Hearing this, Sharon Thistle had no answer. She simply looked down at the ground. The truth was that she had been far angrier about losing TO Elizabeth than she had been about LOSING Gabriel. The fact that she could not land the most powerful cat in the clan, but quiet, shy Elizabeth could, had haunted her.
“Sharon, drop your grudge. It is pointless and it will destroy you. Look what it has done so far. Do not let it ruin your future and the future of others,” Elizabeth continued.
“Is it that easy?” Sharon mumbled.
“It can be. Sharon, think about it. If it helps, go see Chaplain Lewis.”
“What about your son? He utterly humiliated me in front of the whole feast,” Thistle accused.
“You did that to yourself Sharon. He told you that he was going to honor those that helped him. Your ego did the rest.” Elizabeth countered.
“He set me up!” Thistle squawked
“He did it only after you attempted to deceive him and started boasting. He respects your skill. Allow him to be able to respect you. Stop wallowing in bitterness.”
“This conversation would have brought more peace of mind many years ago when I was Leana’s age. Now a fresh start is difficult,” Sharon replied and started to leave.
“I’ll pray for you,” Elizabeth called after her.
CHAPTER 10
“Does this have anything to do with the upcoming Harvest Festival?” Joshua asked Cheshire as they approached the pond clearing.
“Not that I know of,” Chesh called back over his shoulder.
Cheshire honestly wished that he could tell the Council Leader that he knew as much as he did, but that would not have helped the situation at all. Nor would it help if Cheshire told Joshua what he thought of the council’s secret meeting. His father had a plan and all Cheshire could do was follow instructions and pray that it would all work out. Cheshire’s stress level began to rise after he and Joshua found Gabriel sitting alone.
“Cheshire said that you needed help, so here I am at your service, Gabriel,” Joshua spoke first.
“We have decided on an assistant for the Marquis,” Gabriel announced to his friend.
“Really? Who?” Joshua asked with a look of relief on his face.
“Leana Longclaw “ Gabriel answered, causing Joshua to go into a state of shock that stretched from the tufts of his ears to the ends of his flared cheeks.
“The nurse?!” he sputtered in wide eyed amazement.
“I knew you would react this way, so I have arranged for the only test that would prove her worthiness to the Council,” Gabriel continued.
“Which one?” Joshua asked in an uneasy tone. His friend was venturing into unexplored territory and he knew it.
“The Trial by Fire,” Gabriel answered.
Joshua’s expression melted from one of shock to that of complete horror.
“I am neutral in this affair, but how could you subject her to that?” The thought of a female being recommended was something he could not believe, but the thought of subjecting a female to the Trial by Fire was unspeakable.
“Dad, what did you do?” Cheshire interrupted with a visible expression of concern for Leana. Having never heard of the Trial by Fire, he did not know what to expect. The grave expression worn by the elder lynx made him wonder what he had subjected his friend to.
“I individually sent Leana and Jeremiah off in separate directions. Both were given a message to deliver, but what they don’t know is that they have both been sent into an ambush,” Gabriel answered.
CHAPTER 11
“Tell Cheshire that the dragon is on the move,” Leana repeated to herself as she bounded across the forest floor. Leana had just burst through a wall of vines that had ensnarled a fallen tree when she discovered that she was not alone. Leana quickly stopped, doubled back, and crouched behind the fallen tree. With ears back and whiskers outstretched, she watched the shadows of the forest.
Michael, the Duke of Shepherds, had sent Leana to deliver a message of vital importance to Cheshire. The Duke had informed Leana that it was absolutely imperative for her to succeed. He had also warned her that the dragon’s spies would be tracking her. Leana had noticed motion out of the corner of her eye when she leapt over the fallen tree and crashed through the vines. Now Leana waited to see what would happen next.
It was not an abundance of bravery that had tempted Leana to accept the Duke’s mission. It was the fact that her home and family would be in danger if the dragon launched a surprise attack. Leana was used to working as part of a group. Being alone made the experience more unnerving.
