Post by Halfpaw on Feb 27, 2022 16:53:52 GMT -5
| Darkness & Violets |
A little background on where our black kitten is from!Territories
Forest
Meadow
Edge of Mountains
Ranks
Basically the same! (Alpha takes the place of leader and healer is medicine cat!)
Spirits
As the Forest Clans have their ancestors, so do these cats! However, there are several Spirits, but only a few that they praise highly. When a cat dies, they say that one of these major Spirits guides them to be reborn as Kin or Spirit. In their eyes, the Spirits are responsible for the changing of seasons. Each Spirit is usually assigned a unique and special gift or element and they must use them to guide the Clans. However, NORMAL Kin can’t see the Spirits.
Kin
The Kins are groups of cats that are said to carry the blood of ancient spirits, but do not have the gifts (some exceptions!). Made up of 4 groups,each representing each of the four major elements.
Formally, these groups approach each other as “Kin of —”. However, they often refer to themselves and the other Kins as “---kin”.
Ex. Kin of Blood. Bloodkin.
Forest
Meadow
Edge of Mountains
Ranks
Basically the same! (Alpha takes the place of leader and healer is medicine cat!)
Spirits
As the Forest Clans have their ancestors, so do these cats! However, there are several Spirits, but only a few that they praise highly. When a cat dies, they say that one of these major Spirits guides them to be reborn as Kin or Spirit. In their eyes, the Spirits are responsible for the changing of seasons. Each Spirit is usually assigned a unique and special gift or element and they must use them to guide the Clans. However, NORMAL Kin can’t see the Spirits.
Kin
The Kins are groups of cats that are said to carry the blood of ancient spirits, but do not have the gifts (some exceptions!). Made up of 4 groups,each representing each of the four major elements.
Formally, these groups approach each other as “Kin of —”. However, they often refer to themselves and the other Kins as “---kin”.
Ex. Kin of Blood. Bloodkin.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
PROLOUGE
Very little of the moon’s light reaches the forest floor because of the flourishing green leaves shifting and rustling in the slight breeze. A rabbit snuffles through the greenery, looking for a midnight snack. I flick my tail impatiently, causing the grass to rustle. The rabbit’s head darts up, ears sticking straight up. A few seconds pass before it relaxes again, giving me time. You’re mine!
I dart from under the bundle of ferns, bounding toward the rabbit as fast as possible. But it was already fleeing away. A yowl of anger escapes my mouth as I give chase. I try to keep the rabbit in my sights, but it ducks under a thorn bush. I dive under, praying it got caught. However, my paws hit dirt. I growl in frustration, shoving myself forward. My black fur gets tangled in the thorns immediately.
After thrashing around for a few minutes, I gave in. First, I miss my prey, then I get caught in a stupid bush. I thrust myself forward with all my strength. After a few tries, I manage to escape, with the exception of a few patches of fur. I hiss at the bush, smacking it a few times with my paw. I turn around after most of my anger is dispensed, following the rabbit’s scent. A few times I almost lose it, but I manage to track it to the edge of my territory. The woods drop away, revealing several foxlengths of tall grass that hide most of my vision. No undergrowth to hide in that I can see. I scramble up an oak tree to get a better look at the empty field. From my new spot, I can see a white wooden fence, with an odd structure behind it.
With a jolt, I realize I am near the Twoleg Nests. Did I really travel that far away? With a small flicker of pride, I smile. I haven’t been this far before. And I got here really quickly. I twist my head, trying to look behind me. I won’t get in trouble if no one knows I am here. A quick look won’t hurt, I tell myself.
I spring down, then quietly sprint toward the fence. An odd scent hangs around it. Definitely cat, but not Clan. Climbing on top of it, I look at what is happening inside of the nearest nest. I see a twoleg shuffling around, with two cats following it around. I bite back a snarl of disgust. Kittypets. Spoiled, lazy, useless Twoleg toys. Deciding that there is nothing else worth seeing, I jump down. I only get two steps away from the fence when two cats emerge from the grass silently.
They both reek of crowfood and something even fouler. However, I can see the powerful muscles underneath their scarred, patchy pelts.
“Looks like we found a snack,” one of them remark. I lash my tail, trying to make the deepest, most threatening growl possible.
“You know, puffing your tail up only makes you look like a kit,” the other remarks coldly. His friend breaks into ear splitting, cold howls of laughter before they start moving closer. I bare my fangs and unsheathe my claws, snarling as they advance closer. I shouldn’t have left camp. No, I shouldn’t have come here. I’m such a mousebrain.
As one of them lunges at me, I think, I am not going down without a fight!
I dart from under the bundle of ferns, bounding toward the rabbit as fast as possible. But it was already fleeing away. A yowl of anger escapes my mouth as I give chase. I try to keep the rabbit in my sights, but it ducks under a thorn bush. I dive under, praying it got caught. However, my paws hit dirt. I growl in frustration, shoving myself forward. My black fur gets tangled in the thorns immediately.
After thrashing around for a few minutes, I gave in. First, I miss my prey, then I get caught in a stupid bush. I thrust myself forward with all my strength. After a few tries, I manage to escape, with the exception of a few patches of fur. I hiss at the bush, smacking it a few times with my paw. I turn around after most of my anger is dispensed, following the rabbit’s scent. A few times I almost lose it, but I manage to track it to the edge of my territory. The woods drop away, revealing several foxlengths of tall grass that hide most of my vision. No undergrowth to hide in that I can see. I scramble up an oak tree to get a better look at the empty field. From my new spot, I can see a white wooden fence, with an odd structure behind it.
With a jolt, I realize I am near the Twoleg Nests. Did I really travel that far away? With a small flicker of pride, I smile. I haven’t been this far before. And I got here really quickly. I twist my head, trying to look behind me. I won’t get in trouble if no one knows I am here. A quick look won’t hurt, I tell myself.
I spring down, then quietly sprint toward the fence. An odd scent hangs around it. Definitely cat, but not Clan. Climbing on top of it, I look at what is happening inside of the nearest nest. I see a twoleg shuffling around, with two cats following it around. I bite back a snarl of disgust. Kittypets. Spoiled, lazy, useless Twoleg toys. Deciding that there is nothing else worth seeing, I jump down. I only get two steps away from the fence when two cats emerge from the grass silently.
They both reek of crowfood and something even fouler. However, I can see the powerful muscles underneath their scarred, patchy pelts.
“Looks like we found a snack,” one of them remark. I lash my tail, trying to make the deepest, most threatening growl possible.
“You know, puffing your tail up only makes you look like a kit,” the other remarks coldly. His friend breaks into ear splitting, cold howls of laughter before they start moving closer. I bare my fangs and unsheathe my claws, snarling as they advance closer. I shouldn’t have left camp. No, I shouldn’t have come here. I’m such a mousebrain.
As one of them lunges at me, I think, I am not going down without a fight!
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 1
I set the water dish on the floor, watching as Emily pads forward. She meows at me, butting her head on my hand. I can hear her purring happily as she laps up the water. She has improved so much from the injured, hungry kitten I had found three months ago. Then again, she was quick to trust me.
I turn to look at Kayden, who never left his sister alone with me. He is watching from on top of the fridge. It's his favorite spot, probably because I can’t reach him there unless I get a ladder. He stares at me, watching me with those cold amber eyes. Kayden is still underweight, his brown fur dull and scruffy, but the vet says he is improving. I reach for him, but he hisses at my hand. At least he isn’t trying to sink his teeth into it nowadays.
I lay out a small thing of wet cat food, but I know both of them will hardly touch it. Kayden and Emily are skilled hunters, attacking the birds that land out on the fence. I need food, I realize. As I pull out leftovers, I think, Lorelai, you need to get better at dealing with your own problems. An image of my parents flashes in my head. I frown a little. That is a problem I can’t solve. I settle with some chicken soup, an apple, and a cup of soda.
Just as I take the first bite, I hear a small thud. Looking behind to see if one of the cats had knocked over something, I see that Kayden is on the floor, staring out the glass door. He growls softly. In almost response, Emily pads over. Again, I find myself wondering how cats communicate and how simple the life of one is.
I snap back to attention when Emily bursts into desperate yowls and Kayden starts scratching the door.
“What’s got you two upset? Wanna go outside?” I know better than to keep the two locked in here. Now that they have mostly recovered, I let them outside often. They return home most of the time before dark. I also made sure to put collars on them, with their name and address on them. Kayden had made sure to show his displeasure for the collar.
I slip open the door. Kayden darts out, but Emily stays, looking up at me. She meows a few times, slipping between my legs.
“Want me to go outside with you?” I take a step outside and she follows. Then I hear the screeches of cats. I run to the source, which seems to be outside of the white fence that outlines the backyards. I jump it and barely miss stepping into the middle of a catfight.
Two large cats are fighting Kayden, but he is doing pretty well for his small size. However, I intervene immediately. Feral cat fights can be deadly. Get out of here! I kick one of the large cats, sending it tumbling a few feet away. Its friend hisses at me, then runs away, screeching. Kayden pants, blood rolling down his shoulder from a cut. But it's the other cat that I’m worried about.
A small kitten lays on the ground. I can immediately tell that it’s cut up really bad. I scoop it up and run past my house, into the moonlit city. I turn my head to see Emily and Kayden watching me, from the fence. The tiny heartbeat in my arms reminds me of where I need to go.
Past several blocks, I stop, panting in front of the local animal hospital. I push the door open, still struggling to gain my breath back. I go to the entry desk, ringing the small bell on it. Immediately, I hear Mr. Miller, the 60 year old vet, from the back coming forward. I lean on the wall, trying to regain my breath.
