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Spring - Icy Rain - 5 (No other Choice)
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The storm drain had become a bit uncomfortable due to the shower of sleet.
Although the icy rain was very cold, it wasn't a heavy downpour and the sentinel was glad for it. Because the heaps of fallen leaves kept some of the water at bay, sitting there was still bearable. Even if it hadn't been, the tiny sentinel wouldn't have moved now. The goings-on were way too interesting at the moment, and the spectator's little rosy nose twitched with anticipation.
The spy's report had caused the anticipated interest amongst the others, and it had been told to return to its post right away, lest it miss something of importance. For quite some time, nothing noteworthy had occurred, prompting it to have a nap. However, the sudden onset of snowy rain had put an abrupt and most disruptive end to its peaceful rest. Dismayed about the change, it had shuffled around to build itself a temporary nest by combining some dry leaves and a few pieces of rubbish, left behind by littering humans. It had even found a delicious smelling wrapping paper, glad to have something nice to add to its interim holdout.
To the sentinel's relief, the wait hadn’t been pointless - because despite the rain, the girl had come back to the park. This made the lookout perk up with attention, and its little clawed hands grabbed on to strands of its belly-fur in excitement. The small human had come to feed the cat again, face-to-face this time, and something the cat did caused the girl to laugh a few times. The lookout didn't understand the exact reason why she laughed, but registered everything regardless for accurate reporting at a later point. Who was to say what would be important - and even if not now, then maybe sometime else? The little female had even given the animal yet another portion - for reasons the sentinel couldn’t decipher.
Well, its mission was to watch, not to interpret. It would leave that to the others.
After the cat had finished its meal, the two had just sat next to each other on the bench. To the regular human observer, the scene in the park might have seemed a bit odd, but not strange enough to warrant heightened interest. It was just a girl and a cat, sitting on a bench, after all. To the sentinel, however, this scene held a multitude of noteworthy points. The others would want to know everything in detail.
The girl didn't stay long today either, perhaps because of the weather, perhaps because of something else entirely. Of course, the spy couldn’t be sure - humans were erratic and unpredictable, after all. Who knew what was going on in those strange heads of theirs? This young human seemed to at least care about something else than just herself, and the spy had watched her interactions with the cat with interest.
Yet, everything that happened after her departure was of the utmost importance.
While she walked out of the park, the cat sat up from its relaxed reclining state on the bench. It tilted its head a few times with a slight rotation while it watched the girl leave. Then it shook its right front paw in an abrupt motion and started to clean itself in a rather aggressive fashion. After a moment, its head perked up with alert, while his flank twitched in irritation. With a swift and decisive jump, it set off from the bench and began to canter. Despite the sleet pelting down, the cat made to leave the canopy of the trees, heading in the same direction as the girl.
The sentinel, reluctant to give up the safety of its hideout, saw no other possibility to stay on top of events than to follow - at least for a bit. Careful not to make its presence known, as it was shadowing an alert predator after all, the spy climbed out of the drain in a fluid motion. A hurried scuttle took it to the protective shrubbery growing along the school yard's brick wall. Peeking out between some tufts of tired grass, the sentinel watched as the cat continued to follow the pattern strand trailing after the girl. It picked up its pace and broke into a run, soon vanishing in the distance.
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The sentinel would have sighed, had it been able to do so. It had no way to follow now, the cat’s wild dash was way too fast for the nimble yet tiny watcher to keep up with. Its observation thwarted, it turned around to return to the drain. Due to the sleet, even the temporary comfort and shelter there seemed quite inviting to the spy right now. It passed through another batch of grass - and stopped dead in its tracks.
Two figures in black stood at the park's entrance and studied the surrounding area.
Where had they come from?
They had not been here when the sentinel had left to look after the cat, and it hadn’t seen them approach, either. Investigating everything with intensive attention and focus, they made their slow way into the park. Their movements were coordinated yet looked somehow forced and jerky, and to the spy they appeared almost automated, bordering on mechanical. They seemed out of place in the small recreational area, their presence an abrasive, caustic contrast to their surroundings.
Fear gripped the little spy, and it moved ever so slowly back into the safety of the concealing grass. Small and vulnerable, it felt adrenaline surging through its veins. Its own, loud heartbeat thumped in its ears while it watched the newcomers. Sitting motionless, not daring to even twitch a muscle, the sentinel’s black pearl eyes were wide. Terror had frozen it in place. The air was thick with tension, and the ominous atmosphere weighed on the stillness of the afternoon.
The two continued their examination of the surroundings, sometimes glancing at each other to convey silent messages. All of their movements seemed deliberate, suggesting a purpose that added to the overall sense of unease in the park. In the end, the bench and the cave between the tree's roots were of greatest interest to them, and they stood there for a good while, just staring. Their eyes hidden behind dark glasses and faces shadowed by their hats, nothing about them helped to alleviate their severe looks. With a sudden turn to each other, they nodded, and made to leave the park. While they walked, both pointed at something, the movement of such exact and perfect timing that it seemed rehearsed, or on cue.
With growing dread, the sentinel realized that the two black-clad figures were headed towards the storm drain. Their strides grew wider, their walk faster, and the sentinel’s heart raced even wilder.
This should be impossible. And yet - could it be…?
Not willing to take another risk, the small spy backed away through the grass, turned around, and fled to the next storm drain as fast as it could. Jumping into the opening without ever stopping, it continued its terrified flight down into the safety of the vast network of tunnels and pipes to inform the others of recent events. It wondered if this spot had exhausted its usefulness, and if anything else of importance would occur here. Right now, it just wanted to get away from the two men in dark attire as fast as possible. Maybe it could find another sheltered spot here, but it didn't want to encounter those two again. Not ever, if it could help it, and to hell with its ordered task. Still agitated and wound with anxiety, the sentinel made up its mind. No, this hideout was just too dangerous now. It wasn't a risk worth taking.
The one thing the sentinel was sure about, with unwavering certainty, was that it and the others couldn't go on like this for much longer. Right now, it was more than glad that the authorities of the Clan had already been informed after its initial report. But if the events of the last two days had been any indication, happenings in the immediate future would just get even more chaotic - and dangerous. Would their combined efforts even be enough? After his near run-in with the two black clads in the park, this was to be doubted. It trusted its Pack and Clan unconditionally, but this wasn’t a matter of questioning their familial commitment. It was a matter of evening the odds.
While it dashed on towards its home shelter and the others, its racing thoughts calmed down. Would they have to call on other Clans as well? It decided to add the suggestion to its report. They would find safety in numbers, and also strength. If shove came to pass, the Clan wouldn’t be able to handle the onslaught of events on its own. Even though the little sentinel was quite young, it remembered the stories of his kin. They cherished their lore and held their memories dear. It knew that many generations had passed since they had last been forced to deal with dangerous times like the ones ahead. The others would have to see that after today there was no other choice left. The sentinel’s resolve hardened. It would make the others see, if necessary.
They needed protection.
They needed him.
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