Chapter 9: Spotted Owl
Spotted Owl couldn't sleep that night. She tossed and turned in her nest, thoughts buzzed in her brain like a swarm of angry bees. Excited, nervous, and curious thoughts ran in circles, new ones appearing as soon as other ones disappeared. We're going to the Star Falls! I wonder what our ancestors will be like? I wonder who will be my Spirit Guardian? It'll probably be someone in my family or someone I've known. I'd better get a good Spirit Guardian.
"Hey!" A paw sharply nudged in the shoulder. Spotted Owl raised her head. Jagged Path was leaning over her, his expression grumpy. "Spotted Owl, you're as restless as a dog with fleas. You're keeping us all up! Stop squirming and go to sleep!"
"Sorry," Spotted Owl mumbled, rolling her eyes as she rested her head back on the moss. Jagged Path merely grunted and returned to his nest.
The white she-cat with black patches tossed and turned for a while more. Finally, as the moon had almost reached its peak, Spotted Owl drifted off, succumbing to the exhaustion that plagued her limbs.
. . .
Bright sunlight greeted Spotted Owl as she opened her eyes. She raised her head, blinking in the glare of the sunlight that streamed through the entrance to the trainee's den. The young she-cat lay in her nest, located near the left wall of the shelter. The other nests, arranged in a spiral from the edges of the cave to the center were vacant.
Spotted Owl rose, shaking the moss from her pelt. She leaned back on her hind legs in a luxurious stretch, her mouth opened in a wide yawn. Standing again, the white she-cat with black dapples padded out of the dark cave and into the sunlit camp.
Warm sunbeams streamed down from the sun almost directly above Spotted Owl, making her blink against the harsh glare. A few of her Clanmates lounged in small groups in pools of sunlight around the edges of the camp, but the majority of the Clan of the Morning Sun cats were nowhere to be seen; busy with various patrols. Whispering Rain and Amber Mist chased each other across the camp, squealing with delight as Spotted Owl made her way toward the fresh-kill pile. She chose a small wren near the base of the fresh-kill pile and looked around for a place to sit. Blossom Dust and Fern Dapple were deep in conversation over a fat vole in the shade of the Rockperch. Spotted Owl started toward them, but then halted and turned back toward the trainee's den.
The young she-cat settled in her nest once more and begin to pick uninterestedly at the gray feathers of her wren. Once a suitable amount of flesh was exposed, she began to take small bites of the bird.
"Spotted Owl?" Yellow Sky poked her head into the den. Spotted Owl raised her head, meeting her instructor's gaze. "It's almost time to go. Finish your meal and then go to the healer's den to get your traveling herbs."
The white she-cat with black dapples spit out a feather before nodding as Yellow Sky withdrew her head. She finished the wren in a couple of bites and then trotted outside to bury the bones at the edge of the clearing.
Once Spotted Owl had covered the bones with a layer of dirt, she turned and headed reluctantly for the healer's den. She paused just outside, gathering her courage to step into the swarm of scents.
Red Maple crouched near the middle of her den, picking some leaves out of her stores piled along the walls and adding them to another pile at her feet. Spotted Owl blinked in surprise when she saw Blossom Dust and Tall Pine sat patiently nearby. Blossom Dust meowed a greeting while Tall Pine flicked an ear at her. She nodded slightly in return.
Red Maple looked up. "Oh, good, you're here Spotted Owl. I was just getting you and your siblings' traveling herbs together." She scooped up a couple of leaves from another pile and placed them next to the herbs she had already collected on a wide leaf before slid one bundle to each one of the siblings. "Eat the herbs. They're bitter, but they will give you strength." Red Maple ordered.
Spotted Owl grimaced as she swallowed the bitter herbs. As soon as she finished, she dipped her head to Red Maple and hurried out of the den, Blossom Dust and Tall Pine not far behind her.
Yellow Sky, Rabbit Nose, and Quick Clouds sat beside the passageway, deep in conversation, but they broke off as the trio of trainees drew near.
"Good, you three are ready." Yellow Sky meowed. "Let's go." The dark smoky gray she-cat stood and led the patrol through the passageway.
. . .
