Chapter 4: Reality

I have no idea what I expected honestly. The visions i had just witnessed-for surely that's what they were- were they the future? Were Kira and I going to grow to hate and despise each other? My thoughts are out of control, buzzing around my head like a nest of angry hornets. I blink, refocusing on my mother. She seemed to have aged centuries in just that short amount of time.

"Shira...? Stay focused dear. Please," she says softly, her voice sounding similar to how mine did in the vision. Tired and stressed.

I finally look away from Kira, directing my gaze towards Mother once more. My earlier excitement and burst of confidence from before has shattered. I felt stiff, sore, and very, very hollow inside. Mother must have understood how I was feeling, for she cups my cheek in her hand. I instinctively lean into her touch slightly, craving something familiar. I hadn't even noticed that I shifted forms. Everyone else had shifted as well, from what I could see, our clan mates having removed themselves from the trees, and into the moons light.

All around us, I hear the murmering of everyone I know. Everyone sounded so...hesitant. Normally, when a kit gained his or her Mark and become fully grown in the eyes of the clan, the leaders would start the celebratory yowls, followed by family, then the rest. Tonight, their was only muttering.

Finally speaking up, I ask Mother in a soft tone, near whispering. "What's going on...?"

Mother sighs softly, barely audible, as she looks around at the others from her position next to me. "Not here my daughter. Not here. We will talk later in privet," she replies back just as softly. Not explaining further, she stands, offering me her hand to help me up.

Accepting her offered hand, I drag myself to my feet. My legs feel odd, but I'm not hurting nearly as much as I had been before. That's when I remember my Mark. I look down at my right shoulder, my gaze locking on the small, white Yang Mark there. My arm still felt slightly numb from receiving the mark, but the pain has mainly dulled to a faint dumbness. I actually fell like my usual self.

Mother looks down at me, concern evident in her gaze, before leading me away from the clearing and towards the cave. One thing was certain. Their would be no celebrations tonight. Well, so I thought. As soon as Mother and I left the moons light and entered the trees, the first yowl sounded. Father's. father had waited until I left before starting the celebrations.

I freeze, my spine stiffening as as I glare at the ground in front of me. My ears are lowered against my head, but not defeat this time. Oh no, this time it was in pure rage and anger as the others join their yowls with Fathers.

I feel my mothers hand on the small of my back, gently nudging me forward. I hadn't even realized I was shaking, until her steady hand was pressed against my back. She wasn't fooling me though. Looking over my shoulder at her, I can see her green eyes flashing red in the darkness, her aura flaring.

This time it is my turn to comfort her. I smile slightly over my shoulder, clasping my hand with hers, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. I haven't held my mothers hand in years, but now felt like the time. She mist have understood my silent message, for her aura returns to normal, as does her eyes. She understood. Father no longer controlled. Nor would I let him.

The trip back to the cave after that was fairly silent between my mother and I. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of the others yowls. The sound was quite loud, which meant that they had shifted back to their demon forms. If I had been in a better mood, I would have loved to join in, but no. The calls were for my sister, and my sister alone as though I have never existed.

A low growl escapes my lips as we near the cave. Mother pretends not to hear me, but the faintest flick of her ears gives her away. She doesnt seem to mind though, and actually appears to be quite amused. Walking beside her, I can see the faintest of smiles on her lips as we near the cave.

Once we have made sure that the cave is indeed empty, I follow my mother inside, relaxing as the cave blocks most of the sounds coming from outside. The sun had started to rise, but the cave faced the West, so the cave remained shrouded in darkness. Not that it mattered, for we had near perfect vision in the dark anyways.

Mother turns towards me, her expression fairly blank, which must be what worries me the most. "You uderstand what is going on correct?"

Her question takes me by surprise, as I shake my head slowly.

"Really now? Come Shira, I know you are smart enough to put the pieces together," she replies back. Her eyebrow raises questioningly as she adds, "tell me what you know. Surely you must have figured a few things out."

I blink slowly at her, trying to figure out exactly what it is that Mother wants ne to understand. My brow furrows in thought as I slowly start to think things through. Then it makes sense. Wait a second...Why was it that my visions ended in pain, while Kira seemed perfectly fine? I think to myself, focusing on that. After only a few moments longer, my eyes widen a bit as I look over at Mother, who waves at me to speak.

My ears flick nervously, though I don't know why. I begin. "Well, if I had to guess, I would have to say that our Marks are more then they appear," I say fairly sliwly, but my voice gets stronger with every word as I get more and more confident. "I can't say if Kira's visions were like mine but..." I trail off again, trying to figure out how I could explain my thoughts without breaking clan rules. "Erm...If I had to guess, I would say that those visions are apart of our future. We are offered a choice that could change our future...Right?" I finally finish, my words rushing past my lips before I could change my mind.

I clamp my jaws shut, my ears lowering against my head as Mother studies me. Never have I seen her look so much like Father. She was expressionless, her eyes no longer holding their usual sparkle. Did I say something wrong...? I think to myself, eyes widening in worry. I was just opening my mouth to apologize when Mother grinned, looking like her usual self once more.

"I knew you could figure it out," she says. Resting her hand on top of my head, between my ears, affectionately, as she purrs softly.

A soft purr rumbles in my own throat, as I lift my gaze to meet hers. I could tell that she was hiding something from me, but I figure that it's best to not say anything. Mother enjoyed her secrets, almost as much as she enjoyed pushing me to try and discover what those secrets were.

"You still have a lot to figure out Shira. I cannot say anything more then that, though I can offer you a bit of advice..." She starts to say before trailing off.

I tilt my head to the side, my ears twitching curiously. Mother lowers her hand from my head, only to tilt my head up gently by my chin. My gaze is forced to look directly into her eyes, as she says five simple words.

"Stay away from your sister."