《ASTRALIGHT》 Prologue [ Prologue ] The Tall One entered the jostling back of the van, rattling the cages with every step. A tiny kitten, barely a month old, its eyes still shut tightly, mewled pitifully and scrabbled at the cage door. The Tall One crept over, making little of a sound, the kitten still pressing its tiny orange paws against the bars, and shook the kitten¡¯s cage around roughly. The kitten¡¯s tiny body slammed against the roof of the cage. It dropped to the ground, unmoving. The Tall One poked the body, satisfied, then walked towards the other cages, shaking a few, until a voice called from the front of the van. The Tall One replied, before walking back towards the front of the van, shooting one last glance at the kitten, before vanishing into the darkness. The van was plunged into darkness as the lights flickered out. The kitten groaned in such a small voice, but it was still alive. Another cat, sitting in the cage across from the kitten, tried to get to the tortured, feeble being. The bars of the cage were too close together, A sense of sympathy enveloping the cat. Noises ran through the van, other Waywards, those who had no real home, caught by Tall Ones. Animals of all kinds, cats who ventured too far, dogs who were abandoned. The cat had heard tales about the horrible things the Tall Ones do to Waywards, the pain and agony. A loud noise sounded from the outside, the van seemed to spin sideways, and the world went black.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Chapter One: Against All Odds Something made a noise, the tiny kitten blinked open its eyes, not used to the bright light of the outside. Something smelled awful. it invaded the kitten¡¯s nose, making it cough and splutter. A rough burning sensation was tingling around the kitten, before it quickly sank back into the darkness of its own mind. Something touched the kitten. Mewling sadly, it tried to press close to the sensation. Maybe it was the kitten¡¯s mother? The kitten¡¯s eyes blinked open again: dense leafy trees, a bright burning ball in the sky. It collapsed back into the endless void of shadows, not being able to process the pain of what happened. The Tall One was gone, the bars of the cage sprinkled across the field. The kitten¡¯s mewling barely made a sound against the rough noise. What was that noise? Thoughts raced through the kitten¡¯s mind. The endless night of the kitten¡¯s mind was easier to comprehend than the real world. A vague sense of peace washed over the kitten¡¯s tiny body. ~ ~ ~ The cat blinked open her eyes, fire was everywhere. She bolted up, memories rushing through her head: The fire, the crash, the smell, the others! She looked around, assessing the situation. The van was lying on the side of the road, covered in fire, a faint sound coming from somewhere in the distance. The cat saw a way out, a small little shard of unscorched grass. She rushed through the fires, her pelt turning black with ash, towards the sound. It was the kitten! She scooped it up and ran towards the nearby forest, burns covering her tail. The kitten¡¯s tiny mewling was so faint, but it was there. At Least one life could be saved. The cat stopped when she saw a bundle of dark fur crouched near the base of a tree. Another cat, She knew him well. He had been a housecat, and ventured too far from his owner. Mouse, his name was. The cat touched his flank with her leg. Cold as ice. He was dead. Grief for Mouse rushed over her, but she kept going. She had to save the smallest, then she could go back and see if there were any more survivors. She stopped when she saw a river, a slice of blue through the dense green. She crouched by the river, setting the kitten down by a clump of ferns, before lapping up some of the water. The cat went back to the kitten, licking it, trying to warm it. She looked around, and saw some feathers by a tree, possibly from a bird. She grabbed them in her jaws and raced back to the kitten, covering it in the feathers. His tiny calico coat stood out like a light in mist, an obvious marker for predators. The cat knew this, being a wild cat herself, and pushed the feathers closer together, creating a cover for the kitten. She did a small circle, finding a comfortable enough spot in the reeds, before laying down and closing her eyes. The fire still roared in the distance, and the humans closed in on it. The wail of the water-trucks grew closer, the sun was setting.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Chapter Two: Sunset to Sunrise [ Chapter Two ] Sunset to Sunrise The kitten blinked open his eyes, slowly. His head felt fuzzy and mushy, and his paws felt like stone. He mewled, hoping for his mother¡¯s soft embrace. All he felt was air, and another feeling. He shuffled around, eyes still weak. A voice seemed to fill the air around him.