~The Boulders on the Moor~

The cerrien’s pelt, the color of ash, brushed against the ferns as his lithe form slid out into the open moorland. He paused for a moment, relishing the last of the sunlight’s warmth spilling onto his back as the orange ball of fire slid beneath the earth and out of sight.

I wish this part of fall would never end. Above him was a wide expanse of fluffy dark clouds coasting from the hills ahead. But it looks like this might be one of the last sunny days for a while. A breeze ruffled his fur, and he shivered.

The song of a bird whistled from behind him, its voice weaving its way through the fur lining the inside of the cerrien's ear. It funneled into him, sending warmth cascading throughout his pelt.

I wonder what birds sing about, he purred to himself.

The cerrien padded on, a dark shape against the open landscape. He pricked his ears again to listen for the singing bird, but it had faded away as the distance between them grew. He quickened his pace and broke into a steady run with his tail streaming behind him. Wind whipped past him. A exhilarating flare ignited in his chest.

It’s so fun to just run like a kitten again. I don’t get why my brother is so serious! He probably hasn’t had fun for so long that he’s forgotten what it feels like!

But the cerrien stumbled as a noise behind him alerted his senses—a sound of quiet cerrien pawsteps. He skidded to a halt, regaining both his balance and breath before whipping his head around to scan his surroundings. His pointed ears stiffened up straight.

The moor looked empty. He tasted the air. The wind was blowing towards him, carrying his scent towards his tracker and his tracker’s scent behind them.

“Hi, Uncle Coal!”

A voice from behind made him jump. He spun around. “Inferno! Did you follow me again?”

Another cerrien, dark brown and smaller than he was, crouched in front of him. His eyes, as orange as the setting sun, met his gaze with a playful gleam. Orange ear tufts, looking so much like radiant little flames, topped his ears, and his tail tip matched them in hue and brightness.

“Maybe,” Inferno purred.

“You’re getting pretty good at sneaking around,” Coal commented. “I never would have guessed you were there!”

“I could tell! You should have seen the look on your face when you stumbled! It was so funny!” Inferno’s eyes sparked. “Where are you going?” He bounced up and around Coal. “Is it a super cool secret mission?”

“I’m just patrolling the moorland border.” Coal rolled his eyes, stifling a purr of amusement.

Inferno paused in front of him and gazed into his eyes imploringly, the silence hanging heavily between them. “Can I come with you?”

“No, Inferno,” Coal sighed. “You asked me that last time.”

“Why not?” The glow in Inferno’s eyes and ear tufts dimmed in disappointment. “You let me come last time!”

Coal huffed, a low breath rushing from his nostrils. “These are important missions. Last time you snuck away and nearly crossed the border!”

“But I didn’t,” Inferno countered. “You know how I feel about getting wet!”

“You would’ve found another way across if I hadn’t stopped you.”

“But I’ll behave this time! I promise!”

“I’m really sorry. This is an important patrol.” Coal nuzzled the top of Inferno’s fluffy head, searching for a compromise that would please his ever-curious mind. “We can explore the territory tomorrow if you want.”

“Exploring!” Inferno scoffed lightheartedly. “I’ve been alive here for three years and have never left the territory before. I know every pawstep! There’s nothing new to see.”

“How about a race to the border?”

Inferno’s ear tufts flared in excitement. “Yes!”

Without another word he sped over the hill, his paws soaring over the grass.

“Hey!” Coal took off after him. “You didn’t give me a head start first!”

His nephew was already disappearing over the next hill.

Those rocks ahead might slow him down. Coal spotted a clump of smooth boulders just ahead of them. I think I could make a leap over them. He spotted the slightest hesitation in Inferno’s movements as he reached one of the taller boulders and jumped. Inferno grasped his paws on the top and hauled himself up, then paused for a mere heartbeat and disappeared over the other side.

Without breaking stride, Coal pushed off with his hind legs and soared to the other side of the boulder, the smooth, cold stone bouncing off his pads. He quickened his pace to match Inferno pawstep for pawstep. For a few moments they raced in a parallel, until Coal started to pull ahead, puffing for air. The trickling of the stream ahead of them stirred his ear fur, and he saw the stretch of trees beyond grow bigger and bigger. At last he slowed down, skidding his paws at just the right distance to avoid slipping on the wet stones and into the water.

Inferno halted just behind him, sitting down at Coal’s side to catch his breath.

