off his paws, and she gently grabbed Finch's scruff in her jaws.

"Got you!" she barked though the mouthful of golden-tawny fur. Finch rolled onto his side, and mock growled. "Oh, are you sure you could take me?"

He managed to stand and leaped lightly at Fleck, she ducked and nipped his hind leg as he passed, careful about it not to break skin. Finch yelped in shock and nimbly turned and sped to her side, lightly cuffing her ear.

She yipped and nibbled at his chest fur, feeling warmth bubbling up in her like a spring on a warm summer day. She bark and crouched, backing away so that she could directly look into his gleaming green gaze.

"Give up?" Finch half-growled, half-barked and he stomped on foot towards Fleck. She let her neck fur touch the ground as she crouched lower to the ground, then sprang and cuffed his muzzle. "Never!"

Finch mock groaned and sank to the forest floor, legs twitching feebly. "You killed me." He stuck out his tongue out of his jaw and let it touch the mossy ground. Fleck climbed on his back and grabbed an ear with gentle jaws. "I killed the beast!"

Finch raised his head a little to lick her ear affectionately. "You sure did." He murmured softly. Fleck let go of his ear and slid to the ground with a bump, and she licked his muzzle. "I did! I did it all by myself!"

A huge gopher sped by, and Fleck leaped for it, but a dark shape knocked her off balance and she landed with a loud grunt as she hit the ground. Did Finch try to get the gopher? She thought as she lay there, winded.

Finch's face appeared above her, his face fixed in a concerned frown. "You OK?" he asked. Fleck opened her jaws to reply, but a shill shriek that was cut off made her look up.

A dark-furred figure was silhouetted against the hill above them, holding the gopher in its jaws, watching them with startled yellow-golden eyes "Is she hurt?" it demanded, and Fleck realized it was a male.

Finch let out a sharp growl. "Of course she is."

"Sorry about that. I was trying to get the gopher." He looked at Fleck closer. "You're not a wolf, are you?" he asked curiously. Fleck managed to scramble to her paws.

"No, I'm a dog pup." She woofed boldly, meeting his gaze. The black wolf tipped his head. "I'm Streaker." He barked.

Finch growled again. "She's fine, honest."

Fleck dipped her head. "I'm Fleck." She did her best not to do any puppyish squeaks or squeals. Finch growled yet again. "Streaker, she is barely over four moons."

Streaker lolled his tongue. "I didn't hit her directly, I hit her side. She is fine now."

Streaker studied Fleck again. "You're a young one." He murmured. "Yet I can see your thick pelt and sturdy muscle under your soft fur. The glow in your eyes tells me your curious, yet not scared." He stared into the distance, lost in his thoughts.

Then he shook his head and looked behind Fleck at Finch. "I can see she will be a great hunter, but she needs to start soon." He paused then continued. "I wish to teach her how to hunt." Ignoring Finch as his jaw dropped, he explained. "Her body is lithe and slender; her dappled fur can camouflage almost anywhere."

Streaker blinked at Fleck, then looked back at Finch. "I wish to give her a lesson at midmorning tomorrow. I will come to your cave for her lesson and take her out to hunt." He stopped and quickly added. "With your permission."

Finch hesitated, then nodded briskly. "I'll see that you do that."

A brown female pushed her way through the ferns. "Are you coming Streaker?" she asked. "Birch and Meadow are waiting by the fallen ash tree."

Streaker blinked at the female. "Coming Adda, just give me a moment." The female nodded and pushed her way back though the ferns.

Streaker nodded to Finch. "I have to hunt see tomorrow. Also." He threw Fleck the gopher. "You can have that, keep up your strength." He padded though the ferns the brown wolf had entered though.

Fleck felt her heart quicken with anticipation. Streaker is going to teach me how to hunt! She thought happily. I'll try my best, I promise, Streaker!