Free Legends of the Saloli: Approaching Storm by Adam Bolander Page A

seconds.”
     
    Blaze heard Slicer scamper off, and slowly counted thirty seconds. When he got to thirty, he resisted the urge to yell “ready or not, here I come,” and set off to find his mentor. Blaze found it surprisingly easy, only having to follow the all-too-clear scent trail that Slicer had left. He tracked it all the way across Acorn Place and back again. It circled three trees before finally going up one. Just like Blaze had done, Slicer had obviously gone to the very top of the tree. For a second, Blaze hesitated. Climbing with his eyes closed? Was that such a good idea? Then he remembered Slicer had done it, and began to scale the tree.
     
    About halfway up, Slicer’s scent veered to the left. Unsure of why he had done this, Blaze followed it all the same. As he continued up, though, his side brushed against a branch on his immediate right. Blaze found that the farther up he went, the more branches began to appear, meaning that he had to concentrate harder on Slicer’s scent in order to weave around them. When Blaze finally reached the top, Slicer’s scent moved away from him, out onto another branch. Blaze slowly moved across it, until. . .
     
    “ Slicer, are you there?” Blaze asked.
     
    “ Very good, Blaze,” Slicer congratulated him, “How did you know this was where I was standing?”
     
    “ The smell just suddenly got a lot stronger.” The young saloli answered.
     
    “ Very good. You’re a natural at this, Blaze!”
     
    The young trainee beamed at these words. He looked up to this saloli for his skill and bravery. Hearing Slicer praise him for doing something right was like hearing the same words from his mother.
     

     
    <><><><><>
     
    When Blaze and Slicer arrived back at Icefire camp, Rust rushed up to meet them, “How was training?” he asked.
     
    “ It went very well today, thanks for asking,” Slicer answered.
     
    “ No more fox sightings?”
     
    “ Not even a pile of their dung,” Slicer said confidently.
     
    “ Good. But that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I think it’s time to try Blaze out for patrols.”
     
    Slicer’s eyes grew round as saucers, “Already?” He asked.
     
    “ Yes. I’ve been thinking. No matter what I said about his age last night, I think what Blaze did is enough to merit him becoming a full member of Icefire.”
     
    Heart leaping with sudden happiness, Blaze couldn’t stop himself from blurting out, “Really?”
     
    “ Do not interrupt your leader, Blaze!” Slicer admonished him.
     
    “ It’s fine,” Rust said, smiling, “If I remember right, that’s exactly the same way I reacted when I heard it about me.”
     
    “ At the very least,” Slicer chuckled.
     
    “ But what about Jasper?” Blaze asked.
     
    “ Yes, the same goes for him,” Said Rust, “I’ll tell him and Seedpicker the minute they get back from training. You’ll have to do your first patrol on your own, though, so don’t go thinking that he’ll be there to help you through it.”
     
    “ Alone? Why?” asked Blaze.
     
    “ That’s Icefire tradition. The first time a trainee goes on an official patrol, he has to go alone, while his trainer and chief watch him.”
     
    “ So, you’ll be coming with me?” Now Blaze was a bit confused.
     
    “ If everything goes according to plan, you won’t even see us.” Slicer explained, “We’ll just watch you from a distance, judge you on how well you did, and intercede if necessary.”
     
    “ What will I need to do?”
     
    “ We’ll tell you later,” said Rust, “You will go out tomorrow, at noon. Be ready.”
     
    “ Oh, Rust!” Slicer interjected, “When are we going to have the funerals?”
     
    “ Tonight,” Rust answered, “Tell everyone. They’ll want to pay their final respects to our fallen.”
     
    With that, Rust turned and scurried off to do his other chiefly duties. Slicer turned and beamed at his trainee.
     
    “ Blaze, this is wonderful!” he cried, “You’re