The Hovering Ingress: The Hidden World

Chapter 12

A Challenge

Two Sune Cycles Later

Favi shifted where she laid, letting out a small groan as she lifted her head to get the sun out of her eyes. It had taken a long while to get from the mountain to the forest that was close to the ravine known as Warrior's Valley. Since the travelling wore her out, she decided to rest within the brush of the forest. After hearing about Marsh's night in Spy's Forest, she was glad she was well away from the area. Though, she still wasn't used to sleeping out in the open without some form of warmth and comfort, like a blanket. Quietly she looked up toward the sun and squinted her eyes, then sighed as she stood up. The female lynx brushed off some leaves and loose blades of grass out of her pelt and mane, then continued her journey to Warrior's Valley. For a while her paws were slow and clumsy, but eventually she woke up and marched on forward. After a long while underneath the cool shade of the forest, Favi finally made it out into the warm sun's rays. With a relieved sigh, the female lynx stretched her limbs and placed her hands on her hips, then scanned the area.

Up ahead was the twisted tree arch, and immediately she lit up, excitedly wagging her fluffy tail. Without looking around, she walked further out into the open, then got knocked over in a quick act of movement. With a yowl she tumbled in the grass before scrambling to her paws and wildly looking back to where she once was. There stood a shocked Verso, who then flattened his ears under her glare.

"Did you have to knock me over?!" She snarled.

"Sorry! I didn't know you were there," the teal-marked ophoris whined, lowering himself to the ground and placing his paws over his head.

A small sigh escaped the sandy lynx and she shook her head.

"No, I shouldn't get mad, I should've checked both ways like I was crossing a road. Honestly, it's not your fault."

The ophoris then lifted himself from the ground, setting his paws down normally.

"Well, I'm lucky anyway. I was sent to fetch you! Merit must've gotten word from her sister that you were coming, and when you didn't arrive this morning, she got frantic. Honestly, I think she's a little too excited about you joining, but maybe that's her want for more warriors. We... have lost several in the past few searings."

Favi slowly lowered her ears, hearing the sorrow in Verso's voice before perking up in confusion.

"Wait a moment, you said sister?"

"Mhmm, Merit is one of Maliki's sisters."

"They're sisters?!" Favi yowled with shock.

"Yes, same with Meditrina, they're all sisters."

"But they have such different marking colors!"

"Of course, that's because they got accepted by the ranking totems to be commanders. In which, their marking colors changed to their more mature counterparts. Some creature's markings have marking colors that don't match their personalities at all!" Verso explained.

The female lynx stared at the teal-marked ophoris for a short while before sighing a little, shaking her head out of the daze she suddenly went through. What fully snapped her out of it was the growl from her stomach, making her flinch and hold her belly. The male ophoris stared at her for a moment before nudging her to turn around and picking her up with his teeth.

"I can walk you know," the female growled.

"I'm sure of that, but you being hungry, you won't have as much energy."