Chapter 4
When a Poochyena came bounding up through the underbrush, nearly tackling over a Jolteon on his way past, the whole of the Whitefang Pack that was awake turned their bored, glazed eyes in his direction. Since Ember left, nothing interesting had happened for any gossip to start. After the search parties uncovered that her scent trail had gone in a bee-line for the mountains, all hope was lost for the poor little Vulpix. No creature that went to the Absol pack came back.
But what disturbed Freda was that it was Kashen's scent that was picked up farther along the line. Was he… safe?
She now watched the messenger bound past her, making strait for Pyrone, who sat on the other side of the camp. He looked to be no older than four moons, and Freda silently wondered why one so young had been sent all the way over here. She kept both ears on the conversation he quickly got into with her mother, though. "I have come with a message for you, Blazewind. Zerron-"
That was about as far as he got before Pyrone's paw came swinging around and cuffed him across one ear, silencing him immediately with a whimper. It was a blow that could have been a lot worse, had she really wanted to hurt the confused Poochyena. "Do I look like Blazewind to you, little kit?" The Flareon asked, her voice soft and dangerous.
"N-no ma'am, but y-you're a Flareon and…" The cub broke off with a helpless whimper, "W-where is s-she then?"
"In Eaglefire grounds, talking to their leader." She answered promptly, and when the Poochyena turned and was about to rush off again, continued, "But I'm her daughter, you can leave the message with me."
A hopeful look crossed his face when he was turned around. Upon a motion from Pyrone, he said, "Zerron wishes for Blazewind to meet him by the lake in Blackstar's hunting grounds. He said that he wants her there quickly, and to bring a few fighters with her."
"Can do." The Flareon responded, and the hopeful Poochyena turned around and scurried away.
Freda blinked quietly after the cub, and finally sighed. Curling up into a ball, the young Flareon fell asleep almost automatically.
It was not just Blazewind that had been asked to come to the small lake that formed part of the borders of Blackstar Pack grounds. The old Mightyena was already joined by Tarrith, the only Houndoom in the forest at the time, and a few of his more loyal Houndour.
Blazewind herself only brought a few warriors with her, as the Poochyena had asked she do. Pyrone and Myrone flanked their leader and mother, while Freda and Noric trudged along after them. Noric's gaze was of nothing less than concern for the other Flareon, who groaned every once and a while from what she called an "upset stomach".
The group looked up at their approach, each nodding a simple hello before shifting their gaze away. Back down. The five gathered close together, forming a knot next to Zerron and another, younger female Poochyena. It was then that Blazewind got the first glimpse at what Blackstar's leader had wanted her to see.
The earth around the thing had been churned by digging paws, claw marks still in the clay-like soil that they stood upon. It was like nothing she'd ever seen before. It's bony carapace was bleached white and shimmered in the light as if it'd been polished and cleaned. It was rounded, looking a lot like some sort of oversized ball instead of a living creature.
No digging had gone on farther than part of the creature's shell, if it had legs, it was still stuck. But something in the way it looked made Blazewind doubt that the thing would have legs or, if it did have them, would find no use for the limbs.
She wouldn't have even believed it was alive, had she not heard the steady, slow breathing coming from the single hole in the shell, where darkness was all that could be seen beyond it. "What is this thing?" Myrone asked as she ran a paw over the carapace curiously.
"Neither of us know." Tarrith grumbled.
"Indeed. I was hoping, Blazewind, if you've ever seen anything like it?" The Flareon shook her head, and he continued with a sigh, "Then all there is to do now is wait for the rest…"
A dead minute passed, in which most eyes were either fixed upon the half dug-out creature, or another of a different pack. Freda had calmed down drastically, and was now laying on her side, breathing steadily.
But after another couple of minutes like this, another two forms appeared, as Tetzleflame and Blosten both arrived together. Blosten was alone, while the Ninetales had brought Flamedance with him. The three newest arrivals filled up the space around the creature, and it was Blosten that gasped, "Good gracious, what is that?"
"It's…" Tetzleflame broke off and started laughing in awkward hysterics. "Oh no, it can't be that! They died out a long time ago…"
"What were you thinking, Tetzleflame?" Zerron prompted, ignoring the nervous laughter still coming from the old Ninetales.
Only Flamedance noticed that he was shaking, not from the laughter, but from some other force. She was too young to remember what he did, but still the single word that bubbled out and surfaced from Tetzleflame's mouth was enough to turn a chill feeling upon her fur. "Shelgon."
Blank stares greeted the answer. The only thing that kept them from complete silence was the golden-furred Ninetales and his partly hysterical repetitions of that one word.
The creature stirred. It was as if a slight tremor was going through the earth at the time. Perhaps it was because the creature heard its species name, but they'd never know for sure. Two red slits appeared in the dark hole, and Myrone, who was in front of it, recognized them from somewhere.
Her ears were filled with a rushing sound and a faint hint of a voice went past her hearing, even though it was too faint for her to make out the words. All for one second, before the two slits faded back into the darkness, leaving a shuddering Myrone there without a reason to be afraid. Just my imagination. The Espeon chided, trying to regain herself as the world spun around.
"Myrone?" Noric's voice was faint and far between. She looked back to see that he was within touching distance, and twitched her ears slowly.
It's all my imagination. The voice in her mind repeated firmly. "I-I'm going back now." Myrone stuttered, and walked off without another word to explain her actions.
It was later that night, over a piece of fresh kill, that Myrone and Freda met up. "You okay?" Both blurted at the same time, each for different reasons. They mewed laughter at the joint question, and settled down together to share the meal.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" Myrone was the first to answer though, "Just had the shivers. I'm alright now, honest."
"And the Pidgey I ate for breakfast didn't agree with me." Freda continued with her own answer, "So I'm okay now too."
They ate in silence for a minute or so, content that they'd both thought of an answer that wouldn't create suspicion. But after a minute or so, Freda blurted, "I've got something to tell you."
She was greeted by a curious glance from the Espeon, who urged her on with an nod as she swallowed her mouthful. "Myrone… I'm going to have kits."
Myrone was very grateful that she'd swallowed before Freda had said anything, for it would have come back as she blurted, "WHAT?"
"Shhh." The Flareon hissed when a couple of wary eyes darted to the pair, "I'm going to have kits." She repeated in a whisper. "Don't tell anyone. You're the only one who knows here."
"But surely Pyrone or Blazewind should have guessed-" Myrone cut herself off. If she hadn't figured this out with psychic powers, how would her sister or mother fare? She instead looked back to Freda, who appeared to be normal as ever. "Wow Freda, that's great. Who's the lucky father?" The Espeon continued carefully.
The silence that followed was all that she needed to come to the answer herself. "It's Kashen, isn't it?" And a slow nod at her whisper replied for itself.