¡°Hello, little one.¡± The voice said, her voice full of warmth and gentleness. The kitten squirmed a bit, before wincing. He felt a large jab of pain coming from his legs. ¡°Hold still,¡± The voice said. Before lifting her paw off of the kitten. A long white clump covered his hind-legs. The voice, now a cat, he saw, began to pull it off, soothing the kitten. ¡°You were hurt pretty badly,¡± She said. ¡°Do you have a name, little one?¡± The kitten shook his head. ¡°You must¡¯ve been pretty lucky to survive that, considering it was just you and me who did.¡± The cat meowed, slowly so the kitten could understand. Her voice was full of pain. The kitten suddenly began to sniffle, tears welling in his eyes. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± The cat asked, trying to change the subject. The kitten didn¡¯t respond. The cat stood up, and padded out of the make-shift den. The kitten began to cry softly, all he had ever known was gone. His throat felt scratchy, his mind whirled. He remembered his tiny little toy, his Small One had given it to him when she had gotten him. A mouse, I think she called it. The toy¡¯s warmth seemed to be here with him, as if it was really here. The kitten whimpered, but the sobs eased. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The cat returned later that day, something clamped in her jaws. She used her claws to cut a bit off, and pushed it towards the kitten. ¡°Have you ever had prey before?¡± She asked gently. The kitten shook his tiny head, taking a tiny nibble. It was amazing! The kitten began ravenously eating his tiny share, small bite by small bite. ¡°You really are hungry!¡± The cat laughed, before eating her share of the food, tearing off bits for the kitten every so often. When the prey was done, the kitten¡¯s belly full, he curled up into a tiny ball. The cat did a circle and curled around the kitten, all of his sadness replaced by happiness and comfort. The cat knew it in an instant, she would defend this tiny kitten with her life. The calm crickets lulled them both to sleep. Chapter Three: A Slice by the River [ Chapter Three ] A Slice by the River ¡°What a waste!¡± Mother said, her paw flashing out of the river. The kitten, playing with a ball of reeds on the river-bed, looked over. A nasty bite had appeared on her paw, blood was already welling. The kitten raced over, the ball of reeds forgotten. Mother began to lick the wound, the kitten joining her. ¡°Can you get some reeds?¡± She asked politely, her voice a mask of the pain that lay below. The kitten nodded, and bounced over to the reed-ball he was playing with. Soaked in water, he carried it back to Mother, wrapping her injury with the soft reeds. He put a glob of cobwebs on the reed-wrap, and patted it in with soft orange paws. Mother purred. Even though the kitten was still so young, barely two months old, he was a bright learner of the wilderness. Mother purred warmly. The kitten nodded, happy that he could help his adopted-mother. She gave him a lick on the ear, before the cat went back to fishing. The kitten bounced happily, spinning in a little circle. There was a brief moment of love between them, before it was interrupted by a sharp noise. It cut through the air, louder than the gurgle of the stream. It was a strange noise, pain and sorrow mixed together. Mother¡¯s ears shot up, an emotion that hardly ever was felt in the calm forest rose in the air. Alarm. Mother sat up, her injury forgotten, and started to pad towards the sound, still growing louder and louder. The distressed cries echoing through the dense forest. Mother beckoned the kitten with her tail, still walking slowly towards the sound. They arrived at a tall cliff, the kitten had ventured near it before. Mother had advised him to stay away, it was dangerous. The kitten always listened, but now the cries were coming from the base of the cliff. A sharp tang soured the kitten¡¯s delicate nose, he had smelt it in Mother¡¯s paw when she had injured herself. Blood. The kitten raced over, despite Mother¡¯s yowls to stay back. Near the base of the cliff, a sprawled figure lay at the bottom. Blood was pooling around them, turning the grass red.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Chapter Four: A Pool of Shallow Blood [ Chapter Four ] A Pool Of Shallow Blood The kitten zipped over to the body, but Mother held him back, ¡°They are already too far gone.