“Master, help me,” she cried out silently in prayer as she heard a twig snap nearby.
The sound of twigs snapping was quickly followed by the sound of feet stalking across leaves. Leana peered over the tree trunk to discover a bobcat bounding toward her with its fangs bared and its claws exposed. The bobcat hissed defiantly when it saw Leana.
“You are the one who is to warn the Marquis of our plans? Pathetic!” the bobcat spat. It then charged at Leana and pounced. Leana reared back with a snarl, catching the bobcat in mid-air and slamming it into the ground. Leana’s extended claws pinned the struggling bobcat to the ground. The sound of a larger animal approaching made Leana look up. A leopard ran full speed toward her. Unable and unwilling to run, Leana hurled the bobcat at the leopard. The bobcat slammed into the leopard, stunning him. Before the leopard could recover, Leana had delivered a blow to the leopard with enough force to make him sway.
“Tell that to your master!” Leana shouted after her foes as they staggered away.
CHAPTER 12
“All the attackers do is try to tag the victim,” Cheshire repeated to himself as he nervously paced and reminded himself that the outcome was in the Master’s hands. Leana was fully able to protect herself, more so than Jeremiah really. Nonetheless, Cheshire did not like the idea of sending her somewhere to be deliberately attacked. Cheshire was about to start his twentieth pace when a badly battered leopard and an equally tattered bobcat limped up to the group.
“Chesh, you owe me one,” the leopard commented to Cheshire with a dismal expression.
“Simon, who gave you such a beating?” Joshua asked as he inspected the leopard’s swollen face.
“The nurse….,” the leopard answered in a somewhat embarrassed tone. Joshua moved on to inspect the bobcat, but the inspection ended abruptly when the sound of Leana’s approach sent the leopard and bobcat into hiding.
Leana leapt on top of a boulder and stopped to catch her breath. Upon spotting Cheshire, the Duke, and the lynx, she hopped down and sprinted toward Cheshire. Leana slid to a stop, sending leaves flying. She then stood for a moment and allowed her heart and breathing to slow down.
“Cheshire, the dragon is on the move,” she gasped.
“Thank you, Lea. I appreciate your delivering the message,” he replied.
“What are we going to do?” she continued.
“Nothing. The message was only a test,” the Duke interrupted.
“Test?” Lea squawked.
“You passed, Leana. Congratulations,” the Duke continued.
As he spoke, the bobcat and leopard climbed out of the brush and started toward the Duke. Leana did not know what the Duke was talking about, but she knew these two were no good. Without hesitation Leana darted past the Duke and stood between him and the strangers.
“You rogues dare to attack the Duke and Marquis?!” Leana snarled as she approached the group with ears back and teeth bared. Seeing another beating in his future, the leopard started to back away. Leana continued forward, backing him into a corner. Before Leana could continue any further Gabriel stepped in front of the leopard.
“They were only following orders,” Gabriel responded to Leana’s expression of wrath and indignation.
“You?! You sent them?” Leana fumed.
“Yes,” Gabriel answered.
“You?!” Leana interrupted in a quivering voice. Witho
ut any further word she turned and started to storm off, almost walking over Cheshire. Cheshire had hoped to be able to speak to her, but after seeing the lightning flashing in her blue eyes he decided that the best thing he could do at the moment would be to side step and let her pass.
“She will need time to cool off,” Gabriel commented to the group as they watched Leana stomp off.
****
Grumbling to herself, Leana crossed the meadow and entered behind the concealing branches of her favorite willow tree. Leana quickly climbed the massive tree and curled up in its wide fork. Once there she tried to make sense of what had just happened. Nothing at all made sense, and that bothered her. There had to be a reason for what she had just gone through.
Cheshire, she thought, was her friend. Elizabeth Cougar had helped Leana and had invited her to lunch. Then later in the day Gabriel Cougar had willingly and knowingly sent Leana into an ambush. Why? How could all their behaviors be so different? What was a lie, and what was the truth?
