Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 19: Past Transgressions

Chapter 19: Past Transgressions

Drip-drip-drip-drip. The water beaded on the holly leaf before plummeting to the ground, splashing into a hundred smaller droplets to be bead on the grass-blades. Scorch watched the process repeated over and over. Her eyes mesmerized by the simple, orderly little sequence. She could count by her heartbeat how long it took for the water to bead and fall.

She sighed and dropped her head, why can't everything else be so simple, so steady? At least Boulderpaw was still with her, sleeping heavily at her side, his face peaceful and his eyes gently closed as his whiskers twitched in his sleep.

At present they were back at the beach tree, the sun rising over a cloudy forest and climbing steadily toward sun-high. After they'd left the clearing, they had headed back to the border, the storm finally ending as they settled back down under the beach tree.

Boulderpaw had fallen asleep immediately, whatever strange adrenaline that had possessed him during the storm worn out. But Scorch couldn't fall asleep, no matter how tired she felt. What do I know? After seeing that, I know I can't leave the Clans. Yes, I still want to find my parents, but this takes top priority for now.

She turned over her black paw, catching one of the drops of water in her paw. But how to go about it...? She looked at Boulderpaw, he was mumbling something in his sleep and rolled over, his spine pressed against her side.

I can ask him what he thinks we should do, or I could try to see if I can ask Song or a StarClan cat. But I also need to figure out what I want to do about Painted and the others. I want to go back, but I... I don't know what they'll think of my new decision.

By now she was growing drowsy, her eyes starting to close on their own as she struggled to stay awake long enough to figure out what to do. But sleep was persistent and she finally admitted defeat and laid her head down on an outstretched leg, her breathing slowing and deepening in a soothing rhythm.

A moment later when she opened her eyes, she found herself in a warm,, sunny clearing. She looked around, eyes blurry and hurt by the bright yellow sunshine and rich green foliage. She took a deep breath of the warm air, and groaned slightly.

I recognize this scent! Can't I just sleep? I'm exhausted! But a cat had already stepped out to meet her, and she supposed this was as good an opportunity as ever. The cat that stepped out was a silver tom with black ears and hazel eyes. She thought his scent was surprisingly familiar.

"Who are you?" she asked politely, eying the stars glimmering in his fur and the glow in his eyes.

"My name is Smokepool," when he spoke, that's when Scorch connected him.

"You're that cat from ShadowClan territory, a few moons ago," stated Scorch, who recalled the night when she'd been drawn deep into ShadowClan territory.

"Yes, that was I," he nodded his head, and when he lifted his head, Scorch spotted the look of hope in his eyes as he looked at her. But didn't he tell me I couldn't save the Clans? Scorch decided for herself that dead cats were more confusing than living ones. Does dying make you complicated or something?

"Well, since you're here. I wanted to ask you something," Scorch took a deep breath and a step forward. "I want to help the Clans, do you know where I should start? And what I should do?"

Smokepool rested his hazel eyes on her, not giving her any answers but just making her squirm in her skin. "I can't tell you what to do, like I can't tell the sun where to shine. However, if you wish to bring a spark to the Clans, you must start in the shadows," Smokepool dipped his head, avoiding eye-contact and Scorch couldn't pick up on any emotions with her sharp senses. He was perfectly composed. I hate cats like that.