Guild Wars

~ Guild Wars: Chapter 14 ~

Rust rushed to Ioclaw's side as he heard her cry. Relief and joy swept over him, replacing all the sadness he'd felt at his friend's death.

"Peril! You're alive! Oh, great stars, you're alive!"

He bounded up to her and pushed his nose into his shoulder. Ioclaw did the same. Peril let out a purr.

"Are these the cats you were looking for?"

Rust pulled back and jumped, getting prepared to attack. A sabertooth stood behind Peril, too close for Rust's liking. Was she keeping Peril prisoner?

Ioclaw was in an attack pose beside Rust, her claws unsheathed and fur bristling. "Get away from Peril!" she hissed.

The sabertooth rolled her eyes. Peril took a step forward. "This is Isila," she explained. "She's nice, don't worry. She's going to help us, then go to her home."

"What's supposed to be my home," Isila snarled. "I belong among the other Sibira Sabertooths, not the Indarkeria Sabertooths and Killon."

Killon! So he does only lead a group!

"Indarkeria Sabertooths?" Ioclaw mewed, her fur beginning to lie smooth. She rose from her attack pose to stand. "Sibira Sabertooths?"

"It's a long story," Isila said, shaking her head.

Rust rose as Ioclaw had, allowing his fur to smooth out and sheathed his claws. "Why are you helping us?" he demanded.

Isila shrugged. "Why not?"

Rust blinked. She had no reason to help them! So why was she? I don't trust her, not quite yet.

"She knows where the cats we're looking for live," Peril told them. "She's going to show us."

Will she really? Or is this a trap?

"We're actually really close," Isila announced. "It's just past that wall of rocks."

She signaled to a wall of rocks formed in a circle with her head. It was a really wide circle, the wall was clearly protecting something. Rust rolled his eyes. Could have figured that out ourselves, thanks.

Isila took the lead. Rust slowly followed, hesitant to follow her. Peril took her place beside Isila while Ioclaw walked beside Rust.

"Why was she not willing to tell us about the Indarkeria Sabertooths and Sibira Sabertooths?" she asked, a suspicious gleam in her eyes. It was clear Ioclaw didn't trust her either.

"I don't know, but it's odd," Rust mewed.

"And why does Peril trust her so much?"

"You're asking the wrong cat."

Ioclaw gave Rust a playful nudge. Rust chuckled and gave her one back.

"You know what's weirder?" Ioclaw meowed. "Peril is supposed to be dead. Explain to me how she's here. Just how?"

Rust gave her a confused look. "I don't know," he meowed. "I never saw her body, remember? I've been with you since it happened."

Ioclaw made a shape with her mouth that looked like she was silently saying "Oh". She looked away and Rust followed her gaze just in time to see Isila slam down onto the top of the wall. Peril followed her, letting out a gasp.

Rust followed Ioclaw as she hopped up beside Peril. Down below them was a small group of dangerous looking cats. They all had multiple scars, except the kits. At least, what Rust thought were kits. These cats were clearly bigger than them! Did the prophecy expect them to fight these cats?