“Is that you, Lorelai?” he asks, his voice sounding closer.
“Y-yes,” I manage between gasps. He comes around the corner into sight. His blue eyes go wide in shock. He immediately strides to me, gently takes the kitten, carrying the small creature in his blue sleeves, then strides behind the entry desk. Not knowing what to do, I follow him.
He immediately starts cleaning the poor thing’s wounds. In what seems in no time at all, he has bandaged the injuries and is wiping away the blood with gentle strokes.
“How is it you always bring me the most troublesome cases?” he asks teasingly.
I shrug. “I’m lucky, I guess.” But really, I know I’m about anything but that.
“Would it be alright if I kept her overnight?” he asks, gesturing at the cat. “Just to see how she does?”
“As long as I get her in the morning,” I reply. A thought hits me. I’m so stupid. “I’ll be right back. I forgot my wallet.” I turn to the door, but before I can take a step, he says, “It's alright. I know that money is pretty tight for you.”
I turn to look at him. A deep sadness is etched in his face. When did he learn? “I know your parents aren’t around much. So it's okay. But I will start asking for money if you keep bringing these cases, got it?”
I nod, my cheeks blushing from embarrassment. “Now off you go. I’ll see you in the morning.”
On the walk home, I put my hand in my jean pockets. I kick at the rocks on the pavement. Why aren’t they here? Don’t they care about me? I shake my head. Stop thinking like that. They are still around… Just not as often as I wished. I look up at the full moon. They come back. They just don’t stay.
I turn to look at Kayden, who never left his sister alone with me. He is watching from on top of the fridge. It's his favorite spot, probably because I can’t reach him there unless I get a ladder. He stares at me, watching me with those cold amber eyes. Kayden is still underweight, his brown fur dull and scruffy, but the vet says he is improving. I reach for him, but he hisses at my hand. At least he isn’t trying to sink his teeth into it nowadays.
I lay out a small thing of wet cat food, but I know both of them will hardly touch it. Kayden and Emily are skilled hunters, attacking the birds that land out on the fence. I need food, I realize. As I pull out leftovers, I think, Lorelai, you need to get better at dealing with your own problems. An image of my parents flashes in my head. I frown a little. That is a problem I can’t solve. I settle with some chicken soup, an apple, and a cup of soda.
Just as I take the first bite, I hear a small thud. Looking behind to see if one of the cats had knocked over something, I see that Kayden is on the floor, staring out the glass door. He growls softly. In almost response, Emily pads over. Again, I find myself wondering how cats communicate and how simple the life of one is.
I snap back to attention when Emily bursts into desperate yowls and Kayden starts scratching the door.
“What’s got you two upset? Wanna go outside?” I know better than to keep the two locked in here. Now that they have mostly recovered, I let them outside often. They return home most of the time before dark. I also made sure to put collars on them, with their name and address on them. Kayden had made sure to show his displeasure for the collar.
I slip open the door. Kayden darts out, but Emily stays, looking up at me. She meows a few times, slipping between my legs.
“Want me to go outside with you?” I take a step outside and she follows. Then I hear the screeches of cats. I run to the source, which seems to be outside of the white fence that outlines the backyards. I jump it and barely miss stepping into the middle of a catfight.
Two large cats are fighting Kayden, but he is doing pretty well for his small size. However, I intervene immediately. Feral cat fights can be deadly. Get out of here! I kick one of the large cats, sending it tumbling a few feet away. Its friend hisses at me, then runs away, screeching. Kayden pants, blood rolling down his shoulder from a cut. But it's the other cat that I’m worried about.
A small kitten lays on the ground. I can immediately tell that it’s cut up really bad. I scoop it up and run past my house, into the moonlit city. I turn my head to see Emily and Kayden watching me, from the fence. The tiny heartbeat in my arms reminds me of where I need to go.
Past several blocks, I stop, panting in front of the local animal hospital. I push the door open, still struggling to gain my breath back. I go to the entry desk, ringing the small bell on it. Immediately, I hear Mr. Miller, the 60 year old vet, from the back coming forward. I lean on the wall, trying to regain my breath.
“Is that you, Lorelai?” he asks, his voice sounding closer.
“Y-yes,” I manage between gasps. He comes around the corner into sight. His blue eyes go wide in shock. He immediately strides to me, gently takes the kitten, carrying the small creature in his blue sleeves, then strides behind the entry desk. Not knowing what to do, I follow him.
He immediately starts cleaning the poor thing’s wounds. In what seems in no time at all, he has bandaged the injuries and is wiping away the blood with gentle strokes.
“How is it you always bring me the most troublesome cases?” he asks teasingly.
I shrug. “I’m lucky, I guess.” But really, I know I’m about anything but that.
“Would it be alright if I kept her overnight?” he asks, gesturing at the cat. “Just to see how she does?”
“As long as I get her in the morning,” I reply. A thought hits me. I’m so stupid. “I’ll be right back. I forgot my wallet.” I turn to the door, but before I can take a step, he says, “It's alright. I know that money is pretty tight for you.”
I turn to look at him. A deep sadness is etched in his face. When did he learn? “I know your parents aren’t around much. So it's okay. But I will start asking for money if you keep bringing these cases, got it?”
I nod, my cheeks blushing from embarrassment. “Now off you go. I’ll see you in the morning.”
On the walk home, I put my hand in my jean pockets. I kick at the rocks on the pavement. Why aren’t they here? Don’t they care about me? I shake my head. Stop thinking like that. They are still around… Just not as often as I wished. I look up at the full moon. They come back. They just don’t stay.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 2
I flop on my bed, not even kicking off my shoes. I stare at the spinning black fan above me. Sighing, I pull the white blankets over my shoulders. I reach back, pulling my dirty blond hair out of the low ponytail. Grabbing the nearest pillow, I stuff it underneath my head. I close my eyes and immediately fall into a dream.
I stand at the edge of a moonlit meadow. Behind me, flowers of all colors bounce and spin in the cool breeze. In front of me, however, a river cuts it off. Beyond the river, woods block the rest of my vision. I take a few steps closer to the river, pebbles crunching underneath my black sneakers. Leaning against one of the large boulders, I stare at the night sky. I trace my fingers across the smooth, cold surface of stone. My fingers brush something small and slightly leathery. I flip my head, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. On closer examination, I find that one side of the boulder is covered in small, violet flowers. I look up and find that the riverbed is covered in flowers.
I frown. Were those here? A sweet scent drifts into my nose, but one I don’t recognize. I take a few steps away from the boulder. I can’t even hear the pebbles crunching under my feet anymore because of the flowers. Where the hell did these come from? I crouch down, holding one of the flowers closer to my face.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” I whip around, my heart racing. The voice sounded female, kind and soft, but unfamiliar. It sounded like someone had whispered it. Right by my ear.
“You’re strong,” the voice called behind me. My heart hammering in my chest, I slowly turn around. A fluffy white cat sits on a small, bare boulder, looking at me. It looks small, even though it looks full grown. Its wide, violet eyes look right at mine. Wait. Is violet a normal eye color on a cat? I approach it carefully, with an arm extended. The closer I get, the more unnatural it seems.
Black stripes lie under its violet eyes, and its white fur seems to glow in the moonlight. Several of the small flowers bloom under its neck, as if someone had made a rope of the flowers. Or as if the violets are part of the cat. I would have laughed at myself if I wasn’t so close to the cat.
The mysterious creature cocks its head curiously at my hand, which is only a few inches away from it. It stands its ground, not moving a muscle. Just staring at my hand.
My hand barely brushes the cat’s ears when I wake up.
After throwing on a black sweatshirt and feeding the cats, I head out. After a short run, I find myself knocking on the glass door. Even though it isn’t even opening time, Mr Miller is always at his office early. As expected, he opens the door. Mr Miller says he uses the extra time to help organize his office and brace himself for another day.
After closing the door, he hurries away to lead me to the kennels, which are in the back. They’re several crates implanted on the wall for smaller creatures and larger, fenced in areas for the bigger animals. I’ve helped him clean the crates when I visit sometimes, and I usually feed food and treats to some of his patients too. However, this time I’m just here for the kitten.
“Be careful,” he warns me as he fidgets with a crate door. “She’s a wild one.” I step beside him, trying to look in the crate without risking a claw to the eyes. I hear a small hiss coming from inside. “Ready?”
I brace my hands, ready to grab the kitten. He swings the door open. I wasn’t expecting the kitten to lunge at me. However, I am quick enough to grab her before she lands on my face. The black scrap of fur thrashes in my hands, digging her claws into my hands while I struggle to get a grip. I yelp in pain, almost dropping her. Mr Miller, however, grabs a cat carrier quickly while I handle her. I try to put her gently in the carrier, but she thrashes even more vigorously. I end up having to shove her in. I hope I didn’t hurt her.
Low, menacing growls and hisses erupt from the carrier. “You weren’t joking when you said she’s wild.” A thought sends waves of dread down me. “Does she have rabies?”
“No. I took a few other tests on her. Other than being a little underfed and her wounds, she’s fine.” He chuckles softly. “She certainly acts crazy though.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” I wince at the sight of my bleeding hands. “You didn’t have to hold her.” After he quickly applies bandages to my hands, he sends me off, wishing me luck. I’m going to need it with this one, I think as I slip out of the door.
I try to balance the thrashing carrier as much as possible, but it proves difficult as I walk. As I cross an alley, I hear something rustle. I take a few steps closer. Is it a stray? I see something small crushed on the concrete. I set down the cat carrier to take a closer look.
