Running from Blood
"No! You can't do this." Finch screamed.
"Shut up, and let this be a lesson. There is no place for weakness here." With this, a signal was given to two big toms. They began to circle a she-cat who stood trembling over the body of another cat. Its throat was slit open and blood still poured slowly from the wound. The she-cat gave Finch one last worried look before the two toms pounced.
Finches eyes flew open as the sharp jab of a claw pressed on his flank. The echos of his dream still rang faintly in his ears. Just another one. The realization that he had been only dreaming filled Finch with a sense of relief. This didn't last long though. As his sleep heavy vision unblured and the world came into focus, so did the face of the cat who had clawed him awake. Storm!
"It's past morning, Moon is still alive, and awake now, I've caught us each somthing to eat, you should come join us." Meowed storm the second Finches eyes had focused on him.
One day I will find the words to let you know how annoying you are. "Thanks," Finch meowed instead, getting up and following Storm over to where Moon lay hungrily gnawing at a bone of a vole. "It's good to see you finaly up." Finch purred to Moon as he sat down and draged the still warm body of a thrush toward him.
Moon swallowed the bite of vole she was chewing on and opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by Storm. "Yes, that was a nasty cut on your leg. Luckily the infection hadn't run to deep yet. You should be good as new as long as you don't reopen the wound."
"Thank you," meowed Moon, with the slightest trace of a growl, as she threw Finch a questioning look. "I quess I should also thank you Finch, for not just leaving me here to fend for myself."
Finch felt a wave of embarrassed shame as he recalled thinking of doing exactly just that. "It was nothing, you'd have done the same."
Moon just noded, then glanced at both Finch and Storm. "So you two, whats the next move?"
Storm spoke up before Finch could think of his answer. "If it's allright with you," he meowed in his typical neutral tone, " I'd like to follow you two around for atleast today and keep my eye on Moon's wounds. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I were to find out that I had failed to dress it properly."
Moon exchanged another inquisitive look with Finch who just shruged his shoulders. "I suppose that will be allright." Moon meowed after a moment. Turning back to face Finch, Moon reasked her question. This time directing it only toward Finch.
Finch squirmed in his pelt as he fought for an answer. He hadn't had time since coming out of the tunnels to think about what he would do next, much less if he even wanted to drag Moon along with him still. Moon and Storm sat patiently eating their meals as Finch thought carfully about his answer. Chewing slowly on his thrush, Finch argued desperatly with himself wether or not he should reveal his encounters with Rock and what he had told him. If I tell them, they'll think I'm a mouse brain. If I don't tell them, then I'll have to admit to being compleatly clueless. Finally swallowing, Finch decided to take his chances. "I've decided what to do," he meowed at last.
"And what is that?" meowed Moon in a tone that seemed to jab at Finch for taking as long as he had to finaly answer her question.
"First, I need to come clean about something." Just saying this, Finch knew how hard this was going to be for him. "Moon, you were right, I did have other reasons for wanting to get into the tunnels than just to see that cavern.
Moon tillted her had questioningly, and much to Finch's pleasure, even Storm pricked his ears in interest, breaking the air of constant neutrality that hung about him. "Go on." Moon prompted.
Finch went on to explain his run ins with Rock and the cryptic messages the blind cat had left Finch with as well as his original intent to make his home in the dark cavern. Moon spoke up a few heartbeats after Finch finished. "So you think this, Rock cat, was trying to keep you out of the tunnels because you have some sort greater, fate, that you needed to chase elsewhere. Have any other, uh, spirt cats, ever guided you any where before?"
I may as well as keep digging this hole, Finch thought, trying to not let Moon's disbelief get to him. "Actually, yes. It was another spirt cat in the tunnels that helped my find you, and get us both out of there.
"And what was that one's name?"
"I don't know, it never stoped to tell me." Finch found his own tone now growing increasingly defensive.
