Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 53: Specter

Chapter 53: Specter

Scorch plodded along the dirt track, kicking up clouds of dust as she dragged her paws. Through the trees, the sun shone down uncomfortably warm on her dark fur and silhouetted the budding leaves on the ground around her. The bright green grass failed to catch her eye and she ignored the flitting butterflies above her head.

The disastrous start of the day had left her feeling hollow and exhausted, and the sun had not even yet climbed clear of the trees. The fog had been burned away and the covering of clouds had scurried away as if to shine light upon her folly.

When she had gotten back to camp with the patrol, Flameclaw and Leopardspot had been quick to spread the news of her foolishness. Most cats had laughed and forced her to endure some harmless jests, but others had stared at her with darkness in their gazes. It was clear that they wouldn't be willing to laugh her mistake off so easily.

But that wasn't what had brought this gloom down upon her. Boulderfall had avoided her completely; he hadn't spoken a word to her, nor had he spared her a glance. The pain ran deep at his sudden aversion to her, she couldn't help but wonder how long he planned to keep it up. Or worse, if he really was done with her.

Fear chilled her and despite the new-leaf heat, she shivered. Striding onward firmly, she argued with herself that Boulderfall wouldn't really abandon her. He just wants a break from me in the eyes of the Clan. He'll come back when I earn the respect of the Clan. And we will be friends forever. But, will he really be my friend ever again? Can I trust his word? He told Flameclaw he couldn't abandon me, and now he has. And do I really want a friend whose friendship depends on my position in his Clan?

She mulled over the questions until her mind was worried sick and her belly had turned into knots. Scorch stopped as she came to the base of a familiar steep incline, broken spots of grass clung stubbornly to the crumbly dirt. Deep channels in the dirt showed where the rain had washed the earth away and deposits of soil littered the ground around her.

A bit of her depression dispersed as she spotted Sonya standing on the top of the hill, waving her tail wildly to get her attention. Scorch purred, at least Sonya was still her friend. And I have Mira, Jump, and Raven if I get driven out of ThunderClan, she reminded herself.

Scorch bounded up the slope, her paws kicking loose dirt down behind her as the sun shone bare on her back. It wasn't too hot anymore, it was lazily warm and she touched Sonya's delicate nose gently, savoring the warmth in her bright green eyes. Such a difference from the cool, detached looks she got in ThunderClan!

"You seem to be in a good mood," Sonya purred, taking a step back to survey her. "As scruffy as usual," the white and ginger she-cat laughed.

Scorch ducked her head down and smoothed her wild fur with a few embarrassed licks. "I didn't have time to groom earlier," she mumbled.

"You never have time! Scorch, you need to giver yourself time to take care of yourself," Sonya mewed, blinking at her with affectionate worry.

"I am taking care of myself," Scorch defended herself, "I just haven't been taking care of my pelt."

"And that's part of you," Sonya mewed briskly, sitting down beside her and starting to pull out knots with her teeth. "Come on, you can help to," Sonya mumbled around her fur.

Scorch started to wash herself, smoothing and pulling and smoothing again. She relaxed under the expertness in which Sonya groomed her fur. Reflecting, she realized Sonya's fur was long and fluffy but it was always crisp and clean. If she ever gets dirty, it probably takes forever to groom her fur! She probably never gets dirty.