¡± She said mournfully. The kitten slipped out of Mother¡¯s grasp, running back over to the body. He pulled grass from the earth, weaving it together. He began to press it into the wounded cat¡¯s injuries. Mother put a paw on his shoulder, but the kitten pushed her away, shaking his head. The cat opened its eyes, a long gasp escaping its lips. The kitten wrapped the last injury, and began to press one of his pulps into the most serious injury: a long gash ran across the cat¡¯s head, as if a lightning bolt had skimmed its face. Mother appeared in the kitten¡¯s field of view, he hadn¡¯t noticed she had left. She laid a ball of reeds, dripping wet, next to the kitten. He pressed it into the injured cat¡¯s mouth, squeezing moisture into its throat. It was all the kitten could do, he had applied every pulp, wrapping, and morsel of information he knew, all that was left was to wait. The kitten retreated, Mother pressing close. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see this,¡± She said, almost apologetically. The kitten was bewildered, why would she be sorry about this? The kitten thought, but gave up. Mother nodded her head thoughtfully, before pulling the injured cat¡¯s body onto her shoulders, and back to their home.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ~0~ The night was quick approaching, owls had begun to hoot. The crickets'' soft dance had begun to lull the kitten to sleep. Mother was in the other nest, tending to the injured cat. Her white pelt stuck out like a snowflake in the forest. The injured cat had begun to wake up, only being able to answer a few short questions before lapsing into sleep. Dash, the kitten repeated to himself, it was a trick he had taught himself to remember things. Dash wasn¡¯t exactly old, nor was he young. The brown male was quick to anger, but just as quick to accept the family¡¯s help. The kitten giggled to himself, and closed his eyes. Chapter Five: The Dream Warriors [ Chapter Five ] The Dream Warriors He walked up to the door, pawing at it eagerly. Bright voices glowed behind the dark, stained door. He pushed his head against the door, meowing. The door wouldn¡¯t open. He meowed again, the humans always opened the door when he meowed. He grew frantic, mewing and pawing the door fearfully. Suddenly, he was outside, the cold air stinging his lungs. His tiny paws were buried in snow, freezing cold snow. The snow began to rise, his shoulders were soon covered. The house disappeared, as if it had never existed. He squealed into the air, until his head was covered with snow. He tried to breathe, pawing the snow away. More snow poured over him, drowning him in the cold. The world began to fade, all he could see was white. All he could feel was cold, pain was everywhere. He screamed his loudest scream. Everything went black. ~X~ The kitten stood in a clearing, frosted with snow, stars twinkled in the night sky. He could hear rushing water, and the chirping of birds. He looked closer, and saw something strange. Odd shapes littered the clearing, some more solid than others. The kitten took one paw step forward, and all the heads snapped towards him. They were cats! The strange cats began to whisper, their hushed voices melding together. ¡°Hello, I¡¯ve been expecting you.¡± The kitten took a step back, ¡°Who¡­ What are you?¡± He asked. The weird cats spoke again, ¡°I am North Star, and these are the Icebound Warriors.¡± One shape stepped out of the crowd, more solid and bright than all the others. Its pelt was a dark grey, white stripes running down its back. Its eyes were crystal blue, and starlight glittered in them. Frost weaved around its paws. ¡°I have brought you here for a very special reason,¡± North Star said, calmly. The kitten interrupted him. ¡°What is this place?¡± He said quickly. North Star purred, ¡°Already curious, you¡¯re a fun one!¡± The kitten dropped his gaze apologetically. ¡°You are in the Spirit Realm, the land where all souls go when they die. This clearing is part of the territory of the Winter Stars, the cats who die in the cold.¡± North Star explained, amusement danced in his icy blue eyes. ¡°Did I die?¡± The kitten asked, fear sharpened his voice. ¡°No, far from it! You are a part of a prophecy, an ancient one at that.¡± The great cat said. ¡°Prophecy?¡± The kitten tilted his head, confused. Mother hadn¡¯t spoken of any of this. North Star read his confusion. ¡°Honestly, what are you youngsters taught these days? Did your mother not mention any of this?¡± The kitten shook his head. ¡°Prophecies were ancient visions of the future, carved into the stars by the first Visionary, Sky Of Bright Stars. He foretold that-¡± North Star stopped. ¡°You didn¡¯t understand any of that?¡± The kitten shook his head. ¡°Visionaries are special cats who can see the future.¡± The spirit explained, his voice betraying his exasperation. ¡°Sky foretold that, As the Sun traced its path, beware of Shadow¡¯s mighty wrath.¡± The sky began to dim, the clearing fading away. ¡°Wait! What does that mean?!