"Stop arguing, both of you." Storm's voice broke the mounting tension. "Moon, does it really matter wether or not you believe him, your not tied to his paws are you?" Moon looked down at her paws, hiding her expression. "Now, more importantly, Finch, I don't know how much I believe you, but I do know a cat who would be very interested to hear your story, and may even be able to help you decide what to do next, if not at least give you a shelter for leafbare. She lives on the other side of this moor at some sort of twoleg place for horses. I'll happily acompony you there if you want."
Finch half-mindedly flexed his claws in and out as he considered Storm's proposal. Eventually, Finch decided that it would probably be in his best interest to take Storm up on his offer. Hhhh, will I ever feel like I have a coice in what I do these days? He couldn't remember the last time he felt that he did. "Ok Storm, let's go meet this friend of yours."
The sun beat harshly down on the three cats as they broke from the trees and emerged on the edge of the moor. "Leaffall or not, the sun certainly still is hot," meowed Finch from his position behind Storm padding alongside Moon, in an effort to break the uneasy silence that had settled over the group since they left their spot close to the river. Storm just grunted his agreance.
Luckily for Finch, Moon was better at sparking a conversation than he was. "So Storm, whats your story, why are are you out here all alone just healing cats that pass by?" she meowed straightforwardly.
"You'll know soon enough." Was all the black tom replied.
Curious now, Finches paws iched to get where Storm was leading them. He just hoped this wasn't some sort of elaborate trap of the stange tom's.
A strange sent wafted over Finch, one that he had certainly never smelled before. "What's that smell?" He asked.
"Horses." Came Storm's reply.
"What's a horse? I've never heared of those before."
"Big dumb creatures, twolegs like to ride them across the moors occasionaly. They're harmless, just watch out for their paws. They'll crush your spine if your not careful."
Leave it to twolegs to do something as hare-brained as that. "Are we almost there?"
Storm stoped and waited for Moon and Finch to do the same next to him. When they did, Storm raised his tail and motioned towards a singal twoleg building silhouetted against a massive hedge. It looked somewhat like one of the dens a twoleg would live in, but something about it was different; something about said, "twolegs made me, but the don't live here."
Encouraged by the sight of their goal, the three cats quickened their pace toward the den.
"What cat would want to live in a twoleg thing?" Finch asked as the group approched a hole in the side of the structure. Storm swished his tail over his mouth before he could finish the question, and hissed for silence. "Wait here." Storm vanished through the opening.
Finch turned to Moon who just shruged her shoulders. "Where did you find this cat anyway?," she asked after Storm didn't reapear immediately.
"It's a long story." sighed Finch
Storms yellow eyes appeared at the opening followed by his voice. "Follow me." Finch motioned for Moon to go first, and giving the outside a quick survey, shortly followed.
Inside it was cool and dim, with light streaming through places where the roof had collapsed. The air was think with the scent of hay, mice, and cats. This put Finch's hackles up. His eyes adjusting to the new lower level of light, Finch could now make out the forms of the cats. There were many. As Finch looked around and peered closer at them though, he began to see that most of them were just lying on small piles of hay; some with noticable injuries, and other breathing in the pained shallow patterns of sickness. What kind of place is this? Thought Finch before a voice draged his eyes away from his surroundings.
Lost in thought, Finch had not nticed that his paws had kept following Storm and Moon towards the middle of the barn. Focusing infront of him now, Storm, Moon, and himself had come to a stop infront of a long haired, bluish-gray she-cat. She looked a lot older than any of them, and her eyes had the look of knowledge in them. "Greetings Storm," she purred, "I trust you are doing well?" She finished her question with a polite bowing gesture to Storm.
"Of course, and yourself?" Storm meowed back, repeating the same bowing gesture.
Wierd? Thought Finch.
"Always fine," replied the she cat with a spark of determination gleaming in her eyes, "I take it this is the two you spoke of," she finished looking at both Finch and Moon. Storm nodded his confirmation. "Greetings you two, my name is Willow, Storm tells me that I may be able to help the two of you, or, at least you perhaps in particular Finch."
