“I think that’s enough,” he said.
“What?” asked Blaze, barely comprehending his words through his battle adrenaline.
Faith walked up, chuckling. “Blaze, this is Slicer, your new mentor. That’s just his way of saying hello.”
“By ambushing me?” Blaze asked, growing angry.
This time it was Slicer who spoke, “I merely wished to get an idea of how much fighting skill you already had.”
“By fighting me?”
Slicer chuckled, “Well, can you think of a better way?”
“Yeah, just ask me.” Blaze challenged.
“But then you could lie. In battle, there is no lying. You either win, or you lose.”
“You’re not going to win this argument, Blaze,” said Faith, “He’s had it with every trainee he’s ever had.”
“Then let’s stop arguing and get to work!” said Slicer.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Blaze asked, “So, um, how did I do with your test?”
Slicer looked at him for a second before answering, “Only one other saloli was able to hold their own against me for that long on their first try. That saloli was Rust. I believe you have much potential.”
<><><><><>
It was midnight, and the Darkcover camp was calm. The saloli of Darkcover were sleeping peacefully in their branches, dreaming of the day when they alone would rule the forest. The wind moaned loudly, as if it knew what evils Darkcover was planning. But not everyone was asleep. A single saloli could be seen bounding across the camp, towards the tree that Goliath alone slept in. Climbing to the highest branch, he tentatively prodded Goliath in the side to wake him up.
“Uuuhg,” said Goliath, coming out of his deep slumber, “This had better be important, Ratty.”
Ratty was aptly named, because his tail was completely hairless, giving it the appearance of a rat’s tail. “Y-yes sir!” the timid saloli said, not wanting to get on Goliath’s bad side. Bad things happened to the saloli who did that. “I just- I mean, I have- I mean…”
“Spit it out!” the giant saloli spat derisively. He didn’t like Ratty, but tolerated him because he was Darkcover’s prophet.
“I just had a dream from Valde Abbas! He has a warning for you!”
“Well, let’s hear it!” said Goliath impatiently.
“Yes sir! He says that not all will go as you expect. Beware the one with the body of a saloli, the past of a human, and the heart of a hero, for he could put your plans into jeopardy.”
Goliath was silent for a moment. Then he smiled and said, “Which means nothing can go wrong! What saloli has ‘the past of a human?’ None! Your dream is a blessing, Ratty! It means we have nothing to fear!”
Chapter Four
“Come on, trainees, wake up, wake up!” Gnaw yelled.
This time, Blaze was ready. When he heard the head trainer, he jumped up with all the other trainees and scrambled down the tree to stand in line. His efforts did not go unnoticed.
“Very good, Blaze! You’re getting the hang of this!” Gnaw congratulated him, “Now everybody break up and do your daily exercises!”
As Blaze once again followed Thunder to their spot, another saloli in their group hung back and waited for him. Blaze was used to being around saloli enough to tell that this was a female. He walked up to her.
“Hi!” she said, “How are you?”
“Fine.” Blaze answered, not given to the idea of another trainee besides Jasper really being nice to him. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted to meet you.” The girl saloli said, “I thought you looked kind of lonely.”
“Well, you met me. And I’m fine,” Blaze answered. Was it just him, or was this saloli beginning to look pretty?
No! That’s disgusting!
“Okay, then I’ll just go then,” she said, looking a bit hurt. “Oh, my name’s Chestnut, by the way.”
Blaze could see why she was named Chestnut. Her pelt was a shiny brown, nut-like in hue. He immediately felt bad about rejecting her like he did.
“Hey,” he called after her, “We could hang out after training, if you want.”
“Yeah,” Chestnut said, smiling, “I’d like that.”
“Come on, Chestnut, get over here!” Thunder yelled.
As Blaze followed Chestnut over to the rest of the group, Thunder suddenly put himself in front of him. “Chestnut’s my sister,” he growled, “If you even think about touching her, outsider, I will kill you.”
“Duly noted,” Blaze said, trying not to sound intimidated.
“I swear it, I’ll kill you,” Thunder repeated, “Now do your exercises.”
Blaze tried to obey, but he couldn’t get his mind off of Chestnut, and what he may have felt for her. Was it wrong for him to admire another saloli like that? He was a human! Or, at least he used to be. He was a saloli now, but did that make it right? Should he give into his instincts that easily? Jeremy Lander was gone, and Blaze had taken his place. Did that mean he should live as a saloli, or should he try to keep the human that was still within him alive? He had no idea. So wrapped up in his thoughts, Blaze hardly noticed when he finished his exercises.
“Come on, Blaze! Everyone else is done!” Gnaw yelled. Realizing that he was doing the exercises over a second time, Blaze abandoned the pose he was trying to do and hurried over to get back in line.
“You look distracted,” whispered Jasper, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” said Blaze, “I’m fine.”