¡± The kitten was pulled away.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Chapter Six: Starry Ceilings and Misty Woods [ Chapter Six ] Starry Ceilings and Misty Woods The kitten bolted up, panting heavily. Mother looked over, worry in her eyes. ¡°Are you okay dear?¡± she said. The kitten pressed close to her, wishing he could explain. He opened his mouth, trying to speak. As always, not a sound came out. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Dash¡¯s voice sliced through the air, a hint of a snarl in his tone. ¡°Just the kitten, don¡¯t worry.¡± Mother said. ¡°You keep saying ¡®The kitten.¡¯ Doesn¡¯t he have a name?¡± The kitten thought about it, he never needed a name. Dash rolled his eyes, ¡°Well if you¡¯re talking to him, how should I know if you¡¯re talking to me?¡± The kitten grumbled to himself, since when were you going to stay? But he knew that Mother would never leave a cat by themself. Mother pondered to herself, ¡°Well what would you call him?¡± She asked. Dash almost instantly responded, ¡°I¡¯d say Sun, y¡¯know his yellow fur ¡®n all.¡± Sun, Sun thought. I like that name! Sun nodded at Dash, happiness in his gaze. ¡°Another thing, why doesn¡¯t he talk?¡± The brown cat asked. Mother shuffled uncomfortably, Sun looked away. ¡°He just¡­ Hasn¡¯t. He¡¯s never been able to speak.¡± Sun knew Mother was trying to explain the complex situation, but it still felt wrong. Sun just¡­ couldn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t know why, it was just something Sun had accepted. Dash waved his paw, changing the subject. ¡°How long do I have to stay here? This stuff is so gross.¡± He bristled, the flower mixtures jostling around on his back. Sun padded over and began to peel them off. Dash let out a long sigh of relief, finally standing up. ¡°My legs were starting to die,¡± Dash began to pad out of the den, Sun following. Just because his wounds are healed, doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s fit yet. Something caught his attention. A black shape flashed in the distance. Sun span around to face it, his fur bristling, his tail lashing. Dash looked back, puzzled. ¡°What?¡± He grumbled, ¡°You see ¡®somethin?¡± Sun let his fur lay flat, Just a light trick. Sun shook his head, ¡°Fine then, kids these days. Always seeing stupid stuff.¡± Dash continued forward, plunging into the forest ahead.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ~Z~ It was hard getting to sleep that night. Constant nightmares, blood pouring from the skies. Finally, Sun went to sleep. He was back in the weird place, but somewhere different this time. A dark, shady hollow. Trees raised into the skies, so high the starry sky was almost invisible. Sun looked around, waiting for the dream cats to come back, like they did when North Star had visited him. Something else happened, a ghost appeared, staring at him from atop a rock. Sun padded over, eager for what this star had to say. The ghost, a male, was much more solid than North Star and the Winter Stars. His pelt was inky black, his eye a ghostly red, the other replaced by a withered rose. An aura of mystery hung over this cat. ¡°Welcome.¡± He said. His voice was thin, but firm. Sun dipped his head, ¡°Oh, no need.¡± The cat mused. ¡°I am not one you would consider, godly.¡± The strange black cat drew the last word out with a rasp. Spirits flickered in the clearing, their mouths open in soundless wails of pain and agony. The spirits flickered out as quick as they had appeared, the black cat looked on as if nothing had happened. ¡°I am Schade, and you are here for a very special reason.¡± Schade sat down, encouraging Sun forward. ¡°I brought you here to right an awful wrong, an evil done to me by the Stars.¡± Schade drew in a breath, and told his tale. Chapter Seven: Not All Legends Tell of Heroes [ Chapter Seven ] Not All Legends Tell Of Heroes ¡°It was long ago, too long to remember clearly. I was a young cat, almost your age. You know what a Visionary is, I¡¯m guessing?¡± Schade asked. Sun nodded, ¡°North Star told me about them.¡± Schade nodded, and continued. ¡°I had been hunting, I still remember that day. I had caught a great rabbit. My brother, Wind, was so jealous. I was always a better hunter,¡± Schade chuckled to himself. ¡°I lived in a group of cats. We weren¡¯t big but we were big enough to fight off an enemy. Me and Wind entered back into the camp, but a gloom hung over the cats. Something was apparently wrong.¡± Schade flicked his tail absent-mindedly, ¡°Our Visionary back then, Flower That Blooms In Spring, had apparently had a vision¡± Schade spat the last word out, ¡°They had spoken that a deep shadow hung over a forest, blotting out the stars.