Moon spoke up first. "Yes, my, uh, partner here, has quite a story to tell you."
Finch's ears were now burning with embaresment at being the center of attention. "Uhm, yes, Storm tells me you, or at least, I think you, like to help cats who could use some help." He could hardly believe the words out his own mouth.
Willow's eyes lit up with pride, "I do, here, follow me, let me show you what we do here. Oh, and Storm," Storm turned his gaze to Willow, "you don't have to follow if you don't wish, please, go catch up with the others." Storm nodded, and padded of towards a further edge of the barn. "Come on you two," Willow began padding down the center of the barn, motioning with her tail for them to follow.
"You said 'we', who else is here? I've only seen you and Storm." Finch asked before he could stop himself.
Willow kept her leisurely pace as she responded, "Just look around you, it's not just the sick and injured here." Finch looked around more intently at the edges of the barn where all the injured lay, and sure enough, the form of other cats began to appear. They were all either leaning over cats who lie in nest or sitting with others eating plump mice. "This is a place of healing and protection," Willows voice drifted through the cool air, "Me and the cats that live here, have all taken oaths to help those we find in need. We come from many backrounds, some of us were rouges, others of us were born here," She paused as if caught up in the emotion of her own speech, "Storm was, now he uses his knowledge to help strangers like yourselves. So, how can we help you?" She finished, and turned to Finch and Moon who both sat somewhat in amasement at everything Willow had said.
After catching up with his own thoughts, Finch replied. "It's a pretty long story. Is there perhaps a comfortable place we can rest while we talk?"
Willow gave a slight gasp of shock, "Oh! Of course, you three must have walked quite a ways today. Please, the prey, pile is right this way. Follow me."
The three cats were shortly setteled in a comfortable corner of the barn, each with a mouse laying at their paws. They all ate, in peaceful quiet broken only ocasionaly by the low moan of a cat in pain. Finishing the last scraps of his meal, Finch looked up at Willow. "So where would you like me to begin?"
"Where ever you please." Willow purred as she washed the blood from her chin.
The slight light of the moon had filtered through the hay-dust filled air creating a lulling haze that echoed in colour the tranquil sounds that floated in the air, when Finch finished his story for the second time that day, with Moon filling in the occasional part relative to herself. Willow sat quietly attentive until they finished before speaking. "Sounds like its been quite a journey, I'm glad to see that it turned out better than it could of; and you've certainly had some, unique experiences." She paused slightly before her last words.
"So you believe me?" Finch flexed his claws into the ground as he asked this. He didn't know why he wanted to know this, he just did.
Willow looked thoughtfully up through the crack in the roof above them, and yet further at the stars that glittered in the black sky. The air grew heavy with silence once more before she finally answered. "I believe you Finch, I myself have had similar experiences." Moon's tail twitched and her claws flexed into the wooden floor, but she remained silent.
Finch was eager to get more information, and pressed on hopefully. "So what do I do now?"
"Stay calm Finch, I can never tell you what to do. I can only provide guidence. That being said, I have heard of a place that one can go to, get better aquainted , with cats like those you've described. Have you ever heard of a place called the moonpool? It's an old legend that has passed from generation to generation around here. It says that it is a place where cats who are so inclined can contact cats long gone, and speak to them as we are now. It sounds crazy I know, but I've been there myself, and, at least for me, it was true."
Finch bounced eagarly to his paws, "then I know what I'm going to do. Uhm, where is it?"
Amuesment shone in Willow's gaze. "Patience, there will be plenty of time tomorrow. For now I suggest we sleep, it is getting late." At this, Willow beckoned them over to a pile of hay where Moon and Finch could make a nest for the night. "Til morning." She gave a final nod farewell.
