Oh how life has a confusing way of working out. You never know when your time has come to leave this world and enter the next, I certainly didn't. And then again, life isn't that simple either. What I thought had been my end was nothing more than a pause, a long sleep in my sad untold life.

I believed I was dead for a long time, not dreaming yet more...moving. Yes, in my coma like state, I was traveling through distant stars and galaxies, is what it seemed like. Searching for what they called the afterlife. A place where I would be greeted by my mother and siblings, fallen friends of old and new, and maybe, the one who led me to my downfall as well. If he too, was waiting there for me. And if so, how would it end….or in this case, begin? Would he great me with kindness, or would our past follow us into the stars and we try to slaughter each other with never ending life? Who knows…? I found it…but lost it almost at once.

It was a remarkable place, one of golden lakes and silver forest. Peace existed there, true peace. And I looked for them, who I knew so well… and I was greeted by him! The one in my dreams before, with a shining coat of white, golden eyes that sparkled like gems, the one the earth cries for. But it didn't last. For he said 'It's not your time yet, sister dear.' And then, it such pain and sadness I was ripped away from the beautiful world, and I awoke to darkness and death.

No really, I did. The dead lined the walls of the underground catacombs, and the faint light outlined every ghastly detail of my dead brothers and sisters of Felidae. I thought for a sicking moment I had fallen to hell and landed in an eternal prison, but a familiar shape broke through the darkness as a flickering shadow, and appeared near a shaft of light. He was an Old Persian. His greyish blue pelt darkened with dirt and dust, and had missing patches of fur. His old weary yellow eyes scanned the room and when they met mine he dropped the flowers he was carrying and yowled in shock.

"The dead has risen!" He yelled in surprise and then he swiftly said "I am but your guardian, if the reason you have returned is because I was unfaithful to the prophet, please let me know where I was wrong!"

"Jesaja?" I questioned in a weary voice. I was thirsty, I ached and my head was pounding. I felt incredibly weak, and hungry above most things.

The cat stopped his ramblings and looked to me with an astonished gasp. "Sister Novalee!" He said in such joy and sadness at the same time it surprised me. He padded across the stone floor and arrived at my side. I closed my eyes wishing to go back to sleep, back to that wonderful place and forget the pain, but Jesaja nudged me gently and said "If it's not your time…then don't go." He had a wishful tone in his voice. He wanted me alive, as much as I wanted to be dead. But as he who saved the world by killing us in the end said 'It's not your time…' So I stayed, and left the wonderful vision of paradise behind.

…

"Jesaja, have you ever wanted to leave the Temple of the Dead?" I asked one day while we dined on a scrawny rat. The travel to 'heaven' and back was months ago. Jesaja has done his best, bringing me a rat when he could, along with water if possible. And slowly, I became myself again….sort of.

"But if I leave the Temple of the Dead, who would care for the dead? I am their guardian. And I am not allowed to see the land of day."

"I know that is what the Prophet had said to you, but aren't you afraid you will go blind from this darkness? Without the need for your vision in the dark caves, you are sure to lose it."

"Ah, but sister dear I may not set paw in the land of day, but that does not mean I look to it." He said and looked to a shaft of light leaking in from a whole in a tunnel system. I remained looking down at the rat, until Jesaja said "But you my dear look into the darkness….you shall lose your eyesight if you do not look the other way." I blinked and thought about his words.

It was true. I have sunk lower in this winding maze of darkness by the day. I am fascinated by the structure and details of the dead, human and animal. I do, lay in the main shaft of light to let the warmth of the sun wash over me, but the catacombs of darkness called my curiosity.

"Do you ever plan to return to the land of day?" Jesaja asked giving his paw a wash. I lay on the floor and said "I don't know…"

"But what of your friends? And that one brother you seemed to be close with… Francis…wasn't it?"

I was quiet. Thinking calmly and I said "I am not sure how my arrival will settle. I did what I had to do to save the lives of Felidae and Mankind."

"And what is that dear sister?"

I heaved a sigh and said "When I arrived at my new home, I discovered a string of murders all leading to do with love and mating. Francis and I worked hard to figure out who the murderer was. Two very close friends perished because of it." I paused and remembered two familiar faces. And the horrors of their death came crashing into my mind.

"We discovered that the murderer was trying to create a new breed of Felidae. One that would kill of the humans and populate the world. I stopped the program by killing the murderer. And that is why you found me there in the snow not to long back. But the reason I don't want to return to everyone…just yet is because the murderer was a friend. And his death might be blamed on me and I would not be able to explain it without ruining many beliefs."

Jesaja was quiet for another long moment and then he said "There comes a time when we realize more then we wanted to dear sister. I have a reason, care for the dead. But, the dead has stopped coming, and by what you told me… I have to ask… did you kill the Prophet?"

"…Yes." I replied quietly and then added "His throne was built up on lies and twisted truths. Joker was in on it the entire time. What the Prophet was doing…he was wrong. Trying to play god and putting himself on top. The dead that come to you are murdered victims of his plan. And with this in mind…" I paused and looked to a shaft of soft light.

"We should leave the Temple of the Dead…"