Wierd. I already posted this chapter, and it didn't come through.
So it was decided. Wind would go alone to find the wolf pack.
This, of course, infuriated Storm, for she never liked being left out of something. She was stubborn and independent, too. That led her to her decision.
She would follow Wind.
She knew, obviously, that Wind would be quite angry if he found out, and she didn’t even know when he was leaving, or if he would leave in secret. It would also be a very dangerous journey, and the journey would also take them into uncharted territory. So she had absolutely no idea what she or Wind would find.
Storm spent a few days watching and waiting. On the fifth day, in the dead of the night, she finally saw Wind get up. He slowly and quietly padded to the entry way. Storm wondered if he was leaving without telling Frost. Probably not, thought Storm. It was likely that they had talked about it when they had been out hunting alone.
Storm waited for a while, and when her father’s pawsteps faded in the distance, she silently rose and creeped to the cave opening. She followed his scent trail, and quickened her pace with excitement, the kind of thrill you get sometimes when you’re breaking the rules. Though soon she spotted him trekking on the horizon. She instantly slowed. He couldn’t find out she was following him too soon, or he would just send her home. No, it would do better to reveal herself later.
Five days. That was how long Storm had been tracking her father. She was so tired; she was nearly falling asleep on her paws! She was amazed her father could keep up such a pace.
But they had a lot to show for it; they were nearly across the Dragon Crest. Normally it would take a week to get there, but Wind was going full speed. He must have really thought that it was important to save the far-away wolf pack.
Storm looked up. Her father had just disappeared. She chased after him, trying not to kick down any rocks. Her stomach grumbled; she hadn’t eaten today yet. I’ll just have to grab a cave mouse further up, she thought.
Soon he came into sight again, so she continued to pursue him. But before she knew it, Wind had disappeared again. When Storm climbed over the next ridge, she saw where he had gone. In front of her stood a big, gaping cave mouth. Storm sniffed the air. It smelled of her father, so she quickly entered, trying not to think of the beasts that might live within.
As she traveled on, the light quickly faded into deep darkness. And without the distant birdsong and the sound of wind, everything echoed. Water dripped all around, and with the reverberation, it made Storm feel like she was under a frozen river.
Before she knew it, there was a fork in the path. Scenting the air, she took the left tunnel. Racing full speed, she didn’t notice a puddle until it was too late. She slipped, and crashed into the wall. This must be the single most dangerous thing I’ve ever done, Storm thought miserably. She quickly stood up and continued more slowly down the rocky passageway.
Another fork appeared. One was a thin crack, and the other was a wide, dark cavern. The crack looked safer, but she wondered if it might narrow. If it was a dead end she would have a hard time getting out, if she could get out at all. The other path smelled of bear, but it wouldn’t be a danger if it ended at a wall. Thinking quickly, she trusted her instincts and leaped into the crack.
She pushed herself along, and luckily the crevice did not shrink. Calming down more, she suddenly noticed it smelled like Wind. With new strength, she trotted faster. In fact, with her eagerness she began to run. Her pawsteps echoed loudly.
Is that light ahead? Storm wondered. She squinted. It was! Wind must have gone this way, and out into the open wide space. Or was this still in the Dragon Crest Mountains? No time to think of that now; I’ll find out soon enough, Storm figured.
But, sadly, she hadn’t thought of all the possibilities.
Racing as if her life depended on it, she sprinted faster and faster. But then she realized where she was headed. Turning sideways to stop herself, she quickly slowed. And not a moment too soon; pebbles showered over the edge of the cliff.
Storm looked out a gasped. She had come this close to falling over a gorge so deep she could barely see the bottom. Had Wind really come this way? Or maybe, Storm thought in fear, he’s dying and broken at the bottom of this canyon.