Heart Of A Fighter (Book 4): Magic In The Valley

Chapter 6: The Golden Rose Cult

"Flurry, I want you to take the new apprentices out on a trainee patrol. Lynx, stay back. I want to assess your speed in battle."

The apprentices nodded obediently as Stygian Star listed off their duties for the day. After a full tour around the territory yesterday, Lagoon Snarl had allowed her to go on a joint patrol with the other trainees.

Lynx gazed and Wren and gently touched noses as they were about to depart, murmuring, "Stay safe."

Wren smiled and breathed, "For you, I will." Lynx smiled at her before they headed off to do their separate tasks. Flurry stood near the camp entrance, waiting.

Once Wren, Hyacinth, Thunder and Shard had arrived, they all plunged into the undergrowth and began to make their way to the southern border.

"How come it's only trainees on this patrol?" Shard questioned. "It's to build up trust between tribe members and individual independence," came the curt reply.

The sun, a sliver of pale gold peeking through the dense canopy, painted the forest floor in an array of dappled light. Dew clung to the leaves like tiny diamonds, sparkling in the rising warmth.

The five trainees descended into the wide woodlands that yawned ahead of them, their sharp eyes scanning the undergrowth, taking in the scent of damp earth, pine needles, and the tang of wild berries.

After a while, they reached the Whispering Falls, a cascade of water tumbling over moss-covered rocks. The air hummed with a constant, gentle roar. Flurry led the way, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air.

"Everything seems to be in order," she remarked, a tinge of satisfaction in her voice. "No scent of trespassers or strange prey so far."

They continued their patrol, following the whispering stream that snaked through the heart of the forest. They stopped every few paces, letting the scent of the woods tell them its secrets.

Flurry taught them how to mark the territory with fresh, pungent pine needles and thorns, reminding any intruding cryptid that this was the Tribe of the Blooming Valley's domain.

The forest floor was a tapestry of green and brown, interspersed with splashes of color from wildflowers. It felt like a serene haven to Wren, a break away from the bustling tribe.

However, soon, Wren couldn't help but get the feeling that she and her friends were all being watched.

A sudden rustle and the sound of twigs snapping a few moments later confirmed her thoughts that they were not alone. Whatever it was coming their way, it certainly wasn't trying to be discreet.

"Stop." Wren felt herself freeze completely at Flurry's command. The eldest trainee narrowed her eyes and stalked forward, not making a sound.

"Who goes there?" She snarled menacingly. The rustling resumed for a moment, before a tired voice called out, "I come in peace." Flurry narrowed her eyes.

"Does the Copper Moon roar?" She questioned. "The ridged talons of frost crush our throats," came the flat reply. Her fur flattened and she sighed with relief.

"Crisp. Greetings," she meowed. A reddish-brown splotched she-cat with pale yellow eyes and ridiculously long ear tufts emerged from the bushes, her serpentine wings riddled with leaves and twigs.

Wren took a step back in shock upon seeing this she-cat. She was even bigger than Elmriver!

Muscles rippled underneath her sleek pelt, and she wore a chain of what was probably fox teeth around her neck. Her claws were rust-coloured with dried blood, and there was a healed gash across her throat.