Synopsis: For over a thousand years, telepathic cats known as STACs have faithfully searched for those with power over the elements looking for the one foretold to save the Land. None have questioned their duty to fulfill this ancient task.
But when Tosh’s latest charge is murdered because of his Elemental powers, Tosh considers abandoning The Search. Will a glimpse of the future destruction be enough to change his mind?
Excerpt:
The horse’s hooves thundered across the
ground. Tosh dug his claws into the saddle as his back legs threatened to slip
off. A firm hand pressed against his side, pulling him closer toward the young
man behind him. Feeling safer, Tosh leaned out to see the terrain up ahead. He
blinked his eyes in disbelief at what he saw.
You
can’t be serious.
“We
can make it,” Nolan
said, speaking directly into his mind.
Tosh looked up at him, but Nolan wasn’t
looking at the ravine. He was looking over his shoulder at the three men on
horseback chasing them. Tosh caught a glimpse of a hefty man with a red beard
leaning forward, urging his mount to run faster. He clearly was gaining on
them. Tosh looked at the ravine before them.
It
is too far for her to jump.
“Ah
come on, Tosh. She’ll do just fine.”
Tosh sighed. Nolan rarely listened to
any advice he gave him unless it coincided with something that Nolan already
wanted to do. Knowing there was no way and no time to change the young man’s
mind, Tosh curled up against him. He dug his claws deeper into the saddle and
wrapped his tail protectively around his body. He felt Nolan lean forward as
the mare’s hooves left the ground. He closed his eyes, counting the seconds
until he felt the mare land on the other side. She stumbled slightly, and Tosh
opened his eyes to see a small section of ground at the ravine’s edge
fall.
Nolan reined in the mare and turned to
look back at the ravine and the approaching men. Tosh glanced up and saw the
look of concentration on his face. Suddenly, the ground shook. The edge of the
ravine crumbled. Rocks and dirt fell until the gorge was three feet wider than
it had been moments earlier. The men pursuing them pulled their mounts to a
halt at the edge of the gorge.
“You won’t get away from us,” the
redhead yelled.
Nolan raised his hand and waved before
urging the mare toward the forest. Tosh glanced back to see the men swearing as
they eyed the ravine which now was clearly too wide for them to jump. As they
entered the forest, Nolan slowed the mare to a walk.
“That was amazing,” he said with a chuckle.
You’re
lucky the mare made it.
“Oh, Tosh, you worry too much,” he said
ruffling Tosh’s fur.
Tosh turned to glare at him and then
proceeded to lick the fur back into the correct direction. We wouldn’t have had to find out if she could make it if you just learn
to control your temper.
Tosh didn’t really expect Nolan ever to
learn to do that. He had been trying to drill that lesson into him since he was
a headstrong teenager but to no avail.
“I know. I know. And stop using my
Elemental power in front of others,” Nolan said with a sigh. “Why shouldn’t I
use it?”
I
have never said you shouldn’t use it. You just need to decide when it is wise
to do so.
“So using it to defend myself isn’t
wise?”
Defending
yourself is one thing. Picking fights is another. Tosh sighed. I guess this means we are moving again.
“But first we have to go pick up our
belongings.”
They circled back toward the town. When they
entered it an hour later, Tosh kept an eye out for the men, but the streets
were nearly empty. No one paid them any attention as Nolan stopped before the
boarding house where they had been staying. Tosh remained on the mare as Nolan
ran upstairs to gather their things. Within minutes, the young man had returned,
and they were on their way out of town.
Thanks for having me here today, Monique.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming, Susan! Love the cover:)
ReplyDelete