Cat and Mouse

We stumbled through the thin underbrush for days. About two weeks. Every root seems to TRY and trip us. Like it has a mind of its own, I swear! God, the trees are starting to thicken because we are entering this little forestlike thing on a huge Cliffside. There are lots of holes and caves. It's quite neat.

"WOW! Iggy! Look! Brimstone! That's what I smell like after I have a good helping of Max's cooking!" Gazzy yelled. I gave him a look to shut him up.

"Angel?" I say, "Angel, where are you? This is no time for games…"

"I'm right here Max!" She said. Angel's slight form popped out of the thick green bushes, towering over 8 feet tall. "It's ok. Come on out and meet everyone." She said sweetly to the bushes. Whenever she does that, I worry. One time, she said that in the ocean, and out came a shark. But this was even more frightening. Out of the brush came a huge, but graceful creature. She was about the size of a Honda Civic, larger than a tiger. She was a dark orangish gold with a white chest.

"Greetings fellow hybrid." said the creature. The thing stepped out into the light and I got a proper look at it. It was definatly a cat. Her eyes were orange, and gleaming. Her fur was sleek and glossy. She was well muscled, but obviously female. "My name," she said, "Is Amber. You little girl found me. She said you were looking for me." My mouth dropped. She was beautiful. "Come with me." We walked through the trees and soon, she stopped. There was a snarl and some mumbling from the woods next to Gazzy, and he backed away. A great pure white cat, about the size of a mini-van lunged through the underbrush at me. With reflexes of lightning, Amber slammed into his side. The wrestled for a few seconds, and I saw Amber had pinned the giant cat to the ground and was looking at him intently.

"Geroff me." the white cat growled. And he shoved her off him roughly.

"These… hybrids. They are Itex's creations also. We should show them to Star."

"Alright. Fine. Let's go. Now" He growled, "My name is Frost." His voice was as cold as his namesake. I was like, totally intimidated.

We walked. For a VERY long time. I was quite unhappy at the end of our little "trip." We finally reached a cliff, where this hole in the mountainside where Frost and Amber slipped through lie they were greased. The gap was about 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide. A large-ish gap. We all slid through and gasped at what was inside. It was a huge open space, circular, with a waterfall covering the whole left side, pouring down from an unknown source, because it was a closed space. The water formed a slow river flowing to a large hole in the center-back of the room. It was not dark, but light in the hole. In fact, the whole place was lit. a calm ivory glow. There were many different rooms in every wall, making it sort of look like a bee hive going up about 50 stories. While we bird kids were gawking at the splendid place, a massive dark gray she-cat padded her way up to our group. She was majestic and had deep, navy blue eyes. Her voice was deep, and flowing, like a Shakespearian actor.

"Welcome, friends. My name is Star. You are welcome to stay with us for the next 10 months."

"Wai-wai-wai-wait. Uh, 10 months? Are you kidding? We were only gonna stay for an hour…" I complained.

"Do you really wish to take on the hard months? With the burden that will be thrust upon you? Truly?" Her eyes were full of worry.

"What burden? What are you talking about?"

"Oak, come hither. He is a future-seer. He can tell your fortune. He has seen this great burden." She explained. The massive tabby nodded and sighed. Oak was very quiet. Was he…mute?

"I will take it that you are staying?" Star asked.

"What? Oh. Um, sure. I guess. A roof, food, water, protection…why not." I said reluctantly. The gray cat smiled a catty grin.

"Good. You will be staying in…this room." She gestured to a room high up in the air on the right side of the water-entrance hole. "I would go and meet some more cats before mealtime. Especially Leaf. She stays in that room. She nodded to our right. A smaller hole was one she pointed to. It was about 6 feet by 7. Short and wide… odd.