War - Battles of the Wild - The Darkened Moon

CHAPTER FIVE: GRIFFARA

The sun was just climbing over the mountains, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange when I stretched and stepped out of my den.

I was still worried about what Alena had said about the creature in the forest, but everyone was upset, both by the losses of the recent battle, as well as the disease. I decided it was time to do something fun, to take our minds off of more serious things.

"Well, you're up early," said a voice behind me. Turning around, I realized it was Atlas, a grey Great Dane-Doberman with fierce orange-red eyes, and who is also my Third in the Order. He, Maya, Blackwisp and King had been standing guard over the camp during the night. He stood just beside the kits and pups den entrance, which was directly beside mine, but their actual den extended much farther back.

"Yup!" I replied with a grin, "I have some activities planned for today. I was just going over to Coal to see if he could make some lanterns for them."

"I'm looking forward to it," the big dog replied, amusement in his eyes.

I turned around and walked over to the Blacksmith's den. Peering inside the fire-lit cave, I called for Coal.

"I'm here," he said emerging from his forge, "What would you like today?"

I've always liked Coal. His friendly personality, his skill, his willingness to help as well as his quick learning make him a fine clanmate.

"Could you make some lanterns?" I ask, "Those ones out of big orange leaves! I want to have a celebration."

"For what?"

"Why does it matter, silly?" I say jokingly, "It's a celebration! It doesn't have to be for anything!"

"Okay, if you say so," the Border Collie replied, shrugging his pure white wings.

As I turned away from Coal, going to wake the clan for the day, a small shape hurted over the trees and into camp. It took me a moment to realize that it was Florence, because she was coming fast from the west, her wingbeats rapid and excited.

She flew around my head, talking so fast I couldn't understand a thing she was saying.

"What is it?" I asked her, eager for an explanation about her behaviour.

"It's the cure!" she said, "I was just scouting out enemy territory by the river when it came to me!"

"Well if you have the cure, don't just stand there blabbering!"

I took flight and followed her to the Medicine den, where she immediately fluttered to one of the highest cubbies. Picking up a small black root in one clawed foot, she spiralled back down.

We both landed on the den floor, and I asked her what she was going to do with that plant.

"This is Darkroot," the small teal-blue bird replied, "It's very dangerous, and makes your insides rot until you die if you eat it. There's no way to help you if that happens. However, I think it might have some healing properties in it..."

"So you're just going to give our sick patients something that will probably kill them?!" I yelled, growing horrified. Several of my clanmates snapped awake at my outburst, but I didn't care. "Are you crazy? How do you know this will even do anything to help? I think the stress is getting to your head..."

"No!" snapped Florence, "I think you're forgetting who the Medic is! If you roast the Darkroot, this pus-like substance will ooze out of it, and that is the cure! So stop questioning me and just trust me, because our clanmates are moving closer and closer to death, while you're arguing like a child that doesn't want to go to bed! I know what I'm doing!"

I stared at Florence, and she suddenly looked very uncomfortable, like she was hiding something from me. Her feathers puffed up and then settled back down as if she were cold. The blue bird held my gaze for another second before looking away, defeated.

"Fine," I sighed, "Let's not hold this against each other though. A clan needs loyalty."

Florence managed a small smile, before taking wing and darting to Coal's den, the Darkroot still clutched firmly in her claws.

I was very suspicious of her, and how she got the cure. Sure, she was smart, but could she really find the cure to a plague that had terrorized her for so many years? Right out of the blue, just in a matter of days? I had a feeling she wasn't telling me the full story.

Soon, Florence came back with a metal pan in her beak, and a shriveled piece of Darkroot gripped in her foot.

Shooting right past me, she landed next to the closest patient.

"Just take a sip, dear," coaxed Florence, nudging the pan closer to Dahlia, a dappled grey she-cat. "You'll feel better in no time."

Then she flew up to a cubby in the den wall and placed the Darkroot in it, leaving Dahlia slowly lapping the milky white substance.

Coming back to the ground, she told the grey cat to rest while she recovered. She took the pan over to another clan member, a white cat with black stripes named Pandastripe, and let them drink too, before moving on and repeating the process with my Fifth, a Golden Retriever named Softrunner.

I turned away and left the Healer's den. I passed Avyyz, a battle scarred Saint Bernard, and asked him to round up the clan for a meeting.

Walking to the centre of the Clan Core, I relaxed on the grass and waited for my clan to arrive. Florence's solving of the cure still nagged at me, but I decided to push those thoughts away for the time being.

Soon a large crowd of animals were sitting around me, and I forced myself to my feet.

"Hello everyone! I've brought you here today for some activities. A challenge, to be precise," I said, "Whoever brings back the most prey before noon is relieved of guarding jobs for two months! You can work in groups of up to three others, but it will divide your prey in the judging. You'll be judged on the size and quantity of your prey. Small animals like squirrels and birds are worth one point. Medium animals like pheasants, rabbits and raccoons are worth four points. Large animals like deer are worth eight, and it's pretty far fetched, but if someone manages to actually kill a bear or moose, fifty points."

The crowd chattered excitedly.

"Two months off guarding?!"

"You don't stand a chance, King."

"Wanna be partners?"

I smiled at the clan's enthusiasm.

"The training area will also be open all day, so feel free to go and practice battle moves, agility or racing. We'll have a feast with all the prey you catch, so don't eat too much before noon! Also, if anyone is willing to sing, tell stories or otherwise entertain during supper, meet me at my den. Thanks for participating. The hunt is on!"