The Blue Eyes of Sparrow

Chapter 8: Opps...

(Five moons later)

Fleck padded though the forest, tasting the air for prey. A warm breeze ruffled her sleek white, gray, and black fur, and her sky-blue eyes scanned the undergrowth, and her ears her pricked, alert for the prey's movement under the golden leaves.

Many moons have passed since Finch had found her, and her hunting skills had sharpened over the weeks of practice. Now she prowled the thick growth, searching for a meal for her and Finch.

Only one shadow darkened her mind: She was worried Rose wouldn't be satisfied about driving her out, and something more than her blood.

Fleck shook her head, pushing her way through the ferns. That can't happen, she told herself fiercely, I know Finch would fight to the death for me.

But still the heavy feeling still lodged like a cold stone in her heart.

Stop being a puppy! Fleck scolded herself. You have a mission: to hunt for you and Finch, now stop worrying like a leaf without its stem!

Fleck took on a burst of speed, pelting though groves and clearings until she stopped under a large boulder.

Fleck flopped in the shade of the boulder, panting. That look a lot out of me, she realized, I need more exercise!

She panted until she had gotten her breath back, and she raised her to her paws, her stub tail twitching from side to side slowly.

A quiver in a clump of nearby ferns revealed hiding prey, a rabbit by the sound out it. Fleck started to creep up on it when a shadow fell over her, scaring off the rabbit.

She spun around, ears back and teeth bared, eyes squinting; only to stumble back in shock. She tipped back her head and looked at the figure perched on the boulder, eyes glittering with fury.

"Kiloa!" gasped Fleck. "What are you doing here?"

Kiloa narrowed her blue gaze. "What does it look like?" she snarled, licking her chops.

"I-" Fleck began, breaking off. "Why did you scare of my prey?" she said at last.

Kiloa huffed in a form of amusement. "The question is: Why did you scare off my prey?"

Fleck blinked. "If I scared off your prey, I could get something for you." She offered.

Kiloa glared at her, her blue eyes gleamed with cold fire. "No!" she spat angrily.

Fleck stared wordlessly at reddish wolf as she threw her words at her. "You caught my prey that I was stalking-"

Fleck found her voice, interrupting her briskly. "It would help if you made more sense." She pointed out.

Kiloa ignored her interruption. "You caught my prey that I was stalking, now there's a pain in my belly greater than hunger."

Fleck stared at her. "It would also help if you didn't talk in riddles."

Kiloa snickered. "What fun would be in a clear message, my dear Fleck? Life is never clear, that's something you won't learn until it's too late." She growled the last words though gritted teeth, ears lowering.

Fleck took a step back. "Ok-..." she grunted, meeting Kiloa's over-bright eyes.

As Kiloa let out a chilling, eerie howl, Fleck turned and fled toward the forest, and the safety of the thick trees.

***

Fleck trudged through the forest trails, fighting her emotions. She didn't mean it; I know she didn't.