Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 33: Scarlet Midnight

Chapter 33: Scarlet Midnight

Scorch jumped at a light tap on her shoulder. She pulled her eyes away from the horrible but fascinating nightmare in front of her to look to her side.

Sonya stood there, dark eyes gentle. "Come on, we need to go now."

Scorch nodded slowly, remaining silent and shakily following Sonya out of the den as Crowpelt and Nightwing continued sorting out the details of their malicious plot. She followed Sonya blindly out of the camp and into RiverClan territory. She felt like she was made of ice- cold but fragile- and with each step a tremor shook her. She was just waiting for something to happen and for her to shatter.

"Scorch!" Sonya's voice stirred her enough to raise her eyes from the ground and look at the fierce-eyed kit. "Don't worry, it'll all work out," Sonya soothed in a voice as comforting as a mother's murmurs.

"How?" Scorch felt like crying as the ice started thawing. "I know the odds; if Crowpelt really has another force, we won't be able to win! Not only that, but now my life is in their bargain! I don't know if I could beat Crowpelt in a fight, and he's WindClan so he's supposed to be very fast... probably fast enough that I couldn't outrun him!" Scorch could feel the black walls of reality closing in around her. Not knowing which way to turn or where to run, she stared at Sonya.

"You forgot something. Your life is in the bargain, correct?" Sonya prodded. "You're afraid of losing your life as well."

Scorch shivered. She didn't like thinking about it- not when all the cats around her risked their lives without complaint. But the dark loom of death that had attached itself to her life was a frightful thing, and her greatest nightmare. A nightmare that appeared in the form of a black tom with brown eyes and paws that glowed red with blood... She was shaking again.

"Just focus on me," Sonya mewed. Scorch looked at her, the red and white kit stood as small as she was, but in front of her confidence made the kit seem so much bigger. The faint silver light of the setting moon sent silver shadows upon Sonya as her dark green eyes glowed with steady comfort and Scorch drank it in. "One thing at a time. Right now, we need to get back to our bodies. Than we can figure out what happens next."

Scorch nodded, grateful for the composed and calming touch from this strange kit. "Now, lets hurry," Sonya led her at dizzying speeds back to the dock and soon they standing above their bodies, light blue light glowed on the horizon and time was running out- although Scorch didn't know exactly what would happen if the sun rose upon them.

"Alright, this is far easier than when we left our bodies. Just close your eyes and center your powers on yourself. You should feel like you're falling, but don't stop focusing until you've touched the ground," Sonya mewed.

"Wait- what do you mean should?" Scorch asked.

"Oh, I didn't mention? I've never done this before," Sonya shrugged. "Now come on, we have to hurry!"

Scorch wasn't feeling more confident after that, but she followed the instructions. She homed her tingling senses inward, drawing in the sensations into her mind until she felt overwhelmed until she perceived that she was slowly falling down as though through thick water- slowly, slowly, ever so slowly...

"There! All done!" Sonya's voice chirped loudly in her ear. Scorch popped her eyes open and saw a twin pair of crystal green eyes directly in front of her.

"Sonya?" Scorch mewed, recognizing those eyes though also recalling dark green ones. But these lighter one fit Sonya's excitable personality so much better.

"Yep! Everything's back to normal," Sonya mewed, sounding quite pleased as she leaned back and began playing with Scorch's whiskers with a paw.

"Excellent!" Scorch gave a sigh of relief and stretched, getting to her paws and making sure everything was working right. The quiet and overwhelming sensations had calmed her worries.