Legends of the Saloli: Approaching Storm (26 page)

Chapter Sixteen

The day was bright, and the sun warmed the forest to a comfortable degree. It was a peaceful day, and the birds sang while Icefire went about their duties. Suddenly, the tranquility was broken. . .

“
Blaze! Blaze!” Smallthorn shouted, running up to his friend.

“
What is it Smallthorn?” Blaze asked, worried by the desperation in his voice.

“
Where’s Faith?”

“
She just went up her tree. Why?” But Smallthorn had already turned and was running towards Faith’s tree. Blaze followed.

“
Faith!” he shouted up at her. Worried that somebody might be hurt, she immediately came rushing down to him.

“
What is it, Smallthorn?” she asked.

“
It’s Newthorn. She feels sick!” Smallthorn explained as quickly as he could, “She says her stomach is upset, and she feels sore.”

“
Take me to her.”

Smallthorn ran back to the common’s tree with Faith and Blaze in tow. Newthorn was lying on the ground beside the tree. Blaze agreed, she did look a little green. He understood his friend’s concern. In the forest, sickness was a dangerous thing. Without the help of medicine, the infection could quickly turn deadly.

“
How are you feeling, Newthorn?” Faith asked.

“
Like I’m going to throw up,” she responded, moaning softly.

“
Do you mind if I inspect you?” Newthorn shook her head. Faith began laying her front paws all over her, first on her back, then on her side, then her forehead. When she finally placed her hand on Newthorn’s stomach, she paused for almost a whole minute. Her mouth slowly stretched into a smile, and she bent down and whispered something into Newthorn’s ear. Newthorn’s face lit up in shock and surprise.

“
Are you sure?” she asked, obviously not quite believing what ever Faith had just told her.

“
Yes, I have seen this many times.” The prophet promised.

“
Then I’m really. . . really. . .”

“
Yes, dear. You really are.”

“
What?” Smallthorn asked, confused, “She really is what?”

“
Should I tell him?” Newthorn asked, still with a surprised look on her face.

“
Yes, go ahead,” Faith encouraged her.

“
Smallthorn, I’m. . . I mean you’re. . . I mean we. . . we’re going to be parents!”

Smallthorn’s jaw dropped open, “What?” he asked.

“
Smallthorn, I’m pregnant!” A grin larger than any Blaze had ever seen spread across her face.

For a moment, Smallthorn simply stood there, completely unsure of what to do. Then he shook his head, and beamed at his mate, “Newthorn, that’s wonderful!” he nearly shouted, “You’re going to be a mother!”

“
And you’ll be a father!” Newthorn agreed, just as happily.

Blaze was in shock. His best friend? A father? He couldn’t comprehend it.

“
What will we name it?” Smallthorn asked, suddenly.

Newthorn thought for a bit, “I think I like Springthorn.” She decided.

“
Good idea, I like that too,” Smallthorn agreed.

“
Why Springthorn?” Blaze asked.

“
Because he will be Smallthorn and Newthorn’s offspring,” Newthorn explained.

“
Don’t go getting so excited just yet,” Faith chuckled, “It’s still many weeks away from being born.”

“
How can I not be?” Smallthorn asked, ecstatically, “I’m going to be a father! I need to tell someone!”

Smallthorn rubbed the side of his head with Newthorn’s and raced off. Blaze watched as he caught Rust’s attention and began explaining what was going on with more energy then he had ever seen in the small saloli before. Even more then when he had first found out he was being promoted. Blaze looked over at Newthorn, who was still laying on the ground, looking more excited then a saloli who’s just found the world’s biggest acorn.

“
Congratulations.” he told her.

“
Thank you!” she gushed, “Oh, I’m just so happy! Wait a minute. There’s still something that we need to address. Smallthorn! Come back here for a second.” Smallthorn came racing back to them.

“
What is it?” he asked.

“
We need to decide on a godfather for Springthorn.”

“
How about Blaze?” Smallthorn suggested immediately.

“
What, me?” Blaze asked, surprised.

“
That’s a great idea!” Newthorn agreed, “If something should happen to us, I can’t think of any other saloli I would be happier to know was looking after our child than the hero of Icefire!”

“
Wait, godfather? What does that even mean?”

“
It means that if something happens to Smallthorn and I, something that renders us incapable of raising Springthorn, then you would take over for us,” Newthorn explained, “It really is considered an honor, and you would make us both very happy if you said yes.”

Blaze bit his lip in uncertainty, “I, uh, well, I don’t know.”

“
You don’t want to do it?” Smallthorn asked, looking hurt.

Hearing this, Blaze immediately made his decision, “Of course I do! It’s just that you caught me off guard. But what sort of a friend would I be if I said no? Yes, I’ll do it.”

“
Thank you Blaze!” Newthorn practically squealed in happiness.

“
Thank you,” Smallthorn repeated, “you really are a true friend.”

<><><><><>

“
Okay, Scratch, come at me!” Blaze ordered.

