When Fireheart told Dusty about his thoughts the next day, the white wolf narrowed his eyes. "I see." he murmured.
"What should I do?" Fireheart flopped down on the ground.
"I don't know..." Dusty trailed off, distracted.
"I'm going for a walk," Fireheart announced, rising to his paws.
Dusty blinked. "Watch your back!" he called.
"Ok!" Fireheart was remembering with amusement how he had gotten into that fight last time he went out on his own. Dusty nodded.
After a while Fireheart got bored and took a short nap. When he woke up, the sun was lower in the sky and he was bored again, so he headed back. When he looked towards their camp, however, he gasped with horror. Thick black smoke was filling the sky! He took off at a run back to his friends.
Serenity was running back and forth, terrified, until she saw Fireheart. "Where were you?" she snapped.
"I just went for a walk! Where is the smoke coming from?" He panted.
"Over the hill...we gotta move now!" she barked, eyes filled with fear. "Wait! Where's Dusty?"
Fireheart imagined the old cat, trapped by smothering flames, and pushed thought away. "We have to find him." Serenity shrugged. "We have to find him!" He repeated firmly. When she didn't reply or move, Fireheart gaped at her, "Don't you even care about him?"
"Why, of course I do." she barked. "Now let's go find him." She whirled around, calling out Dusty's name. Fireheart followed, also calling his name. Suddenly, he spotted a dark, ragged shape by the river. "Dusty," he choked. "Over here!" he barked to Serenity, "I found him!"
Serenity rushed over and stared at the wolf. As Fireheart looked at the body, an unexpectedly strong pang of sadness over rushed over him and he closed his eyes and sank to the ground.
"Wait, he's moving!"
At Serenity's surprised yelp, he bolted up. Sure enough, Dusty's flanks were moving, but just barely. "Come on," Fireheart barked, "we have to get him out of here."
The fire was getting closer. Serenity heaved Dusty onto her back and staggered into a safer direction. With the heavy wolf on her back, Fireheart did his best to steady her.
When they were a safe distance from the fire, she let Dusty slide off his back and onto the dirt. Fireheart rushed over and slowly lowered Serenity to the ground before she collapsed then examined Dusty. His fur was burnt in some places and was filled with thick soot, but other than that, he was fine.
She licked her sore paw pads and grasped for air. Dusty's breathing was very shallow. After a moment, he convulsed and gasped as fresh air seeped into his lungs. He coughed up ashes and said in a hoarse, raspy voice, "Thanks."
Serenity stood up, tired. "Now are we going, or what?"
Fireheart stared at her in astonishment, "We can't possibly leave with him like this! Can't we wait a while?"
She sighed. "Fine."
Three days later, Dusty was up and ready to leave.
"Now are we ready?" Serenity asked.
"Of course we are!" Dusty barked, rejuvenated.
"Yes, we're ready now." said Fireheart, amused. He nodded before taking one last glance at the fire that still raged on.
Serenity began to head towards a large plain. "Well, we won't miss that place that's for sure," Dusty commented. She snorted as she took a step onto the soft ground. She looked at the horizon and felt as if the plain would last forever.
But they were not discouraged. They pressed onward, determined to reach their destination together. They traveled unwavering for a while until the sun was at its peak, when Serenity stopped. She sniffed the air. "I don't smell that disgusting stench of human anymore." she barked.
"Good, we wouldn't want to run into them again," Fireheart commented dryly. Dusty nodded in agreement. As they began walking over the vast plain, they started having doubts. Serenity saw Dusty limp a bit but then she looked away. 'He'll be fine.' she thought, more hoping it than anything. They couldn't afford anymore delays.
After a few hours, Fireheart also noticed him limping. He voiced his worries to Serenity and mildly suggested that they stop and rest for the night. Rest? That sounded good to her. And they looked tired enough to sleep on their paws. "Fine." she grumbled before settling onto the soft ground. Dusty closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. Fireheart stayed awake a while, watching the moon rise then he also succumbed to sleep. This time, no dreams disturbed him.
