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Chapter 4: The Discussion

Shadow sat in front of the zoo gates, waiting. Her tail tip twitched impatiently, as she gazed up at the bright half-moon plastered against the starless night sky. She lowered her head and dug her claws into the grassy earth underneath her.

These days, the thought of night time sickened her. Shadow thought back to when she was no more than a kitten. A kitten who loved to watch the stars and wish upon them. A kitten who wanted to explore the moon and the stars to see what exactly was up there.

Now, Shadow couldn't even glance at them without being angered.

Warmth spread through her body, and she closed her eyes. Shades of blue swirled under her eyelids. Kowalski. She turned around and looked up. Sure enough, the tall penguin was high atop the arched entrance to the Central Park Zoo.

He gracefully leaped down next to her. Any other time, she would have smiled at her friend's capabilities. But tonight, Shadow couldn't have cared less.

"You're late," she said, bluntly.

Kowalski shrugged. "It's not easy to sneak out of the penguin habitat."

Shadow nodded, then stared at the sky, again. Concern surged under her dark fur. "How much longer do you suppose we have?"

Kowalski also looked at the sky. "Hard to say. She hasn't given any signs about-"

"She has been rather quiet," the she-cat interrupted. "I wonder if She trusts us enough to speak with us, after..." She trailed off.

The penguin knew what she wasn't saying. "After the Blood War." Shadow hissed at the memory. Kowalski lowered his solemn, blue gaze. "We lost nearly all of our people."

Shadow looked at him. "I'm still a bit concerned as to what the mortals made of it."

Kowalski thought for a moment. "I believe they call it the 'Civil War.' Poor, misguided souls. Not understanding what was really happening."

They were silent for a few moments, then Kowalski spoke. "The Blood War was our biggest blunder in history. It's a miracle we managed to defeat the Dark Ones."

Shadow clenched her jaw. "Why won't She say something!?"

"Perhaps we have nothing to worry about. Maybe we're worrying about Her for no reason at all. I know She hasn't been Herself, lately, but-"

"BULL SH*T!" Shadow made quick work of pinning Kowalski to the ground. Her blue eyes blazed a blood-red. "Can't you feel it!? She isn't Herself, because She is dying! HOW CAN YOU NOT CARE!?"

Kowalski calmly met her gaze. "Get off of me." She growled, then did as she was told. Kowalski stood up and brushed himself off. "I do care, Shadow. And I know you're only acting this way because you care, too. Now listen. She would have told us if She was ill. If she hasn't said anything, then I'm sure She's fine."

Shadow sighed, her eyes returning to normal. "Our powers are weakening."

"I know. Just remember: She will warn us if-"

"I know She will."

"We don't know, for sure, if She's dying."

The she-cat turned away, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes. "What if She is? And if she isn't, why have our powers weakened? Surely she trusts us, despite the Blood War, right?"

Kowalski's eyes blazed a florescent green. "Even if She has lost faith in us, I'm certain that She will let us know if something is to come. Believe in Her, Shadow. She knows when She needs to contact us. She also knows when we need more power. There is no guarantee that She is in trouble. If She isn't supplying us with power, there must be a good reason."

Shadow nodded, but didn't believe him. She was closer to Her than Kowalski was. Shadow knew something was wrong. Why wouldn't She tell them what?

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