Chinook went with Ataria to go out hunting. They stayed no more than a quarter of a mile from Tree Haven in case the recent predator was lurking about.
Chinook angled through the trees and branches as he chased a tiger moth. Hunting was never a challenge for Chinook, nor was flying. Chinook was said to have been born to fly.
He caught his hundredth moth that night, while Ataria was giving chase to her own. Like Chinook, she seemed to be an expert hunter. Though, not quite as good as Chinook.
All around them the other Silverwing were out hunting with their groups, like they were supposed to, flying off in a distance.
"Not a bad hunter, are you?" Ataria asked.
"Absolutely. Not so bad yourself." Chinook replied.
"Yeah, I know." Ataria returned with a grin.
"Want to race to three hundred?"
"Really? You want to lose that badly huh?" said Ataria with a smile.
"Oh, I think you'll be the one losing."
"We'll see about that. GO!"
Meanwhile, Shade and Marina were inside Tree Haven roosting comfortably.
"Well, I'm hoping to at least have five children, but…
"Don't you think it's a little soon to be talking about having kids?" Shade asked Marina.
"Oh yeah. I forgot that we may not have and children because of the afraid-to-mate master." Marina said with a smile.
Instead of returning her remark, Shade decided to talk about something else, "If were going to talk about newborns; how about names?"
"Names? I'll have to think about that for awhile. What do you want it to be if it's a girl?"
"I was thinking Aurora." Shade said.
"Really? I was thinking Celeste."
"Really? You don't like Aurora?"
"I didn't say that. I just find Celeste to be better name."
"I really think Aurora is a better name."
"I love that name though."
"But…
"Shade," Marina said soothingly as she kissed his chest, "I really have my heart set on Celeste."
Shade figured how badly Marina would want to name their first child. He gently stroked her, and smiled. "All right, if you really want that name."
"Thank you." she said kissing his chest again. "What if it's a male?"
"I like the name Griffin."
"Griffin? I like that name too."
"Really?"
"Yes. So, if it's a girl, we'll name her Celeste; a boy, then we'll name him Griffin."
"Three hundred!" Chinook shouted.
"No way! That was way too fast!" Ataria beamed.
"Told you I'd win."
"Whatever."
"How many bugs you get anyway?"
"Lost count after four hundred." Ataria said smiling.
"What?"
"That's right; I let you win. I just didn't say anything."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really."
"Yeah, well, I feel kind of sick."
"Really? I feel great."
The moon came out of the clouds to show its fullness. It positively lit up the night.
Chinook looked over to Ataria. Her fur was so beautiful in the moons glow. So radiantly glowing, the moonlight sparkled every inch of her. She looked so incredible.
"I don't know if anyone has ever told you this; you are so beautiful in moonlight." Chinook said.
"Well, thank you. That's why they call us Moonwings."
"Does make sense."
"Off course it does." Ataria said smiling.
"Can I kiss you; once more?" Chinook asked her. He couldn't help it. She just looked to good to let go.
"Chinook, I told you…
"Just once. Please?"
Ataria smiled. "You just won't quit trailing after me, will you? You know I can't be your mate. But…fine. Just once."
They kissed. For a moment Chinook didn't want it to ever end. Secretly, Ataria too knew she had feelings for Chinook, but always remembered her mate. One day she'd be reunited with him.
Chinook suddenly smelled a ranking odor, and the stench rotted his nose. Ataria appeared not to smell anything. It grew worse and Chinook pulled back.
"Do you smell that?" he asked her.
"Smell what?"
"That odor, it…. are you o.k?"
Chinook looked at her. She wasn't looking right. Her teeth weren't what they used to look like, instead looked more like fangs.
"What…do you…mean? I'm…fine."
Ataria began to struggle with her words. Chinook became worried. Her eyes bulged red.
"Ataria, what…are…what's going on?"
"Whhhhaaaaaaatttttt…..doooooooyoooouuuuuuuuuuuu MEAN?!"
She roared loudly. She wasn't herself anymore. Instead she had transformed into something Chinook would hope he would never see again.
Chinook thought he was going to be sick. He almost cried. Ataria was the killer.
"No, no..no…NOOO!" Chinook shouted.
"Did you hear that?" Marina asked Shade.
"Yeah. Sounded like Chinook. Oh no! I think he's in trouble!"
Ataria lurched herself at Chinook; saliva flooding from her mouth.
Chinook stood frozen. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
"Chinook! Fly!" Shade shouted to him from above.
Chinook came to his senses and flew. He flew faster than ever before.
Ataria was gaining on him.
"What do we do?" Marina asked Shade.
Suddenly a big rock hit Ataria in the face causing her to tumble to the ground in a daze.
Shade looked up to see a bunch of males aiding Chinook by throwing rocks down to protect him.
"Chinook, are you…
"It's Ataria!" Chinook yelled.
"What do you mean?" Shade asked.
"That's her down there. It was her all along." Chinook replied catching his breath.
"No…can't be." Marina said in disbelief.
Ataria down below was screeching and roaring. She destroyed some of the rocks as she fell with major echo blast. She began to ascend fast.
"You three, warn the others! Quickly now!" one of the males shouted.
Shade, Marina, and Chinook must have never flown harder because they were practically dead from exhaustion after warning everyone.
Suddenly a group of males came tumbling into Tree Haven; Ataria right behind them.
"What do we…
Ataria hurled herself directly at Chinook before he could fly away and pinned him to the ground. She was ready to strike him.
"Ataria. NOO!" Chinook shouted closing his eyes.
She was about to strike when the sun came up, blasting Ataria.
End of Chapter 9