The next morning Fireheart woke to a soft, pitiful whimpering. He lifted his head and was surprised to see a small wolf cub cowering in the bushes a few yards away. When he stood, the cub shrank back, his eyes wide. Serenity was still asleep, but Dusty awoke. "Hey, its okay, little one," Fireheart murmured to the cub.
"We won't hurt you." Dusty joined Fireheart.
Eventually, they got the cub to tell them his name, Furzepaw. He said that his mom just died and he was lonely.
"I don't think Serenity is gonna be happy about this." Dusty whispered, glancing at their sleeping leader.
"Are we going to let him starve or be eaten?" Fireheart countered. Dusty shrugged. "Come on, Furzepaw," soothed Fireheart. "You can come with us if you want to." He ignored a withering glance from Dusty.
Dusty groomed his fur before getting up. "You tell Serenity," he said briskly.
"Fine with me," Fireheart replied, helping Furzepaw over to Serenity to wait for her to wake up.
They didn't have to wait long. She awoke with a start and glared at the two. "Who is this?" she questioned, standing up.
"This is Furzepaw," Fireheart explained boldly. "His mother died and he wants to come with us."
Furzepaw stepped up to Serenity and stammered, "May I please come? I don't want to stay here anymore." He bowed his head.
She growled. "Fine...but you two are going to be responsible for this...thing." she turned away and started to head in the same direction they were at the day before.
Furzepaw looked distraught. "She doesn't want me here!" He wailed. Fireheart tried to soothe him, but his attempts were futile. Furzepaw turned to leave.
"Wait up!" Dusty called. The cub didn't look back. He caught up to Furzepaw. "What are you doing? You can't leave!" he barked.
"She doesn't want me," Furzepaw sulked, "so I'm leaving. I'm not going to upset her by being here."
Fireheart bounded over. "We want you here. That's what matters."
"Ignore her...you'll get used to it!" Dusty added.
"Are you sure you don't mind me here?" Furzepaw asked, looking more hopeful.
"Yeah!" Fireheart replied, licking his paw.
"Well ok then,"
Fireheart relaxed. They couldn't leave this cub here! Dusty licked the cubs' dirty fur. "Don't worry...we have hearts, unlike Serenity," he growled.
"Yeah, don't worry about her, she'll get used to you." Fireheart hoped he was right. "Now let's catch up to her before she leaves us behind," he barked before sprinted towards the leader. They bounded after Serenity with their new companion by their sides.
A week passed, and Furzepaw was already looking bigger and stronger. He ran faster, leaped higher, and was forming an unusually strong bond with Fireheart. Fireheart was glad he was getting on well but he also had his doubts. How would they feed another hungry mouth with winter coming on?
Serenity made her way through the thick vegetation. 'We crossed that plain fast...' she thought.
As they settled down that night, Serenity called to Furzepaw and they left on a walk. Fireheart looked at Dusty, who shrugged. "Who knows?" He commented, laying his head on his paws and closing his eyes.
When they returned, Furzepaw joined Fireheart and asked, "Who was Serenity's mother?" Fireheart glanced over as Serenity lied down beside Dusty and fell asleep. The question surprised him. "Well, I remember her saying something about a wolf named Shadows Claw, but I'm not sure,"
Serenity opened her eyes and snarled. "Lies. I don't speak of my mother. Ever." she grumbled.
"Why?" asked Dusty, who had been listening the whole time. She didn't reply.
Furzepaw could barely contain his excitement. "She's my sister then! My mother was Shadows Claw!" Everyone froze.
"Please." Serenity scoffed.
"But it's true! I was with her before I met you; I remember my own mothers' name." His ecstaticsty died down a bit. "Why don't you, Serenity, of all wolves, believe me?" He looked hurt.
"Because I can't trust anyone. You never know when they'll turn their backs on you." she growled before standing up. Serenity glared at them all and walked away, disappearing into the sea of trees.
"She'll come back." Dusty barked.
