Chapter Fourteen

"Sleet!" Bounce's call echoed from the rooftop as he leaped down from the big building onto the top of the Den.

The dark gray she-cat raised her head, blinking drowsily as she roused herself from her doze in a warm pool of sunlight in the corner of the Yard. She arched her back and stretched lavishly, relishing the warmth of the warm season. The past cold season had been harsher than she'd ever remembered—though she'd only lived to see two—and it seemed to drag on for moons longer than it should have. But the bitter cold and darkness were nothing more than a fleeting dream in the cheerful sunlight, fresh green leaves, and melodic birdsong all around her. The warm season brought with it peace for the street cats and inside Sleet that she had never experienced before.

She tried to convince herself that peace was good. Her cats had recovered from the bitter cold season and had flourished like blossoms during the last two moons of warm weather. Prey was plentiful. Their borders were quiet. For once, there were no hardships, no trials, no more battles to fight. She had fought hard to achieve peace for her cats. This was what she'd always wanted. Peace.

She was bored already.

"Sleet." Bounce's voice brought the dark gray she-cat back to the present. His quick steps carried him quickly across the Yard toward her.

In a heartbeat, Sleet was wide awake and on her paws, her face tense, ready for whatever information he was about to deliver. "What is it?"

Bounce's expression was grim. "My patrol ran into Peppermint near the big street. Do you remember her?"

Sleet nodded. An image of the gray she-cat with dapples like ash on her fur surfaced in her mind. She'd seen Peppermint a couple of times hunting on their streets when she'd first joined the street cats. The loner had mostly kept to herself, so Sleet hadn't even noticed she was gone until Ginger had told her that she'd left the town. "What about her?"

"She gave us a message for you. It's from Creek."

A growl rumbled like a brewing storm in Sleet's throat. "What does he want?"

"To talk with you," Bounce replied. "He asked you to meet him in the meadow near the farm outside the town tomorrow at sunhigh."

Sleet bit back a huff. Creek chose to leave and he only came back to meddle in our affairs to help those intruders. What could he possibly want? And why would he think that we would help him? She pushed her anger away, trying to think with a clear head. Although I still hate Creek for what he did, he's risking his life to talk to me, so it must be serious. But I can't be sure. She paused for a moment. I should talk to my cats. She turned her attention back to Bounce, who waited patiently. "Will you gather everyone in the Den? We need to discuss this news."

"Yes, I will right away." Bounce dipped his head to Sleet, and then hurried off, his kit-like spring of excitement in his step.

Misty is right, Sleet reflected. Bounce has grown into a fine young cat. He could be a good leader one day. She snorted wryly. Who would have thought? Her thoughts shifted back to Bounce's report as her paws carried her toward the Den.

Sleet's tail tapped out a rhythm on the smooth floorboards as she waited as her cats filed into the Den. Gravel, Brindle, and Pebble, the other members of Bounce's patrol, followed him inside silently, tense expression on their faces, but confusion was apparent on the other street cats' faces. Ginger sent Sleet a look with her brows raised.

Darcy strode inside last, her face creased with irritation. "What's going on, Sleet? Pepper, Sparrow, and I were about to go hunting."

"Bounce's patrol brought me a report that I thought you all should hear," Sleet responded, gesturing with her tail for Darcy to have a seat.

The pale brown she-cat's expression immediately switched to one of alarm. Her ears pointed forward, and the fur on her neck rose. "What happened? Are the rogues back?"

Sleet shook her head. "Nothing like that." Darcy's fur settled as the gray she-cat addressed all of her cats. "Bounce passed along to me a message from Creek. He wants me to meet him outside the town tomorrow at sunhigh, to talk."

Her cats seemed to take a collective breath, but they remained surprisingly calm for Sleet's strange announcement. Instead, their expressions were worried or confused as they gazed at Sleet.

"Creek?" Ginger blinked incredulously, her mind still trying to catch up. Pebble and Sparrow exchanged perplexed expressions.

"Why does he want to talk to you?" Blackjack asked, a hint of a growl in his voice.