¡± Sun nodded, curiosity twinkled in his eyes. ¡°Our camp leader, Maple, cast me out, interpreting this as I would ruin our future.¡± A look of pure hatred crossed Schade¡¯s face, ¡°She was always too quick to judge, too quick to believe or even discuss what Flower meant. Maple saw me as an issue, a pest.¡± Sun felt bad for this cat, but Schade continued. ¡°None of the other cats argued for me, none tried to save me. Wind was the only one, but he was silenced quickly. And so, I left. I was forgotten by mortals, until now.¡± Schade looked at Sun with a strange glint in his one eye. ¡°Restore my memory,¡± The words echoed around the hollow, as everything began to spiral away until it was all consumed in an inky-black abyss. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Sun awoke, the visions weighing heavily on his mind. Mother nudged him, her spotted white pelt standing out in the brown walls of the den. Sun shifted closer to his adoptive mother, Mother wrapping her tail around him. It seemed to have been so long since Mother was a Wayward, rescuing Sun from the van crash, but her love for him outweighed all of it. The moment of silence was broken by Dash, ¡°Yall¡¯ve been sitting in there too long, Get some fresh air! You¡¯re starting to look like potatoes already!¡± Mother chuckled to herself, and nodded. ¡°As rude as he is, he¡¯s right. Come on.¡± Sun pulled himself up and followed her out, birds twittered in the branches, squirrels chattering in the trees. Mother and Dash had been busy, another den had been formed just by Mother¡¯s. It was held up with twigs, and leaves covered the roof in a sort of blanket. It stood out against the dirt of Mother¡¯s den, but blended in with the forest. In the middle of the clearing, a ring of stones had been laid out. A pile of prey had been stacked inside. Dash stood by the river, pawing out clumps of dirt. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Mother asked, likely for Sun¡¯s benefit. Dash looked over, still digging, ¡°I thought if I dug out a canal, we could get water easier. This darn river¡¯s too far away anyway.¡± As the brown elder was talking, a sudden wave of water splashed Dash in the face. ¡°Very helpful, Dash.¡± Mother mused, Sun opened his jaws in a silent laugh. Dash looked sour, before letting out a throaty laugh. ¡°Go dry off, me and Sun will finish it.¡± Mother said, a chuckle still in her voice. The soaked elder padded away, grumbling angrily about nature. Sun walked over, inspecting Dash¡¯s work. Mother nodded to him, amusement danced in her eyes, She would never let Dash live this down. Sun began to scoop dirt out, pawful after pawful. His arms moved rhythmically, placing the dirt in a pile beside him before taking another scoop. It seemed to take forever but finally Sun pulled a clump from the canal, and water poured through. Mother, digging out the basin for the water, let out a hiss of surprise. Sun padded over, inspecting their work. The basin flowed with water, purified from a trick Dash had taught them. ¡°You place a thin stone in the tunnel, and the water will flow through the soil without any o¡¯ dem nasty stuff!¡± He had said, and it had worked! Maybe the cranky old elder could be helpful after all. Chapter Eight: Fight or Flight, and Other Small Drama [ Chapter Eight ] Fight or Flight Sun clamped his jaws over the bundle of herbs, and began to carry them back to camp amidst the moonlit sky. Suddenly, a flicker of white appeared amidst the ghostly trees. Sun looked over, spotting a white pelt beneath a nearby bush. It appeared to be stalking him, but the snowy white pelt gleamed in the dense green overgrowth like a rabbit in a fox den. Sun continued on, hoping the creature would mind its own business. Likely a cat, from its pelt, he thought dully. As he turned around a bend, a flash of pawsteps and the grunt of a cat sliced through the quiet forest air. Sun instinctively dropped his herbs, preparing for a battle. The frosty white cat slammed into him, their paws scrabbling against his pelt. Sun reared back, his claws extended and his mouth open in a silent growl, and felt his claws move through the cat¡¯s pelt, completely missing its skin. The two cats tumbled into a ditch, still fighting aggressively White paws pummeled Sun, tearing off bits and pieces of fur every so often. Sun fought back as hard as he could, trying to pull the cat off him, when the air changed. Time seemed to slow, and a black shape appeared in the distance. Strange whistles and dings silenced the growling cats. Schade leaped at the white cat, his claws slicing into the thick, furry pelt. Everywhere he touched, the white cat¡¯s fur shriveled up, turning black. As soon as it started it ended, Schade disappeared into the darkness. Time seemed to speed back up. The cat flew into the bushes, its head slamming into a tree. A quiet moment passed, Sun pulling himself together as the cat painfully called out into the forest. Sun began to gingerly step towards the injured cat, his hackles still raised. He turned the cat over, inspecting its injuries. At Least it passed out, He thought, now seeing that the cat was most definitely male, but young too. Sun began to pull the cat to his feet, trying to muscle him onto his shoulders. He was young, but definitely not skinny!If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ~+~ It seemed like ages before the two cats, both injured, made it back to the camp. Mother immediately began to smother Sun with, ¡°Are you ok?