“Friends are not supposed to betray and hurt each other,” Lea mumbled as she pondered the situation.
CHAPTER 13
After Joshua had approved Leana, the honor fell on Cheshire to explain to her exactly why his father, the Duke of Cougars, had sent her into an ambush. While Gabriel was correct in thinking that Leana would listen to Cheshire more readily than she would to him, it was still not a job that Cheshire looked forward to. When Cheshire had visited her home, Patrick Longclaw, Leana’s father, had told him that she had stomped off to her favorite hiding place and was not in a mood fit to talk to anyone.
Cheshire stopped at the outer edge of the meadow. At the other side of the meadow was Leana’s favorite willow. Chesh stood and watched as the willow branches swayed gently in the breeze. Leana would be curled up on one of the branches.
“I hope she will give me a chance to explain,” he thought as he cautiously crossed the meadow.
“Stop!” Leana’s voice descended from among the branches. Cheshire stopped at the outer curtain that the willow branches formed.
“Leana?” Cheshire ventured, testing the waters.
“What do you want?” she asked in a dejected tone.
“I came to apologize and to explain what happened earlier,” he answered after sitting down at the edge of the curtain. This was going to take time. He could see that.
When Cheshire had first appeared under the tree, he was the last cougar that Leana wanted to see. Leana liked Cheshire very much, but at the moment his resemblance to his father only annoyed her. Her trust in the Cougar Family had been badly shaken, and Cheshire’s family markings only served as a reminder of what she believed to be his father’s treachery. On the other paw, though, Cheshire did deserve to be heard.
“Apologize?” Leana asked after cautiously sticking her head out of the willow’s curtain and fixing her gaze on Cheshire’s eyes. If Cheshire was lying, his honest green eyes would betray him. Of all the things that he may be, Cheshire was a terrible liar. He could never hide his feelings well, and she had known this since they were both very young cubs.
“Yeah. What you went through today was a test. Dad did not intentionally try to get you hurt. He would never do that.”
“Test me?” Leana fumed.
“Yeah…This is going to be hard to ask.”
“Ask?” Leana’s heart jumped, wondering if this was a possible proposal.
“L-Leana…I was wondering if you would like. er I mean, if you would be be interested in helping with my Council duties. They want me to have an assistant…” Cheshire finished and waited nervously for her response.
“Really?” Leana asked. Cheshire’s only response was a nervous nod.
“I’d love to!” Leana answered as she stood, untangled herself from the branches, and hopped down next to Cheshire. He looked much relieved to have the stress of this ordeal over. Leana had expected a surprise but she did not expect this one.
“Why do you need an assistant, if you don’t mind my asking?” she continued. In response Cheshire moved closer to her.
“It is believed that in order to keep peace on the Council, I need to have an assistant....since I don’t have an heir,” he whispered.
“Really?”
Cheshire answered with a nod.
“Lea, you will be the first female to be part of the Council. We needed to show that you were up to claw for the task. I never had any doubt, but we needed conclusive proof for the other council members who do not know you as well I do.”
“Thank you, Lea. You don’t know how happy I am,” he thanked her. Cheshire’s spirit seemed to lift as he spoke.
“Oh, and one more thing…” Leana continued with a playful tone and expression.
“What?” Cheshire inquired.
“You are romantic to the core. Do you know that?” she teased.
“Yeah, I know.” Cheshire answered with a shy smile.
CHAPTER 14
Griffin, that sinister servant of the Dragon, had been observing Cheshire and Leana from the beginning of the test through their conversation under the willow tree. He really liked what he saw. Leana being on the Council was a first, and with all new things came the chance for him to attempt to corrupt.
“This development brings quite a chance for us to prevail,” Griffin commented, seemingly to himself, as he circled the viewing table in the hellish surroundings of his private chamber.