The sun hovered just above the peak of the Dusk Mountain, through the edge valley floor where six cats padded along now in deep shadow. Spotted Owl found herself staring up at the glowing orange ball, wondering how much further they needed to go before they would reach the Star Falls. Her limbs ached with tiredness, and her paws felt like stone. Worse, her shoulder hurt more than it had it the last few days. She had never walked this far in her life, not even on the tour of the Clan of the Morning Sun's territory a couple of days before.
"It's not far now," Quick Clouds meowed kindly as if he knew what the white she-cat with black patches was thinking. "We'll be there soon."
"We need to hurry," Yellow Sky meowed worriedly, following Spotted Owl's gaze to the brilliant sun hanging low in the sky. "If we continue at this pace, we won't reach the Star Falls before the moon reaches its peak."
The other instructors murmured their agreement, and the cats fell into silence as they continued, winding their way through a grove of slender birch trees and then out into an open meadow with tufts of coarse grass and bare rocks protruding slightly from the earth.
Rabbit Nose, stationed at the head of the patrol, paused at the treeline on the other side of the meadow, his mouth opened and eyes half-closed, sniffing intently. "We've reached the Clan of the Dark Caves' scent markers for their border. We are allowed to cross their territory since we are traveling to the Star Falls, but we still need to be careful."
"Why do we need to be careful?" Blossom Dust asked. "It should be fine since we're traveling to the Star Falls, right?"
"We can never be too careful." The pale brown and white tabby tom merely said as he beckoned the patrol forward with a sweep of his tail. The six cats moved forward, leaving the open sun-dappled meadow and re-entering the wood. Inside, darkness had fallen, and the thick towering trees cast strange shadows on the forest floor. This part of the forest was silent save for the cats' muffled paw steps on the leaf-covered earth. Spotted Owl's pelt prickled. This section of the forest felt ominous, almost hostile. Like someone was watching her.
Her instincts weren't wrong. No sooner than the six cats had traveled a few fox-lengths into the forest, than the shadows all around them seemed to shimmer and twist and took the forms of six cats; lean, but well-muscled. They strode forward almost in unison, taking up positions in a ring around the Clan of the Morning Sun patrol.
Yellow Sky, Rabbit Nose, and Quick Clouds moved swiftly, pushing their trainees close together and making something like a triangle around them. Yellow Sky, her pelt bristling, glared at a pale gray tabby she-cat whose fur blended perfectly with the shadows. Quick Clouds hurriedly stepped in front of her as the she-cat addressed him.
"Quick Clouds, you and your Clanmates are trespassing on Clan of the Dark Caves' territory. State your business here." The pale gray tabby she-cat said, her voice firm and authoritative. "Be warned, the Clan of the Dark Caves does not tolerate outsiders on our land. Your Clanmate, Yellow Sky should know this well."
Yellow Sky growled, her tail swishing.
Quick Clouds shot her a warning look. "We're taking our new trainees to the Star Falls. We're allowed to cross your territory. Let us pass, Broken Breeze." He replied levelly.
"Very well," Broken Breeze said, her features wearing the same impassive expression. "New trainees, eh?" The pale gray tabby she-cat asked, peering around the older cats at the three young cats crouched in between them.
"Yes, these are the Clan of the Morning Sun's new trainees." Yellow Sky answered, stepping aside to reveal Spotted Owl, Tall Pine, and Blossom Dust. Spotted Owl stretched herself to her full height and puffed out her chest, wanting to appear strong and sure of herself. She glanced back at her siblings. Blossom Dust crouched, her ears flattened nervously while Tall Pine comfortingly rested his tail on her shoulders.
"Spotted Owl is my trainee, Blossom Dust is Rabbit Nose's, and Quick Clouds is training Tall Pine." Yellow Sky explained, almost proudly.
"Are these Drifting Leaf's kits? The half-Clan kits?" Another cat, a dark brown tabby tom, asked rudely.
Spotted Owl bristled. How dare he call me half-Clan! She opened her mouth to retort, but Rabbit Nose beat her to it.
"These trainees are valued members of the Clan of the Morning Sun. How dare you call them half-Clan?" Rabbit Nose exclaimed, his eyes narrowed and tail puffed up.
