Honey, Daisy, and Lana try to help Quartz recover. Thorn begins to look for Midnight.
Included Characters[]
Honey the Cat
Quartz the Dog
Nails the Bat
Midnight the Echidna (Flashback)
Lana the Cat
Aurgentum the Dog
Jonathon the Wolf (Flashback)
Robert the Wolf (Flashback)
Elizabeth the Wolf (Flashback)
Emily the Wolf (Flashback)
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Call[]
Lana led Honey and Daisy through the jungle. She brought them to an ancient Echidna Temple in the center of the Mystic Ruins.
"Woah!" Daisy exclaimed. "Isn't this an Echidna Temple?"
"Originally, it was built by the Knuckles Clan. But after they were wiped out, and the Nocturnus Clan disappeared, the Catalus Clan, a clan of warrior cats, recovered the temple." Lana said. "We adopted the echidna's ways, but kept some of our own traditions alive."
"Did the Catalus Clan just wander through the Mystic Ruins?" Daisy asked.
"Well, no." Lana said. "The Knuckles and Nocturnus Clans were intent on ruling the Mystic Ruins. They fought with the numerous clans already living there, and ruled over them. The Nocturnus Clan made slaves out of the Volpes Clan foxes, while the Knuckles Clan conquered the Ilex Clan squirrels' territory."
"And the Catalus Clan was caught in the middle." Honey guessed.
"Yes," Lana said. "The Catalus Clan was neutral in joining either Clan and refused to become slaves. We had our homes on the other side of the jungle, near the hut I found you in. When the two clans battled one last time, and after the water beast Chaos attacked the Knuckles Clan and the Nocturnus Clan disappeared, we rejoiced in our freedom. We took refuge in the Knuckles' Clan temple, and have lived in this area of the Mystic Ruins ever since."
"Wait...you're Honey's cousin, right?" Daisy asked.
"I left the Mystic Ruins when I was about eight or so." Honey said. "My parents...they took me to live in Central City. My dad at least. My mom wanted to be closer to home so she left us in Station Square."
"I didn't know that part." Lana said. "Aunt Mel comes to visit us quite often."
"Anyways..." Honey said, changing the subject. "What did you want to show us?"
"Well, last night, we found your friend, Quartz." Lana said.
"Quartz?!" Daisy asked.
"Is he okay?" Honey asked. "He's been missing for a month!"
"Aurum too." Daisy said. "Was a silver lab with him too?"
"No, just Quartz." Lana said. "I'm sorry."
Lana led them through the temple. It was a large structure, full of numerous rooms and corridors. Lana brought them to the infirmary. There were separate rooms for each patient so they could have one-on-one attention.
"Quartz?" Lana asked, opening the door. She brought in a basket of fruit with her.
"Ugh..." Quartz groaned.
"Quartz!" Honey and Daisy exclaimed. The two ran to his side.
"What happened to him?" Honey asked.
"I found him barely clinging to life in the jungle. He had scratch marks all over him." Lana said. "He was attacked by wolves. They were following him, and me after I rescued him."
"Quartz, what happened to you?" Honey asked him.
"I...I don't know..." Quartz said.
Honey called Thorn with her cell phone.
"Honey, how's your mission going?" Thorn asked.
"Uh, okay." Honey said. "Listen, we found Quartz."
"That's great! Is Aurum with him?"
"Um, no. But here's the wierd part. My cousin said he was attacked by wolves."
"Oh my God..." Thorn muttered.
"Honey," she asked. "Were any of them black, dark brown, or blonde?"
Honey relayed the question to Lana.
"Yes, the two that followed us were both blonde." Lana confirmed.
"Yeah, why?" Honey asked.
"Because those are G.U.N.'s elite team, Alpha Squad." Thorn said.
Thorn told Kyle, Rose, and Cocoa.
"We should tell Midnight." Thorn said.
"Yeah, I'm sure she'll want the good news." Rose agreed.
They went to Midnight's quarters, but found no one was there.
"Um...guys..." Cocoa said, "look at this."
It was clear that a fight had broken out in the room. The bed sheets were torn up, books were scattered on the floor, and a lamp was knocked over.
"And that's just in here." Kyle said, walking into the bathroom.
The others followed him, and saw smashed tiles and water leaking out of a damaged faucet.
"What happened?" Thorn asked.
The four walked outside and saw Aurgentum.
"Hello," she said, "what were you all doing in there?"
"We were looking for Midnight." Thorn explained.
"Ah, Noon's sister. Well, I haven't seen her for a while, but I did see one of the Alpha Squad members walk outside." Aurgentum told them.
"Who was it?" Kyle asked.
"Um...I think it was...the black one, Jonathon." Aurgentum said.
"Hm..." Cocoa said.
"Thanks Aurgentum." Kyle said.
"Not a problem. Have a nice day." she told them.
"Maybe Nails knows something." Thorn said.
They went into her office.
"Nails, you used to be a G.U.N. Agent, right?" Thorn asked.
"Yes, why?" Nails asked.
"What do you know about the Alpha Squad?" Thorn asked.
"When I was an agent, it wasn't very much of a squad." Nails said. "Just Jonathon and Robert."
"Still isn't much of a squad..." Rose muttered.
"They may be small in numbers, but they've got to have some power." Cocoa said. "After all, they took Quartz."
"What?!" Nails exclaimed.
"Honey's cousin found Quartz and Honey said they were attacked by Emily and Elizabeth." Thorn explained.
"They're the two blondes." Rose clarified.
"Have you seen Midnight?" Kyle asked.
Nails said, "Not since a few days ago."
"Why hasn't Noon said anything?" Kyle asked.
"He's been too focused on Aurgentum." Nails replied, bitterly.
"We'll find her." Thorn promised.
"Thorn told me that the wolves are apart of a G.U.N. squad. There's a black one, Jonathon who's the leader, then the brown one Robert, and finally the two blondes you fought, Emily and Elizabeth." Honey said.
"I wish I could remember..." Quartz said.
"I think I know a way." Lana said. "Follow me."
Lana brought Quartz, Honey, and Daisy to a large metal bath tub filled with ice-cold water.
"It's an ancient Catalus Clan ritual. It's supposed to get you into a trance-like hypnotic state. Then, Daisy will stick her claws into your marks and help you recover your memories." Lana explained.
"O-okay." Quartz said.
"Wait...how am I supposed to do that?" Daisy asked.
"The memory transference only works between dogs and wolves. Since you're a dog, you can help Quartz heal." Lana said.
"Alright." Daisy said.
Quartz got into the bath tub. He shivered as he completely submerged himself. Daisy unsheathed her claws and stuck them into the claw marks on Quartz's neck. Both of their eyes glowed silver, and they each saw flashes of images.
They saw the black wolf, Jonathon.
"She'll be dead by the next full moon." he said, walking away.
The brown wolf, Robert came at Quartz snarling.
The final image was of Midnight, chained up in a dark room.
Quartz and Daisy saw the location where Midnight was being held.
Quartz erupted from the tub and Daisy pulled her claws out of him.
"I know where she is!" they exclaimed.
Honey had fallen asleep while they were doing the memory transfer. Her eyes shot open, glazed over.
Quartz and Daisy grabbed Honey.
"Where are we going?" Lana asked.
"The old Nocturnus Clan prison on the other side of the jungle." Quartz said.
"Let's go!"
A bright light emanated from the jungle...