“It does indeed. The other cougar will be easy prey,” a voice hissed from the shadows. Griffin’s specialist had arrived.
“You know your mission. Failure is not an option. Now go!” Griffin ordered his shadow- shrouded demonic henchman . Without a word the stranger left to spin his web of corruption and deceit.
CHAPTER 15
The Pineneedle family was not without honor. Jeremiah’s uncle had fought valiantly and had fallen in the line of duty. Many members of Jeremiah’s family had served their clan with distinction. Jeremiah himself had no particular aspiration for greatness. He was a small cat and did not have a particular interest in much of anything. He served as a messenger.
Jeremiah had never imagined that he was going to be tested when he was sent out with a message for the Marquis. Fear had rendered him helpless when he was attacked by a mongoose and a panther. When he did attempt to defend himself, he simply did not have the strength. It was only after speaking to the Duke that Jeremiah had learned that he had been considered for a position as the assistant to the Marquis.
“The wretches dare to bat me about!” Jeremiah growled as he thought back on the attack. What hurt the most was the fact that a nurse had been given the same message and had succeeded. She had humiliated Jeremiah in front of his fellow messengers.
“How dare that nurse!” he railed.
“You were wrong to refer to her as only a nurse,” an oily voice invaded Jeremiah’s thoughts.
Jeremiah turned around to find a rottweiler standing in the shadow of a tree. The newcomer studied Jeremiah for a moment and then slinked toward him. The canine wore a self-confident smile and appeared to be oblivious to the dark aura that he projected.
“The Marquis has given you and all of your clan to that nurse. If anything would happen to him, you would all answer to her,” the rottweiler continued.
“No. The Duke would not allow that,” Jeremiah countered.
“The Duke himself approved of the arrangement.”
“What was that half-bit thinking?” Jeremiah groaned.
“I couldn’t answer that. I do know that the nurse comes from a cowardly family. Her father was a warrior who decided to tend plants rather than protect his neighbors. Do you think that she will protect you and your clan?” the canine continued.
“This can’t be!”
“It will be, unless you and others stop the Marquis’ folly.”
“Who are you?” Jeremiah inquired.
“I am Thorson, eighth in a noble line. From the look of you I can see that we both have someth
ing in common. We both come from refined lineages,"
“What should I do?” Jeremiah continued. He gave the newcomer his full attention.
“I would find those of a like mind and band together.”
Thorson soothed Jeremiah’s injured ego with words that he knew his victim wanted to hear. Jeremiah listened eagerly, pondering every word. He would have enjoyed spending more time listening to Thorson’s tales of pedigree, privilege, and adventure, but he was expected at home. Thorson’s idea did not sound half bad; all he had to do was act on it.
“I appreciate the insight, but I must go,” Jeremiah said in parting.
“I wish you luck. We aristocrats must protect our clans from the rif-raff,” Thorson called after Jeremiah after he had rounded the corner.
“Pride and prejudice make for easy work. That fool will do my bidding without even knowing it.” Thorson thought to himself and broke into a dark smile as he envisioned Jeremiah running about seeking out those that shared his feeling of self-proclaimed superiority as well as a healthy fear of change.
CHAPTER 16
When Leana’s family had learned that she was going to be the assistant to the Marquis, they were taken completely by surprise. They then celebrated with a feast in her honor. The next day Leana resigned from being a nurse. Head Nurse Thistle had been flabbergasted by the turn of events. On the day that Leana was to appear before the Council, she awoke early. Her nerves would not let her sleep. She spent the morning preparing for the day ahead. It was during an attack of self-doubt that Eve arrived.
“I have to say that the Marquis is okay. He is smart enough to recognize a leader when he sees one,” Eve stated after joining Leana in the garden.
“It will be different,” Lea conceded.
“You’ll be fine,” Eve insisted.
****
Leana stayed close to Cheshire as he led her through the forest. Cheshire had often described the Council Chamber, but Leana had never imagined that she would ever visit it. Now she was on her way to becoming a member.