“All right, trainees, go to your mentors!” Gnaw ordered. Everyone split up. Blaze went to look for Slicer. As he approached the tree where he first “met” his mentor, Blaze felt himself tense up, half expecting another fight. Instead, the old saloli showed himself peacefully this time.
“Hello, Blaze,” said Slicer, “Are you ready to begin your first real day of training?”
“Yes, Slicer,” Blaze said respectfully. After his fight with the old saloli the previous day, Blaze had found that he somewhat admired him. He also saw that Slicer now had a new look in his eye, hinting at the interest for what his new trainee was capable of.
“Good. Follow me,” with that, Slicer turned and walked into the forest. A pang of anxiety hit Blaze. He hadn’t been into the forest as a saloli since he came to camp. He wasn’t sure what was dangerous to him out there anymore. Turning around, Slicer saw Blaze hanging back. “What?” he asked grinning, “An outsider that’s afraid of the open woods? What’s next?”
Realizing that he would have to go out there for the sake of appearances, Blaze took a hesitant step forward. Nothing jumped out and ate him, so he took another step. Realizing how ridiculous this must look, he then ran the rest of the way to meet his mentor.
“So, what are we doing today?” asked Blaze. Although it felt strange, Blaze was curious as to what the day-to-day life of one of these creatures was like.
Today we are going to forage for food,” answered Slicer, “One of a tribe saloli’s most important duties.”
“I thought their most important duty was protecting the tribe.” Blaze mused.
“Only during war,” answered Slicer, “During times of peace, Icefire needs its able members to gather food for the old and weak. I don’t expect you to understand at first, having only fed yourself all your life, but you’ll get the picture eventually. Now, do you know the first thing to do when searching for food?”
“No.” Blaze said immediately.
“The first thing you do when you search for food is remember where it was last time.” Slicer instructed, “So, where were you the last time you found food?”
“I don’t remember.” Blaze confessed.
“You see? That’s why outsiders hardly ever survive very long. They don’t know the proper techniques for doing things. Living without order in the forest means certain death. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Slicer,” Said Blaze.
“Good. Now, I’m going to show you one of the places within our territory where f
ood is most abundant. We call it the Acorn Place. And tomorrow, you will lead me back there yourself. Follow me.”
For the next half hour the two saloli walked through the forest, only stopping so that Slicer could point out landmarks that would help Blaze find his way the next day. He tried to remember them all, but it seemed as if the minute he devoted one memory, another one would come to take its place. Blaze had no idea how he was going to lead Slicer back the next day.
“And remember that fallen tree there,” said Slicer. This was the fifth fallen tree he’d told Blaze to remember. “It means we’re almost there.”
“Is there an easier way to remember all these?” Blaze asked, his head spinning.
“All you have to remember is the general direction. The landmarks will come to you as you pass them,” Slicer answered. They walked for another few minutes before entering a grove of giant oak trees. Acorns were lying all over the floor. Blaze immediately saw why they called it Acorn Place. Figuring the sooner he brought some acorns back the sooner he’d get to see Chestnut, Blaze knelt down and picked up an acorn in his mouth by the stem.
“No,” Slicer admonished him, “not yet. First, there’s something else I want to train you on. Tree climbing.”
“Why?” Blaze asked, “I already know how to climb.”
“Yes, you have the basic idea, but I’ve been watching you. You’re slow, you’re awkward, and you have no sense of balance whatsoever. I hope to fix that today. Now, climb to the first branch on that tree.”
Blaze did as Slicer asked. He was soon on the lowest branch of the tree Slicer had pointed at. He looked proudly down at his mentor, thinking that the old saloli wouldn’t find anything to criticize. He thought wrong.
“You go much too slow, Blaze. You need to learn how to move faster,” Slicer reprimanded him.
“How?” Blaze asked.
“Like this!” Slicer shouted, and ran to the tree and scurried up it, almost faster than Blaze could believe, and ran across the branch he was standing on. Reaching Blaze, Slicer quickly unsheathed his claws and swiped them at him! Blaze managed to duck out of the way in time, but could still feel the wind rush over the top of his head. What was he doing? Did he want to fight again? His question as answered, though, when Slicer simply said, “Run.” Turning around, Blaze turned and ran across the branch. He could hear Slicer running behind him. He ran until he came to the end of the branch, then stopped. He tried to turn around, but immediately felt Slicer’s claws scratch his back leg.
“Ow!” He yelped.
“I said run!” Slicer growled, and scratched him again in the same place, making it bleed slightly.
“Run where?” Blaze complained.
