Chapter Three: Escape

Raza's P.O.V.

The next day started out with a gray morning beginning to erode into a blue day.

A large cloud hovered on the end of the horizon began to darken; it showed that today was going to rain. I stared out the window, longing to be outside, to smell the oncoming rain myself, but the door to the barn was latched shut.

Trapping us.

Torrent slept soundlessly behind me, his soft snoozes and restless twitches told me he was still there. He had not left my side, yet.

I sighed.

Ever since I had that dream, I had been awake. My mind buzzed for I had never had a dream like that before.

A clear blue sky shinned just as any other day, yet birds gathered above, clouding the sun. At the raven's call, they attacked and we fled. Torrent never let go of his prey and ran without me. Leaving me, forgetting. As we ran, he called out to me saying, 'We are almost there.' Then he disappeared, the birds attacked, and I never made it.

A fear that has always haunted me.

I curled my paws comfortably under my chest, a little bit more relaxed as I woke up to see Torrent next to me. I thought more about this clear dream. I tried to pick apart the meaning of it: the ravens, prey, and us…

Finally, Torrent rose, arched his back, and shook the strands of hay that clinked to his fur off. He purred a good morning and I replied, "How did you sleep?"

Torrent gave me a confused answer, "I think that fish scent made my dreams act up. It did not make any sense, just a jumbled mess that I can't even remember." He twisted around to wash his back and in between licks he murmured, "What about you?"

With a sad sigh, I told him every detail about the dream to the meadow's wind, down to my last slash of claws. "I would never do that!" he snarled, standing tall. "I would just come back with claws unsheathed!"

I purred as the guilty thought was relieved. "Not many dreams appear like that. It must have some meaning, Torrent! I have been trying to figure it out but I can't."

Torrent thought for a moment and I mimicked him.

We sat facing each other until the sun was high in the sky. Only when the clouds covered the shining sun and rain began to fall did something happen. I jumped as I heard a monster side slam shut. We both turned to look out the window and bristled as four Twolegs appeared from a monster.

"No!" Torrent spat as a Twoleg rose its paw at us. It had spotted us. It knew where we were! "Raza, hide now! It saw us, it's coming!"

With a quick and unsteadily leap, I fumbled up to the board sticking out with no steps for the Twolegs to reach us. However, I felt strangely exposed in our usual hiding spot. Maybe it was because one of them saw us.

The big gray tom followed me. He spoke quickly as the cawing Twolegs approached, "They saw us, Raza, we have to leave!"

Rain began to pour harder as he spoke his last sentence, "We have to escape, Raza, or we and our kits will die."

I was stunned and scared for the Twolegs were in the barn now, letting out lose howls as they saw we were not caught. Another one kept a paw raised toward the roof. "We are going to run," Torrent whispered as a Twoleg began to paw up the steps. "You hear me? We are going to run and never look back."

"What if they shut the door," I whispered. "Then we are caught!"

Torrent's eyes flashed with sudden fear but meowed boldly, "I will claw at them until they run away!"

I scrawled at the mouse-brained idea to get near one of those things, but sadly, it was our only choice.

"Now!" Torrent screeched as he leaped down two floors and landed steadily on the dirt. The other two Twolegs that were above us now howled and squawked loudly with rage. Closing my eyes, I followed.

The next moment I felt a shock buzz through my legs, but I quickly recovered. With all of my strength, I dashed like a hare toward the door.

As I expected, the Twolegs began to shut the door. I could be free in two heartbeats, or trapped. "Raza, run!"

At Torrent's caterwaul, I pushed myself, barely getting out in time.

We were outside. I breathed in free air, felt the raindrops dap at my pelt. Even the smell of rain made my senses soar.

I was as boundless as the sky, free as a bird.

All the dreams I have had came together in one big rush.

Running free had its drawl backs when it rained. The cold wet water made me shutter, as its downpour already had gathered heavily on my back. It has not broken through the top coat yet, but Torrent's short fur was soaked. "Raza!" he caterwauled over thunder. "Over here!"

I watched him run to the left sharply and I followed. My paws were carrying twice the weight I normally run with, for my kits were due soon, but I ran after my mate.

Thunder barreled overhead, scaring me to run faster. The Twolegs did not follow us now, lightening was. With three giant bounds, I caught up to my mate and followed beside him. Suddenly, I saw where he was running; a Twoleg nest was up ahead.

"Are your whiskers snipped? You are out of your mind! You're leading us to the Twoleg nest!" I caterwauled angrily. "They just chased us out and now you're running toward them?"

Torrent didn't reply and my anger grew. I unsheathed my claws and stopped. Torrent realized I stopped following and slowed down too. "Come on, Raza, don't do this!" he growled softly as he turned around. "I have a friend who lives there."

"A kittypet? One of those Twoleg loving mongrels?" I snarled rudely. I bristled at the thought of being held by a Twoleg. Letting their hairless paws touch my fur, rub my ears; I spat at the thought.

"It's our only hope, Raza," Torrent mewed hopelessly. "I don't want you to get sick and inside it's warm. Maybe the Twolegs won't be home!"

Snarling, I hissed, "If they are…"

And with that, I followed Torrent toward the Twoleg nest, the scent of fear still clinging to my pelt.