Sleet shrugged. "I don't know."

Misty tilted her head, considering Sleet. "What are you going to do?" She asked softly.

"I don't know," Sleet repeated. She sighed as she attempted to sift through her muddled thoughts, but she felt more confused at the barrage of voices.

"I'll tell you what we should do." Blackjack stood, squaring his shoulders, though he pinned his ears back. "We should do nothing."

Pebble wrinkled her brow. "What do you mean?"

The black tom turned to her. "We do nothing. Sleet doesn't go tomorrow. Creek chose to leave us." His gaze slipped to Sleet. "We owe him no loyalty, so there's no reason to go."

"But he's our friend," Ginger protested, her tail tip twitching.

"But what about what he did to Sleet?" Adder reminded her.

Darcy stood as well. "I agree with Blackjack. Our first concern should be our cats, not ones who left us. Besides, we have no idea what Creek wants. It's a bad idea for Sleet to go alone."

Brindle flicked her ear. "It could be dangerous."

Bounce turned to his father. "It was my patrol who spoke with the messenger—Peppermint. She seemed worried. Creek wouldn't do something like this without a good reason."

"He's a good cat," Ginger added. "He wouldn't hurt anyone. And he might need our help."

"Hurt someone?" Blackjack repeated, gesturing with his tail to their leader. "Do you not remember how heartbroken Sleet was after he left?"

Sleet let out another sigh. She bent her head, trying to shut out all the noise. I don't know what to do. They're all right. Creek's a good cat, but it could be dangerous. He might need our help, but do we owe him our loyalty? I don't know if I can face him. After everything that happened between us, after everything he said— Her heart ached in her chest as though it was shattering into a million pieces. She barely held in a sob, cursing her weak emotions. After everything, I still care a lot about him. I miss him.

With several deep breaths, Sleet regained her composure. Her swirling thoughts settled like a dying breeze onto one conclusion. I think I know what we should do.

"Hey." Ginger's voice was soft in her ear. "Are you okay?"

Sleet nodded. With a final deep breath, she raised her head and held up her tail for silence. "Thank you all for your input, but I've come to a decision. We will go to meet with Creek."

Ginger smiled briefly at her as Darcy stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "I don't think that's the right decision, especially considering everything that happened between you two. You heard our concerns."

Sleet inclined her head. "Yes, and that is why we will all be going tomorrow. All of us. Can you all agree to that?"

Darcy hesitated, but she dipped her head in accordance. Sleet's gaze scanned her cats as most murmured their agreement. She lingered on Blackjack, who, at last, nodded. A grin flickered across Sleet's face before it faded. So, we're going to meet Creek tomorrow. What have I gotten myself into?

. . .

The hot sun scorched Sleet's back. Her dark gray fur was like a piece of moss with water as it soaked up all of the light from the sun that had inched across the sky as they waited. She kept her eyes fixed on her horizon, but they flickered up to take in the position of the sun, much lower than it should be. Despite her earlier composure, impatience and annoyance flared inside her. It's long past sunhigh. Where is he?

Sleet's hind leg began to cramp from sitting so long, so she rose and began to pace, the dried grass crackling like a small wildfire under her half-unsheathed claws. He's extremely late. If he's not here soon, we should leave. Bitterness tasted like mint leaves in the back of her throat. I don't know why I even bothered to come.

"Sleet." Darcy's mew brought her out of her thoughts. The pale brown she-cat's tipped her muzzle up to the wind. "He's here. And he's not alone."

The street cats clustered around Sleet as she rejoined them, dropping into battle stances, muscles tense, and eyes alert.

Ginger leaned in close to her leader. "Are you going to be okay?"

Sleet shrugged. "I don't know," she answered as honestly as she could. She took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself as the hedge bordering the meadow rustled. But nothing could prepare her for the flood of emotions that came as Creek emerged. She could remain in denial, lock her feelings away all she wanted, but there was no stopping them from coming back once their source was right in front of her. It was as if she was back in that alley so long ago now, her heart breaking all over again.