Scratch hesitated for a couple seconds, and then charged at his mentor. He leapt up at the last second, claws extended. He was too slow, though, and Blaze easily sidestepped him and gave him a light scratch in the side.

“
Ow!” Scratch complained, “That hurt!”

“
It’s punishment for your failure. Trust me, in a real battle it would have been much worse. Look, you’re not even bleeding.”

“
It still hurt,” Scratch sulked.

“
Get over it,” Blaze snapped, quickly becoming irritated with Scratch’s ceaseless complaining. “Now, get ready to do it again.”

“
But we’ve been at this all day!”

“
How do you expect to become a good fighter if you don’t work hard at it?”

“
I don’t plan on getting in any fights.” Scratch retorted.

“
You may not have a choice! We’re in a war, Scratch, and an attack could come at any time. Would you rather watch your tribe die around you than get a little hurt?”

Scratch’s eyes filled with shame, “No,” he whispered, looking at the ground. Blaze felt his anger melt away, and sighed, “I thought you said you trusted me, Scratch.”

“
I do!” The trainee confirmed.

“
Then trust me when I say that serving your tribe will make you happier than anything else ever could. Nobody wants to die, but think of the lives you could be saving when you fight!”

“
But what if I’m never any good at it?”

“
It will take hard work, Scratch, and a lot of it. But in the end, I’m sure you’ll be an amazing fighter.”

“
How do you know?”

“
It’s something Slicer taught me. Every saloli has the potential to be a great fighter, they just don’t realize it. All you need are your instincts.”

“
Then why am I not as good as you?”

“
Because you haven’t developed them enough yet. Once you’ve improved your speed, strength, and agility, the rest will come naturally.”

“
Really?” Scratch asked, his eyes shining with sudden hope. Blaze blinked in surprise. Was it just him, or had the grass around Scratch’s paws just turned greener?

“
Yes,” he said, forcing the thought out of his mind. He was just imagining things, “But it will never happen unless you dedicate yourself and work as hard as you can. Do you understand?”

“
Yes, Blaze.” Scratch confirmed.

“
Good, now get ready to come at me again.”

His spirit restored, Scratch charged at Blaze at top speed, then, once again, leapt at him. Again Blaze sidestepped him and scratched him in the side.

“
Rule number one in fighting,” he advised his trainee, “Never use the same move twice.”

“
I’m never going to get it!” Scratch wailed, his enthusiasm demolished, “I’m the worst Icefire saloli ever!”

“
No you’re not!” Blaze admonished him, “I can think of one other that’s far worse than you.”

Instead of cheering him up, this seemed to lower Scratch’s spirits even further. Tears welling up in his eyes, he turned and dashed out of Acorn Place. Blaze sighed. What could he do? Glancing back at where his trainee had just been standing, he gasped! The grass where Scratch had stood was now yellow and wilted. Completely dead.

“
Blaze!” Scratch’s voice came from out of the woods, “Help me!”

Blaze dashed out of Acorn Place, following Scratch’s scent. There was another scent in the air, one that he was sure he had smelled before, but couldn’t quite place. It definitely wasn’t a saloli’s scent. He burst into a small clearing, and found Scratch crouched in the center, shivering like he was freezing.

“
What is it?” Blaze demanded, but Scratch was staring at something slightly to his mentor’s right. Blaze followed his gaze, and gasped. Standing just outside the clearing was a fox.

“
Well, well, well,” she chuckled, “Lookie what we have here! Two saloli instead of just one!”

It was then that Blaze realized just who this fox was. It was none other than Flame’s mate. The one who had sworn revenge on Blaze. She obviously didn’t recognize him yet, as she was still smiling cruelly, showing off her long canine teeth. She blinked, looking at Blaze.

“
You!” she said suddenly.

“
Um, hi?” Blaze said, timidly. Another fox ran in then.

“
Scarlet!” he barked, “What are you doing here?”

“
Getting my revenge,” the vixen snapped, “I have the one who killed Flame right here.” With that, Scarlet pounced on Blaze. Pinning him down with her paws, she slowly lowered her jaws towards his neck. Opening her mouth, she prepared to bite his throat open. Suddenly, she yelped and reared her head back.

“
You stupid little thing!” she screamed, “Get off of me!”

She began thrashing her head around, trying to throw something off. Blaze caught sight of something dark red clutching the back of her neck. Scratch! Blaze immediately jumped to his feet and charged at Scarlet, determined to save his trainee. Leaping at the last second, he managed to sink his claws into her snout, making her yip in pain. She swung her head one more time, and Blaze saw a blur of red fur go flying off into the forest. He wanted to go help him, but couldn’t let go of Scarlet’s nose without being hurled away himself. Before he could react, the vixen charged forward, straight into a tree, effectively squashing Blaze in the process. The wind knocked out of him, Blaze lost his grip and fell to the forest floor. Before he could move, Scarlet knelt down and nipped him in the neck, right where the vein was. Blood began pumping out of Blaze’s throat like a fountain.