"I'm not sure." Furzepaw lost all his excitement. "My mother told me that when Serenity was growing up with her, Shadows Claw asked her to do something she didn't want to do, so she ran away and swore never to speak her name again. It was really sad, but it's true." He turned abruptly. "I'm going after her." He barked, and dashed in the direction Serenity had gone. Dusty watched. "Whatever..."
"Well then," said Fireheart, "We'll just have to wait."
Serenity sat in a tree and whimpered quietly.
"Serenity! Where are you?"
She saw Furzepaw appear through some bushes. She crouched and Furzepaw looked up. "Please listen to me, Serenity, you have to! She wanted me to give you a message if I ever saw you!"
"Then what is it?" she snarled. "Is it to tell me how I was wrong this whole time?"
"No, I was to tell you that she never meant it like that, whatever it was. She loved you more that life, and refused to admit you were gone. She missed you very much." He turned to leave and barked over his shoulder, "That's all. I'll let you alone now."
She looked away, tail dangling.
As Furzepaw wandered alone in the night, he made the decision to leave immediately. He was strong and knew how to hunt now. He could take care of himself. With that, he turned away from his new friends and dashed away as fast as he could.
Serenity awoke the next morning with Dusty below the branch, snapping at her tail to wake her up. "Get up! We can't find Furzepaw! He was with you last. Where did he go?" The words tumbled out of his mouth rapidly.
She didn't reply. She just stood up, stretched and climbed down. Dusty led her to the camp. "Come on," he barked impatiently. "We have to find him!"
"It's not my concern!" she snarled, hopping down. "Where's Fireheart?"
"Here," Fireheart pushed through the bushes. "What's going on?"
"Apparently, Furzepaw is missing." she growled.
"What?" He glanced at Dusty, "What happened?"
She scoffed.
"I'm going to look for him, no matter what you say!" Fireheart bounded into the undergrowth. "Dusty, are you coming?" Dusty glanced at his leader repulsively and followed Fireheart, leaving Serenity standing alone.
"Fine! Whatever!" she snapped before turning her back on them.
When Fireheart arrived at Serenity's tree, Dusty caught up to him. "Which way do you think he went?" he asked. Fireheart sniffed around until he found a faint trace of Furzepaw's scent. "This way!"
Dusty headed for the direction of the scent. "I can smell it!" They followed the scent trail over a small hill, through a fence, and then lost it at the edge of a wide river. "Oh no! We lost him!" Dusty bowed his head.
"Wait, maybe he crossed the river." Fireheart suggested.
Dusty nodded unenthusiastically. As they crossed the river, Fireheart saw many fat inviting fish swimming beneath their paws. "Shall we hunt soon? These fish look delicious."
Dusty nodded, "That would keep our energy up to look for Furzepaw."
On the other side, they clambered out and shook themselves thoroughly. Dusty stared into the water. "What is it?"
"Nothing, I'm just not hungry." he barked.
Suddenly, a huge fish darted under their noses. Fireheart quickly plunged his paw into the water and hooked the fish out of the water. It landed with a thump on dry ground and flopped about until he gave it a nip behind its head. It fell still. "There!" he barked. "Are you sure you don't want some?" Fireheart offered the fish to Dusty.
Dusty shook his head before lapping up some water. When they finished eating and drinking, they once again set off in search of Furzepaw. Like Fireheart had thought, they picked up his scent on the other side of the river and followed it.
Dusty glanced around his shoulder, afraid they were being watched.
They got to the top of the hill, and Furzepaws' scent got stronger. "We must be close!" Dusty barked excitedly. He sprinted forward, searching frantically for the young wolf.
As Fireheart followed slowly, he saw a huge shape crouched in the bushes right where Dusty was headed. 'Not again,' he thought. "Dusty watch out!" Dusty skidded to a halt just as the shape leaped at him. Finally, Fireheart saw what it was. Bear!
Dusty jumped backwards and tumbled through the ferns and into the roots of a tree. "Gah!" he yelped as he struggled to get his head out. "Dusty! No!"
Suddenly he was standing over Dusty, ready to defend his friend with his life. As the bear lumbered closer, he spotted Furzepaw halfway up the slope, an evil grin on his face.