¡±¡¯s, while Dash just sat back and kept his gaze fixed on the snowy white cat. ¡°Who this?¡± The old cat said, poking the unconscious body. Sun shrugged, carefully miming out what happened with his paws. The small group had begun to form a makeshift language for Sun, interpreting his gestures with some accuracy, or just an infinite game of charades with each other. ¡°So how was he hurt?¡± Mother said, pointing at the body. Sun couldn¡¯t put into signs what had happened, so he shrugged again. Sun began to pad towards his den, already searching for herbs that could ease scratches. He picked them out of the little shelves and carried them back. Spreading the pulp into the cat¡¯s scratches and his own. Chapter Nine: Back to the Plot [ Chapter Nine ] Chorus of the Forest ¡°My, oh my,¡± Schade mused as Sun burst into the clearing, his spotted fur turned brown with twigs and branches. Sun, out of breath, bowed his head politely at the spirit, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I got tied up with something..¡± Schade nodded his head in understanding, the lotus in place of his eye dropping petals onto the musty floor of the forest. Sun sat himself down, waiting for Schade to start. Some time passed before the black cat spoke. ¡°How about we do something else tonight? How well are you at battle,¡± before he leaped down towards Sun. The calico jumped out of the way, Schade¡¯s claws barely skimming his fur. Sun dodged back, surprised, before Schade ran towards him again. Sun reared back on his hind legs, slicing Schade on the back. The two cats traded blows for a while, one gaining the advantage then losing it before being lost in the rhythm of the fight. It was as if a symphony had aroused within the dense forest, guiding the two souls in a glorious battle. Crickets sang, birds harmonized, It was not as much a battle as a dance, a rhythmic melody of moves and defenses. The world seemed to brighten and glimmer. The cats clung to each other, fighting hard enough to leave a mark but not hard enough to wound the other. ~~~ The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Finally, they both tumbled into a patch of ferns. The symphony quieted. The two cats rolled over, laughing as if they were friends their whole lives. Sun pulled Schade to his feet, minor scratches all over the both. The sun began to peek over the horizon, showering the world in golden light. Sun looked to Schade, ¡°I best be off,¡± shooting a glance at the sun. Schade nodded -giving him a farewell lick- before melting into the darkness of the trees. Sun awoke from his dreams with a fun, bouncy feeling he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Joy. Mother looked over at him from her nest, ¡°You look like you had a good sleep, what was it about?¡± she asked. Dream-telling was a new standard ever since Dash had arrived. It was originally a way for the cranky cat to get his anger out, then they all started doing it. Sun tried to communicate about Schade, drawing the inky cat out on the ground. S-C-H-A-D-E he spelled, names were hard to communicate. Dash had happened to be passing by, glancing at the face. He stopped immediately. He bared his teeth in a hiss at the drawing, scratching it out quickly. ¡°Where did you find this, boy.¡± He hissed. Sun tried to communicate, but Dash never understood. ¡°In his dreams.¡± Mother translated, a hint of worry in her voice. Dash¡¯s hackles raised, ¡°How do you know about this¡­ this creature!