"Easy there," Broken Breeze meowed quickly. "Owl Eye meant no offense. However, there has been some speculation among the Clan of the Dark Caves about why the Clan of the Morning Sun tolerated one of their members falling in love with a rogue and allowed her three half-Clan kits to stay in the Clan?"
"That is our Clans' business and ours alone." Yellow Sky meowed curtly. "Are you going to let us pass or not?"
"Very well," Broken Breeze said, motioning with her tail for the other cats on her patrol to step aside to allow the Clan of the Morning Sun cats to continue on their way. "However, we will escort you to the entrance to the Star Falls. We wouldn't want you getting lost."
"There is no need, Broken Breeze," Quick Clouds meowed firmly. "The other instructors and I have traveled to the Star Falls several times before. We know the way."
"Very well," Broken Breeze agreed. "But be careful!" She called after the Clan of the Morning Sun cats as they turned to leave. "You may wish you had our guidance. There is something strange lurking in the shadows, and a cold wind blows over the land. One of our cats has gone missing without a trace near our border with the Clan of the Flowing Waters."
None of the six cats bothered to reply as they continued. Spotted Owl's pelt prickled as she could feel the hostile gazes of the other patrol follow her until she and her Clanmates disappeared out of sight. Her first encounter with cats from the Clan of the Dark Caves had surprised and rattled her, especially Broken Breeze's ominous warning that still rang in her ears.
"Are cats from the Clan of the Dark Caves always like that?" Spotted Owl quietly asked Quick Clouds who trotted steadily beside her.
Quick Clouds glanced down at her, his eyes kind as he took in the young she-cat's ruffled pelt and wide gaze. He chuckled softly. "No, not always. While the Clan of the Dark Caves is known for being secretive, a little odd, and even hostile, they aren't all like Broken Breeze. She's the regent of their Clan and always curt and defensive, even during Gatherings. You shouldn't feel bad if you were a little frightened of her."
"I was not frightened of her!" Spotted Owl said indignantly. "Just a little surprised, that's all." She added quickly. "Why do Yellow Sky and Broken Breeze seem to know each other?"
Quick Clouds chuckled again. "It's a long story, but the short version is that, when Yellow Sky was a trainee like yourself, she was very stubborn and headstrong. One day, her sister dared her to cross the border and try to catch a piece of prey on the Clan of the Dark Caves' territory. She took the dare, but she was caught and chased off by Broken Breeze, who was also a trainee at the time, but not before those two fought. Broken Breeze won the fight and Yellow Sky has held a grudge against her ever since."
"Wow," Spotted Owl meowed, purring with amusement. She glanced ahead at her instructor, who padded at the head of the patrol, trying to imagine her as a trainee her age.
The patrol traveled on in silence deeper and deeper into the forest. The shadows lengthened as the day faded to night, leaving the already dim forest so dark that Spotted Owl could barely see the black and white tail of Tall Pine who trotted in front of her. An owl hoot echoed eerily through the forest, and a breeze tossed the gray branches of the trees above her that blotted out the sky. A shiver ran down the young she-cat's spine.
And then, suddenly, the trees fell away, and the six cats emerged into a long and narrow clearing with soft grass coating the ground. Above, the stars glimmered like tiny dew drops in the vast night sky. At the opposite end of the glade, the earth began to slope up as the treeline started again. A gaping hole surrounded by rock opened in the side of the incline, dark and ominous. Spotted Owl shivered once more.
"Do we have to go in there?" Blossom Dust asked anxiously.
"Yes," Rabbit Nose answered, gazing reassuringly down at the small she-cat. "That's where the Star Falls lie. But don't be afraid. We will be there to guide you."
"Let's go," Yellow Sky ordered. "We can't waste any more time." The dark smoky gray she-cat led the way across the clearing and into the dark cave.
Spotted Owl lingered outside for a moment as, one by one, the others stepped inside, taking in the peaceful scenery around her as she prepared herself to step inside the cave. Taking a deep breath, she took one last look and then turned and strode forward into the large hole in front of her.
The darkness swallowed Spotted Owl as she entered the cave, blinking as her eyes tried to adjust, but there was nothing to be seen. The echoes from the other cats' paw-steps already far ahead of her told her that the cave expanded back into a long, narrow tunnel. She hurriedly picked up her pace to catch up with the others, trotting across the cold stone ground, away from the dim light that leaked in through the mouth of the tunnel.
