though. He was still trying to discern where the voice had come from. He was alone.
You are not alone. I am with you.
This time, Blaze jumped to his paws, calling out, “Where are you?”
I am everywhere.
“Show yourself!”
Not yet.
Blaze knew that he ought to be frightened, or at least uneasy, but the emotions weren’t there. Instead, he felt peaceful, as if this were a place where he knew nothing bad could ever happen. He was tempted to lie back down and sleep again in the comforting harmony, but a single question nagged the back of his mind.
“Who are you?” he asked.
I am he who created you.
Blaze’s heart suddenly began to beat harder. The creator. He was in the presence of Valde Abbas! He instantly began to move around, trying to decide what to do. Should he lower his head in respect? Raise it in trust? Were those actions even worthy of such an occasion?
Be at peace, young one. I have come to speak with you.
“About what?” Blaze asked.
Your friends. Do you care for them?
“Yes, of course! More than anything!”
How much are you willing to give up for them?
“My life,” Blaze answered without hesitation.
Is that all?
Blaze blinked in confusion. What greater sacrifice was there?
There are many fates worse than death, young one. Are you willing to take one so that others will not have to?
“Fates like what?” Blaze asked.
The sacrifice of being a warrior, of being obligated to defend those in need even when you receive nothing for it. The sacrifice of never knowing peace.
Blaze looked around him once again, searching for an answer to the mysterious words Valde Abbas had just said to him. Never knowing peace? Did that mean that he could never rest? What could possibly bring about such a fate?
“What is it you need me to do?” He called out.
Fight for those who can not. You have strength that few others do. Use this strength to protect the innocent, and to dispel the evils that you will someday face.
“Of course I will!” Blaze answered without hesitation, “I would never do anything else!”
You will need more than your own strength to fight these battles. You will need mine.
Again, Blaze blinked in confusion, “How do I do that?”
The answers will come later. Do you trust me enough to dedicate your life to what I desire it to be?
Again without hesitation, Blaze called out, “Yes!”
A moment of silence, then Valde Abbas said, Then awaken and do your duty. I will come again when you are ready.
Chapter Eighteen
It almost looks like night time, Blaze thought as he stood up, stretching the stiffness out of his muscles after a good night’s sleep. He had awoken immediately after the voice of Valde Abbas had commanded him to, and images of the dream were still bounding through his mind. No, not a dream. A vision.
His waking observation was true. Dark clouds covered the sky, blotting out all but the smallest glimmer of sunlight. The air smelled thick, assuring that rain would soon be there. In the distance, the low growl of thunder rumbled. Yes, rain was coming, but it still sounded quite a ways off.
“Blaze!” Rust called from the base of the tree, “I need you to lead a border patrol!”
Blaze nodded, and raced to the ground and began to walk the length of the camp, calling out to saloli who did not seem busy to join him. He was soon accompanied by three other saloli who he knew only by name, Bark, Speckle, and Elm. As Blaze turned to lead them from the camp, though, he was intercepted by another saloli. It was Dust.
“Can I come with you on this patrol?” he asked.
Caught off guard, Blaze wasn’t sure how to answer the former Darkcover saloli. After what Dust had done to help him in the prison, Blaze trusted him just as much as any Icefire saloli, but did that mean it was a good idea to treat him as if he were
You are not alone. I am with you.
This time, Blaze jumped to his paws, calling out, “Where are you?”
I am everywhere.
“Show yourself!”
Not yet.
Blaze knew that he ought to be frightened, or at least uneasy, but the emotions weren’t there. Instead, he felt peaceful, as if this were a place where he knew nothing bad could ever happen. He was tempted to lie back down and sleep again in the comforting harmony, but a single question nagged the back of his mind.
“Who are you?” he asked.
I am he who created you.
Blaze’s heart suddenly began to beat harder. The creator. He was in the presence of Valde Abbas! He instantly began to move around, trying to decide what to do. Should he lower his head in respect? Raise it in trust? Were those actions even worthy of such an occasion?
Be at peace, young one. I have come to speak with you.
“About what?” Blaze asked.
Your friends. Do you care for them?
“Yes, of course! More than anything!”
How much are you willing to give up for them?
“My life,” Blaze answered without hesitation.
Is that all?
Blaze blinked in confusion. What greater sacrifice was there?
There are many fates worse than death, young one. Are you willing to take one so that others will not have to?
“Fates like what?” Blaze asked.
The sacrifice of being a warrior, of being obligated to defend those in need even when you receive nothing for it. The sacrifice of never knowing peace.
Blaze looked around him once again, searching for an answer to the mysterious words Valde Abbas had just said to him. Never knowing peace? Did that mean that he could never rest? What could possibly bring about such a fate?
“What is it you need me to do?” He called out.
Fight for those who can not. You have strength that few others do. Use this strength to protect the innocent, and to dispel the evils that you will someday face.
“Of course I will!” Blaze answered without hesitation, “I would never do anything else!”
You will need more than your own strength to fight these battles. You will need mine.
Again, Blaze blinked in confusion, “How do I do that?”
The answers will come later. Do you trust me enough to dedicate your life to what I desire it to be?
Again without hesitation, Blaze called out, “Yes!”
A moment of silence, then Valde Abbas said, Then awaken and do your duty. I will come again when you are ready.
Chapter Eighteen
It almost looks like night time, Blaze thought as he stood up, stretching the stiffness out of his muscles after a good night’s sleep. He had awoken immediately after the voice of Valde Abbas had commanded him to, and images of the dream were still bounding through his mind. No, not a dream. A vision.
His waking observation was true. Dark clouds covered the sky, blotting out all but the smallest glimmer of sunlight. The air smelled thick, assuring that rain would soon be there. In the distance, the low growl of thunder rumbled. Yes, rain was coming, but it still sounded quite a ways off.
“Blaze!” Rust called from the base of the tree, “I need you to lead a border patrol!”
Blaze nodded, and raced to the ground and began to walk the length of the camp, calling out to saloli who did not seem busy to join him. He was soon accompanied by three other saloli who he knew only by name, Bark, Speckle, and Elm. As Blaze turned to lead them from the camp, though, he was intercepted by another saloli. It was Dust.
“Can I come with you on this patrol?” he asked.
Caught off guard, Blaze wasn’t sure how to answer the former Darkcover saloli. After what Dust had done to help him in the prison, Blaze trusted him just as much as any Icefire saloli, but did that mean it was a good idea to treat him as if he were
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