Repliwolves: Quick's Case

Part Five: Caught

Quick snuck through the long corridors to the meeting room. Inside, were navigators, trackers and S-ranked hunters. Light caught Quick out of the corner of her eye and beckoned him over.

Quietly, Quick moved swiftly across the floor until he was right next to Light. Time to put all your camouflage practice to use, he told himself.

Before he could start the process however, Light put her tail on him. He had so much fur in his face he could hardly breathe.

"Sorry," Light whispered. "But I don't want anyone to see you. Don't be mad at me, but, why do you want to sneak in?"

Quick glared at Light through her tail. He inhaled deeply and sighed. "They're having a meeting and Axl and I aren't allowed to watch." Quick answered. "They always let me speak at meetings. My ideas are very useful, so why would they say I'm not allowed to come?"

Light shrugged, then Sat up straight. The room had gone quiet and at first, Quick wondered if anyone was talking at all.

Then he heard it, Calamity's hushed voice speaking to the others. "Is everyone else asleep?" He asked. He heard the murmurs of the S-Ranked hunters, until a growl from Calamity silenced them.

"Heart, I know Quick wanted to be in the S-Ranks with you and Spear," he began. "But, are you telling me to let him be in the S-Ranks because he deserves it, or because he's your brother?"

"Both." Heart replied. Quick leaned forward to listen closely. Was it true? Would he really be promoted?

He heard Spear growl under his breath and dared to look over the edge. His brother had his claws dig half way into the table. His eyes were squeezed shut and his teeth were bared. "I...I don't get it!" Spear snarled. "Quick wasn't even suppose to be an A Rank! I thought we all..."

Spear cut off as a dark gray pink Repliwolf sidled up beside him and murmured gently in his ear. For a moment, he seemed far from soothed, his fur bristled and eyes narrowed. Then to Quick's surprise, he took a deep breath, sat down and actually smiled a real smile.

Quick, looked away, not believing what he was seeing. What if Calamity saw that happen? Would he be angry? Should he warn Spear?

All this was tumbling through his. So much so he didn't know how close his head was to the edge of the table. That his tail was just behind Light, swishing uncontrollably. Then it happened.

"OW!" Quick howled, clutching his head. He heard the gasps and exclamations of the other S-Ranks as they stared in confusion. Quick's tail lashed back and forth...and promptly knocked Light over. She yelped and covered her head.

Quick reach out with outstretched paws, catching Light before she hit the ground. He could feel Calamity's heated glare burning through his skull, but he didn't care. He helped Light back up and turned to face the meeting. Everyone was staring at him as if he had contracted the Maverick Virus and was going crazy.

Quick turned away and ran out the door. He thought he heard Calamity yell something to him, but he wasn't listening. He'd jeopardized his position with Light, his chances at becoming an S-Rank, everything. All he could do was go back to bed, hope that Light wouldn't be sitting with the navigators and forbidden to see Quick again, and act like this never happened.

When Quick reached the room, he was shocked to find it empty. He took a step in, still nothing. Where were Night and Bejeweled? Surely, their mentors wouldn't make them go out this late.

Something shiny caught his eye. Quick approached the object. The gleam was so bright, it hurt to look at it, but Quick only wanted to look. Okay, and maybe see if there was any scent on it.

He bent down to sniff. Then paws covered his face, wrestled him to the floor, and pinned him. He heard the metallic click of a metal blade on concrete and felt panic rise inside him as it pressed against his throat.