The Venom Spreads

**The Venom Spreads** - is the second book in the Curse of the Sandtongue arc.

* The cover features the leopard Chase with Seek below her.

## Blurb

"Friends and family are split as longtime allies turn on each other, and born foes form unlikely bonds. The very threat that led Bramble to leave the place he called home has ensnared the creatures who live on the mountain.

As the mysterious poison begins to affect more and more animals, Chase struggles to determine where her loyalties should lie. And down on the plains, Prance prays that the Great Spirit will send Thorn a solution to the shadowy menace.

But even the Great Father may not be able to save them this time.

Full of epic adventure and thrilling intrigue, this new Bravelands adventure will thrill readers who love the Spirit Animals and Wings of Fire series, as well as the legion of dedicated fans who’ve made Erin Hunter a bestselling phenomenon."

## Plot Description

### Prologue

Gorge's point of view

Gorge the female crocodile hunts a zebra foal. She notices the absence of her bask. A voice named Grandmother tells her to release her prey. Gorge does so against her will. Grandmother then forces Gorge to leave. Gorge reunites with her bask and the crocodiles find themselves drawn to The Mountain.

### Chapter 1

Bramble's point of view.

Bramble and his sister Moonflower tumble down a hill as they try to leave the Mountain. As they stare across the plains Bramble recalls the old gorilla mantra '*Blood pools on the Plains*'. Moonflower asks her older brother if he is certain that her mother, Dayflower, is dead. Bramble tells her that he knows what he saw and that she is dead. A voice calls to Bramble and he sees his aunt, Apple, coming down the slope towards them.

Apple explains to Bramble that Burbark wants to apologize and that if he comes back Burbark will make it right again. Moonflower grabs Bramble's arm and tells him not to listen to Apple. Apple continues, saying that Bramble is the Brightback and that the troop needs him to return to his rightful place as Burbark's heir. Moonflower yells that the troop killed her mother, and that Burbark tried to kill them while Apple watched him do it. Apple responds by saying that Burbark was going to let them out the vents eventually and that he only lost his temper because of stress with the prophecy and the loss of Cassava. At the mention of his brother, Bramble comes to his senses and exclaims that Burbark was responsible for Cassava's death. Apple is shocked and asks how Bramble could say such a thing. Bramble and Moonflower try to leave while telling Apple that they have a job to do and that they will finish what Cassava was trying to do. Apple tells them that they are mad and that no gorilla has set foot on the plains since Kigelia first came to the Mountain. Bramble and Moonflower don't listen to her, to which Apple snarls that they are going nowhere.

Burbarktroop appears from the trees and surround them while Latana captures Moonflower. Bramble dodges Woodnettle and throws a rock at Groundnut while Moonflower bites herself free of Latana's grasp. Together the siblings run away and hide in a cave. Afterwards ,they travel throughout the night until they reach the end of the tree-line at dawn. Moonflower points to a boulder in the shape of a gorilla, to which Bramble says it's Kigelia and that they traveled farther than any gorilla had in generations.

### Chapter 2

Prance's point of view.

Prance meets the Great Father and is surprised that Thorn isn't as grand as she imagined. Thorn asks a vulture to bring Mud to him. He then beckons Prance to sit beside him. She then asks Thorn what he meant when he said that they were going to fix Bravelands together. Mud and his apprentice, Moth, enter the clearing. Moth sees that Prance doesn't have a shadow and tells Prance that it is amazing. Mud tells Thorn that he must consult with his stones and leaves. Thorn asks Moth to go and fetch Gallant. Thorn explains to Prance that as long as she is by his side no harm will befall her and that Gallant will be her personal protector. Moth returns to the clearing with Gallant by her side. Thorn explains the plan to Gallant and he accepts the task.

Gallant and Moth sit beside Prance and prompt her to tell her story. Gallant flicks his tail when Prance mentions being hunted by a lame lion . Moth interrupts Prance by saying how alike they are by not being in any sort of group. Moth explains how her mother is from a troop but her father, Spider, isn't in any. Prance notices Thorn in the background and asks Moth if the myths are true and that Thorn can see through other creatures eyes. Moth verifies that it is true, but Gallant replies that sometimes Thorn naps. Thorn hears this and chastises Gallant. Gallant then says he will to go hunt and leaves the clearing.

Prance asks Moth if Gallant is okay, to which Moth answers that he never got over losing his only cub. Prance then asks how the cub died. Moth responds that they don't know and that he vanished in the night and was never found. Prance claims that she didn't think lions followed the Great Spirit, to which Moth tells her that most don't but Gallantpride is descended from Fearlesspride. Moth then tells the heroic story of the Three Heroes and Prance relaxes. Prance then falls asleep as Moth pets her gently.

### Chapter 3

Chase's point of view.

Chase and Seek run through the undergrowth. The rain dampens her sense of smell. She hears Range's roar and knows that he is still after them. Seek trips and Chase seizes him by his scruff. Chase apologizes to Seek, saying that they can't stop. Seek moans that he is in pain, to which Chase also thinks about her wounds from the snake bites.

Chase thinks about how Range has betrayed her even when she thought he could protect her from the gorillas and hyenas. She then thinks about how Shadow was right about him and how Chase didn't listen to him because she thought Shadow was jealous. Chase then ponders on the unnatural behavior of Range and how he shares his den with snakes that seem to do his bidding, or how he said, '*Join us willingly, and serve the Silent One*'.