Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 21: Counter-Attack

Chapter 21: Counter-Attack

"Why did we have to sneak out at niiiight," the word was prolonged as Scorch yawned.

"Because its the only time I can sneak away without being noticed," Boulderpaw answered. He was walking right in front of her, but his gray fur was hardly easier to see than a cloud in the night sky. The decimating shadows that spawned from the thick pines strangled the moon and starlight until only a few ghastly sheets of silver showed through in mangled angles.

Scorch was quiet for awhile longer, her eyes were too lazy to try to be of any help and the resounding silence was so lulling. She pricked her ears as a low grumbling sound echoed around them. Having been on the brink of sleep, her mind wasn't working fast enough for her to be scared or put it past herself that she'd just imagined it.

But she listened for it again and stiffened when it did indeed come again, just in front of them. She hurried to Boulderpaw's side. "Did you hear that?" she whispered in his ear.

It came again, even closer and now at her side. "I didn't eat today," grumbled Boulderpaw, sounding embarrassed.

It took a moment for Scorch to connect the words, but then her whiskers were twitching in amusement. "Well, why didn't you eat?" she asked as they padded along in the darkness.

"Cause' I didn't," Boulderpaw mewed unhelpfully but in a tone that told her clearly, however, that he didn't want to be questioned further.

"Well, you should have said something when we first set off and there was still light. Wait here," Scorch mewed, turning off the trail they were following and creeping quietly in the shadows. Night critters were scurrying about and she soon picked up the near scent of a shrew.

Tracking it took only a minute, and catching it even less. She returned to where Boulderpaw was waiting impatiently and gave him the food. Scorch couldn't see his expression since it was so dark but she heard the gratefulness in his gruff, 'thank you,' and then the satisfying munch of him devouring the little rodent.

Scorch yawned again and stretched. Even though the quiet and atmosphere were peaceful and keeping her mind asleep, it really was far to cold out for her body to get too drowsy, The frosty air nipped her all over, and she was thankful that there was no wind. She hadn't stopped trembling since the sun had gone even without the usual bone-rattling breeze.

"How much further until we reach the place?" Boulderpaw asked. "I have absolutely no idea where we are, or what's more than three paw-lengths in front of me for that matter."

"Well, I'm about a tail-length in front of you. And we're almost there. Just a hop, skip, and a jump," Scorch encouraged. In reality, it was a little further, and still further until they reached their real target, but they'd still be there before midnight; which was almost upon them.

This particular late night adventure takes place five nights after Scorch's and Boulderpaw's agreement to help the Clans together. Scorch had insisted that they must find Sunstar as quickly as possible, but Boulderpaw had wanted to formulate the plan more so that they had a better chance at convincing the former leader. Hence the small delay.

But here they were, in the middle of the night in the freezing woods. Scorch would bet Painted would think she was crazier than the spotted she-cat already must think she was. And thinking of Painted, as she went along, Scorch's thoughts drew to that distressing topic.

She hadn't seen Painted for all five of those long days. Jump and Mira reported that Painted always came back while she was gone and went to sleep after Scorch, and at the same time waking up before her. Once Scorch had half-awaken to see the disappearing white tail-tip, but that was it.