Hey, everyone!

Welcome back!

Also, an announcement in case you haven't seen it already:

In November, the second book of the Morning Rays trilogy comes out!

Details in Chapter 12 of Morning Rays!

Enjoy! :D

I stretched luxuriously, enjoying the way my smooth, black-and-white fur shone with perfection. I purred in contentment, glancing at my food bowl. There was a fresh serving of it, the excess pellets heaping over the rim of the bowl.

I smiled, happy to know my housefolk remembered, as always, to fill it before heading out. I didn't know where they went, but they always came back by the time the sun set.

Lapping up about half of the pellets, I decided to head outside. Rusty would be awake and about by now, knowing him.

I padded out the swinging door of the den. Looking up at the top of the fence, I saw my neighbor, and best friend, perched like a bird at the top of it.

"Hey, there, Rusty!" I called. The ginger tom snapped his head towards me.

"Hi, Smudge," he purred.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him.

The tom flicked an ear before replying, "Oh, just a dream."

I frowned, knowing that Rusty wasn't lying, but not telling the whole story. "Have you had it before?"

"Yes," he responded.

"What was it about?" I leaped up onto the fence besides him, and prodded my paw into his side. He twitched back out of reach.

"I was out in the forest. I didn't have a collar on, and the breeze felt so good! The smells were really sharp, too. Anyways, I was stalking a mouse through the forest. Somehow I knew exactly how to hunt! I was about to pounce, but the rattling of my food bowl woke me up." Rusty sighed. "I was so close. Closer than the other times I've dreamed this. It always gets closer. Do you think it's a sign of something?"

I cocked my head. "The question is, who would send a sign, and how? I don't know any cats that can dive into others' minds."

Rusty sighed. "I know. It's probably just wild instinct. Every cat has wild ancestors, you know." Rusty flicked his tail into my head.

"Ow!" I yelped, even though it didn't really hurt. Rusty snorted before turning and staring into the forest once more.

"Do you think I should go out there?" he asked suddenly.

I started, not expecting such a question. "Are you insane? There are wild cats out there! You know, the kind that eat animals alive and feast on bones? It's too dangerous! I don't want to loose you," I mewed desperately.

"Aw, come on Smudge, how bad can a wild cat really be? You know what," exclaimed the ginger tom before proclaiming, "I'm going to go out there later."

I shook my head. "Rusty, no. You won't. You can't. You couldn't defend yourself. Have you heard how many cats are out there?"

Rusty flicked his ear like he didn't care. I don't think he did.

"Calm down, Smudge. How about this: I promise that if I run into them and they attack me, I'll run straight back. Okay?" I sighed, knowing that he wouldn't change his mind, and nodded.

"Alright, Rusty, but remember your promise!" I jumped down from the fence, glancing at the sun, then down at my rumbling belly. The sun was starting to slant down through the trees. I glanced back up at Rusty. The sun was shining down on him, and for a few moments his pelt was lit up, orange as fire. After a few moments, the sun had moved to be blocked by a tree branch, and his pelt faded back to plain ginger. I shook my head, as if I could shake out thoughts.

"See you, Rusty. Come see me tomorrow!" I waved my tail.

"I will. Have a nice evening, Smudge!"

I dove back into my housefolk's den, the tangy smell of the outdoors fading behind me. I welcomed back the scent of my home.

Glancing at the half-full food bowl, I decided to take a few bites, though my hunger from before had faded.

After filling myself, I leaped onto the couch, staring the black box that my housefolk seemed to like to stare at a lot. Sometimes I recognized some things on it, and sometimes they looked kind of like things I knew about. I stared up at front door. My housefolk should be back soon.

As if on cue, the red monster pulled up on the small Thunderpath that lead to the monster's den. I heard the whirring of it, before a click and silence signaled that the monster was asleep.

My housefolk walked into the den, and I stood up, purring. I ran over to them, placing my paws onto their long legs.

"Hi! I've missed you! Can you please tell Rusty not to leave?" I asked, knowing very well that they would not understand me. All they did was lean down and stroke me briefly before walking away. Sighing, I headed back to my pillow before laying down to sleep.

. . . . .

I jolted awake, terror flooding through me. Glancing rapidly around, I realized I was just in my housefolk's den.

I sighed in relief.

I had dreamed that Rusty and I were being chased by huge tiger-cats. We were in the forest, and the cats had leaped out from behind the trees and started bounding after us, their sharp claws always just out of reach. If we didn't run fast enough, we'd have been shredded.

I shuddered. I hope Rusty is okay. Glancing out the window, saw that the dawn light was streaming into the den. My housefolk had appeared to have left, since my bowl was filled to the top.

I climbed up onto the windowsill. Rusty wasn't on his fence as usual. A flutter of panic went through my chest. What if the wildcats had got him?

I shook my head, telling myself not to overreact. He probably was just sleeping in later, because of his big outing. Yet I still itched to talk to my friend, burning with curiousity.

Finally, the ginger tom came out of his flap. I dashed outside.

"Rusty! Where have you been? I've been so worried!" I yowled, leaping over his fence.

Rusty unsheathed his claws, hissing, before apparently realizing it was me and relaxing.

"Oh, it's you. How are you doing?" Rusty asked.

I bounced impatiently. "So? How did it go?"

"The forest? I met some of the wildcats."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah."

"Did they attack you?" I meowed anxiously.

"Well, one of them did."

"There was more than one?"

"Of course. The younger one attacked me. The other two came later." Rusty looked thoughtful for a moment. "They asked me to join their Clan."

"Clan? What did you tell them?" I leaned in, excited.

"I told them I would meet them later today. I've decided to go with them."

My jaw dropped in shock. "What? What about me?"

"I don't want to end up like Harry."

Harry was a fat old tom that lived a couple of houses down. He used to be the best hunter in Housefolkplace, until he had been taken to the vet. Now, he complained about the prey bothering him.

I shook my head. "We could still have fun. Being lazy doesn't make a mean cat."

"Apparently it's different for Harry," Rusty quipped. I snorted despite myself.

"Come on, Rusty."

"I've already decided. I'm sorry."

I felt my eyes heat up. I took a deep breath.

"Well, If it's going to be your last day here, let's make it a good one."

So we did.

Now, I still miss my friend Firestar. He was an amazing friend to me. The first friend I had.

A few moons later there was a new cat to 'replace' Firestar, but no cat could ever take the spot my friend did.

I still sometimes look out into the sparse trees that make up the forest and imagine him running around with his Clan. They left a while back, once some workfolk began to build more dens and Thunderpaths there.

And sometimes, I wonder how Firestar is.

Is he even still alive?

How are his kits?

How is his mate?

But, in the end, I know he made the right decision.

My friend always did.

And he always will.

Yes, I know this is different than the canon books, but it wouldn't make much of a difference in the plot line of the story anyways.

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