Disclaimer: I do not own anything you can recognize from any book EVER. If you recongnize anything from any movie or book—anything, it isn't mine.
Chapter 10
Marlo fidgeted on his pelt. He had one of the best nights of sleep he had had in his life that night. But morning came too soon, and Hamish was soon there for them.
"Hey Hamish wolf..." Murmured Maya waking up.
Having the strangest thought about Boomer, Silverside wondered about Thunderheart (his sister that was about 6-7 years older than him; couldn't think of a different name for her) and how she was, he was hoping that she was in a better condition than Boomer.
Marlo looked up, stretched, and licked Maya as a greeting. "First day of watch!" he exclaimed excitingly.
"Let's hope I know what to do!" Maya said in a squeaky voice as she stretched. She wondered what was going on in the minds of her friends...Marlo about his parents...what about Silverside?
A wolf trotted in, his name being Dremrin. He had golden fur and bright green eyes, and gave Marlo a nudge. "I'm your taiga!" he introduced. He was old enough to be Marlo's father, though he had the looks of a wolf as old as all of the new arrivals. "Let's get to work."
Maya went wide eyed at the sight of the old taiga and almost ended up laughing. But she managed to laugh mentally.
Marlo was led away, though looked back a last time to his friend in the den.
"Bye" Maya whispered, barely audible even to her own keen hearing.
Marlo did hear something, though he could not understand it. He was slightly tired of big ears, but they were very useful. He had to stop thinking of Maya and his ears; he had to focus on watching.
Maya sat down impatiently. Already impatient! Wonder when Mar will come back...no, Marlo. Not Mar, Maya thought as she shook her head slightly.
Silverside hated daydreaming now he had to run to the hot gates by himself. At press-paw speed he should get there by nightfall.
"Where do you think you'll be going?" Maya asked roughly to Silverside, noticing that he was eager to go out. She gave him a glare because of her suspicion and went over to him.
"To... practice on hunting," Silverside lied, just noticing that Maya was still there.
Marlo felt he could not take this. Watch Wolf? He did not feel worthy. Shadow needed this more than he did... could he even do it?
Maya looked at Silverside wearily and sensed his lie. She was good at doing this. "Tell me the truth, Two Tails," Maya let the name escape her lips.
"I need fresh water!" Silverside exclaimed he had this feeling, a very strange one that something bad is going to happen, just like before himself and Boomer had been attacked. "I also have this very strange feeling that something bad is going to happen if I don't get moving as well..." Silverside said.
Maya frowned. "Okay. Go..." She growled. His tone actually sounded harsh so it made her snarl by instinct. It was a feral snarl that was scary to most of her prey that she gets...but he was prey
Marlo could hear her snarl from his cairn, and actually began to ignore his taiga. If there was something wrong with Maya he wanted to be the first to know. This brought him to the thought of Shadow. He couldn't leave that wolf with the MacDuncans as a gnaw wolf. There had to be a way to get him into the Watch.
Maya sighed and then just waited, bored.
Suddenly, a lightly silver furred wolf by the name Kalamar jumped infront of Maya. "Wah!" she yelped.
He smirked. "Yo! Don't be so ditzy over it! Sheesh," laughed Kalamar, making Maya scowl. She was supposed to be the childish one. Not Kalamar! "So you're my...taiga?" Maya about screamed, Kalamar let another smirk escape.
"Yep! Yo' gonna be stuck with me for the Watch, my friend" he said in slang. It disgusted Maya and she frowned.
Marlo had a lot of fun on Watch that day. There were many troubles, but he managed alright.
"How are our new watch wolves today?" Fengo asked as he trotted over to them. "And where is that MacNaan wolf? He was required here many days ago."
"That MacNaan wolf is coming and not Shadow?" Marlo asked, bewildered.
"I'm as surprised as you dear Marlo. But what can I do? All the packs will be outraged at the sight of us welcoming him here." Fengo said. Then he leaned in to whisper into his ear. "Did you not notice how Shadow staggered during the games?"