Something violet lays shredded on the cold sidewalk. As I shift the pieces around with my hands, I feel cold suddenly. I look up and find a flower blooming in between the sidewalk's cracks. Is it real? Or another hallucination? I grab the flower, plucking it from the ground. I flip the violet between my hands, thinking. I better keep this. Make sure it's real or not. I hear the cat hissing even louder. I’m coming.
I look up and am shocked to see the entire alley swathed in violets. The flowers' perfume makes my head hurt but I approach them. Forgetting the cat, I take a few steps forward and my entire world goes black.
When I wake up, I’m slumped on a brick wall. Still in the alley, but all the flowers have disappeared. The setting sun sends orange rays into my eyes, blinding me. I shudder, feeling sick and cold, despite the warm sun. The cat!
I take a quick look around me and am relieved to find the carrier still where I had set it down. As I try to stand, my legs feel heavy and my head spins. Grabbing the wall for balance, I try to recall what had happened. Violets. I remember the things covering the entire alley. As I try to remember what caused me to black out, I see something dark red trickle down the washed out bricks.
As I try balancing my weak body, something flickers. I frown, leaning forward. The bandages lay in a crumbled, bloody heap by where I had slept. Where I had slept is also a small pool of blood. I hold my hands in front of me. My hands are dripping with blood, the cuts reopened. I take the black sleeves, pulling them over my hands. That should at least conceal the bleeding.
I stand at the edge of a moonlit meadow. Behind me, flowers of all colors bounce and spin in the cool breeze. In front of me, however, a river cuts it off. Beyond the river, woods block the rest of my vision. I take a few steps closer to the river, pebbles crunching underneath my black sneakers. Leaning against one of the large boulders, I stare at the night sky. I trace my fingers across the smooth, cold surface of stone. My fingers brush something small and slightly leathery. I flip my head, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. On closer examination, I find that one side of the boulder is covered in small, violet flowers. I look up and find that the riverbed is covered in flowers.
I frown. Were those here? A sweet scent drifts into my nose, but one I don’t recognize. I take a few steps away from the boulder. I can’t even hear the pebbles crunching under my feet anymore because of the flowers. Where the hell did these come from? I crouch down, holding one of the flowers closer to my face.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” I whip around, my heart racing. The voice sounded female, kind and soft, but unfamiliar. It sounded like someone had whispered it. Right by my ear.
“You’re strong,” the voice called behind me. My heart hammering in my chest, I slowly turn around. A fluffy white cat sits on a small, bare boulder, looking at me. It looks small, even though it looks full grown. Its wide, violet eyes look right at mine. Wait. Is violet a normal eye color on a cat? I approach it carefully, with an arm extended. The closer I get, the more unnatural it seems.
Black stripes lie under its violet eyes, and its white fur seems to glow in the moonlight. Several of the small flowers bloom under its neck, as if someone had made a rope of the flowers. Or as if the violets are part of the cat. I would have laughed at myself if I wasn’t so close to the cat.
The mysterious creature cocks its head curiously at my hand, which is only a few inches away from it. It stands its ground, not moving a muscle. Just staring at my hand.
My hand barely brushes the cat’s ears when I wake up.
_____________
After throwing on a black sweatshirt and feeding the cats, I head out. After a short run, I find myself knocking on the glass door. Even though it isn’t even opening time, Mr Miller is always at his office early. As expected, he opens the door. Mr Miller says he uses the extra time to help organize his office and brace himself for another day.
After closing the door, he hurries away to lead me to the kennels, which are in the back. They’re several crates implanted on the wall for smaller creatures and larger, fenced in areas for the bigger animals. I’ve helped him clean the crates when I visit sometimes, and I usually feed food and treats to some of his patients too. However, this time I’m just here for the kitten.
“Be careful,” he warns me as he fidgets with a crate door. “She’s a wild one.” I step beside him, trying to look in the crate without risking a claw to the eyes. I hear a small hiss coming from inside. “Ready?”
I brace my hands, ready to grab the kitten. He swings the door open. I wasn’t expecting the kitten to lunge at me. However, I am quick enough to grab her before she lands on my face. The black scrap of fur thrashes in my hands, digging her claws into my hands while I struggle to get a grip. I yelp in pain, almost dropping her. Mr Miller, however, grabs a cat carrier quickly while I handle her. I try to put her gently in the carrier, but she thrashes even more vigorously. I end up having to shove her in. I hope I didn’t hurt her.
Low, menacing growls and hisses erupt from the carrier. “You weren’t joking when you said she’s wild.” A thought sends waves of dread down me. “Does she have rabies?”
“No. I took a few other tests on her. Other than being a little underfed and her wounds, she’s fine.” He chuckles softly. “She certainly acts crazy though.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” I wince at the sight of my bleeding hands. “You didn’t have to hold her.” After he quickly applies bandages to my hands, he sends me off, wishing me luck. I’m going to need it with this one, I think as I slip out of the door.
I try to balance the thrashing carrier as much as possible, but it proves difficult as I walk. As I cross an alley, I hear something rustle. I take a few steps closer. Is it a stray? I see something small crushed on the concrete. I set down the cat carrier to take a closer look.
Something violet lays shredded on the cold sidewalk. As I shift the pieces around with my hands, I feel cold suddenly. I look up and find a flower blooming in between the sidewalk's cracks. Is it real? Or another hallucination? I grab the flower, plucking it from the ground. I flip the violet between my hands, thinking. I better keep this. Make sure it's real or not. I hear the cat hissing even louder. I’m coming.
I look up and am shocked to see the entire alley swathed in violets. The flowers' perfume makes my head hurt but I approach them. Forgetting the cat, I take a few steps forward and my entire world goes black.
When I wake up, I’m slumped on a brick wall. Still in the alley, but all the flowers have disappeared. The setting sun sends orange rays into my eyes, blinding me. I shudder, feeling sick and cold, despite the warm sun. The cat!
I take a quick look around me and am relieved to find the carrier still where I had set it down. As I try to stand, my legs feel heavy and my head spins. Grabbing the wall for balance, I try to recall what had happened. Violets. I remember the things covering the entire alley. As I try to remember what caused me to black out, I see something dark red trickle down the washed out bricks.
As I try balancing my weak body, something flickers. I frown, leaning forward. The bandages lay in a crumbled, bloody heap by where I had slept. Where I had slept is also a small pool of blood. I hold my hands in front of me. My hands are dripping with blood, the cuts reopened. I take the black sleeves, pulling them over my hands. That should at least conceal the bleeding.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 3
The carrier is silent. After a quick look, I see the black kitten sleeping. I smile, hoping that she’ll stay that way, at least until I get home.
Holding the carrier with my sleeve covered hands is awkward and off balance, and several times I have to drop the carrier because of the pain. By the time I get home, the moon is starting to rise, my hands are aching, and the carrier is screeching with fury again.
I push the door open with my shoulder, and make about five steps into the house before I collapse. I push the carrier away from me and flip on my back. I let the black sleeves flutter to my arms, exposing my hands as I examine them. Bright red slashes cover my hands, and dark, dried blood is caked onto my skin. I sigh, letting my arms flop onto the ground. Was it just my hallucinations? I frown at the ceiling. How can I not remember what happened for an entire afternoon? How did I fall asleep? What the hell happened to my hands?
My thoughts are interrupted by small mews. Lifting my head up, I see Emily rushing over. I sit up, smiling slightly as she pushes her head against my arms. I can see Kayden peeking behind the corner, watching me. He slinks out, approaching me. A few feet away, he stops, turning his head to my tattered hands. He growls slightly, then prowls over to the carrier, which is unusually quiet. Maybe he’ll accept her. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
At first, he stands right outside the iron gate. I see a shadow flicker inside, a low deep growl rumbling from inside. Out of nowhere, Kayden lashes his paw out, claws unsheathed. I hear the kitten stumble back in the crate, knocking it back a little. He snarls at the door, his ears flat against his head.
Still shocked by his reaction, I grab Kayden by the scruff, pushing him away. I never knew he would act that away, especially to something so small. His long claws drag on the wooden floor, making small scratches on the floor as he growls at me. He twists free, then spins around to look at me. His amber eyes are filled with fury, his ears flat against his head, and his brown, scruffy fur bristles. He hisses at me then whisks out of sight. Emily yowls at him and takes a few steps away from me, but returns moments later. She settles in my lap, curling up to sleep.
I turn to the crate, which is silent again. I stroke Emily’s cream colored fur as I think about what to do. I can’t let her roam free. Kayden will shred her. So which room should I put her in? If she isn’t litter trained, she can’t go into the bedrooms or living room. I can’t put her in the kitchen in her wild state. Maybe the bathroom? I glance at my hands. There are bandages in there too.
I push Emily off lightly, grab the carrier, and dash up to the wooden stairs. I hear the small, light thunk-thunk of cat paws behind me as Emily chases after me. In the upstairs hallway, if I turn left, it leads to my bedroom, which is one of the smallest rooms in the house. If I turn right, it leads to a much larger bedroom, a closet, and a bathroom.
After releasing the kitten, she immediately climbs on top of the white cabinet above the sink. I grab a box of bandages, then head downstairs. The wallpaper of the entire house is light gray, the window/door frames painted white. However, I have done everything I can to make the house brighter. Several paintings and drawings are nailed on the colorless walls, most of which were done by me in some of my free time. All of the art consists of giant trees, elegant flows, and dazzling birds.
