The Shattered Plains (Aphrika #1)

Chapter 4

"Pebble, you are needed to spy again." Ceros's voice rang through the cave.

"Ok," Pebble mewed obediently. "I will leave right now."

"Stay safe." Ceros nodded her farewell and watched Pebble leave.

Pebble excited the cave and turned towards the entrance of the cave. She looked out and the dim light traveled through the cave entrance, only to be stopped by the darkness that lay on the cave floor.

"Another spy mission" She thought to herself. She couldn't ask Bimera to help because she wasn't feeling well. So she needed to travel by foot.

It was because she was so small that she got asked to spy. She was the world's smallest cat. She enjoyed it, except for when she almost got caught. A lot of other animals have spied and almost all of them got caught. No one knew what happened to them after that.

The early morning sun was fighting against the horizon. It rose higher until the horizon lay under it.

The tall grass swished in the light breeze. The wind ran through her fur. She began her long trek.

She arrived at the place with the tree that had flat leaves and she quickly climbed up it. She looked over the cliff ledge and saw some animals were gathered there.

She crept down the edge of the cliff and hid behind the bush again.

"We're attacking tonight." Onyx the cheetah was talking to a group of animals that were mostly predators.

"Finally, it's about time!" A lion grumbled.

A dog broke away from the crowd and sniffed the air. It looked towards the bush that Pebble was hiding behind and growled.

Pebble turned around and ran for the cliff. The animals pursued her. Onyx ran up to her and grabbed the fur behind her neck and pulled her back to the other animals.

"Who are you?" A snake slithered forwards and halted in front of Pebble.

"I came to find you," Pebble lied. "Those other animals are crazy for following that impala."

"Your lying," Athern hissed. "Why did you run away then."

"She must be a spy!" A hyena shouted.

"Where are we going to keep her?" A hawk cried from a branch.

Onyx dropped her in the middle of the crowd and she stood there helpless. The animals all crowded around her. Onyx climbed up the tree and said a few words to the hawk. It nodded and Onyx jumped down.

The hawk swooped down and tried to grab Pebble. She slashed the stomach of the hawk as it missed her. The crowd looked intense, wondering who would make the next move.

The hawk dove down again and grabbed Pebble before she could react. The sharp talons dug into her fur and pain shot through her back. She looked down and all the animals were watching, fascinated.

The hawk landed on a floating stone. There was no way down but to fall. The ground was too far away and if she jumped she would break her legs when she hit the ground. The hawk let go of her and flew back to its perch on the tree.

Pebble looked at the small stone. It was about as big as three of her stretched out. The surface was rough and warm.

Time passed by and the sun was now setting. She was left sitting on a stone while the sky darkened. She felt helpless. To make matters worse, they were attacking tonight and she couldn't warn them.

The animals were gathered there all day. Clearly they were excited to attack. Onyx stood up and the animals rose.

"Tonight will be the night that we attack." Onyx said loud and clear. "I need a small group of animals to stay behind."

"I will stay behind." The hawk that captured Pebble told them.

"I will too," a rhino's deep voice rumbled.

"Perfect." Onyx mewed. "The rest of us are leaving now!" Onyx walked up to the hawk and exchanged a few words. The hawk nodded and said a few things to the rhino. The group of animals all made their way to the cave Pebble called her home. She looked around for an escape like she had for a while, but once again there was nothing.

The hawk spotted Pebble looking around and flew over to her. "So, who do you think will win?" He asked.

"Why should I tell you?" Pebble asked.

The hawk rolled his eyes and flew back down to the rhino. "It's time we send them." The rhino snorted.

The hawk nodded his head and screeched. It echoed then everything was quiet. Pebble realized she was holding her breath, so she exhaled.

A deep rumbling shook the ground and a hole appeared. Pebble took a startled breath. It wasn't the hole that startled her. It was what was inside the hole.

Some black pincers stuck out of the hole, they were encrusted with red dirt. An orange head followed and looked around. Next came the long orange legs. On its back were a pair of clear wings that reflected the sunlight. It looked like a termite, but it was the size of a fox.

Pebble crouched down in her prison as she saw more come out. There were at least one hundred of them.

The hawk looked up at her and took off. He landed beside her. "So, are you sure your friends will survive? They will be crushed beneath our power!" He laughed. "You've seen enough. I'm taking you to our actual prison."

He grabbed Pebble in his talons and flew over to the rhino. "I'm taking her to the other prison. The one where we keep all our prisoners. Since she's so small, I'm not sure if she'll survive."

The rhino laughed as he watched the hawk fly away with Pebble. Towards the place Pebble never wanted to go.