Hello my dear readers and welcome back to All That Glitters! I'm so sorry for the unannounced hiatus, life was getting in the way and being generally annoying, however I'm back now and ready to get on with my stories.
Big thank you to everyone who took the time to write a review, they motivate me and generally make me a very happy camper. Have a cookie you guys (::)
Meow Loves Llamas - I'm glad you're so interested in them, I wish I'd had more time to develop them in this story. Oh well, I suppose that's what the prequel is for!
Swirlspot - It was kind of a filler chapter but it was necessary for setting up the next part. I'm interested you wanted to see that, I'll keep that in mind when I'm writing the next chapter.
Crazy Fennec Fox - I'm glad you're so enthusiastic about it! I really wanted to write it and to be honest I probably would have even if you guys said not to.
And now without further ado, I give you chapter ten of All That Glitters!
The first thing that Mittens thought of when she awoke, even before she'd opened her eyes, was Magpie. The cold space beside her set alarm bells ringing as soon as she became conscious, without Magpie's added body heat the chill air seeped through Mittens' sleek pelt making her shiver.
Blinking open her green eyes and looking blearily around Mittens took stock of the situation. She was lying on the ripped seat of an old car; from the space where the door had once been she could see an abandoned parking lot. Trash littered the gravel and a rusted chain link fence enclosed the entire area. With a grimace of disgust at her surroundings Mittens leaped out of the car, padding towards one of the many holes that riddled the fence.
The first light of the sun was just turning the sky a pearly pink and the dark clouds from the storm had begun to clear. Despite the swiftly warming air and the growing sunlight Mittens gave a shiver, wondering about her lost companion.
She'd said such awful things, how could she have been so cruel? Mittens' heart sank as the events of the night before replayed in her mind's eye. The argument, her yelling and Magpie, poor, sweet Magpie, doing her best to apologize. And then she'd left, just walked away without a backwards glance. Another shiver racked her body and Mittens stopped walking, looking around for somewhere she might be able to warm up.
Around her unfamiliar buildings loomed and a small tendril of fear began worming its way into Mittens' heart. She hadn't been lost in this city since she was just a kit; it was disconcerting to find herself in completely unfamiliar territory.
Spinning around Mittens peered through the buildings in hopes of catching a glimpse of the forest to help orientate herself.
The forest. Against her will a memory surfaced in her mind, the very first time she'd spoken to Magpie, she'd been so insistent on getting back to the forest. In the time they'd spent together Mittens had almost forgotten that someday Magpie would have to return to her clan, to her home. Almost managed to trick herself into believing that Magpie would stay forever, that it would never end.
Shaking her head to clear the wistful thoughts Mittens squared her shoulders. You can daydream when you get home, she told herself sternly, For now focus on working out where you are.
Noticing a bare skeleton of a building made of metal poles and plywood across the street Mittens crossed to it and began to climb. Reaching the top of the structure, which wobbled unsteadily beneath her paws, Mittens surveyed the city below her. A tangled patchwork spread out before her, streets and buildings forming a messy grid that seemed to stretch on forever. Her eyes combed the building tops for anything familiar, any of the landmarks that might be visible from her vantage point.
Taking great care she managed to turn herself around so she could see the view that had been behind her. The movement made the poles shake and for a few terrifying heartbeats Mittens stood paralyzed. When her perch stabilized she turned the rest of the way around, scanning the opposite side of the city.
In the far distance she could see a line of dark green fuzz that she knew to be the forest. Moving her gaze in a line from there she found a familiar tower caught her eye, it's spire looming black against the rising sun.
Mittens leaped down from the structure and set off once more, now armed with a solid sense of where she was going. As she walked she found that some of the buildings and streets seemed eerily familiar. A chill ran down her spine and her fur prickled as she felt someone or something's gaze fixed on her. She glanced over her shoulder on instinct but found no sign of any living creatures beside herself.
Despite the apparent emptiness of the area Mittens quickened her pace until she was almost running along the backstreets. The lack of other cats unsettled her, as did its strange familiarity. Something about it stirred her memory and she found her paws carrying her along routes she shouldn't have known. The cause was there, hidden in her mind, she could almost recall it but every time it eluded her.
With her mind focused on trying to remember her connection to the area and her paws on autopilot Mittens didn't noticed the scent of other cats filling the alleys and abandoned buildings. The sound of claws tapping on the paving stones around her snapped Mittens out of her reverie and she was horrified to find that she was cornered.
Three cats, two toms and a she cat, had managed to back her into the intersection of two walls without her noticing it. They were all larger than her and all three had visible scars, including one that made Mittens' blood run cold.
The crescent scar that each bore on their left shoulder could mean only one thing, they were part of one of the fiercest gangs the city had seen. The rumors surrounding them were numerous and increasingly gory, they also had a nasty habit of being true. As the trio advanced towards her Mittens cowered back, searching desperately for an escape route. There was no way she could take on all three at once and the Dark Moon weren't known for being merciful.
Her thoughts were shattered by the cold voice of the she cat, clearly the leader of the three. "What have we here? A little lost kitty cat?" She cooed, honey dripping off her words; though Mittens knew it was poison.
"I'm just passing through, I don't mean any harm." Mittens said, trying to mask her fear and keeping her voice level and calm.
"Well you picked a bad place to pass, we don't take to kindly to trespassers around here but I think you new that." The she cat said, her tone still honey as she flicked her tail under Mittens' chin. Stepping back swiftly she turned on her heels and bounded to the top of a wall, looking over her shoulder she called her last instructions; "Why don't you show Kitty how we treat unwelcome visitors?"
Before Mittens could get another word out the two toms leaped at her with claws unsheathed and teeth bared. Dropping into a defensive crouch, Mittens fought back to the best of her abilities, clawing and biting at any part she could reach. All the while her mind was racing, trying to find a solution to the situation she was in
Though she fought as hard as she could, using every trick and move she'd ever learned it wasn't long before the toms overwhelmed her. One of them was bleeding fairly heavily from a scratch on his flank and the other was missing part of one ear, despite that they were far better trained and much more powerful than Mittens was.
She cowered in a corner, trying to combat the spots dancing in front of her eyes and the lightheadedness that was swiftly overtaking her. The toms padded closer, until finally one of them stepped forward and raised his paw. On instinct Mittens closed her eyes as the paw came crashing down on her head with the force of a boulder. She felt her legs buckle and she collapsed to the ground, her vision going black as she lost consciousness.
As darkness overtook her vision she could faintly see a shape and hear a familiar voice calling out to her.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, if you did please follow, favorite and most importantly write a comment!
I'm sad to say that Glitter is coming to a close, the next chapter will probably be the last one. This means that I'll be thinking of a new story idea soon, I'll post a poll about it on my profile sometime next week so please check that out.
As sad as I am to be finishing this story this isn't the last you'll see of these characters, I asked if I should write a prequel and the answer was a resounding yes!
Until the next time,
~ Feathers