Storm woke up to a heavy bundle of gray-and-white fur flailing on top of her.
"Cloud, you clumsy kit, get off of me!" she grumbled, curling up tighter.
"But Storm, more housefolk are here!" her brother protested, prodding her with a paw. "Mama said they're going to take some of us!"
Immediately, Storm was awake. She didn't want to leave. And she had promised to help Sand… She sprang up, staring around wildly in search for the housefolk. Sure enough, there was a strange pair of housefolk along with their kit, all playing with Mama and the other kits. Storm picked out Sand's orange fur among the wrestling kits, and surprisingly Sand seemed to have fun darting around, trying to grab a feather that the housefolk kit was dangling.
As Storm watched, Reed was picked up by the housefolk kit, who jabbered at its parents. They nodded and picked up Sand, replying to what their kit had said. Turning to Storm's housefolk, they talked until one of them nodded and took Sand and Reed out the door. The last thing Storm saw of Sand was her orange face opened in a yowl of shock, silently staring at Storm with those bright green eyes.
As the door slammed shut with Sand and Reed behind it, Storm skidded down the table where the nest was kept, leaping at the door with a huge jump. She landed beside it and scratched frantically at the cat door, begging silently at her housefolk to let her out to see her sister.
"It's no use," Sky mewed softly behind her. "Sand and Reed are gone. Mama said we could see her sometimes."
Storm whipped around, angry and distressed at the fact that Mama would let two of her kits be taken without lifting a paw. She could be taken next!
"Mama!" She yowled, stalking over to where Cloud was playing with their tortoiseshell mother. "Why did they take Sand and Reed? And why did you let them?"
"Oh, Storm," Mama meowed softly, sadness glinting in her amber eyes. "The housefolk have it all set up. A queen's kits must be given away, otherwise the housefolk have too many cats. We can't stop them."
"But will I go?" Storm asked, desperation creeping into her mew. "I don't want to go, Mama, I want to stay with you!"
Storm's mother turned away, and Storm caught a glimpse of pain in her beautiful eyes that Sand shared. Storm's head drooped, and her mother wrapped her orange-and-white tail around her silver daughter, pulling her closer.
"If you must, then there is nothing I can do to stop it," Mama purred gently.