Instead of answering, Slicer simply swiped his claws at Blaze again. This time Blaze managed to dodge them, and charged at Slicer, knocking the old saloli out of the way, but not off the branch. He continued running, and, reaching the trunk again, climbed further up the tree. Blaze was now higher up than he’d ever been before. He could feel Slicer behind him again, and concentrated on going faster. He soon found himself at the top of the tree, with only one option, to go across another branch. Blaze took off across the topmost branch of the oak tree, and didn’t stop running until he reached the end. Turning around, he saw Slicer climbing onto the branch behind him. There were two options now. Wait for Slicer to cut him to pieces, or jump. Neither one pleased him. Slicer was now halfway across the branch. Slicer probably wouldn’t kill him if he caught up, but if he jumped he would definitely die. Unless. . . It was a very stupid idea, but Blaze decided to do it anyway. He turned back towards the end of the branch and took a few steps backwards. Bracing himself, he dashed to the end of the branch and launched himself into the open air!
“Blaze!” Slicer yelled, but there was nothing he could do now. He could only watch as his trainee flew across the distance from that tree to the next one. The closest branch drew nearer. He was going to make it!
Whump!
Blaze did make it, but just barely. He gripped the branch with his front paws while his back paws dangled uselessly below him. As he hung there, trying to claw his way back up, a gray blur flew by above him. It landed on the branch about three feet away from him. It was Slicer. He walked back over to where Blaze was hanging and sat down.
“Slicer, help me!” Blaze begged.
“You got yourself into this mess, now get yourself out,” Slicer replied, calmly.
“I’m about to die here!” Blaze yelled, “I don’t think this is a good time for a lesson!”
“Oh yes, it is a very good time for a lesson.” Slicer’s voice was irritatingly derogatory. “If you don’t die, it will teach you not to go doing stupid things like that without the proper training.”
Realizing that he really was going to have to do this himself, Blaze began kicking his back paws, trying to catch hold of the branch. It was too high up. He began looking around desperately for anything that could help him. He noticed that the branch dipped downwards a little ways left of him.
Maybe I could swing myself from side to side, and catch hold of the branch there.
`Not being able to think of anything else, Blaze swung himself to his right, then to his left. He didn’t quite reach the slanting part of the branch. He did it again, and came closer, but still didn’t touch it. One more time! He thought. Once again he swung his legs right, then swung them hard to the left. But, just as he was about to grab hold of the branch, his front claws slipped out of the wood! Suddenly Blaze felt himself falling, until he landed on top of a large branch, just a few feet below the first one. Pain coursed through his body. For a few minutes he just lay there, hoping the pain would subside. It didn’t. Finally, he managed to look up. He saw his mentor, still sitting on the top branch, looking at him disapprovingly. He scampered over to the trunk and raced down to stand beside Blaze.
“Come on, get up,” He said.
“Gimme a second.” Blaze complained.
“Get up, now,” Slicer ordered. Going against all of his instincts, animal or otherwise, Blaze slowly rose up onto his paws. He felt incredibly sore, as if he had just done a belly flop into an empty pool.
“Sit back on your hind legs,” Slicer said. Blaze did. Slicer reached out and ran one of his front claws over Blaze’s chest. After a minute he said, “Good. No broken bones. Come on, we need to get back to camp. Grab some acorns and let’s go.” Blaze could tell Slicer was disappointed in him. It was not a good feeling.
<><><><><>
“Hey, Blaze!” Jasper called as Blaze and Slicer entered the camp. Blaze couldn’t answer because he had a mouthful of acorns. He looked at Slicer, who nodded towards the food pile. Blaze hurried over and dumped his acorns into it, then scampered back to rejoin Jasper.
“How’d your training go today?” Blaze asked.
“Good! And yours?” Jasper responded.
“Could’ve been better.” Blaze said dejectedly, his ears and tail drooping.
“Why, what happened?” Blaze quickly told Jasper what had occurred at the Acorn Place.
“Well of course he’s disappointed in you!” Jasper reprimanded him, “Jumping from tree to tree isn’t something trainees learn until they’re about to become full members of the tribe. It’s very dangerous. Weren’t you listening to anything Gnaw told you?”
“He was out for my blood! What was I supposed to do?” Blaze retorted.
“He wouldn’t have hurt you. Harming a tribemate is punishable by execution in Icefire. He was just doing what he thought he had to do.” Blaze realized that he didn’t have a comeback for that one, but he still didn’t think he was at fault. “A mentor’s job is to make trainees ready for tribe-life any way possible, even if that means roughing them up a little.” Jasper continued, “As long as they don’t seriously hurt them, it’s all in the name of Icefire.”
“It still doesn’t seem fair.” Blaze complained.
“I told you,” Said Jasper, “Nothing’s fair in the forest.” Blaze turned away in
defeat, and found himself face to face with Chestnut!
“Hi, Blaze!” she said cheerfully.
“Oh, hey Chestnut!” Blaze replied.
“What do you want?” Jasper asked contemptuously.
Chestnut looked down at the little saloli with contempt. “Nothing from you, runt. Get lost.”
“Hey, don’t talk to him like that!” Blaze interjected angrily, “He’s a nice guy!”
“He may be nice, but he’s terrible at everything else.” Chestnut insisted, “Besides, what good is a nice saloli to the tribe?”
Legends of the Saloli: Approaching Storm Page 4
