Cloak as Red as Blood

Chapter 11: Dog Fight

"Please don't be too late", I told myself. I spent all day running through the woods with Puss and 

Thorin. Where had she taken them? In my mind I could stop torturing myself. "Skylar knew that 

something was off about Tava. Why didn't I listen to her? How could I have been so stupid? I 

thought she loved me. How could she do this?" Apart of me said that she hadn't even done 

anything yet, but another part of me told me she was going to do something. Skylar and my 

brothers were in danger because of me. I had to save them. I urged my paws to go faster.  It felt 

that we were running around chasing our tails, no pun intended. We've searched all over this 

forest and I hadn't caught a whiff of Tava, Skylar, or my brothers' scent. We stopped to rest for a 

short while before continuing our search. I wish I could talk to the cat like Skylar could. I sensed 

something magical at work but I wasn't trained like Skylar. Thorin searched from the air, but 

didn't find anything. "Come on Hunter", I told myself. "You can't give up now." Then suddenly I 

remembered one of the things Tava had taught me in our sessions. I closed my eyes, took a 

deep breath, and tried to become one with nature. The first time I tried this I thought Tava had 

been speaking metaphorically, but when I focused I could suddenly see everything. I could see 

squirrels storing nuts for the approaching winter. I saw a family of bears in a far away cave, 

preparing for hibernation. Finally I saw Skylar and my brothers. They were tied to a tree while 

Tava and the men I recognized as the "hunters" Tava claimed were after her, built a bonfire. 

There was also someone there I didn't recognize. She was quite beautiful, but I could sense that 

something was wrong with her. Almost as if she was wearing some kind of mask. Wasting no 

time I bounded off letting the feel of the forest and the urge to find my friends guide my paws. 

Thorin and Puss followed closely at my heels. 

By sunset we had reached a shimmering barrier somewhere in the woods. Something told me if 

there was a barrier we were probably headed in the right direction. I sniffed at the thing, 

wondering how to get through. When I reached up to touch the thing, I was immediately met 

with a painful shock. I yelped in pain and scrambled away from the thing. Puss was yowling 

behind me, almost like he was laughing at my failed attempt. "I'd like to see you do better little 

fur ball", I  thought to myself. The cat padded forward and sat in front of the thing. Tail swaying 

back and forth he let out a low humming sound. Suddenly I  saw magical energy radiate of the 

beast and attack the shield. It quickly dissipated, allowing us to walk through. The cat looked at 

me and mockingly beckoned me with his tail. "Beginners luck", I said. Begrudgingly  I followed 

the cat.

The forest behind the barrier seemed different. The colorful leaves of Harvestime had