Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 42: Time

Chapter 42: Time

The black shadows swarmed like billowing clouds as they moved toward her. Scorch stood stock-still with her breath coming in short pants as her faint gaze locked with the imposing red eyes. It came closer slowly, the immediate area around the red eyes cloaked with the shadows that shifted with a silent sound.

"You are looking quite well, Scorch," the shadows spoke- now only three tail-lengths away.

"How do you know my name?" she croaked, her mouth dry. But her heart beat excitedly and she felt something stirring deep within her. She recognized the feeling, as she watched the shadows creep even closer, it was the feeling she got when she used her power to look at her mirages. She glanced quickly around; There were no mirages.

She looked back at the shadow and backed up a pace when she saw the faint outlines of a black cat in the middle of the shadows, the eyes belonged to the cat. The shadow cat stood nose-to-nose with her, "I've always known you,"

Scorch trembled as she crouched beneath the cat. She searched the red gaze and sensed for feeling. But the eyes were veiled and no sensation came from the shadows. "Then why don't I know you?" she forced herself to meet the gaze, but she felt a fiercer flash from her soul when she did.

"Because I have never chosen to make myself known to you until now. But it is time for you to know me," Scorch blinked as the shadows became sharper and shrunk down into the outline of the cat until only a black cat stood in front of her- but she could see the tails of the shadows whisking off his pelt.

"Who are you," Scorch forced her legs to straighten. "And why do I feel like I know you?"

The black cat dipped his head, "My name," he announced, "Is Time. You feel as if you know me because I am a part of you or- more precisely- you are a part of me."

Scorch shivered- she didn't understand and she didn't think she wanted to understand. But she was drawn to it, like a moth to a flame. No feeling could explain it, no words could describe it; She just knew it. "How am I part of you?" she rasped.

The red eyes narrowed, "You share my burden, just as Sonya does."

Scorch's ears pricked, "You know Sonya?"

Time dipped his head, "Indeed, I trained her to use her abilities. That is why she knows so much more than you. She is also well aware of one important fact," Time narrowed his eyes until on a thin red line was visible.

"And what would that be?" Scorch shivered and took another step back but the uneven ground tripped her and she fell back on her rump.

Time glowered over her, "She knows that if either of you die, the living one receives the powers that belonged to the deceased."

Scorch's breath quickened suddenly. Thoughts of Song flashed in her mind, Sonya was the one that tried to kill you. Thoughts of Sonya flashed in her mind, you are the one with the greater power. And just now, Time's words, if one of you dies, the surviving one receives all of the powers- and Sonya knows it. Was it even possible that Sonya really had tried to kill her? She'd discarded the thought as Song's troubled musings, but if this was true, was Sonya trying to get her powers?

She shook her head angrily, No! She wouldn't do that. Besides, why would she want my powers? Scorch looked up at Time again. "What are you saying?" she growled.

Time opened his mouth, red eyes gleaming. "Scorch! Moonpaw's awake!" Scorch jumped around at Boulderpaw's shout and when she turned back, Time was gone and the forest was as cold and empty as it had been.