Rust's paws thrummed hard against the ground. His heart was racing and blood pumping. Pawsteps rushed after him, pounding the earth beneath them. Rust knew the sabertooths were after him, causing his chest to twist in anxiety.
Rust rushed past trees, hopped over roots, and smashed onto twigs. He scanned the area, looking for somewhere safe. He spotted thorn bushes to his left out of the corner of his eye. Better than nothing.
Rust took a hard turn and hopped into the bushes, trying not to yelp in pain as thorns dug into his body. He struggled to turn around to see the sabertooths. They came running around a corner and paused, sniffing. There were only two, meaning the lead cat still had Ioclaw and Peril.
I have to get out of here. I have to find my friends!
"Where is he?" the biggest one snarled. Her voice was raspy and sent chills down Rust's spine.
Uncomfortably and painfully, Rust got into a crouch. Thorns were stuck in his pelt and pads. Small bits were stuck underneath his claws, which he must have instinctively unsheathed.
"Caster isn't gon' be happy," the smaller one muttered. One of his massive fangs were chipped leaving a sharp, jagged edge along the bottom of the tooth.
Rust shivered. Don't want to mess with him.
But you are. Rust jumped at the sound of the voice. It was the same voice that had screamed his name during the hunting patrol.
Who are you? Rust snapped. What do you want?
Finally you realize that I'm here.
I've always realized that you're there! You ruined my side! I doubt I'll ever be able to walk normally again.
Okay, now you're being overdramatic. You'll be fine.
Says you!
Okay, will you just shut up and focus on keeping us alive?
Us?! I'm focused on keeping myself alive.
Do what you want. I'll explain myself later.
Rust desperately wanted to ask the voice more questions, but it was right. Focus on staying alive, then find his friends. Simple enough, right?
"He ain't gon' be satisfied with just those two lil' runts," the one with the chipped tooth went on. "He wanted us all to get a fair share o' dinner tonight."
"Whatever, we'll manage," the female hissed. "We'll just get some of those cats living on our territory."
The male shrugged. "Suit yourself."
He kinda sounds like Lynx, Rust thought. Just older and more dangerous.
The female stalked away, leaving the one with the chipped tooth behind. Rust forced every muscle to stay still, refusing to twitch even a whisker. The sabertooth scanned the area. If his tail wasn't a stub, Rust imagined it'd be lashing back-and-forth.
"You ain't gon' be able to hide for long, lil' kitty," he called. "We'll get you eventually, and when we do, it ain't gon' end pretty."
With that, he turned and followed the steps of the female.
The female said something about other cats living on the territory, meaning they must be the ones who attacked Tawny!
Alone or with my friends, I'm finding those cats.
Rust tore out the last thorn stuck in his pelt, wincing in pain. He'd already gotten the bits out of his claws, all he had was small twigs stuck in his pelt. He shook out his fur, getting as much as he could out.
I need to find those cats, but shouldn't I figure out where my friends are first?
Rust hesitated for a moment, indecisive.
I should see if my friends are willing to help, if they're well enough to do so. They must have gotten away, right?
Rust followed the path the sabertooths had taken, freezing in his tracks when he saw that they weren't too far away. They were standing with their backs to him. In front of the sabertooths was the lead cat from before, scolding them. Rust hurried to a nearby tree and ducked behind it, poking his head around a little to listen.
"You didn't get him?" the lead cat roared.
"She insisted!" the jagged tooth cat protested. "I told her you wasn't gon' be happy 'bout it. I told her to keep lookin'."
The lead cat whipped his head around to glare at the female. "Now what are we all going to eat? We're going to have to split those two between the three of us! Do you know how hungry we're all going to be?"
"We can just get some of those other cats," the female snarled. "They're always messing around on our territory. Eating some as dinner should teach the others a lesson."
"How dare you even suggest that?!" the lead cat snapped. "They are our allies."
"We don't need cat allies!" the female protested. "Be reasonable, Caster."
"Those cats know Evoir. If we're their allies, they keep the dragons away from our Valley," Caster snarled.
"They're lying!" the female hissed. "The dragons kill anyone who enters their kingdom. If they really knew Evoir, I can guarantee you they wouldn't be here to be our 'allies'."
She said allies with a mocking tone, a snarl edging her voice.
She sounds mad.
Wouldn't you be? the voice asked. Imagine being allied with a group weaker than you.
Shut up! I'm not talking to you.
Caster bared his teeth, well, his smaller ones. "Then talk to Killon about it! Stop complaining to me and just do your job!"
The female dipped her head. "Sorry Caster," she mumbled angrily.
Caster whirled around. "Let's go," he hissed.
The jagged tooth cat bounded forward to catch up with Caster. "Did ya kill any of 'em?" he asked. "Any of 'em try to get away?"
"The black, white, and brown one did," Caster mumbled, his voice fading away as he got further. "She's dead now."
Rust froze. The jagged tooth one let out a spine tingling laugh.
Black, white, and brown? That's Peril!
Your friend? the voice asked. Rust ignored it, pressing his body against the ground. His paws were shaking.
Caster said she's dead. Does that mean he killed her? Who's going to be the third cat now? Who's going to help complete the prophecy?
What's going to happen to Ioclaw and I now?
YOU ARE READING
Guild Wars
General Fiction{Guild Wars is originally two years old. It is in the process of being rewritten. Everything you see and read is old. There may be plot holes and things that don't make much sense. } IF YOU DO NOT SUCCEED, OUR CATS ARE DESTINED TO DIE. Three Guilds...
