The Sigil Makers

Chapter 6

Bliss stared into the camp from the nursing den. Raindrops drummed against the ground and the roof of the den. The rainy season had begun a little late, but still late enough to worry the older saber-tootheds. They had expressed their concern that the place they were going to move to for the duration of the wet season was going to be crowded by other predators—or even prey. 

"When do you think we'll leave? Today? Tomorrow? Next week?" she turned to her sister, who was looking outside from a small hole on the wall of the den. 

"I hope soon. I hate this!" the pale cub looked back at her, flicking her ear.

"Yeah. This sucks! The ground is always wet and even more water is falling out of the sky and damping your fur!" Bliss complained, lashing her short tail. If there's one thing I hate, it's rain!

"Cypress is probably going to try and delay the journey. She still thinks we're too young to leave the camp!" You never used to complain about anything that Cypress did, what changed? Bliss looked at her sister. Had she finally grown and realised that world is more than just butterflies and rainbows? "But I suppose she has the right to worry. I'd be worried too. I am worried!" I'll keep dreaming I suppose.

"She'll worry her sabers off if she keeps it up. We're plenty old enough to travel to where ever we're even going to", Bliss exclaimed. She's just like Cypress. She worries way too much about everything!

"I trust her judgement. She's our mother. She only does the things she does because she thinks it's the best for us", Woe looked straight into Bliss' eyes. "Everyone does what they think is the best for us"

"As if. If they were doing whatever they think is the best for us, then they must be a bunch of isopod-brains", Bliss said, turning her head to look at the pouring rain again.

"Don't say that! They're doing their best!" Woe padded beside Bliss. Well, clearly their best isn't the best there could be. "Besides, we have to keep quiet. Someone is coming", the pale cub nodded at the exit. Bliss perked one of her small ears up to listen—There's no way she heard someone coming over the rain keeping enough noise to wake the dead!

Suddenly, the head of a larger feline shoved aside the vines covering the exit of the nursing den and Eyes entered the den. 

"Are you two ready to leave? We just have to wait for your mother to return from the hunting session and then we'll be heading to our destination", Eyes explained and backed out of the den. 

"Wait, we're leaving?" Woe stepped forward hastily and almost tripped over her own paws. 

Bliss chuckled slightly; "You can't be that excited. Race you to the exit!"

"Oh, there's no way you'll win!"

Bliss hurtled past the exit of the den and continued toward the other smilodons, who were patiently waiting at the entrance of the camp. She glanced back once to see if her sister was catching up, only to see a flash of pale ginger pushing past her. Bliss murmured something incoherent and picked up her pace, slowly narrowing the gap between her and her sister, until she leaped and landed straight on Woe's back, causing both of them to roll in a mess of fur toward the others.

"Hey- Wow, watch it!" Mammoth chirped when the sisters hurtled directly at him and almost knocked him off his paws.

"Ah, sorry!" Bliss yipped after detangling herself from her sister.

"Sorry!" Woe yelped almost at the exact same time.

"Don't apologize for nothing", Mammoth pushed Woe back to her paws and nodded approvingly at Bliss. Don't apologize? Got it!

Bliss shook her damp fur; the rain water was cold and disgusting. "When's Cypress coming back? I want to leave already!" 

"She'll come in a minute or two", Eyes sighed. Is that a hopeful sigh or a relieved sigh? Bliss glanced at her sister; Woe would know.

Suddenly the vines hanging from the exit were pushed aside when Cypress pushed her way through. 

"No luck, eh?" Eyes looked at her.

"No. Everything's already left", Cypress looked down at Bliss and her sister, "I suppose we are ready to leave aswell, no?" 

"Absolutely!" Bliss stood up, her short tail pointing up at the rainy sky.

Cypress chuckled, "Very well. Mastodon", she looked at the stocky male, who nodded.

"Let's go. Woe, Bliss", Why'd he say her name first? "Tell someone immediately if you're too tired to walk and someone will carry you. We must not take too many breaks", 

"Got it!" Bliss and Woe said at the exact same time. 

"Mhm", Mastodon nodded and lashed his tail, "Let's get going. Eyes, keep an eye on my cubs", he nodded at the two sisters. Gosh, sometimes I forget he's my father!

"You mean my cubs?" Cypress growled. 

The muscular saber-toothed cat lead the group through the exit of the camp and through the undergrowth. It had been a while since Bliss had been outside of the camp, and the outside world seemed so much different. Every single thistle and thorn didn't get tangled into her fur, although she still had to shake some buttom ball petals off her pelt every once in a while.

Woe wasn't doing any better, and Bliss kept an eye on the pale ginger cub in case she tripped on some roots or rocks.

The thick leaf-ceiling that covered the skies kept most of the rain water from falling onto the travelling smilodons, but sometimes a large, cold waterdrop would fall on someone's head and they would groan audibly and the others would laugh. 

Bliss felt her legs slowing down, while her sister and the other felines kept up the pace. I can't seriously get tired before Woe! She thought bitterly; Woe never did anything that required any physical effort! Except maybe bounce around Eyes when the elderly smilodon attempted to rest. How could her sister be in better shape than her? Maybe she's not. Maybe I'm just having a bad day—or maybe I'm becoming sick? Yeah, that must be it. 

She picked up her pace slightly to catch up with the other smilodons they made a sudden stop. Oh come on! At least I get to rest.

"What is it, Mastodon?" Mammoth asked, worry lining his words.

"Dire wolves..", the stocky male answered coldly. Bliss had never seen a dire wolf before, except when Cypress brought some loners to eat, of course.

"Probably running from the rain, as any other animal. Let's keep our ears up and make sure my cubs are safe", Cypress stated, glancing back at Bliss and her sister.

"Let's do that. Come on, let's continue", Mastodon murmured and signaled for the rest of the cats to continue walking. 

"Dire wolves, huh? Never seen any alive", Woe whispered.

"Me neither.. I wonder if they're scary"

I'm not sure if Mastodon sounded more worried or annoyed. Bliss glanced at her sister; Woe would know.