¡± The cat screamed. ¡°There¡¯s no need-¡± Mother began, before she could stop him, Dash began to speak so rapidly and quickly that the sounds overlapped. Chapter Ten: Blasphemy [ Chapter Ten ] Blasphemy The original tale of Schade, or Cruciatus as he was once known, is not a pleasing one. He had a normal childhood, great family, I hear. He had a brother, who lay dear to the young cat¡¯s heart. But this cat had a dream, a vision you might call it. Dash chuckled slowly. He saw the Visionaries, blessed by the gods, with interest. Schade wanted to know why they had such powerful abilities. It was when he was very young, his mother died. It was an illness that was incurable, untreatable. It left a mark on the young, bright tom, who was quite close with his mother. His father believed it was the healer¡¯s fault, thinking she could have done better. Autumn, her name was. Bright feller. Schade had always been fascinated by the Gods, but upon his mother¡¯s death, he swore to the heavens that it was their fault. THEY could have done better, the Gods could have helped him. Schade began to go insane, spending weeks away from others, desperately and ruthlessly trying to find a way to obtain immortality. His plan? To kill the gods who wronged him. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Now, quite a goal seems impossible, does it not? But this cat managed to find a way. He never told it to anyone, but he seemed to do it. It was a sunny afternoon, I was there as well, when Schade entered the main clearing of our village. There was an odd look on his face, as if he saw into the future. Our leader, Maple, acknowledged him. Schade prowled toward her, nobody challenging him. Maple greeted him, warily, before Schade did the unthinkable. He dug his claws into her throat. Everyone stopped. The silence shattered when somebody screamed. Guards rushed towards Schade, but stopped. They fell over, dead, blood pouring from their eyes. Maple was thrown into a bush. The inky cat began to slaughter everything, every cat he could find. Some of the trees began to smolder, as if nature detested what was happening. I was one of the few who survived. It was only when the slaughter was completed did Cruciatus throw back his head to the sky, challenging the Gods. Starry shapes surrounded him. I didn¡¯t see this part, but it sounded like Schade put up a good fight, before the screams were silenced. I peeked back into the clearing, the blood sticking to my paws. Schade was on the ground, a long, thin piece of wood driven through his eye. Instead of blood, golden liquid poured from the wound. Small sprouts were growing around it. I pelted into the forest, wishing I never would have to see such violence again. Cruciatus was gone, and that was that. Chapter Eleven: A Brief Intermission from the Drama [ Chapter Eleven ] A Brief Intermission from the Drama ~X~ Mother gasped in disbelief, Sun coiled back. Dash looked mentally drained. So many feelings rushed through Sun¡¯s head, betrayal? Despair? He didn¡¯t know anymore.¡±I had hoped I¡¯d never have to see that¡­ That CREATURE ever again.¡± Dash whispered. ¡°Are the gods really that cruel?¡± Mother asked. ¡°Heavens no, nature happens. Cruciatus¡¯s mother was destined to die. Their Visionary knew it, but telling her that she was going to die would over-complicate it. Would you like to know the day you die? Suffocating over the information?¡± Dash explained. Mother looked to Sun, a glint of pure strength in her gaze. ¡°You will stop meeting him, yes?¡± She insisted. Sun nodded, but other thoughts echoed. ¡°If he is back, Cruciatus must be planning something. He was never good.¡± Dash said. Before another word could be said, an angry hiss echoed from one of the dens. He must¡¯ve woken up, Sun thought. The white cat had awoken a few times, very angrily, before. Sun always had to sedate him with drowsing leaves. Standing outside the medical den, was a very furious white cat. He pounced on Sun, tumbling onto the muddy ground. He was like a gremlin, grabbing at every tuft his small paws could grasp. Sun, being twice the little cat¡¯s size, easily pinned him to the ground. ¡°Nobody attacks Winter and gets away with it!¡± The small cat yelled. Mother took over, securing the indignant cat down with vines and sap. They waited for a bit, silently watching the ball of rage try to shake himself free. It was almost funny, at least Mother saw it that way. She giggled as the white cat accidentally flipped himself upside down, then continued cursing in some language Sun had never heard. After some time, the cat began to quiet down and stop moving. ¡°Winter concedes¡­¡± the cat said. ¡°Is your name Winter or is it another cat¡¯s name?¡± Mother asks, a question Sun had been wanting to ask as well. ¡°I am Winter! Son of Tempest and knight-in-training of the Frostborn Clan!¡± Winter said in his gremlin-ish voice. ¡°Oho, we have a warrior here!¡± said Dash unexpectedly. The old cat seemed to have calmed down. After the snowy cat was untied, he made an odd gesture towards Mother, A sort of bow. ¡°What is this, dear?¡± She said, Winter looked up, ¡°Are you not the leader?¡± Winter looked around like the group of cats were insane. He slowly lowered his paw. ¡°Winter has much to learn.¡± The white cat mumbled to himself. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.