Free Legends of the Saloli: Vengeance and Mercy by Adam Bolander Page B

actually in Icefire? Blaze was saved from the situation, though, by Faith interjecting.
     
    “What is your name again?” she asked.
     
    “Dust.” The brown answered.
     
    “Well, Dust, what reason do you have to be so eager to go on patrol with Icefire saloli?” Faith asked, her tone somewhere between suspicion and mild confusion.
     
    “As I told Rust,” Dust said, “I no longer consider myself a part of Darkcover. I haven’t since I betrayed Goliath. I want to help bring Goliath down.”
     
    “Why? I would think that a Darkcover saloli would be thrilled by the chance to do away with their label as a weak tribe.”
     
    “Darkcover is not a weak tribe,” Dust insisted, “they may be small in numbers, but their skill and determination makes up for what they lack in physical strength. They proved that when they took over Groundsky’s territory.”
     
    The fact that Dust never once referred to Darkcover as “we” or “us,” but as “they” was not lost on Blaze.
     
    “Besides, Goliath isn’t interested in honoring Darkcover’s name. His goals would be the same, no matter which tribe he had taken over. All he wants to do is kill creatures, and rule over those that he doesn’t. I don’t even believe he deserves the title of chief. He’s a tyrant!”
     
    “But why do his goals matter so much to you?” Faith asked, “Surely the outcome is the same, is it not?”
     
    “No, it’s not. What Goliath is doing… It’s just wrong. Icefire may fight Darkcover to defend themselves, but Goliath fights you because he wants to see blood be spilled. Your war is necessary, but his is fought in greed.”
     
    “And you wish to go on patrol with Blaze to help protect us?”
     
    “Exactly. If I’m going to fight against Goliath, then I’m going to aid Icefire in whatever way I can.”
     
    Satisfied with his answers, Faith nodded and turned to Blaze, “Give Dust a chance to prove himself to the rest of the tribe. If he’s already done what you say he’s done then I doubt we will have reason to worry.”
     
    Blaze nodded his agreement and turned to leave the camp, his four companions following him. Before he could, though, a strange scent wafted into his nose. It wasn’t Icefire, neither was it Groundsky. He’d also become familiar enough with the Darkcover scent to recognize it. That meant that this had to be…
     
    “Rust!” Blaze called over his shoulder, “There’s a Cyclone saloli nearby! I can smell his scent from here!”
     
    Before Rust had time to make it to Blaze’s side, a gray saloli with black flecks on his face limped into Icefire’s camp. His left cheek was badly cut, and he held his right front paw awkwardly. Blaze’s eyes grew wide when he saw a splinter of bone sticking out, near the joint. The fur all over the saloli’s body was matted with blood, both fresh and dried.
     
    “Freckle!” Rust shouted, recognizing the Cyclone saloli immediately. Only a few weeks back, Rust had gone to the Cyclone tribe in order to create an alliance. His pleas, though, were met with indifference from Cyclone’s chief, Goldenrod, who would only promise her tribe’s assistance if Rust were to change allegiances. Despite his chief’s pure intentions, Blaze had been led to think that Rust had, indeed, abandoned his tribe, and had nearly killed him in recompense.
     
    Freckle stumbled forward another step, and collapsed, moaning with pain. “What happened?” Rust demanded, “What are you doing here?”
     
    Freckle leaned his head back to look into Rust’s eyes, “Please, you have to help us!” He wheezed, “Darkcover is attacking our camp. They’re slaughtering us! Help us, please!” Having said what needed to be said, a final breath escaped Freckle’s lungs, and his head slumped to the ground.
     
    Nervous mutterings began all over Icefire’s camp. Blaze was shocked. Darkcover was already trying to overthrow another tribe? It hadn’t even been a month since Groundsky had