At that moment, Dusty got his head free and was beside Fireheart. "Take care of this." Fireheart growled through clenched teeth. "I'll be back," and bounded towards Furzepaw. When Furzepaw saw him coming, he whipped around and disappeared into the brambles. Putting on a burst of speed Fireheart caught up to Furzepaw and pinned him roughly to the ground. "Traitor! How could you, Furzepaw?"
Furzepaw grinned. "First, I was always planning this. Second that's not my name. It's Scourge! Leader of your most feared nightmare, The BloodShadows!"
He howled with triumph as a dozen huge, muscular black wolves surrounded them.
Serenity lifted her head when she heard the growling of other wolves in the far distance.
"Great..." Fireheart shoved Scourge in the stomach and scrambled to his paws. As he looked at Furzepaw/Scourge, confusion filled him as he realized he'd been tricked the whole time. With a jolt, he remembered his mothers' prophecy: Don't trust anyone. He wished he'd paid more attention to Furzepaw/Scourge.
"Why?" He asked simply.
For a moment, regret wavered Scourge's glare, and then was gone so quickly, Fireheart wondered if he'd imagined it. "This was my destiny, to hate all other wolves, ever since they killed my mother months ago. I needed someone to lead to the awaiting trap. Your group seemed easy, and I was right, so here you are. But where's that other one, Serenity?" His voice cracked at her name.
Back at the clearing just down the slope, Dusty rammed his head into the bears' stomach, forcing it backwards. As he battered at it, he realized it was futile to try and defeat it. Dusty sprang backward and climbed the tree, seeking shelter from the massive animal. The bear started to ram its head into the tree, trying to shake the refugee off of it. It continued for some while. Dusty bounced to different trees. The bear followed, but however fast he moved, he couldn't out run the lumbering animal. He leaped down and streaked off. Serenity rushed over to Fireheart, panting. "What's going on here?" she snarled.
"This wolf is a traitor! He led us to this trap and tried to kill Dusty!" Fireheart growled through clenched teeth. "We should never have trusted him."
At that moment, Dusty came pelting out of the trees at full speed, the bear close behind. He skidded to a halt beside Serenity, panting hard from the exhausting run. "Can't...get...away...from…this...thing!" He managed to choke out through giant gulps of breath. He glanced at Fireheart who was still glaring at Scourge. "Hey! You found Furzepaw!" He broke off, confused. "What happened?"
Then it sunk in. "Oh... we can't take him back, can we?" Fireheart shook his head.
Serenity scoffed. "Then I suppose we'll just have to kill him!" she snarled before grabbing the traitor by the scruff and shaking him to and fro. As Scourge was being shaken, he suddenly relaxed, causing Serenity to lose her balance and fall under his weight. "Ooof!" she yelped as she crashed to the ground.
Scourge got to his feet, shook himself and lunged at Serenity. She sprang towards him, ramming his chest hard with her head. After that, she embedded her claws into his shoulders, snarling.
As Fireheart watched, he was devising a plan. He quickly told Dusty, who nodded his approval. "Scourge!" Fireheart suddenly barked. That surprised Scourge, and he faltered. Scourge yelped in pain and surprise as Serenity dug in her fangs, and that's when Dusty attacked.
Lunging at Scourge from behind, he knocked the traitors' feet out from under him. Scourges guards' eyes widened in surprise at the attack, and then they leaped as one at Dusty.
Fireheart had anticipated this, though.
Serenity continued to lash at his throat, blood gushing from the wound. Fury sparked in her eyes. Scourge looked up at her with sincere regret in his eyes before they glazed over. He was gone.
Now they had to deal with the guards.
She gasped for air and shook her head.
As Fireheart landed in front of the advancing guards, time seemed to slow down. He caught the closest wolf in his jaws and flung him halfway across the field. The next one he slashed his claws at its eyes and it retreated with a sharp yelp of pain. Ten more, he thought. Dusty glanced at his leader and blinked. He fought the rival wolves by Firehearts side.
