Book 4: Sol's Revenge & Whisper's Path

Whisper

The cold mountain air chilled me to the bone, I curled up into a small little ball in an attempt to conserve heat. However it wasn't the wind that made me shiver, it was the memories of last night. Stoneteller...I trusted him. I befriended him. For the first time in my life I had found a place where I belonged, I connected with the tribe cats. I had told Echo we'd travel the world as rogues, having each others backs because we were kin and could trust each other. But it was a lie, I've always belonged with others.

I try to find pity in my heart, maybe a shred of compassion for Stoneteller. He was terrified for his group, a giant predator was lurking and dangerously close to finding them. He thought he could sate it by delivering me and Sol to it's jaws. But instead we lead the monster right to his cave. They'll have no choice but to leave the mountains as we are, or face a much darker fate.

But there is no pity. I put my faith in him and he threw it back at me. Sol had been right all along. You can't trust a clan or anything like them. They look out for their own and aren't kind to newcomers.

But even as I think these thoughts, even as I condemn the tribe, I can't help but feel something more sinister was at play here. Sol had been right about the tribe. Could he be right about Echo too? Was her spirit really following us, haunting us, and causing mayhem?

"Impossible." I said aloud.

Sol startled awake beside me as I spoke.

"Come on," I said abruptly and rose to my paws. "Let's get off these mountains before we freeze. Sol fluffed out his calico pelt against the frost bitten wind. My gray mane was already thick, but I still felt the warmth being swept off my body with each passing second.

It was dark out still, the sun had not breached the horizon yet. My eyes were well adjusted to night, but everything looked the same. I wouldn't be able to see a chasm until I was falling down it.

"Careful," I cautioned Sol. I couldn't see him behind me but I felt him nod.

We found a steep slope which seemed like it would wind all the way to the base of the mountains if we kept to the path. The trail was like more than a mouse length in width. I unsheathed my claws and dug them into the loose stone. We began climbing down. Wind buffeted the side of the slope, my eyes were narrowed against the stinging breeze. I felt my paws slip a couple of times, but Sol was always quick to clamp his jaws on my tail and steady me.

Unfortunately I was walking in front of Sol. He was able to steady me, but I was unable to do the same for him. I felt my back paw kick up a loose stone. Sol's front paw came down on the pebble and he slipped forward, his nose brushing against my hind leg as he stumbled. His scream was cut off as he tumbled right down the side of the slope.

"Sol!" I shouted, my voice disappearing into the current of air. He landed on a small ledge a few fox lengths below me. I could hear the snap of a bone, and he lay unmoving.

"Sol?" I whispered softly, almost confused. What I was seeing couldn't be real. Slowly he lifted his head to me.

"My front paw!" he called up to me. He gingerly licked it and I could see his wince of pain. It must've broken when he landed. I could continue down the ledge and get off the mountains. Maybe find help somewhere...but there is a chance Sol wouldn't last another night alone, injured, cold, and exposed. I realized my only option, get him off the mountain now, with dawn breaking, and find help below.

I tested the slope, there was a little more leverage than a vertical drop, but not by much. My I figured it was easiest to go backwards down the slope and slip rather than try to climb. My front paws dug into the rocks to slow my descent.

"Whisper what are you doing?" Sol demanded as he saw me making the perilous trip down. I felt pebbles dislodge themselves and rain down on my brother.