**AN:Thank you to those who have waited patiently, here is the beginning of the third book in the Phoenix saga. The prologue is quite short, but it's just a teaser, and the next chapter will be up before Friday, after which a new chapter is planned for the Saturdays following. To those who haven't read Rise of the Phoenix and Bridging the Gap, I would advise you do so before beginning this, otherwise it might be a tad confusing. I've also worked on revising the first book, so those who already have read may find it helpful to do a quick reread. (At least as far as chapter 8. I'm working on it.) Thank you for the past reviews, and I'd love to hear what you have to think about this.**
Intruder.
Everything was constant here.
There were no surprises, no changes to the in-and-out wanderings of the same ones with their familiar scents and voices.
They only came when the lights were on.
Intruder.
They came, they tested. ("We're going to do another test today-")
It ate, they left. ("Disgusting. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but-")
They never lingered like this. They never looked for long…
Intruder flinched when it growled, but stayed.
Was Intruder another 'it'? …Must be. Intruder smelled wrong.
Intruder, it, another they (?), moved closer, so quietly, much quieter than they were. It could hear Intruder, of course, but the near silence was unnerving.
Something in its head screamed danger, and it listened. It had never been wrong before.
Intruder ignored the second warning growl to back off, placing a black-covered hand on one of the bars.
Like Brother.
Brother's gone.
It snarled, lunging forward. Intruder should have stayed away.
Its clawed hand met empty air as Intruder darted back faster than it could strike. Intruder now breathed quicker, heart pounding loudly to its ears, yet hadn't screamed.
It was sure now that Intruder had to be another 'it'. They didn't move that quickly, and they bled for it. It hadn't even nicked Intruder, the smell of blood absent despite the red it could see when the furthest light flicked on.
Intruder's attention turned to the slowly approaching lights and began to murmur lowly to one that wasn't there, just like them.
"Ghost, I found someth- someone."
And then, even quieter, so that it could barely hear the words, the oddly spoken response came.
"This ain't a rescue, and you're outta time as is. Just stick to the original plan."
By the time the halfway light flickered on, Intruder shifted, changing, as it began to leave. 'It' snarled again at the retreating figure, disturbed by the sudden change in scent, and Intruder paused. The stillness was interrupted when the next light audibly clicked on.
It looked toward the doorway that they always came through, the light from the small window the only indicator of their impending arrival. They'd deal with Intruder. They always dealt with things they didn't like.
The door rattled open and a few of them filed in, just like always. Things were going to be constant again, they'd be sure.
But there was no response to Intruder, and it whirled around again, agitated.
"What's got you in such a fuss?" One of them asked, looking through their bag.
It couldn't answer their questions, as Intruder was gone as quietly as it had come.