“You’re fast!” Inferno panted.

Coal purred proudly. “You are, too.”

“I’d have won that race if that stupid boulder didn’t get in the way!” Inferno glanced ruefully behind them.

A purr escaped Coal's throat. “Races aren’t all easy, you know, in these open stretches of moorland,” Coal gazed beyond the stream, through the trunk of the trees. He imagined a world beyond the simple forest and moor they’ve always called home—a world of colorful forest, mountains, and desert. A vast world. A dangerous world. He closed his eyes. “There’s always going to be boulders too, but they give you a reason to run faster. You have to get over them, after all. Just like all obstacles in life.”

Inferno nodded, eyes wide as suns. “I guess that’s true. You know, you’re so smart and fast and get to go on all these cool adventures! Someday I wanna be just like you!”

Coal’s pelt flooded with embarrassment. “My life’s not that exciting, trust me.” He flicked his tail in the direction of his nephew’s den just at the border between forest and moor. “I haven’t even seen farther than Thermoterria—aside from dreams, anyway. Now, it’s time for you to go home. I have to finish this patrol.”

Inferno sighed. “Okay!” Although the excitement didn’t completely die away. “The race was fun, though.”

“We could have a rematch tomorrow.”

“Yes, please! I know I’ll beat you next time!”

“We’ll see about that.” Coal licked Inferno between the ears. “Good night.”

“Good night!” Inferno returned the gesture with a lick on the cheek and trotted away. “See you tomorrow for that race!”

“Bye!” Coal called after him as the tip of Inferno’s tail disappeared over the rise. Thoughts of beyond were chased away with responsibility. He turned to the stream and began to pad slowly along the bank, breathing in the air's scents.

A familiar scent on the wind bathed his tongue. Two Moorestians. Must have been out fishing earlier in the day. Some Thermoterrian scent too. They must have come to Alliance Forest to stock up on supplies for winter.

The forest ahead was calm and quiet, barring the occasional bird call or rustling of leaves.

The moor’s quiet, too. Looks like I’ll have a clean report to Commander Starlight tonight. That’s a good sign.

Coal crouched by the stream’s edge and lapped up a few mouthfuls of the cool, refreshing water. A few droplets splashed on his nose and he reeled back. I see why Inferno doesn’t like being wet! He sat down with a long, contented sigh, tucking his paws beneath him and relaxing his now weary legs.

But Coal’s ears pricked when he detected a slow rhythm of pawsteps.

Coal turned around. I thought he said he wouldn’t follow me!

“Who’s there?” he called.

There wasn’t a response.

He sighed. Or maybe it’s a fellow scout that’s about to catch me in the act of slacking during my patrol. What’s the point of having a job if you don’t find any enjoyment in it?

“Inferno, if this is some trick of sneaking up on me again—”

A singular blue eye peered from behind a boulder.

Before he could say anything, a massive, crushing weight was flung on top of him. Coal let out a frightened screech as talons dug into his side.

He lashed out with his own claws. Should he call out for help? Inferno couldn’t have made it that far already. No. I won’t put him in danger. I’ve been in a fight before. I can take this.

With a massive heave he flung the other cerrien off of him. It was then that he saw the bottom eye of the attacker—it was unnaturally darkened and clouded, like the eye of a dead cerrien. But her top eye seemed to make up for it in its wild, malignant glow of fury. The cerrien’s fur, clinging to a small yet well-muscled build, was dark and soaked in mud, as though she had just been in the stream.

“Who are you?” Coal demanded. “Why are you attacking me?”

The cerrien threw herself on top of Coal, and the shock of cold water hitting his flank knocked the breath from him. His claws grazed against stone as he struggled under the bulkier cerrien’s weight. He tried to scream, but he sucked in a mouthful of water. A paw pressed against his head.

No! He thrashed his paws helplessly. When he opened his eyes they were flooded with red-stained water.

His attacker at last plunged her teeth into his neck. Something seized him, sinking invisible claws into him. Spasms wracked his body. His claws thrashed against stone, and he barely felt the jolt of pain as one was yanked from its sheath. But as quickly as it had come, the lashing ceased. The last of Coal's strength sapped as the torrent of blood drifted it aside. Life drained from his limbs and washed away in the current of the stream. Claws raked down his flank, but he barely felt it as darkness swept him up from the stream and carried him into shadow.