Sleet doubled over, breathing heavily as she tried to sift through the overwhelming tide. It's him. Creek came. I only caught a glimpse of him a moon ago, so it's been more than eight moons. So much time. What do I say to him? For once, no anger swirled inside her, only the raw sorrow and regret for what she'd lost.

"Sleet. Sleet," Ginger said in her ear. "Are you okay?"

The street cat leader breathed out slowly, imagining her emotions floating away on her breath. "Yes. I think I will be."

Sleet straightened up, peering over Blackjack and Gravel's heads in front of her. Creek waited at the edge of the meadow, his eyes haunted and fur unkempt, but he stood with square shoulders, much stronger and more confident than she'd ever seen him while he was with the street cats.

A flash of fur caught Sleet's eye. Peering out from behind Creek was a lithe black and white tom nearly as tall as him, though much younger. Although the new tom had wary yellow eyes and bigger black splotches, he was unmistakably Creek's kit. Is that Creek's son with his old mate, Drifting Leaf? He never mentioned that he had kits.

Sleet took a last deep breath before she pushed her way between Blackjack and Gravel. As she strode out into the open, she felt her icy encasement from around her heart, once more shielding her vulnerability with anger. Her tail lashed with agitation. "My cats and I walked out here to meet you, and you made us wait. You had better start talking, traitor, and give me one good reason not to tear out your throat."

"I apologize for my tardiness." Creek's tone was aggravatingly calm as he steadily met Sleet's gaze. The dark gray she-cat struggled to control her urge to avert her eyes. "We've come a long way to speak with you."

"So have we." She jerked her chin at him. "You better get on with it."

Creek nodded. He took a seat and waited for a moment as if expecting her to do the same. Sleet remained standing. He cleared his throat. "A moon ago, a patrol of Clan cats left their home in the mountains in search of the Bands. I found them when they crossed through your town, and I brought them to the Bands. I stayed to help them with their mission. But the Bands discovered that I was helping them, and they forced me to betray the Clan cats—"

Sleet snorted softly in dry amusement. She tasted the bitterness that filled her. "What a surprise. You turned traitor on them as well."

Creek's gaze snapped to her's, sharp enough to slice a branch in half. "If you want me to speak, then let me."

Fine. Sleet bared her teeth, but she held her tongue.

"Thank you." Creek continued. "The Bands captured several members of the Clan cats. They're being interrogated and tortured for information. I can lead the Clan cats to the camp where the prisoners are, but we have too few numbers to hope to rescue them by ourselves. That's why we came."

Sleet's eyes narrowed as Creek's meaning dawned on her. "You're asking for the street cats' to fight the Bands?"

Creek met her gaze, his expression tentative, but his voice was firm. "Yes, I am."

Indignation sparked inside Sleet. "Why should we help you? You betrayed me. The Clan cats trespassed on our territory. And yet, you're asking us to lay down our lives in an impossible fight against the Bands in exchange for nothing." Her face curled into a snarl to mask the painful memories brought to the forefront of her mind. Her tone was as hard as stone. "They're vicious tyrants and cold-blooded killers. We'll be slaughtered."

"I'm asking because innocent cats are being tortured," Creek pleaded, his eyes round. "And because we have something in common: the Bands have wrongfully hurt us and those we love. If you join us, we will show the Bands they cannot hurt us any longer."

Sleet sucked in a breath, but she turned away, shaking her head in a single decisive decision. "No. You are embarking on a dangerous and fluff-brained mission. I strongly suggest that you give up. If the Bands have your Clanmates, there is no hope for them. Nevertheless, I will not ask my cats to risk their lives for others we owe no loyalty to. We will not help you. That is my final decision."

Sleet heard Creek's pawsteps chase her. He pulled around her, stopping her in her tracks. His gaze latched onto hers, wide and pleading. "Please. I'm not asking for my benefit, but for the cats who are suffering because of the Bands." He flicked his tail at his son. "I ask for his sister and my daughter, who they are holding prisoner."

Sleet stared at him for a long heartbeat. His imploring eyes tugged at her heart, and she felt herself waver. Maybe, we could— She stopped herself. "No."

