Dawnmist: Cliff of Shadows

Chapter 17

Something sharp hit Luna's side. She jumped to her paws with a start, searching for the attacker. Red-green eyes stared down at her.

"Get up," Cobalt nudged her coldly. Although her paws ached for the outside, she followed Cobalt's strict guidance. The other wolves ignored her as they reached Shadow's rock. For a pack who doesn't like ranks, Shadow gets a lot of attention. Her head slowly fell as Shadow turned her head.

It felt odd to bow in front of a rogue. Luna kept her head down while Shadow spoke. "Luna, have you heard from the spirits?"

"That's what you brought me out for?" Her words couldn't help but scream. "I can't control if they appear or not! And no, they didn't."

"Cobalt?" Shadow called. The dark blue rogue raised a paw, but Luna darted to the side. An urge washed over her- not 'run away, there's danger', but 'follow and don't look back'. It drove her paws past the shocked wolves, steering around the jagged rocks and up the hills. Something about this feeling, like a claw in her gut. Luna traveled through the trees as Shadow barked.

A rush of wind blew against her fur, bringing smells of flowers. She changed course to the smell, ending up in a large field bursting with color. Not even the most rotten of prey stood out in the barrage of scent. The rogues beat the dirt so loud that birds could hear them. Luna kept looking back as she ran, unable to tell if they were near or far.

The sights triggered a memory. It was brief, and rather faint, but it involved a cliff. She looked ahead, checking for anything familiar, but everything shared a similar look. I better get out of this field, she thought, darting in random directions. If the wolves can't find my scent, I'll be free!

Her instinct led her to the end of the flowers. Up ahead were nothing but forest. However, the side was covered in stone and cut off. Luna changed course to the cliff as she felt the urge grow stronger. Even after her paws begged to stop, her mind continued to run. Almost there, come on...

Stone clacked under her claws. Scents of wolf crowded the air: faint but noticeable. Luna sped up, her tail flapping wildly as an outline came into view. It glowed white with hints of pale blue. In it, a wolf became clear, her light blue fur recognizable to any wolf.

"Silvershard?" Luna asked. The name left a strange taste as it left her tongue, as though no wolf was meant to say it.

"Luna, I need to tell you something before the rogues arrive," Silvershard's silky voice was laced with worry. She'd never seen a spirit so panicked.

"What?"

"There's another reason why you were separated and alone."

The spirit's icy blue eyes struggled to meet Luna. "I can tell you most of why, but the spirits can't guide the wolves. What is the point of learning if the spirits are telling the answers? Luna, just remember: The threat is with the rogues, but not the rogues you expect."

"Wait!" Luna howled, but Silvershard vanished in a haste. Another set of clacks came behind her. Two wolves stared her down.

"Hello again!" Cobalt taunted. "Ready to be captured again? We saw you talking to the air, and I'm certain it's not self-motivation."

Luna swung around, her tail hovering over the very edge of the cliff. She had to do something, or else she'll be captured once more. I can't fight, I can't run...

But I can pretend.

"I'll give you a fight! I'll protect this cliff with my very life!" she snarled, lowering her head. In her mind, she kept thinking. Pretend you're Sage, the painful words echoed, pretend you have nothing but hatred on your mind. Use it, turn it into something! Or you'll lose everything.

Those final words kicked her off her paws, lunging towards her kidnapper, but Cobalt dodged in a swift move of his paws. "Wow, someone's a little motivated," he commented.

She burst ahead at a violent rate, claws ready to slice. Her first strike almost hit, but something threw her off-balance. Cobalt's friend stood over Luna, teeth flashing.

"See? Easy," Cinder gave Cobalt a nod.

Think of the DawnPack. You don't want to lose them, even if they weren't the kindest to you. Luna twisted herself, knocking Cinder off just enough that she could run back to the cliff. Both wolves charged, covering all means of escape, leaving one option left. Sorry, Blaze, if I never see you again. I thank you for giving me a chance.

With that, she turned-tail, and kicked her paws. Luna wasn't sure if the wolves followed her, or if they watched in confusion and delight. The blue of the sea came up to her, as did the darkness of the shaded spot.

But Luna remained conscious, so she padded down and away, her fur bristling and eyes blind. The water crashed down all around her, yet she figured out where the sea and land met by feeling the side with her paw. With time, she swam across the cliff's range, crawling onto land. I'm alive? Her drenched black fur felt darker and heavier, but she trudged on, motivating herself. My pack needs me. I can't leave them.

~~

Silver lights fell on the forest Blaze walked through, giving a lively look to the broken trees. Branches and rocks piled up where the river ran through, but she went around it all. The faint scent of Luna lingered in the air, and that was all Blaze needed. Her paws pounded the earth as she tried to reach her goal. No wolves were anywhere nearby, so she had to keep moving.

Finally, she reached a clearing- one covered in rocks with a grassy floor. Just like the forest, there weren't any wolves, but there was a scent of Luna. A strong scent. She must've been here not too long ago, but other wolves were with her. Blaze cautiously followed Luna's scent, only to duck into the trees when she heard other wolves. The wolves didn't seem to notice her. Both were he-wolves, one with dark blue fur and the other with yellowish fur. Blaze decided to listen to their conversation.

"...do you think Amethyst will be happy?" the blue one asked.

"Of course not," the yellowish one replied, "she'll be furious."

"Right..."

Don't let them see you, a voice inside her head whispered.

The two wolves stopped, turning their heads as they picked up a smell. The blue wolf perked his ears up, and his eyes narrowed as he sniffed the air.

"What is it?" the yellow one asked, his tone becoming suspicious.

"There is a rogue in these woods," the blue wolf sniffed. "If it were a packmate, I wouldn't care."

"You think it's a rogue?" the yellow wolf asked.

"Yeah, I think so."

Blaze kept as still as she could, thankful for the smelly mud underneath her. The wolves followed her trail down the forest, away from her. Once she was certain they were gone, she began to move away, continuing to trace Luna's scent. It was getting stronger, but the trail stopped sharply at the top of a cliff. Her tail fell, a sadness clouding her mind. Luna... jumped off the cliff? She sniffed again, and again, but her suspicions were true. But surely, Luna would return to the shore, right? Uncertain but sure of her choice, she followed the cliff's edge, hoping to catch sight of the black-furred apprentice.

Her voice wanted to call out Luna's name, but the fear of the other wolves bit her tongue. She wandered aimlessly, getting lost in her uncertainty. Everyone might wonder where I am, she thought, settling by a tree. Where am I? DawnPack? MistPack? Unclaimed territory? Her nose twitched. It all smells the same. Blaze looked up, whispering just enough that the words could be heard.

"Twinkle, Silvershard, and all the spirits of the island," she whimpered, "help me and Luna return safely. Please."