I run the kitchen sink on my hands, the warm water making the cuts sting. It doesn’t look that bad now. The dry blood has been washed away, revealing the bright red marks. After applying several band-aids, I grab a can of soft cat food. I leave it on the bathroom floor, but she doesn’t move from her post on the cabinet. I have to get a name for you.
After feeding Emily and Kayden, who is still very much angry at me, I head to my bedroom. The small space is cramped from my bed and a desk, with an open window outlooking to the woods. The moonlight illuminates the several sketches covering the walls. Several more of the sketches cover the surface of the desk.
These sketches aren’t the innocent ones I have created to put visitors at ease, but of the things that haunt me. Violets, blood, and strange shadows drawn and painted from my nightmares.
I settle down at my desk, shifting the papers around for a pencil. I have already accepted the fact it will be a long night.
Holding the carrier with my sleeve covered hands is awkward and off balance, and several times I have to drop the carrier because of the pain. By the time I get home, the moon is starting to rise, my hands are aching, and the carrier is screeching with fury again.
I push the door open with my shoulder, and make about five steps into the house before I collapse. I push the carrier away from me and flip on my back. I let the black sleeves flutter to my arms, exposing my hands as I examine them. Bright red slashes cover my hands, and dark, dried blood is caked onto my skin. I sigh, letting my arms flop onto the ground. Was it just my hallucinations? I frown at the ceiling. How can I not remember what happened for an entire afternoon? How did I fall asleep? What the hell happened to my hands?
My thoughts are interrupted by small mews. Lifting my head up, I see Emily rushing over. I sit up, smiling slightly as she pushes her head against my arms. I can see Kayden peeking behind the corner, watching me. He slinks out, approaching me. A few feet away, he stops, turning his head to my tattered hands. He growls slightly, then prowls over to the carrier, which is unusually quiet. Maybe he’ll accept her. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
At first, he stands right outside the iron gate. I see a shadow flicker inside, a low deep growl rumbling from inside. Out of nowhere, Kayden lashes his paw out, claws unsheathed. I hear the kitten stumble back in the crate, knocking it back a little. He snarls at the door, his ears flat against his head.
Still shocked by his reaction, I grab Kayden by the scruff, pushing him away. I never knew he would act that away, especially to something so small. His long claws drag on the wooden floor, making small scratches on the floor as he growls at me. He twists free, then spins around to look at me. His amber eyes are filled with fury, his ears flat against his head, and his brown, scruffy fur bristles. He hisses at me then whisks out of sight. Emily yowls at him and takes a few steps away from me, but returns moments later. She settles in my lap, curling up to sleep.
I turn to the crate, which is silent again. I stroke Emily’s cream colored fur as I think about what to do. I can’t let her roam free. Kayden will shred her. So which room should I put her in? If she isn’t litter trained, she can’t go into the bedrooms or living room. I can’t put her in the kitchen in her wild state. Maybe the bathroom? I glance at my hands. There are bandages in there too.
I push Emily off lightly, grab the carrier, and dash up to the wooden stairs. I hear the small, light thunk-thunk of cat paws behind me as Emily chases after me. In the upstairs hallway, if I turn left, it leads to my bedroom, which is one of the smallest rooms in the house. If I turn right, it leads to a much larger bedroom, a closet, and a bathroom.
After releasing the kitten, she immediately climbs on top of the white cabinet above the sink. I grab a box of bandages, then head downstairs. The wallpaper of the entire house is light gray, the window/door frames painted white. However, I have done everything I can to make the house brighter. Several paintings and drawings are nailed on the colorless walls, most of which were done by me in some of my free time. All of the art consists of giant trees, elegant flows, and dazzling birds.
I run the kitchen sink on my hands, the warm water making the cuts sting. It doesn’t look that bad now. The dry blood has been washed away, revealing the bright red marks. After applying several band-aids, I grab a can of soft cat food. I leave it on the bathroom floor, but she doesn’t move from her post on the cabinet. I have to get a name for you.
After feeding Emily and Kayden, who is still very much angry at me, I head to my bedroom. The small space is cramped from my bed and a desk, with an open window outlooking to the woods. The moonlight illuminates the several sketches covering the walls. Several more of the sketches cover the surface of the desk.
These sketches aren’t the innocent ones I have created to put visitors at ease, but of the things that haunt me. Violets, blood, and strange shadows drawn and painted from my nightmares.
I settle down at my desk, shifting the papers around for a pencil. I have already accepted the fact it will be a long night.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 4
I must have fallen asleep as I sketched the white cat that had visited me. I know because I am running through unfamiliar woods. I don’t know what I’m running from, but I feel like if I stop for a moment, I will die.
The smell of smoke is strong, choking me. A layer of ash lays on the hard, bare earth. Looking up, the moon is a glowing red. Other than the moon, the night sky is empty.
My feet kick puffs of ash up, sending the stuff into my eyes, blinding me. Something hard catches my foot, causing me to trip into a tree. I lean against it for support as I wipe the grime from my eyes, my ankle throbbing. I squint, trying to see what I tripped over. My stomach heaves when I see it.
A skull stares at the sky, the back of its head lodged into the earth. I force myself to limp over, taking a closer look. From closer analysis, it looks like the skull of a deer. I sigh in relief. As I get up, I feel my neck prickle, like when someone is staring at me from behind. Waves of fear wash over me as I whip around trying to detect what is scaring me.
A dry, dead bush rustles to me left. I spin toward it, heart hammering. A low, menacing growl thunders across the ash covered woods. I slowly back away, waving my arms and shouting. A fierce yowl splits the dream in half.
I wake up, shivering slightly. My breath comes out in ragged gasps. I can still smell smoke. I lay on a cold tiled floor, trying to recollect myself.
Perhaps it was the shock of the dream distracting me. Or maybe I am always this oblivious to the world, so I don’t notice that I am lying on the bathroom floor. Or even wonder how I got there.
As I try to get to my feet, I don’t even notice that everything is so much larger.
It's only as I pace along the bathroom floor do I realize that I am on all fours.
I raise my hands to my face.
Except they are not hands.
They are.
Small, black.
Paws.
The smell of smoke is strong, choking me. A layer of ash lays on the hard, bare earth. Looking up, the moon is a glowing red. Other than the moon, the night sky is empty.
My feet kick puffs of ash up, sending the stuff into my eyes, blinding me. Something hard catches my foot, causing me to trip into a tree. I lean against it for support as I wipe the grime from my eyes, my ankle throbbing. I squint, trying to see what I tripped over. My stomach heaves when I see it.
A skull stares at the sky, the back of its head lodged into the earth. I force myself to limp over, taking a closer look. From closer analysis, it looks like the skull of a deer. I sigh in relief. As I get up, I feel my neck prickle, like when someone is staring at me from behind. Waves of fear wash over me as I whip around trying to detect what is scaring me.
A dry, dead bush rustles to me left. I spin toward it, heart hammering. A low, menacing growl thunders across the ash covered woods. I slowly back away, waving my arms and shouting. A fierce yowl splits the dream in half.
I wake up, shivering slightly. My breath comes out in ragged gasps. I can still smell smoke. I lay on a cold tiled floor, trying to recollect myself.
Perhaps it was the shock of the dream distracting me. Or maybe I am always this oblivious to the world, so I don’t notice that I am lying on the bathroom floor. Or even wonder how I got there.
As I try to get to my feet, I don’t even notice that everything is so much larger.
It's only as I pace along the bathroom floor do I realize that I am on all fours.
I raise my hands to my face.
Except they are not hands.
They are.
Small, black.
Paws.
_____________
I lay on the cold floor, shivering slightly. My whole body feels sore, my skin stinging from several cuts. I reach over to my shoulder, tugging at a white strip of cobweb with my fangs. I don’t really know if it’s cobwebs or not, but it seems to serve a similar purpose.
A faint scent hovers above the strips, making me recoil. Twolegs! I hiss at the cobweb, my tail lashing. I try ripping it off again, but I start gagging at the Twoleg stench. I give up on it. “For now,” I mutter.
I get to my paws, gritting my teeth at the sharp pain. I edge myself closer to the closed entrance to the den. Start actually thinking. What do I know about this Twoleg nest? I frown. As far as I know, there is only one exit. It's below me though. I shake my head, pawing at the stiff white obstacle blocking my way out. Maybe I can trick the Twoleg into moving this, then slip out. I start scratching it, yowling loudly. I need to get to camp!
I don’t know how long I continue this, but I stop after my voice starts giving out. Panting, I curl up on the floor. I strain my ears, but I can’t hear anything. The damn Twoleg must be resting. I close my eyes. Might as well regain my strength, right? Sighing, I relax, letting my mind drift off into dreams.
I yawn, my vision bleary. I shake my head, clearing it. I yawn again as I examine my surroundings. I’m curled up on a flat boulder, with several other rocks jutting out of the pebbles. Beyond the pebbles, tall grass swishes in the cool breeze. I can hear a crashing river, located somewhere behind me.
An unfamiliar scent makes my nose twitch, something sweet and warm, but not prey. I get to my paws, then twist my head around. Thank the Spirits! My skin doesn’t burn from cuts and I don’t have those obnoxious cobwebs restraining me.
I twist around, double checking myself, but no cobwebs or pain reappear. One of my paws lands on something soft and small as I was spinning around. I lift it, surprised to see a slightly crushed violet blooming between the pebbles.
The sweet, faint scent becomes an overpowering stench in moments. What in the name of Eternal Blaze is that?! Curiosity overcoming me, I head toward the river. Jumping on top of a tall boulder, I get a better look at my surroundings. The sight shocks me.