They slashed with claws and bit ferociously with teeth, and eventually, there were only two wolves left. Fireheart instinctively took the larger one, though it was twice his size. He slashed at its throat but the larger opponent swung his head to the side and Fireheart's claws passed harmlessly through thick course fur. Instead of trying that again, he jumped high into the air and landed on the huge wolfs' back. Unbalanced, it fell heavily to its front knees. Fireheart seized his chance and buried his long fangs deep into its neck. The larger wolf screamed in agony, stiffened, and fell to the ground, dead.
Serenity was lying on her side, not moving. When they padded up to her, she stirred. Dusty poked her with his paw. "Serenity...?"
"Are you alright?" Fireheart added.
"I'm fine." she snarled, standing up shakily.
"Are you sure?" Fireheart asked, with good reason. Her wounds were deep, and she had a tear in her throat. It looked bad.
"Yes!" she snapped. Serenity shook her pelt, blood flying from her wounds and onto the other two. They flinched away from the droplets.
"Well, we need to rest a few days before we are strong enough to continue." Fireheart said with a meaningful glance at Serenity. Dusty shrugged. "You can never convince her." he whispered.
Serenity struggled to climb up a tree for a bit until she made it up and sat on a branch, licking her wounds.
"We should probably hunt for her," Dusty suggested. They left in search of prey.
Fireheart sniffed around in search of something to catch. He caught the scent of pheasant and turned to Dusty. "Over here!" he barked quietly. Fireheart heard it in a clump of ferns and he motioned for Dusty to stay back. He crept forward towards the sound. Dusty nodded before carefully sitting down. Fireheart leaped into the bushes right on top of the huge bird, flattening it underneath him. He quickly dispatched it with a sharp nip to its neck. Dusty peered through the ferns and stared.
"What do you think?" Fireheart announced proudly. "Will it feed us all?"
"Maybe...I might go find some raccoons just in case." Dusty barked, turning away.
"See ya around!"
Dusty nodded before taking off.
When Fireheart arrived back at camp, he found Serenity still on her branch. She had cleaned her wounds and was sleeping quietly.
Not wanting to wake her, Fireheart set down the bird and left in search for more prey.
Dusty quietly watched a stray chicken that must have escaped from a coop. He crept forward and snapped its neck, happy with his catch. While returning back to their temporary camp, he met up with Fireheart.
"Serenity's sleeping", he informed Dusty. "Don't wake her."
Dusty nodded and sprinted back to camp and dropped his chicken. He twisted around and scented a raccoon and took off at the speed of light.
Fireheart heard Dusty pounding through the forest and followed as the sound faded. The silence was broken by a huge thump. The familiar sounds of Dusty broke out in grunts and huffs. Fireheart caught up to Dusty. "What's going on?"
His head was entangled in the roots of a tree. "Help!" he demanded, struggling.
Not again, thought Fireheart as he went to help his friend. "Well, looks like we will have to leave you here while we go to the Mystic Waters alone!" Fireheart joked. "You wouldn't dare." he replied.
"Oh really," he teased, stepping behind a tree.
"Fireheart?" Dusty called uncertainly. "Help me buddy!" No answer. "Come on!" Dusty sighed. Dusty began to pull and tug again. "Don't leave me here!" he whimpered.
Fireheart appeared, howling with laughter. He collapsed, his body racked as the laughs turned to hiccups. "Ops...hic!"
Now Dusty was cracking. Dusty shook his head and tugged again. "Are you gonna help me or what?"
"Just a sec...Hic!"
Dusty sighed again. He blinked.
"Ok, I'll try now." Stifling his hiccups, Fireheart grabbed Dusty's scruff and yanked. He came free with a mighty whoomph!
"Thanks," Dusty said sheepishly. "No problem." Dusty licked his dirty fur and sighed. "Well, that's another delay in our quest." Fireheart sighed, again jerking with the hiccups.
"We have to wait for our injuries to heal, and we have let Serenity rest."
"Fine, fine..." he grumbled, heading back to their camp.
Fireheart rolled his eyes and followed him.