Claw and Ovie eventually arrived at the resting place. There, waiting for them, were six other sharpteeth and one fastrunner female. All of them were resting, which was understandable considering how long they had been traveling before reaching this place. Claw looked at them for a moment before he called:
"<Shadow and Blacktail to me!>"
At that two fastbiters got up from the ground and came to Claw. The first one, Shadow, had a very dark green skin with brown and grey stripes, which made her well camouflaged amongst the trees. Claw knew that she was probably the best scout he had ever saw and good second in command too. They both lived through many dangerous adventures and she never let Claw down. The second biter he called, Blacktail, (green with white stripes and black end of his tail) was a type of "more muscles than brain". He was very strong (which was good) and liked to show or use his strenght on others (which wasn't so good). Blacktail was also so independent that he barely racognized Claw as his leader and few times he tried to win leadership in fight, without a success as yet...
"<Welcome back, Chief.>" Shadow said respectfully, but Blacktail did not care about formalities.
"<Did you find that tunnel?>" he asked.
"<Yes. Ovie showed me its likely location>" Claw answered.
"<Likely location? You mean you didnt see it?!>" Blacktail growled and Shadow gave him angry look. Claw ignored Blacktail's voice tone.
"<It can wait. Now I want us to find a bettel place to settle. While we will be looking for it, you will go to the Valley>" he said that last part to fastrunner.
"<To the Valley? What for?>" Ovie asked.
"<I want to know more about its inhabitants: where they usually sleep, eat; who is the fighting type; who leads them and so on>" Claw responded.
"<So you want me to be your spy then?>"
"<Yes. You have any problem with this?>" fastbiter's leader asked. Ovie thought that for a second he had heard a threatening tone in Claw's voice, but perhaps it was just his imagination. After all this time spent with pack of predators he was still partly afraid of them, remembering that they only had tolerated him and his mate because they needed informations.
"<Not at all. I am just suprised you are asking me for it. You usually send Shadow to check things out>" Ovie answered.
"<She is a scout and I need a spy, as you adequately put. Fastrunner will be better for that job>" Claw said, at which Ovie whispered under his breath: "<Lucky me>". At aloud he asked:
"<You are sending only me, so I take that Amber is staying with the group?>" he glanced at his mate, who was sleeping right now. He feared to leave her alone, but he knew that he had no other choice. If he wanted fastbiters to continue with protecting them that is.
"<Yes. One is enough for that task>" Claw said, looking shortly at pink fastrunner and again at Ovie.
"<Can you be so kind and do some spying for us now, please?>" Blacktail asked snidely, showing his teeth "<Or should I make you do that?>". At that Ovie walked away hastily. Shadow again looked at Blacktail with a frown.
"<Could you stop acting like a jerk, Blacktail? There was no need for that.>" she told.
"<What?! I just gave our 'friend' a little motivation to move>" Blacktail laughed "<Besides... This is only a weak fastrunner. Who cares if I scared him a bit?>"
"<Shadow is right>" Claw said sternly "<Dont do that again or...>"
"<Or what?>" Blacktail asked defiantly.
"<Or you will be all by yourself from that moement. Understood?>" Claw said. Other sharptooth was silent for a few seconds before simply nodding and then he went away to the others, who were still resting.
"<This biter can be a pain in a tail sometimes, Chief>" Shadow stated.
"<Tell me about it>" Claw responded with a sigh...
(I hope this post is not too long, but when I was writing it I couldnt stop
)