A wide, raging river separates me from a barren slope, dotted with several more boulders. But that isn’t what surprises me.
Hundreds of small violets blossom on my side of the riverbed, covering the pebbles. Because of the overpowering aroma of the flowers and the crashing river, I don’t detect the stranger.
It’s only when my fur bristles and chills sweep down my side when I spin around. A beautiful, small, white she-cat sits behind me. A couple black stripes sweep under her violet eyes. Her long fur bounces in the breeze and she smiles warmly at me.
She could’ve passed for normal if it weren’t for the several violets covering her neck or her tails. I do a double take. I count three white tails, each with a black tip.
I freeze, forgetting how to breathe as she comes even closer. My heart is hammering in my chest as she leans down. I don’t know why this strange cat wanted to. Maybe she just wanted to be face to face or bite me, but I never know. Right before her eyes meet mine, I snap awake.
I’m panting, my heart hammering in my chest. My paws clutch something hard. Again, I do a double take.
My paws, which were small, black, and covered in fur are now bigger and hairless, with useless claws.
Like the paws of a Twoleg.
I lay on the cold floor, shivering slightly. My whole body feels sore, my skin stinging from several cuts. I reach over to my shoulder, tugging at a white strip of cobweb with my fangs. I don’t really know if it’s cobwebs or not, but it seems to serve a similar purpose.
A faint scent hovers above the strips, making me recoil. Twolegs! I hiss at the cobweb, my tail lashing. I try ripping it off again, but I start gagging at the Twoleg stench. I give up on it. “For now,” I mutter.
I get to my paws, gritting my teeth at the sharp pain. I edge myself closer to the closed entrance to the den. Start actually thinking. What do I know about this Twoleg nest? I frown. As far as I know, there is only one exit. It's below me though. I shake my head, pawing at the stiff white obstacle blocking my way out. Maybe I can trick the Twoleg into moving this, then slip out. I start scratching it, yowling loudly. I need to get to camp!
I don’t know how long I continue this, but I stop after my voice starts giving out. Panting, I curl up on the floor. I strain my ears, but I can’t hear anything. The damn Twoleg must be resting. I close my eyes. Might as well regain my strength, right? Sighing, I relax, letting my mind drift off into dreams.
I yawn, my vision bleary. I shake my head, clearing it. I yawn again as I examine my surroundings. I’m curled up on a flat boulder, with several other rocks jutting out of the pebbles. Beyond the pebbles, tall grass swishes in the cool breeze. I can hear a crashing river, located somewhere behind me.
An unfamiliar scent makes my nose twitch, something sweet and warm, but not prey. I get to my paws, then twist my head around. Thank the Spirits! My skin doesn’t burn from cuts and I don’t have those obnoxious cobwebs restraining me.
I twist around, double checking myself, but no cobwebs or pain reappear. One of my paws lands on something soft and small as I was spinning around. I lift it, surprised to see a slightly crushed violet blooming between the pebbles.
The sweet, faint scent becomes an overpowering stench in moments. What in the name of Eternal Blaze is that?! Curiosity overcoming me, I head toward the river. Jumping on top of a tall boulder, I get a better look at my surroundings. The sight shocks me.
A wide, raging river separates me from a barren slope, dotted with several more boulders. But that isn’t what surprises me.
Hundreds of small violets blossom on my side of the riverbed, covering the pebbles. Because of the overpowering aroma of the flowers and the crashing river, I don’t detect the stranger.
It’s only when my fur bristles and chills sweep down my side when I spin around. A beautiful, small, white she-cat sits behind me. A couple black stripes sweep under her violet eyes. Her long fur bounces in the breeze and she smiles warmly at me.
She could’ve passed for normal if it weren’t for the several violets covering her neck or her tails. I do a double take. I count three white tails, each with a black tip.
I freeze, forgetting how to breathe as she comes even closer. My heart is hammering in my chest as she leans down. I don’t know why this strange cat wanted to. Maybe she just wanted to be face to face or bite me, but I never know. Right before her eyes meet mine, I snap awake.
I’m panting, my heart hammering in my chest. My paws clutch something hard. Again, I do a double take.
My paws, which were small, black, and covered in fur are now bigger and hairless, with useless claws.
Like the paws of a Twoleg.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 5
NO, NO, NO, NO! My mind shrieks at me as I leap onto the sink counter. My claws scrabble for a hold as I heave myself up. I rush close to the mirror hanging on the wall, examining myself.
Short, black, scruffy fur covers my scrawny body, with bandages wrapped around my torso. Long, tufted ears sprout on top of my head. A pair of hazel eyes glow in the dark bathroom.
I lean back on my haunches, panting. Alright. I am a cat. My mind goes blank for a few seconds before I break. HOW THE HELL AM I A CAT?! WHERE IS MY BODY?! AM I DEAD?! I try screaming, but it comes out odd and higher pitched. WHY CAN’T I SCREAM?! I try again and again until my brain registers what’s wrong. I’m yowling. Deciding that was the cat equivalent of screaming, I let it out.
Caterwauling and shrieking, I sound like a demon. But I don’t care. All I care about is getting out of my prison right now.
It could have been 10 minutes or an hour, but just as my voice starts to give out, the doorknob turns. In that split second, just as the door opens, I throw myself at the growing gap. Stumbling on the carpet floor, I barely make it out of the bathroom before I feel hands gripping my sides.
The hands clutch me too tight, squeezing the air out of me and possibly leaving behind bruises. “G-get off!” I screech. Surprisingly, the hands release me. I spin around to face my opponent. But the eyes that stare back at me are my own.
The human’s mouth drops and her hazel eyes go wide as I crouch on the floor, quivering with fear. The human is wearing a black sweatshirt with baggy jeans, her blonde hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She looks like me, but she isn't. Because I am me and I am IN A CAT! The human recovers quickly, clenching her jaw and glaring at me. I never knew human me could look so angry.
“What is in my body?” she growls, clenching her fists.
Still cowering on the floor, my brain shut down, I struggle to respond. Human me takes a step closer to me, fury emanating from her.
“What is going on up here?” I twist around, watching as Emily turns the corner. Her green eyes flick between us, confused. Turning to me, she asks, “What did you do?”
Somehow, I found myself a few seconds later huddled behind her. “I don’t know,” I whisper in a choked voice
Emily glances warily at the enraged human. “Go get Robin,” she murmurs, shielding me from her. Emily bristles her fur, keeping her gaze on human me.
Confused, I ask, “Who is Robin?” She turns to me, startled. She looks like she wants to reply, but a snarl cuts her short.
“Get away from Lily, you fleabag!” Someone shoves me over onto my back, pinning me to the floor. I look up, bewildered, into Kayden’s face. His lips are pulled back, showing glistening fangs, his ears flattened against his head.
Under different circumstances, I would have thought this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to Kayden without being scratched. However, I did the first thing that entered my head. I bit his neck. Hard.
He howls in pain, backing away from me. Getting to my paws, I spit out a chunk of brown fur. I don’t think I’m imagining the red specks on his neck. I back away from him quickly, pressing myself to the hallway wall.
“I have had enough surprises for the rest of my goddamn life!” I spit out. I’ve been stretched to the breaking point today. I’m sure anyone would be if you became a cat and were attacked twice. “You.” I flip my head to Kayden, who looks enraged. I make sure to show off my fangs as I snarl, “Do that again and I’ll rip off your head!”
Kayden looks like he’s about to go another round before the human breaks the silence. She bursts into cold laughter. Her body is shaking too much from amusement, making her legs to go weak. She leans on the wall, still laughing. Kayden, Emily, and I look at each other uncertainly. After collecting her breath, she points a finger at me. “I like you. Surprised me. You have some fight inside you.”
Emily rushes to Kayden’s side, her fur bristling at the human’s words. Kayden scoffs at her, but doesn’t move away. He glares at the human, but warily. Kayden whispers something into Emily’s ear, but she shakes her head.
“Maybe you can surprise me,” I blurt out. I clamp my mouth shut, crouching down submissively. The human raises her eyebrows at me skeptically.
“How did you do that?” Emily approaches me warily.
I sit up, nervous. “Did what?”
“She means how did you understand Ghost?” Kayden nods his head at the human.
I stare at him, appalled. “That is what you call me?”
He sneers at me, well, as much as a cat can. “Are you stupid?”
I restrained myself from throwing myself at him. I’m a straight A student! “My name is Lorelai, Kayden,” I answer with a steady voice. “Not Ghost.”
A look of understanding flickers in his gaze, followed by shock. But Emily beats him to it.
“Only one thing calls my brother Kayden.” She flicks her head toward the human. “She does.” Her intense gaze meets my eyes now. “So, how come you call him Kayden? Even when you know his cat name?” She steps closer to me. “In fact, Ghost hasn’t called us by our kittypet names once this morning.” Emily is close enough now that she could touch nose to nose with me. “And yet you do.” Her green gaze captivates me, forcing me to continue staring at her. “You are Ghost, aren’t you?”
“Wait.” Kayden cocks his head puzzled. “If she is Ghost, then who is she?” He flicks his tail at the human, who smiles.
Slowly, she makes her way closer to the cats. Crouching down in front of them, she makes her eyes level with theirs. “Excellent question. Probably can’t understand me though, can you?” She turns her gaze toward mine. “But since you can, let me introduce myself. I am Darkpaw, an apprentice of Ashkin.”
Short, black, scruffy fur covers my scrawny body, with bandages wrapped around my torso. Long, tufted ears sprout on top of my head. A pair of hazel eyes glow in the dark bathroom.