Creek stepped closer to her and bent his head so she could feel his soft breath on her whiskers. His beseeching expression morphed into a dangerously desperate one. "Did you decide so quickly because you're concerned about the lives of your cats? Or is it because you're still scared of the Bands after what that patrol did to you and your brother?"

Sleet gaped at Creek, shocking echoing through her. What? How could he say that? I trusted him with my past. How dare he use it against me! Anger surged like a tsunami inside her. With a roar as ferocious as a lion's, she raked her claws down Creek's cheek, feeling the flesh break beneath her claws.

The entire meadow seemed to hold its breath as Creek wobbled, but he didn't fall. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he turned his head back to Sleet, blood welling on the three thin scratches on his cheek. He stared at her but didn't strike back.

Sleet's anger roared inside her. She gave in to it, letting it conceal her panicked sense of betrayal. "How dare you!" She hissed. She pressed her ears against her head, her slitted eyes glaring venomously at Creek. "You mangy traitor. I found you wandering through the town, weak and vulnerable, and I let you join us. I trusted you. I confided my story in you. I loved you." She spat at his paws. "All you have done is betray me."

Creek met her gaze without flinching. "You gave me no choice. You could have killed an innocent cat had I not stepped in. We may have been close at one point, but it was only because I was vulnerable after I left the Clans. I will never agree with your ways. You are hardly any better than the Bands."

Sleet tried not to let her hurt show. Her anger faded, her voice becoming stone-cold. "If I am no better than them, then why are you asking for my help?"

Creek tipped his head at her, his tone softening. "I came because I believe that you can be better than them. I saw that cat for a little while. I apologize for betraying your confidence, but it was the only way to make you listen. I believe that you can do the right thing. You can face your fear and stand up to the Bands by helping us rescue our cats."

The silence stretched on as Sleet deliberated internally, her tail tip twitching. Creek is asking us to risk our lives to help them free the Clan cats. I've seen what the Bands can do. She shivered as the memories of her parents' deaths, and her brother's injury passed through her mind. This isn't our fight, but they're our lives. We owe them no loyalty, especially after what Creek did.

But, She wavered a little. If we don't take a stand, the Bands will continue to hurt more cats, like they did my family. We could help return many cats to their families, including Creek's daughter. Her heart lifted a little. With a good plan, and us joining their numbers, it could be a fair fight. We might have a chance of winning. And I—I have the opportunity to do the right thing. To be better. To fix some of my mistakes, starting with this.

She glanced back at the street cats behind her, her eyes a question she didn't need to voice. Bounce, Sparrow, and Pebble peered over their parents' shoulders, their eyes wide and excited. Ginger's gaze shone in reply. Adder shifted his weight; his head tipped in thoughtful consideration. Brindle blinked uncertainly. Misty dipped her head. Blackjack looked resigned but did not object. Darcy glanced at Pepper and Gravel on either side and gave Sleet a small nod, her eyes glinting dangerously as she answered for all of them.

Sleet turned back to Creek. I hope that we won't regret this. With a great sigh, she nodded. "All right. We will help you."

Another chapter done! Only one more and an epilogue to go. This one was interesting for me to write because half of it is a scene I've already written, but with a new perspective. I hope it was interesting to read! I changed the dialogue a little to make it fresher and to fit more of what I felt like fitted this story, and this way I find it very interesting to see how Sleet's personality and history affects the way she perceives the scene. I've wondered how different people experience the same thing in different ways, and how our personalities and history affect the way we interact with reality. It's also cool to know what was going on for her during the scene and how it corresponds to what Tall Pine observed. That was a goal of mine when writing this: tell Sleet's story so we know why she acts the way she does in Land of Shadowed Stars. As this story is coming to a close, I feel like her character arc is coming to an nice close. She's met with Creek again and made the conscious decision to work on being better and fixing her mistakes. Next chapter, the street cats will be going to help the Clan cats and Sleet will be reunited with Slate after more than a year.

- A Warrior At Heart