"I did, a little, I guess..." Marlo replied. "Why?"
"Wolves don't usually stagger like that." Fengo continued.
Jay came suddenly, interrupting the Fengo's conversation with Marlo. "Something held me back. It was just a bird," growled Jay, he'd only heard the one whisper.
"Huh?" Marlo asked. "A bird did what?"
Jay growled. "Grand Kanon. He kept asking me strange questions." he replied with a frown, there seemed to be a ghastly hiss of wind flow after Jay had said this. Grand Kanon was above them.
"Like what?" Marlo asked, wondering how Jay had suddenly gotten into the Watch.
Jay scowled. "Why I'm talking with you," he shot back nastily, he gave him a glare and then walked up to the Watch to see Maya walking with her taiga, Kalamar, to Marlo. Maya's eyes looked at Jay's as they passed each other, everything seemed to slow down and Maya could hear Jay's evil chuckle under his breath. "Why..." she growled, Kalamar nudged her and knocked her back to reality.
Marlo noticed something wrong with Maya. He kept his thoughts to himself. "Hi, Maya," he smiled.
"Hey. Did you know he'd be here?" Maya kept her voice low so the wolf, Jay, wouldn't hear her.
Marlo shook his head. "No. He just appeared here. I don't know where he got in."
Maya frowned. "Well...bad news...I got this young weird taiga...Kalamar...he's so weird," Maya grumbled to Marlo, Kalamar scowled.
"Yo why you talkin' about me like that? I was just born in the Outclan' Territors." growled Kalamar as he went to Maya's side.
"Well what's wrong with him?" asked Marlo.
Maya's eye twitched. She then sighed and her head hung. "He talks like he is...grr!" she growled, hopeless for Marlo to find out.
"He talks like he's grr...?" Marlo laughed. "What is it, Maya?"
"It's that she's my student and she respects me more than other wolves like you." Kalamar growled. He nudged Maya and she glared at him.
"One more time of that and I swear I'll bite you so hard you will go numb," she threatened, he acted as if he was her own little brother.
"I don't get it," Marlo muttered. "Why don't you both listen to each other? Kalamar will teach Maya to jump, and Maya will teach Kalamar to listen to his student."
"Okay Kalamar, keep nudging me and teach me to jump, and I'll teach you to listen to me better!" Maya said in a former way. Kalamar gave a blank stare at both the wolves.
"Oi, those two are complete bonkers!" grumbled the owl, Grand Kanon, gruffly. He flew down to the ground, to the Watch Wolves. "Hello Watch Wolves! Taiga Kalamar, why do you pester them?"
"I am not a pester" growled Kalamar.
Maya ended up laughing at Kalamar. "It's pest! I'm not being a pest! Not pester!" laughed Maya.
"Grand Kanon," Marlo greeted. "I haven't spoken to an owl yet. Though, I do remember seeing you a very long time ago. Have you found enough bonk embers?"
"You are late Jay!" Hamish snapped at Jay as he passed him, hoping Marlo got the message then stopped and turned to the wolves. "Has anyone seen Shadow by the way? He usually visits every 2 days or so. How long have you two been training? Three days?"
"I do wish he'd come," Marlo sighed. "He deserves this, Hamish. I've been wanting to ask if I may resign for him to come into my place."
A couple surrounding wolves, stopped in utter shock at what he said. Slowly all eyes rested on Hamish as he slowly turned around. "Shadow is worthy choice for our ranks. You are right. He should have joined our ranks many days ago but only if you find him. Silence!" Fengo snapped as Jay was about to challenge him. "It was agreed with his friend when we found him that he should join. He was raised here for many months and he deserves to come home. Only if his chieftain agrees and only if his family does. I can say no more. Go find him." He ordered and disappeared into his den, unaware about the current status of Shadow's family.
Marlo nodded and trotted to Maya. After a quick goodbye, he set out to find Shadow, hoping that Silverside, Maya, or Kia might join him. He soon found Shadow's scent, and though it was slightly old, he followed it.