I lean back on my haunches, panting. Alright. I am a cat. My mind goes blank for a few seconds before I break. HOW THE HELL AM I A CAT?! WHERE IS MY BODY?! AM I DEAD?! I try screaming, but it comes out odd and higher pitched. WHY CAN’T I SCREAM?! I try again and again until my brain registers what’s wrong. I’m yowling. Deciding that was the cat equivalent of screaming, I let it out.
Caterwauling and shrieking, I sound like a demon. But I don’t care. All I care about is getting out of my prison right now.
It could have been 10 minutes or an hour, but just as my voice starts to give out, the doorknob turns. In that split second, just as the door opens, I throw myself at the growing gap. Stumbling on the carpet floor, I barely make it out of the bathroom before I feel hands gripping my sides.
The hands clutch me too tight, squeezing the air out of me and possibly leaving behind bruises. “G-get off!” I screech. Surprisingly, the hands release me. I spin around to face my opponent. But the eyes that stare back at me are my own.
The human’s mouth drops and her hazel eyes go wide as I crouch on the floor, quivering with fear. The human is wearing a black sweatshirt with baggy jeans, her blonde hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She looks like me, but she isn't. Because I am me and I am IN A CAT! The human recovers quickly, clenching her jaw and glaring at me. I never knew human me could look so angry.
“What is in my body?” she growls, clenching her fists.
Still cowering on the floor, my brain shut down, I struggle to respond. Human me takes a step closer to me, fury emanating from her.
“What is going on up here?” I twist around, watching as Emily turns the corner. Her green eyes flick between us, confused. Turning to me, she asks, “What did you do?”
Somehow, I found myself a few seconds later huddled behind her. “I don’t know,” I whisper in a choked voice
Emily glances warily at the enraged human. “Go get Robin,” she murmurs, shielding me from her. Emily bristles her fur, keeping her gaze on human me.
Confused, I ask, “Who is Robin?” She turns to me, startled. She looks like she wants to reply, but a snarl cuts her short.
“Get away from Lily, you fleabag!” Someone shoves me over onto my back, pinning me to the floor. I look up, bewildered, into Kayden’s face. His lips are pulled back, showing glistening fangs, his ears flattened against his head.
Under different circumstances, I would have thought this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to Kayden without being scratched. However, I did the first thing that entered my head. I bit his neck. Hard.
He howls in pain, backing away from me. Getting to my paws, I spit out a chunk of brown fur. I don’t think I’m imagining the red specks on his neck. I back away from him quickly, pressing myself to the hallway wall.
“I have had enough surprises for the rest of my goddamn life!” I spit out. I’ve been stretched to the breaking point today. I’m sure anyone would be if you became a cat and were attacked twice. “You.” I flip my head to Kayden, who looks enraged. I make sure to show off my fangs as I snarl, “Do that again and I’ll rip off your head!”
Kayden looks like he’s about to go another round before the human breaks the silence. She bursts into cold laughter. Her body is shaking too much from amusement, making her legs to go weak. She leans on the wall, still laughing. Kayden, Emily, and I look at each other uncertainly. After collecting her breath, she points a finger at me. “I like you. Surprised me. You have some fight inside you.”
Emily rushes to Kayden’s side, her fur bristling at the human’s words. Kayden scoffs at her, but doesn’t move away. He glares at the human, but warily. Kayden whispers something into Emily’s ear, but she shakes her head.
“Maybe you can surprise me,” I blurt out. I clamp my mouth shut, crouching down submissively. The human raises her eyebrows at me skeptically.
“How did you do that?” Emily approaches me warily.
I sit up, nervous. “Did what?”
“She means how did you understand Ghost?” Kayden nods his head at the human.
I stare at him, appalled. “That is what you call me?”
He sneers at me, well, as much as a cat can. “Are you stupid?”
I restrained myself from throwing myself at him. I’m a straight A student! “My name is Lorelai, Kayden,” I answer with a steady voice. “Not Ghost.”
A look of understanding flickers in his gaze, followed by shock. But Emily beats him to it.
“Only one thing calls my brother Kayden.” She flicks her head toward the human. “She does.” Her intense gaze meets my eyes now. “So, how come you call him Kayden? Even when you know his cat name?” She steps closer to me. “In fact, Ghost hasn’t called us by our kittypet names once this morning.” Emily is close enough now that she could touch nose to nose with me. “And yet you do.” Her green gaze captivates me, forcing me to continue staring at her. “You are Ghost, aren’t you?”
“Wait.” Kayden cocks his head puzzled. “If she is Ghost, then who is she?” He flicks his tail at the human, who smiles.
Slowly, she makes her way closer to the cats. Crouching down in front of them, she makes her eyes level with theirs. “Excellent question. Probably can’t understand me though, can you?” She turns her gaze toward mine. “But since you can, let me introduce myself. I am Darkpaw, an apprentice of Ashkin.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 6
“But since you can, let me introduce myself. I am Darkpaw, an apprentice of Ashkin,” I reveal proudly. But I am only greeted by three confused faces. I frown, slightly baffled. I step closer to the cats. My legs wobble underneath me. How do you walk like this? I’m so unsteady. How did she not constantly trip?
I press my big, useless paws onto the ground to steady myself as I sit down. It's uncomfortable, but I ignore it. “Well? Haven’t you heard about the mighty Ashkin?” The two strangers turn to… What had they called her? Ghost? I narrow my eyes at them. Are those two kittypets? They aren’t fat and lazy. The arrogant one had attacked Ghost. Maybe he is like me, held against my will. But why is that she-cat so friendly to her?
I turn my attention back to the black cat in front of me. The white strips of cobweb still cling to her skin. She is sitting calmly, but her eyes glitter with curiosity. She picks up a paw, lifting it close to her muzzle. “Well, Darkpaw is a fitting name.”
I growl at her. Is she making fun of me?! Ghost glances at me and I don’t think I’m imagining the amusement sparkling in her green eyes. My eyes. Argh, whatever. “It’s my apprentice name,” I respond through gritted teeth. Again, she seems baffled.
“Apprentice, Ashkin?” She glances at the kittypets. “Is any of this ringing a bell?”
Surprisingly, they both exchange knowing glances. The cream colored tabby murmurs something to the scruffy brown tom, but he scoffs. However, he pads over to Ghost. “The Kins are groups of hostile, territorial cats. If what this rat says is true,” he flicks his tail at me, “then you should have never rescued her.”
I’m debating whether or not to kill him before the rest of his words register. “Rescue me?” I ask in disbelief.
Ghost nods. “After Kayden fought off those strays, you needed someone to treat your wounds.” She glances at the cobwebs. “I guess they’re my wounds now.” She laughs a little. “And you will need someone to feed and shelter you in your injured state.” I remember the ‘food’ she had served me. It looked like someone else had tried eating it. But she was just trying to help me? Suddenly she looks panicked. In a flash, she darts around the corner.
“Oi, wait up!” I get up on my feet and give chase. Or try to. One of my hind legs drags on the soft ground, tripping me. I steady myself on the gray walls, taking it one step at time. I look around the corner and see several slabs of wood leading down to a different part of the Twoleg Nest. I groan. This is going to take 9 lives.
After several minutes of leaning on the wall, I managed to get down. I find her scratching at the closed entrance to the nest. The dim, morning light seems so bright after the dark. She sees me and lets out a purr. “Oh, you can help me!” She darts off into a different part of the nest.
“Stop moving for a minute, won’t you?” I holler at her. Sighing, I follow her.
This den is bigger than the others, with several large surfaces of wood. I hook my paws around one and pull it open, revealing several objects. A stash. Of what? I pull out two things, one a large box and the other is a large, pale green shiny thing. Strange symbols are imprinted on it. Even more surprising, I can read them.
I squint at the box. C-H-E-E-Z I-T. What is a Cheez-it? I pull at the folds on top of the box. Several small, orange square fill the box. I take a handful, examining them. An unfamiliar scent drifts from them and they crumble in my hands. My stomach growls. Well… They seem okay… And look edible. I pop a few in my mouth.
My eyes go wide in amazement. Fresh-kill never tasted this good! I wolf down the rest in my hand. I focus my attention on the large shiny thing. S-P-R-I-T-E. I tug at it with my paws, trying to get it open. A bit on the top twists a little. After spinning the top off, I take a sip. It sizzles and pops in my mouth. It tastes unfamiliar, but sweet. I’m about to have another sip when I feel sharp teeth dig into my leg. I hiss at Ghost.
“C’mon, we gotta go!” She meows urgently.
“Go where?” I ask. She can’t go back to camp. But my Kin will be looking for me. I notice her trying to drag something much larger than her. I pick it up, examining it. It crinkles in my hand, and something inside it crunches.
“What’s this?” I ask suspiciously.
“It’s cat food. We have to feed the strays!”
“Strays?”
“Cats who live on the streets. They’re usually starving. I feed them in the morning pretty often!” Ghost explains. Hmm. Now that I thought about it, the elders said that Twolegplace was infested with rats, with hardly any prey. The fact that a Twoleg would be concerned about that is… Weird. I thought Twolegs only kept cats as pets or were a threat to them. I glance at her. She seems genuinely worried, but eager too.
I sigh. “Do I have to come along?”
“I can’t feed them with these.” She holds out her paws rejectedly. I groan, smacking my head. “You can bring Cheez-Its and a Sprite,” she offers.
“Fine…” I huff. She purrs, rubbing her head against my leg. I cringe.
