Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 4: Prey and Predator

Chapter 4: Prey and Predator

"So, Scorch, how old are you?" Jump asked her in a rather monotone voice, as if he didn't care. However, Scorch could tell that he was actually curious about her.

But why does every cat ask me that question? Scorch was confused about it, "Four moons," she responded once more. And, once again, surprise emanated from the cat who asked the question. Both Painted and Mira had been shocked by her answer.

Is it that unbelievable? "Why does everyone seemed surprised by that?" Scorch asked, curious about their odd reactions.

"Well, you are a little on the... smaller side of four moons. I would have guessed three moons at the most," Jump shrugged.

"Well, you aren't that tall either, are you? You're no bigger than my mom," Scorch huffed defensively, though she thought Jump was just a tiny bit taller than Rainstone.

At the moment, they were the only two in the den, Mira and Painted had gone off hunting and Jump was keeping an eye on her. She'd been staying with these cats for two days now, and she was starting to get anxious about how long it'd take for her to get home.

Sure, Jump had said getting home was impossible, but she didn't really believe that. She'd find her parents again soon, she was sure of it. No... my head is convinced I'm sure of it, but I feel in my heart it could be a very long time before I see them again.

That odd, frightening dismal feeling swept over her. It felt so cold, and lonely, she didn't like it and tried her best to avoid it. But in her situation, it was hard to keep pessimistic feelings away for good. "Do you think I can get home?" she voiced her doubt in a small voice, hoping he wouldn't think of this as her giving up hope.

Jump looked at her for a long moment, his ripped ear twitched and his sharp green eyes softened just slightly. "I don't think it's impossible, but it may take a lot of hard work. I've been asking the passing rogues around here if they've seen your parents, but nothing has turned up yet," he mewed.

"But some cat might know, right?" Scorch asked optimistically.

"Maybe, only time will tell. For now, it seems Mira's taken a liking to you, so we're letting you stay here, but not for free," Jump warned, getting to his paws.

"What do you mean?" Scorch asked, jumping up from her small, makeshift nest she'd pulled together yesterday.

"It means, you're going to help hunt," Jump mewed, waving his tail and inviting her outside.

Excitement coursed through her. Yes! Imagine mom and dad's faces when I come home and I can already hunt! "Okay! How do you hunt?" Scorch asked, bouncing around Jump's paws as they exited the shady den.

"What? Didn't your parents already teach you?" Jump looked at her cryptically.

"Nope!" Scorch shook her head shamelessly.

Jump groaned and tilted his head back to glare at the sky. "Okay.... Fine, I'll teach you the basics. It's not that difficult, but you have to pay attention!" he emphasized the last two words and Scorch nodded with a serious expression on her face, ready to memorize all she was taught.

They left the little hollow and walked until they were on a wide expanse of white sand that was edged with cracked dirt and clumps of straggly grass. "Okay, when you spot prey, the first thing you want to do is crouch and make sure you're downwind of it, so the prey doesn't detect you," Jump mewed, exhibiting the hunting crouch.

Scorch eyed the position of his muscles for a moment before crouching, copying the position. "Hmm, not bad," Jump mewed grudgingly, though Scorch sensed his approval and knew she was doing it right.