Chapter 30: Vortex's Message

After another night of fighting with the Tribe boys, Ophir finally settled down by Bracken and Rhett later into the night. The stars were bright up in the sky, and the moon was past being in the middle of it; the girls on the other side of camp had been asleep for a while already.
"Do you think they're okay?" Bracken asked, failing to stifle a huge yawn.
"They're fine. Girls like hanging out in groups of their own gender anyway," Rhett chuckled.
Bracken looked at Rhett and grew wide-eyed. "D-Do you have three ears...?"
There was silence between them before Rhett and Ophir burst into laughter. "And that's a sign that you can't handle staying up late," Ophir snickered.
Bracken quickly shook his head. "Sorry..."
"Just get some rest," Rhett said, putting his own head on his paws.
Ophir lay down on the ground as well, glancing over at the girls' camp. Misty was asleep with Lilypaka propped up against her side, and Adele was sleeping not too far from her sister, and Campbell was a bit further from the others, sound asleep as well. Ophir smiled. The only time she isn't trying to kill me, he said to himself in amusement, turning over and closing his eyes in attempts to fall asleep.


Despite expecting to wake up in the morning, Ophir didn't; instead he found himself awake standing in a large, dark cave, on a short stone pillar. He frowned, confused, and tried to pry himself from it, but found he couldn't get off it. What's going on? he wondered.
"Ophir," said a hissing voice. The gray wolf's head jerked up and he found Vortex standing not too far from him, and immediately his stomach churned with nerves, knowing what the dark wolf had contacted him for. This pillar calls animals while they're dreaming, he realized. That explained why he couldn't step off of it; he was still in a dream. Vortex was in the awakened world.
"Hello, Vortex," Ophir said, attempting to keep cool. But it was becoming increasingly difficult, as Vortex's red eyes glowered and he looked outraged.
"You imbecile," Vortex growled. Guess he's cutting right to the chase, Ophir remarked. "Do you know why I called you?"
"Becuase you missed me?" Ophir smiled.
"Don't get in more trouble than you already are," Vortex snarled. "You know perfectly well why I contacted you. Why isn't the Earth Guardian dead yet?"
"How do you know she's not--?"
"I have my Shadow Trackers, Ophir. They're my eyes," Vortex said through narrowed eyes. "Her name's Adele, isn't it? Winged wolf, white fur with gray markings. And you know perfectly well what she is. So why isn't she dead?"
For the first time in a while, Ophir was nervous, and it was all he could manage not to stammer as he spoke. "I...haven't found an opportunity."
As soon as he said it, he knew Vortex knew it was a complete lie. "Yes you have," Vortex spat, storming forward so his muzzle wasn't too far from Ophir. Ophir tried not to flinch or move away; despite Vortex was shorter than Ophir, he was still intimidating; in fact, the wolf was easily the most feared animal in Yin. "I want a real reason, Ophir. Now."
Ophir sighed. "I...It just keeps slipping from my mind, I guess--"
"I know the reason," Vortex growled, pacing back and forth angrily. "You're growing attached to these animals, aren't you?"
"N-No," Ophir insisted, but his voice betrayed his fear.
"Yes you are," Vortex hissed. "You're supposed to kill one of them, and you're becoming attached to them. Take it from me, Ophir - other animals dig into your heart and plant themselves there. Once their roots are dug in, it can't be dug out." Vortex quickly shook his head, and then stared Ophir down, anger flashing in his eyes. "I want my Earth Guardian dead, Ophir. You can't let these animals you only just met come in between you and your job."
"I...won't. They're...not," Ophir insisted.
Vortex quickly turned to look at Ophir again, glaring daggers. "Face it Ophir. You're soft enough to let them penetrate you and get to you. Especially that...that gray wolf. Campbell."
Ophir's heart skipped a beat in alarm. "She...she hates me."
"You don't hate her though. Much the opposite. And that gives you a weakness," Vortex spat. He took a few steps back, looking at Ophir. He was silent for a few moments in which Ophir's fear rose, but then spoke again. "I'm telling you all this for your sake, Ophir. You have much potential. Succeeding at this job can easily earn you a spot at my side for the rest of your days. But failing it? Failing limits them." He then gave a small, cold smile. "Have I made myself clear?"
"V-Very. Very clear," Ophir nodded rapidly.
"Good, then. Don't disappoint me," Vortex said.


Ophir woke up with a start. The sun was just on the horizon, casting shadows across the mountains and the river between them. It made for a pretty scene, but Ophir was worried.
Not only was Adele's life on the line now, so was his.
And only of them could make it out alive.

Author's Note:
Short-ish chapter, but I hope you guys liked it. :3
Also, Ophir's POV :D How do you like reading it from his perspective?