This is so weird. If my Kinmates ever saw me act like this right now… I resist a shudder. But then again… Ghost isn’t anything like most Twolegs, right? My eyes glance at the cobwebs wrapped around her. The ones she had applied to stop me from bleeding out. Hmm. I don’t care. Once I’m in my body again, I’ll never even think about her ever again.
I press my big, useless paws onto the ground to steady myself as I sit down. It's uncomfortable, but I ignore it. “Well? Haven’t you heard about the mighty Ashkin?” The two strangers turn to… What had they called her? Ghost? I narrow my eyes at them. Are those two kittypets? They aren’t fat and lazy. The arrogant one had attacked Ghost. Maybe he is like me, held against my will. But why is that she-cat so friendly to her?
I turn my attention back to the black cat in front of me. The white strips of cobweb still cling to her skin. She is sitting calmly, but her eyes glitter with curiosity. She picks up a paw, lifting it close to her muzzle. “Well, Darkpaw is a fitting name.”
I growl at her. Is she making fun of me?! Ghost glances at me and I don’t think I’m imagining the amusement sparkling in her green eyes. My eyes. Argh, whatever. “It’s my apprentice name,” I respond through gritted teeth. Again, she seems baffled.
“Apprentice, Ashkin?” She glances at the kittypets. “Is any of this ringing a bell?”
Surprisingly, they both exchange knowing glances. The cream colored tabby murmurs something to the scruffy brown tom, but he scoffs. However, he pads over to Ghost. “The Kins are groups of hostile, territorial cats. If what this rat says is true,” he flicks his tail at me, “then you should have never rescued her.”
I’m debating whether or not to kill him before the rest of his words register. “Rescue me?” I ask in disbelief.
Ghost nods. “After Kayden fought off those strays, you needed someone to treat your wounds.” She glances at the cobwebs. “I guess they’re my wounds now.” She laughs a little. “And you will need someone to feed and shelter you in your injured state.” I remember the ‘food’ she had served me. It looked like someone else had tried eating it. But she was just trying to help me? Suddenly she looks panicked. In a flash, she darts around the corner.
“Oi, wait up!” I get up on my feet and give chase. Or try to. One of my hind legs drags on the soft ground, tripping me. I steady myself on the gray walls, taking it one step at time. I look around the corner and see several slabs of wood leading down to a different part of the Twoleg Nest. I groan. This is going to take 9 lives.
After several minutes of leaning on the wall, I managed to get down. I find her scratching at the closed entrance to the nest. The dim, morning light seems so bright after the dark. She sees me and lets out a purr. “Oh, you can help me!” She darts off into a different part of the nest.
“Stop moving for a minute, won’t you?” I holler at her. Sighing, I follow her.
This den is bigger than the others, with several large surfaces of wood. I hook my paws around one and pull it open, revealing several objects. A stash. Of what? I pull out two things, one a large box and the other is a large, pale green shiny thing. Strange symbols are imprinted on it. Even more surprising, I can read them.
I squint at the box. C-H-E-E-Z I-T. What is a Cheez-it? I pull at the folds on top of the box. Several small, orange square fill the box. I take a handful, examining them. An unfamiliar scent drifts from them and they crumble in my hands. My stomach growls. Well… They seem okay… And look edible. I pop a few in my mouth.
My eyes go wide in amazement. Fresh-kill never tasted this good! I wolf down the rest in my hand. I focus my attention on the large shiny thing. S-P-R-I-T-E. I tug at it with my paws, trying to get it open. A bit on the top twists a little. After spinning the top off, I take a sip. It sizzles and pops in my mouth. It tastes unfamiliar, but sweet. I’m about to have another sip when I feel sharp teeth dig into my leg. I hiss at Ghost.
“C’mon, we gotta go!” She meows urgently.
“Go where?” I ask. She can’t go back to camp. But my Kin will be looking for me. I notice her trying to drag something much larger than her. I pick it up, examining it. It crinkles in my hand, and something inside it crunches.
“What’s this?” I ask suspiciously.
“It’s cat food. We have to feed the strays!”
“Strays?”
“Cats who live on the streets. They’re usually starving. I feed them in the morning pretty often!” Ghost explains. Hmm. Now that I thought about it, the elders said that Twolegplace was infested with rats, with hardly any prey. The fact that a Twoleg would be concerned about that is… Weird. I thought Twolegs only kept cats as pets or were a threat to them. I glance at her. She seems genuinely worried, but eager too.
I sigh. “Do I have to come along?”
“I can’t feed them with these.” She holds out her paws rejectedly. I groan, smacking my head. “You can bring Cheez-Its and a Sprite,” she offers.
“Fine…” I huff. She purrs, rubbing her head against my leg. I cringe.
This is so weird. If my Kinmates ever saw me act like this right now… I resist a shudder. But then again… Ghost isn’t anything like most Twolegs, right? My eyes glance at the cobwebs wrapped around her. The ones she had applied to stop me from bleeding out. Hmm. I don’t care. Once I’m in my body again, I’ll never even think about her ever again.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 7
The warm afternoon sun gazes down ahead of us as Darkpaw feeds the last group of strays. My stomach growls but I ignore it. There is plenty of food at home and it wouldn’t feel right taking some of their rations. Besides, I knew how cats would fight over the smallest scraps. Emily and Kayden never seemed to have a problem with sharing, though.
The walk had started with lots of whining from Darkpaw, but now she’s very quiet. In the last few alleys, she hasn’t said a word. She just watches the starved cats scarf down their food. I glance at her, but her face is emotionless. Her eyes seem glazed, like she is lost in thinking. I glance around us, worried. I was well known to make these trips around the city, but I was never accompanied by anyone. Certainly not by a cat. I noticed lots of odd looks as we traveled.
After the strays slink back into the darkness, their bellies full, I glance at Darkpaw. She is still lost in her own world. I meow at her, trying to drag her back to Earth. With no success, I nibbled at her leg. That got her attention.
“Don’t bite me!” she hisses. I swear I didn’t do it hard. I don’t know if I actually hurt her or she is just annoyed with me. I decide that silence is the best option. She rolls her eyes at me. I pretend I didn’t see it.
“C’mon, we’ve gotta head back.” I pad ahead of her, not looking back to see if she is following me. I can already hear her footsteps.
I decide to take a shortcut. The less we're out here, the better. I take a familiar path, passing behind shops, cutting across roads, speeding down sidewalks.
At some point, something ticks in the back of my mind, a little bell chiming, “Something is here. Go look!” I spin around, surveying my surroundings. Bricks so washed out, they were a light pink. An alley with overflowing dumpsters that reek. A small, crumpled pile of bandages laying on a cracked sidewalk.
I freeze, goosebumps erupting over my skin. Aside from several vines hanging around the pink bricks, no other plants. No violets. I realize I’m holding my breath. I let it out, relieved. Just my imagination. The bandages flutter in a slight breeze, reminding me of how they had been torn off. An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach. It was just my imagination, right?
“Hey, can you stop looking like a scared kitten for a minute? You’re making me look bad,” Darkpaw growls. I whip around. With her being so silent, I forgot she was behind me.
“Did you see it?” I blurt out. I gaze at her, praying for an answer.
“See what?” she asks, annoyed again. She whips my blond hair over her shoulder. It is barely still even in the ponytail I had put up.
“Yesterday, when I brought you to my home, I stopped here. I saw a lot of violets.”
“So you dropped me off in the middle of nowhere for hours just so you could pick flowers?” she asks skeptically. I shake my head, trying to gather the right words to explain what had happened. I decide to drop the matter, for now. I’ll show her my nightmares. The drawings that hung around MY room would be enough. I’m a little shocked she didn’t take notice of them at all. Then again, she was thrown into a human body out of nowhere. Staring around to gawk at someone’s weird art probably wasn’t the first thing in her mind.
She rolls her eyes again, continuing the direction I had been going in. I take a few steps after her when I freeze. A familiar scent drifts through the air. It was faint, but existed. I turn back to the alley, but the source seems to be coming from ahead. I chase after it, flashing past Darkpaw. I hear her scream something at me, but the wind whips past me. The sweet scent becomes stronger, mixed with another one. I inhale, tracing the scent. It smells like fire and ash and death. It chokes me, making me cough and gag. I slow to a stop, wheezing.
I hear pounding footsteps approaching me. I don’t even glance back to see if it is Darkpaw. I can tell by the way she runs, how her footsteps are unsure and clumsy.
“I am getting… REALLY tired…playing cat and mouse with you.” She takes several gasps in between words. I can feel her glaring at me. While she scolds me about something like running off, I hunch over, giving one final bout of coughing. I lift my gaze in front of me. The sidewalk is neatly trimmed, with no weeds sticking out between cracks or jagged rough edges. Except a few small, glowing violets that whisper, “Hear I am. Come to me.”
I pad toward them, once again mesmerized by their presence. I raise a hesitant, careful paw. “Hey, are you listening to me? How DARE you ignore– Oh…” My paw lightly brushes one of the petals. I watch as the color is sucked out of the flowers and they shrivel up. I can’t take my eyes off them, even as they crumble into nothingness. Several minutes of silence pass before I turn to Darkpaw.
Her eyes are wide in bewilderment, hinted with terror. Her mouth hangs open in shock, her skin pale. She trembles slightly. For the first time ever, I see Darkpaw scared.
But it’s also the first time that someone else sees the strange and, sometimes, terrifying things that I see.
