Indigo Twilight
Chapter Ten
Midnight
Wavepool waved her tail at her Clan. "We'll be back soon!" she called.
Fuzzypelt and Echostream were beside her, meowing goodbyes to their Clanmates. She turned to them. "Let's go," she mewed. "We don't want to lose daylight."
They began to follow the sun, climbing down the mountain until they passed the Twoleg den where Vinny and Garcia lived. The two kittypets were sitting outside as the three cats passed.
Vinny called out, "Where you off to?"
"We're on a quest!" Fuzzypelt meowed, his eyes shining.
Echostream flicked her tail at Garcia. "We'll come see you on our way back!" she called.
Garcia responded with a loud purr. "Alright. Goodbye! And best of luck!"
Wavepool nodded. "Bye!" The three cats continued down the mountain. As they reached the bottom, their pads brushed against coarse grass. Wavepool glanced up at the sun. By now, it was sunhigh. They hurried around the bottom of Kit Mountain. Soon, they reached the other side, and the mountains were nothing but purple smudges against the pale blue sky. A light snow began to fall.
Echostream padded towards an odd tree, with branches drooping down to the ground. She sniffed it, then called back, "I think there'll be shelter in here, from the snow and the wind."
Fuzzypelt nodded, then padded into the shelter of the branches. Wavepool glanced around, opening her mouth to draw in scents of prey. They hadn't eaten since they left the Clan.
Wavepool dropped into the hunters crouch, spotting an odd creature in the grass, nibbling seeds. She pounced on it, killing it with one swift bite to the neck. She padded back to the tree, going inside, the branches scratching her pelt. She placed the animal in front of Fuzzypelt and Echostream.
"I caught some fresh-kill," she mewed.
Fuzzypelt stared at it. "It's huge! What is it?"Echostream looked at it intently, before meowing, "Feathersong told me we'd encounter odd prey." She sniffed the fresh-kill and glanced at her Clanmates. "I think its edible."
Fuzzypelt bent forward cautiously and took a bite. He chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, then mewed, "Delicious!"
The three cats each ate their share, then curled up together in a makeshift nest of moss and bracken. They all soon fell asleep.
The next morning, they set out again. Wavepool kept checking the suns position in the sky. "We're almost there," she meowed. "I can feel it."
Suddenly, the grass underneath her paws vanished, and she fell down onto hard stone with a yelp. She looked up to see Echostream and Fuzzypelt's heads peeking over the edge. "I'm fine!" she called up. "Come down here! There's a cave!"
Echostream glanced at Fuzzypelt, then leaped over the edge, landing beside Wavepool. Fuzzypelt soon joined them. Wavepool shook small droplets of water from her fur. Waves crashed against the rocks where they stood, the water having and odd salty smell. Wavepool opened her mouth and drew in scents over her glands. Her fur bristled. "Badger," she warned. They slowly padded deeper into the cave.
They came to an abrupt halt when Wavepool saw two beady eyes staring at them in the darkness. A loud voice rumbled throughout the space of the cave. "Welcome, cats." A badger stepped forward.
Fuzzypelt stood in front of Echostream, protecting her from the badger; she had no defence training. `Who are you?" he growled.
The badger swung her head to look at Fuzzypelt. "I am Midnight." She stepped forward and sniffed at Fuzzypelt, who flinched at her smell. She stepped back, her eyes puzzled. "You are not forest cats. You smell of mountains and snowfall." She leaned in, and when she spoke, her hot breath washed over Wavepool like a wave; "Who are you?"
"I'm Wavepool," Wavepool meowed. She forced her voice to stay calm as she continued, "These are my Clanmates, Fuzzypelt and Echostream."
"Clan!" Midnight gasped, laying down. "What Clan?"
"IceClan," Fuzzypelt meowed, curling his lip.
The badger shook her head. "Never heard of them. But they are good Clan, yes? Raise strong warriors," she huffed.
Wavepool summoned up the courage to speak to Midnight about the forest. "Erm… Midnight, do you know about any… forest cats?"Midnight nodded. "Yes. Many moons past, great many cats were forced away from their home. Had to find new home. Midnight help them find new home." She pointed with her muzzle, out of the cave. "Cats go in that direction. Midnight came and helped once afterwards. Clan cats no come to me no more." She sighed wistfully. "They have found a new home, and new life."
"Can you tell us which way to go?" Echostream asked, stepping forward.
The badger nodded. "Yes. Just go that way." She pointed with her muzzle again. "They not too far off. No more than two days journey."
Wavepool dipped her head to the badger. "Thank you Midnight," she mewed excitedly. "You've been such a big help."
She dipped her head in return. "StarClan has destined you for great things, young cat." She winked at Wavepool before disappearing farther into the caves darkness.
Fuzzypelt lead the way out of the cave. They clambered up rocks until they reached the top. Wavepool's eyes were shining. "We're that much closer!" she mewed.