Both Finch and Moon quickly made their nest and settled down to sleep. Finch was stiring restlessly as he thought about tomorrow. Moon's voice broke in on his circling thoughts. "Would you settle already? What is wrong wIth you? Up until now you've been probably the most disagreeable cat to be around that I've ever met. All of a sudden you find another cat that believes a few gohst stories you probably dreamed up anyway, and your a compleatly different cat."
Finch let Moon's words sink in. Is she right? Am I being to eager to agree with myself? No! I know what I saw, and I know what I'm doing. Of course if I tell her one more time that she doesn't have to follow me, she'll shred my ears. Tactfully, Finch replied. "Look, I going to do what I think I need to. After tonight you can go back to the woods and carry on with your own life. Your not tied to me anymore than I am to you." Finch let silence hang for a heartbeat, " I quess it has been fun. For what it's worth."
Moon rolled over in her nest mumbling. "What it's worth," she ecohoed.
Seeing their conversation was over, Finch made another attempt to settle into sleep. It wasn't easy, but eventualy the sound of crickets lulled him off th sleep.
A beam of morning light struck Finch in the face, waking him up. Looking around, the memories of last night came back to him. The moonpool! The memory of todays goal put new zeal into his paws. Sliding out his nest, Finch began looking for Moon, or Willow, or even Storm. None of them were to be seen. Padding quietly around the barn, Finch exchanged glances with various cats as he passed; both with the sick, and the cats that bustled about to help them. Most of them simply nodded their greetings and carried on with only as much as a "good mornig." At length Finch came to the end of the row of nest he had padding down, and his gaze fell on a battle scared tom. Something about him looked familiar to Finch. Do I know this cat? The injured tom rolled over in his nest and met Finch's gaze. The same faint glint of familarity glinted in his eye as did in Finches. What is it?
"Finch!" Storms call snaped Finch back to the present. Turning away from the tom, Finch saw Storm padding over to him.
"Storm." Finch nodded his head. "Do you know where Moon and Willow are?"
Storm poited hIs tail in the direction of the barn's main door that hung slightly ajar. Moon and Willow were sitting next to eachother, both were looking out at the trees beyond the barn. Muffled whisperings could be heard emited from the pair, but Finch couldn't make any of it out. "It's good to see that Willow is able to help you." Storm's mew reminded Finch that the black tom was standing next to him.
"Yes, I suppose I should thank you as well." Finch meowed hesitently, as he looked for words he could say.
Storm stopped him before he could go on. "Don't bother with all that now. I'm going with you to the moonpool. I've always heard of it, and now I have a perfect excuse to actually go."
"Great." Finch tried to sound as enthused as he could. I hope he gets less irritating if he's going to be traveling with me. Finishing this thought, Finch looked back towards the barn door. Moon and Willow were padding towards him and Storm; they were still talking quietly with eachother. Finch thought he caught Moon's last words as the two she-cats met them where Finch and Storm stood waiting. "Well I hope he gets less irritating if I'm traveling with him."
"Good Morning, Finch, Storm," Willow nodded to the two in turn, "Are you ready to head off?"
Finch shifted on his paws trying not to look to eager to be leaving. "Yes. Did you decide whether or not you're coming with Moon?"
Moon looked to Willow for a second then back to Finch. "Yes I'm coming. Willow convinced me that you may need the help along the way. Besides, It'll always be interesting to see new places."
"Good to hear," Finch looked to each of the cats that stood around him, "In that case, lets get going."
Willow nodded her approval. "The moonpool, if my memory serves right, is on the other side of the moor, just go to the river that borders the moors and the forest, then just follow the stream up until you come to the path to the moonpool. I wish you three luck." She turned and began to pad away, but stoped after a few seconds. "It was good to see you again Storm." She carried on without looking back.
A/N : Wow! That was a long chapter. I hope It wasn't boring. Do people like long chapters? Or are shorter chapters perfered? Let me know! Review, or PM. Hab einen guten Tag!