The walk had started with lots of whining from Darkpaw, but now she’s very quiet. In the last few alleys, she hasn’t said a word. She just watches the starved cats scarf down their food. I glance at her, but her face is emotionless. Her eyes seem glazed, like she is lost in thinking. I glance around us, worried. I was well known to make these trips around the city, but I was never accompanied by anyone. Certainly not by a cat. I noticed lots of odd looks as we traveled.
After the strays slink back into the darkness, their bellies full, I glance at Darkpaw. She is still lost in her own world. I meow at her, trying to drag her back to Earth. With no success, I nibbled at her leg. That got her attention.
“Don’t bite me!” she hisses. I swear I didn’t do it hard. I don’t know if I actually hurt her or she is just annoyed with me. I decide that silence is the best option. She rolls her eyes at me. I pretend I didn’t see it.
“C’mon, we’ve gotta head back.” I pad ahead of her, not looking back to see if she is following me. I can already hear her footsteps.
I decide to take a shortcut. The less we're out here, the better. I take a familiar path, passing behind shops, cutting across roads, speeding down sidewalks.
At some point, something ticks in the back of my mind, a little bell chiming, “Something is here. Go look!” I spin around, surveying my surroundings. Bricks so washed out, they were a light pink. An alley with overflowing dumpsters that reek. A small, crumpled pile of bandages laying on a cracked sidewalk.
I freeze, goosebumps erupting over my skin. Aside from several vines hanging around the pink bricks, no other plants. No violets. I realize I’m holding my breath. I let it out, relieved. Just my imagination. The bandages flutter in a slight breeze, reminding me of how they had been torn off. An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach. It was just my imagination, right?
“Hey, can you stop looking like a scared kitten for a minute? You’re making me look bad,” Darkpaw growls. I whip around. With her being so silent, I forgot she was behind me.
“Did you see it?” I blurt out. I gaze at her, praying for an answer.
“See what?” she asks, annoyed again. She whips my blond hair over her shoulder. It is barely still even in the ponytail I had put up.
“Yesterday, when I brought you to my home, I stopped here. I saw a lot of violets.”
“So you dropped me off in the middle of nowhere for hours just so you could pick flowers?” she asks skeptically. I shake my head, trying to gather the right words to explain what had happened. I decide to drop the matter, for now. I’ll show her my nightmares. The drawings that hung around MY room would be enough. I’m a little shocked she didn’t take notice of them at all. Then again, she was thrown into a human body out of nowhere. Staring around to gawk at someone’s weird art probably wasn’t the first thing in her mind.
She rolls her eyes again, continuing the direction I had been going in. I take a few steps after her when I freeze. A familiar scent drifts through the air. It was faint, but existed. I turn back to the alley, but the source seems to be coming from ahead. I chase after it, flashing past Darkpaw. I hear her scream something at me, but the wind whips past me. The sweet scent becomes stronger, mixed with another one. I inhale, tracing the scent. It smells like fire and ash and death. It chokes me, making me cough and gag. I slow to a stop, wheezing.
I hear pounding footsteps approaching me. I don’t even glance back to see if it is Darkpaw. I can tell by the way she runs, how her footsteps are unsure and clumsy.
“I am getting… REALLY tired…playing cat and mouse with you.” She takes several gasps in between words. I can feel her glaring at me. While she scolds me about something like running off, I hunch over, giving one final bout of coughing. I lift my gaze in front of me. The sidewalk is neatly trimmed, with no weeds sticking out between cracks or jagged rough edges. Except a few small, glowing violets that whisper, “Hear I am. Come to me.”
I pad toward them, once again mesmerized by their presence. I raise a hesitant, careful paw. “Hey, are you listening to me? How DARE you ignore– Oh…” My paw lightly brushes one of the petals. I watch as the color is sucked out of the flowers and they shrivel up. I can’t take my eyes off them, even as they crumble into nothingness. Several minutes of silence pass before I turn to Darkpaw.
Her eyes are wide in bewilderment, hinted with terror. Her mouth hangs open in shock, her skin pale. She trembles slightly. For the first time ever, I see Darkpaw scared.
But it’s also the first time that someone else sees the strange and, sometimes, terrifying things that I see.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 8
I slam the door behind me. Is this what Ghost had called it? I remembered earlier, when we were leaving the Nest, that she had meowed, “Make sure to close the door.” I didn’t know what it was and I had to withstand a boring lecture about what objects around the nest were called. A waste of time, since I forgot most of them.
I hurry inside, glancing around the den with the stashes of food. I need to find her! The cream tabby glances at me from her meal, but turns away quickly. The tom glares at me. I hiss at him, earning a growl from him. I roll my eyes and start searching for Ghost. She had taken off again when she got inside. I need to have a talk with that mousebrain about running off. I cringe slightly. I sound like Crowstone! He was my mentor, and was old and boring and talked ALL about Kin Law.
I hear a loud, high pitched yowl from above me. I groan, glancing at the stairs. Ah! I remember that word too! I feel slightly proud of myself before I hear another yowl. Huffing, I climb the stairs on all fours. It’s easier than with 2 legs. I turn around the corner, but pause. I examine the wall. A thrush perches on a branch with several green leaves. I touch it softly. It looks so real, but when my fingers brush against it, the surface is flat, solid, and rough. It reminds me of a piece of tree bark I had played with when I got bored in the nursery. Since when was THIS here?
“Do you like that one?” I whip my head to the side. Ghost watches me with wide, curious hazel eyes.
I shrug, trying not to seem that impressed. “It’s alright, I guess.” I pause, glancing back at it. “What is it?”
“A form of art. A painting. I made it,” she replies proudly. Art. Painting. I try harder to memorize these words, staring at the artwork. Beautiful. I glance back at Ghost, but I only see a black tail slipping around the door. Does she EVER stay still? I follow her inside the small den. She’s sitting on the floor, gazing at a wall. I follow her gaze. My eyes go wide.
I see several other paintings stuck on the wall, but these are much different than the one I saw a few minutes ago. Unlike the peaceful setting of the woods, these are filled with tall, disfigured shadows, ash, fire, and violets. The small flowers are featured in several pictures, some thriving by a river, others lying shredded in the midst of dark red pools. I back away from the wall, overwhelmed by the images. Did a Twoleg really make ALL of this?
I bump into something behind me. “That’s my desk,” Ghost murmurs quietly, her eyes closed. She looks like how I imagine myself looking when I’m about to get a lecture from Crowstone. All serious and concerned, even if I'm really not. I glance at the art on the desk, most of it looking incomplete. My eyes catch on one. My breath hitches in my throat. I forget how to breathe for a moment.
A white she-cat gazes up at me with dark, violet eyes. Black markings decorate her cheeks. A collar of violets. On her three tails, a trickle of the flowers starts halfway, but they become so closely knit together at the tips you can barely see the black fur underneath.
This painting resembled very much of the cat who had visited my dreams the night before all of this mess. She even looked a little bit like a Spirit. Why didn’t I notice it earlier? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
The name forms in the back of my throat. My lips set it free, my voice quiet and cracked.
“Oleander.”
I hurry inside, glancing around the den with the stashes of food. I need to find her! The cream tabby glances at me from her meal, but turns away quickly. The tom glares at me. I hiss at him, earning a growl from him. I roll my eyes and start searching for Ghost. She had taken off again when she got inside. I need to have a talk with that mousebrain about running off. I cringe slightly. I sound like Crowstone! He was my mentor, and was old and boring and talked ALL about Kin Law.
I hear a loud, high pitched yowl from above me. I groan, glancing at the stairs. Ah! I remember that word too! I feel slightly proud of myself before I hear another yowl. Huffing, I climb the stairs on all fours. It’s easier than with 2 legs. I turn around the corner, but pause. I examine the wall. A thrush perches on a branch with several green leaves. I touch it softly. It looks so real, but when my fingers brush against it, the surface is flat, solid, and rough. It reminds me of a piece of tree bark I had played with when I got bored in the nursery. Since when was THIS here?
“Do you like that one?” I whip my head to the side. Ghost watches me with wide, curious hazel eyes.
I shrug, trying not to seem that impressed. “It’s alright, I guess.” I pause, glancing back at it. “What is it?”
“A form of art. A painting. I made it,” she replies proudly. Art. Painting. I try harder to memorize these words, staring at the artwork. Beautiful. I glance back at Ghost, but I only see a black tail slipping around the door. Does she EVER stay still? I follow her inside the small den. She’s sitting on the floor, gazing at a wall. I follow her gaze. My eyes go wide.
I see several other paintings stuck on the wall, but these are much different than the one I saw a few minutes ago. Unlike the peaceful setting of the woods, these are filled with tall, disfigured shadows, ash, fire, and violets. The small flowers are featured in several pictures, some thriving by a river, others lying shredded in the midst of dark red pools. I back away from the wall, overwhelmed by the images. Did a Twoleg really make ALL of this?
I bump into something behind me. “That’s my desk,” Ghost murmurs quietly, her eyes closed. She looks like how I imagine myself looking when I’m about to get a lecture from Crowstone. All serious and concerned, even if I'm really not. I glance at the art on the desk, most of it looking incomplete. My eyes catch on one. My breath hitches in my throat. I forget how to breathe for a moment.
A white she-cat gazes up at me with dark, violet eyes. Black markings decorate her cheeks. A collar of violets. On her three tails, a trickle of the flowers starts halfway, but they become so closely knit together at the tips you can barely see the black fur underneath.
This painting resembled very much of the cat who had visited my dreams the night before all of this mess. She even looked a little bit like a Spirit. Why didn’t I notice it earlier? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
The name forms in the back of my throat. My lips set it free, my voice quiet and cracked.
“Oleander.”