"Spotted Owl?" Rabbit Nose called, his voice sounding strange in the vast cavern.
"I'm here," The white she-cat with black dapples replied as she reached the back of the cave where the tunnel began.
"Good. From here on, you need to be careful and to stay close to me. You can use your nose and whiskers to guide you, but you don't know the way, so you need to follow me to avoid getting lost. The others are already a short distance in front of us, so we need to move quickly." Rabbit Nose's voice sounded closer, and by his voice and scent, she could tell that he was near her, probably just inside of the tunnel entrance.
The darkness seemed to press in on her as she entered the passageway and started to move along it, using Rabbit Nose's scent to guide her. Spotted Owl shivered, a small twinge of fear running down her spine. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid. The pitch-blackness in the stone tunnel with cold, rough walls wasn't natural and no place for cats to be. This underground place of darkness and cold wasn't quite like anywhere she'd ever dreamed of and a world entirely alien to her. She was looking forward to leaving it as soon as possible.
When they had first started out, the tunnel was wide and high, but it had steadily grown more narrow, and now the passageway was so tight, her whiskers brushed the cracked walls. Her pads could feel the floor begin to slant gradually downward. They were heading deeper underground.
The walls seemed to press in on her even more, trapping her, almost squishing her. The darkness swirled around her, a thick black cloud that she could practically taste. Spotted Owl stopped walking, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The walls were closing in on her. She swayed on her paws, her eyes squeezed shut, her head feeling light and dizzy.
"Spotted Owl? Spotted Owl!" Rabbit Nose's voice echoed back along the tunnel, sounding distant and far away in the young she-cat's ears.
And then, he was right there beside her, his comforting, familiar scent wafting around her. He stood close, so their fur brushed, soft and reassuring. "It's okay, Spotted Owl." He murmured. "You'll be fine. Just breathe."
The white she-cat with black patches took in a sharp breath and then released it more slowly. As Spotted Owl repeated this action a couple more times, she felt calmer, and the dizziness went away. She opened her eyes again after another couple minutes. "Th-thank you, Rabbit Nose." She meowed quietly, taking a step to the side, so their pelts no longer touched.
"Of course." The pale brown and white tabby tom said kindly. "Are you feeling better now?"
Spotted Owl nodded and then, realizing he couldn't see her, she said, "Yes."
"Good." He sounded relieved. "Do you feel ready to keep moving?"
"Yes," The young she-cat answered again. "Oh, and, Rabbit Nose, please don't mention what just happened to anyone."
She thought she heard a smile in his voice as he replied, "Don't worry. I won't."
Spotted Owl and Rabbit Nose started off again down the passageway, Spotted Owl following the older tom like before. The tunnel started to slant down more steeply and they turned some quick corners that Spotted Owl would've bumped into if not for Rabbit Nose being there to guide her. They kept up a rapid pace, but Spotted Owl eventually began to feel her exhaustion again, and started to slow, dragging her feet. Just when she thought they'd never arrive at the Star Falls, they rounded another bend and emerged into a vast cavern, much greater than the one they had left. From the fresh scents, Spotted Owl knew that the four other cats were already here.
"Is this it?" Spotted Owl whispered to Rabbit Nose, unable to keep her disappointment out of her voice as she squinted in the blackness, trying to make something, anything out.
"Yes, but wait just a moment." Came Rabbit Nose's excited reply.
All of a sudden, a bright light appeared in a hole in the cave roof, and bright, unwelcomed shone down light into the cavern below. Instinctively, Spotted Owl squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden glare. She opened them cautiously a moment later, just enough to see a vast circular pool in the center of the cave fed by a gushing stream of water that cascaded down the rocky wall on opposite side of the room. Above, a bright moon and several stars shone in the sky, sparkling on the crystal-clear waters of the pool.
Alright, chapter 9 is posted! We've gotten to meet Broken Breeze and get a taste of what the Clan of the Dark Caves is like. We'll be seeing more of them soon! We've also learned about one of Spotted Owl's fears. Yes, she is claustrophobic and afraid to admit it. Chapter 10 will be from Tall Pine's prospective and we will meet his Spirit Guardian, who is also one of my favorite characters. See you soon!
- A Warrior At Heart