"Chinooks in trouble!" Shade cried out to the others as he flew into Tree Haven. He flew so hard he thought he might pass out.
"How's he in trouble?" Penumbra asked from above.
"We saw what killed those bats. More of them were killed, even birds, and other bats. It chased after us. We split up and it took off after Chinook." Shade spilled out all his words out fast, trying to catch his breath.
"Was it on of the Vampyrum?" Ariel asked.
"No. I don't know what it was, but it was definitely horrifying. I've never seen anything like it before." Shade replied.
"Well, let's hurry then!" Ariel yelled to the colony, "All adult males, find Chinook, he's in danger."
The males began flying from their roost and towards the outside. Then, Chinook came flying into Tree Haven. He looked exhausted and kept smacking into things, until he finally fell to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Chinook! Are you o.k.?" Shade cried.
Catching his breath he replied, "I think so. It nearly got me. It cornered me, and just when I thought I was dead, the sun came up, and the creature began to scream and thrash around insanely. It finally stumbled off."
"The sun scared it off?" Shade asked.
"I think so. All I know is, it couldn't stand the sun."
"It's possible that this creature may have a weakness against the sun. Interesting." Ariel said.
What bats were killed?" Marina asked as she flew down to them.
I only saw four Silverwings: Jambi, Malary, Veta, and I think Tether." Shade replied.
"Oh no, they went hunting with Ataria earlier!" Marina replied.
"No! I've got to help her!" Chinook cried as he tried to limp away and fly. Shade now realized how badly injured he was.
"You can't, your hurt." Penumbra shouted at him, flying down to sooth him. "You need to rest."
"She's right Chinook." said Marina flying over to help him limp back. "Let's take him to the nursery roost."
"But…
Before Chinook could object Ataria came charging into Tree Haven. "Their dead. The bats, all dead!" She cried looking tired.
"How'd you get away from that thing?" Chinook asked looking relieved that she was safe.
"I don't know. I didn't see anything. All I can remember is that I think I fainted, and when I woke up, they were dead and I panicked."
"Your lucky." said Shade.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Oh my! Chinook, your injured."
"I'm fine, really." Chinook told her.
"We need to take him to the nursery roost; can you help us?" Marina asked her.
"Sure." Ataria said.
Penumbra, Marina, and Ataria all helped Chinook up to the nursery roost. Should could tell Chinook liked all the female attention he was getting, because he shot a wink over to him as they carried him.
"Ouch! Ow! Chinook cried.
"Sorry, but this is only going to help," said Ariel as she put medicine plants on his leg in the nursery roost. "The stinging will stop shortly."
"It bit into your leg pretty deep. Any further and you would have lost your leg" Ataria told him.
"Not a great thought, huh." Chinook replied.
"No, I guess not." replied Ataria chuckling.
"Ataria, can you apply pressure right here for me please?" Ariel asked.
"Ow,Ow! Chinook cried again.
"Sorry. There we go. Better?"
"I guess." Chinook said.
"How old are you?" Ataria asked Chinook.
"Not very old. Wasn't long ago I was a newborn. I'm two." he replied.
"Wow. You're quite big and muscular at that age." Ataria told him. "And kind of cute."
Chinook's ears pricked up at that compliment." Really? I mean uh… yeah I know. Shade over there has always wished he could be me. Haven't you Shade?" Chinook said winking at him.
Oh boy, here we go. Shade thought. She just set the cocky side of Chinook on.
Shade was about to object but was stopped by a nudge from Marina telling him to just let it go.
Ataria was giggling. Shade began to think Ataria liked Chinook. And; that laugh, Shade thought. I've heard that laugh before. Shade couldn't think of what he called that laugh. "Tinkly." Suddenly he recognized the laugh.
Chinook must have recognized it too because he said, "I think I remember a laugh like that. I wonder from whom though."
"Yeah, me too." Shade said.
They both looked at Marina. "Oh, me?" Marina said looking unsurprised. "Yeah well, my laugh is a charm, when I'm flirtatious. Right boys?"
"You two are a lot alike." Chinook said.
"That's kind of a bad thing, for Ataria anyway." Shade said.
"What do you mean by that, huh" Marina asked competitively.
"Nevermind." he told her.
"Well, I think youre going to be o.k." Ariel said. "I'm just going to let you young ones be."
"Thank you Ariel." Chinook said.
"Well, I think me and Marina should get some sleep." Shade said. " We'll just let you two be."
Shade flew down with Marina. "I think those two will bond quite nicely, don't you." Shade told her.
"I think so," she said wrapping herself around him, "By the way, before we get some sleep, what did you mean by Ataria being like me was a bad thing?"
"Just go to sleep."
Back up in the nursery roost, Ataria and Chinook were alone.
"So um…" Chinook started to say.
"You used to trial after her, didn't you?" Ataria asked him.
"Who?"
"Marina, off course."
"Oh her. Yeah, I did. I guess you could say we paid each other a lot of attention."
"She did it to get even with Shade didn't she?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that she used you to get to Shade." she said laughing.
"Yeah, I guess she did." Chinook said with a smile.
"Well, I bet she thought you were pretty attractive yourself."
"Maybe."
"I think you are."
Chinook became filled with joy, "Really?"
"Yeah; big, muscular, and handsome. What every female wants. Although, looks aren't everything. What most males don't realize about females is that a lot of us look for big hearts. And I think you have one."
"Really?"
"Yeah" she whispered
She moved closer to him. Close enough for Chinook to breath in her scent. She got real close to him, and kissed him. For a moment, they kept kissing, then she pulled back quickly.
"I'm so…sorry. I shouldn't have done that." said Ataria looking hurt.
"Why?"
"It's just that… I already had a mate. And I want to remain loyal to him. I will see him again when I die.
"But the elders said mates would be balanced in the afterlife."
"That maybe so, but haven't you noticed how many bats have lost mates, and most of them never have another. Their loyal to each other."
"But I love you!"
"I sensed that from you. But I really think it would be best if we could remain friends. Besides, Penumbra has a major thing for you."
"I know."
"I mean, come on, she's great. She's pretty, nice, and just a very lovable bat. She's the one you should want and get to know."
"I don't know. She's great… but… I don't know, this is all confusing.
"I know," said Ataria crying, "I really hope you understand."
"I do. I do. I'm sorry."
"I should be the one sorry."
"How about you hunt with me later, just to talk and get this off our chest?"
Just the two of us?"
"Yeah."
"But what about that thing out there. Shouldn't we at least hunt with others?"
"We'll stay really close to Tree Haven."
Ataria smiled, "O.k. fine. I'll hunt with you."
End of Chapter 8