'Ello
Review replies:
Chickenspoon: *claps* I will! Well, did. And yeah, I hadn't originally planned on putting them in this, it just sort of happened. xD And as far as the timeline goes, the clan cats are living in their lake territory, so it's after 'Dawn'. That's all I really thought about. ^^' There won't be any canon characters in it, besides Bluestar, when she already was. But, uh, she's dead, so...not sure if that counts. ._.
Enjoy responsibly.
Perky wasn't murdered in his sleep by the dog, though he had been half expecting it. But no, he just woke up in the morning and saw that the Border Collie was laying just where he had been last night.
It also appeared that he was still asleep. Since Perky didn't feel like dealing with his annoyingly happy/naive antics, he just got up and wandered out of the abandoned building.
The rain had stopped and the clouds had parted, leaving the sky a beautiful bright blue. The air was fresh and cool, and the grass was damp beneath his paws. It was a lovely sort of day, the kind that made him think the world still had some good in it.
"Perky?"
Silently cursing, the cat didn't turn around.
"What?" He asked, keeping his voice monotone.
"Beautiful morning, isn't it? I like to think the rain washed the sky. That's why it always looks so clear and blue after it rains." Sam's voice was calm, content, and slightly nostalgic. "My sister lived for these kinds of days."
Perky didn't answer. He didn't want to talk to this dog, didn't want to admit to himself that he'd been wrong and dogs had feelings. He was too proud for that.
"So, where are we headed?" Sam asked, walking up beside Perky.
"We?" Perky hissed. "No, there is no we. I am going to find my friend. Friends, technically, now."
"You already have found a friend," The dog said, smiling. "Me."
It was such a...such a nice thing to say that it nearly melted the armor around Perky's heart. And it was coming from a dog. Stars, what was happening to his life?!
Perky was so touched by this that all he managed to say was, "Oh."
They were silent for a little while, enjoying the morning, when Perky decided he had better leave before he started to like the dog.
"Well," He said, standing up. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye?" Sam asked. "I'm coming with you."
Perky sighed. "No, you're not. You're a dog. Dogs and cats aren't friends-they can't be."
"Why not?"
It was a good question. Why not? Why live his life the way others decided he should? It was his life. But...dogs had killed his family. So, really, he was choosing to live his life that way, right?
"Because I said so, stupid," Perky growled. He began to walk away, but the dog just followed him.
"Go away!" The mottled cat yelled.
"Nope."
"Go away."
"Pretty sure I already said no."
Perky stopped and turned around, glaring daggers at the larger creature.
"Listen, I know you're naive and apparently know nothing of the way the world works, but I do. I intend to survive and find my friends. You aren't going to help with that- you're just going to get me killed, possibly my friends, too, and I will not have that. Good riddance, dog." Perky spat out the last word before turning and continuing to walk. Sam didn't follow him this time.
"I know you don't mean that," He called. "I can tell."
Perky didn't answer, just kept walking.
"You're a lot like my brother. His name was Boromir. He was the last of my family to go...he just kept on fighting and fighting. I didn't even know he was sick until...until he was nearly gone."
The feline gritted his teeth and told himself to keep going.
"He acted like this sometimes. He told me that hotheads rarely mean what they say in fits of anger. So I know you don't mean that."
Perky stopped, his eyes closed.
"Fine," He called to the dog without turning around. "You can come with me."
oOoOoOo
Spark stepped back, her eyes darting around the room. Was he here? He couldn't be, could he? Wasn't he dead?
She realized that it was stupid of her to assume her father was dead. She hadn't seen him die- hadn't even gotten a clue that he had died.
In a corner, a figure slowly rose.
"Who's there? I can see you." A gruff, familiar voice said.
"I-I..." Spark didn't really know what to say. What could she say? "F-father? It's me. Spark."
"Spark?" His voice bore no excitement or joy. "Tell them I'm still sick."
"Who's them?" The silver tabby asked, a sick feeling of dread forming in her gut.
"Spare me this foolishness, daughter. Them. The dogs."
"The...the dogs?" She repeated. "Dad, I...I'm not with the dogs."
"What?" Chase demanded. "You and your siblings- you all went to Shard's army. I arranged it myself."
A dull, muted rage slowly formed in Spark's mind. "You did what?"
"Arranged it. Your foolish mother tried to hide you, but I couldn't betray my leader. I told them where we lived." The dark-colored tom yawned and stretched. "I am loyal to Shard. You are too, right, my daughter?"
Before she could consider the consequences, she cried, "No!" The dull rage in her head grew until it was no longer muted. "You-you murdered them! Mother, and Lily and Char! They're all dead because of you!"
"Lily and Char are dead?" Chase asked, but there was no sorrow. "I suppose they were weak, then."
"Wh-no!" Spark shouted, stepping towards her father. "What an awful thing to say! Your children are dead because of you, and you say they're weak?!"
"You, though, must be strong. I never figured you were the strongest, but you've proved me wrong. Tell me, what post were you assigned?"
Tears came to her eyes. "No. No, I told you, I'm not with the dogs. I hate them. I ran away."
Not hearing her word, or just not listening, Chase continued. "I hear they need more soldiers at the Stones. Outcasts are slipping over, they say. See if you can transfer there."
"No, that's not-"
"Or maybe a City Guard. I'm told they treat cats pretty nicely in-"
"Shut up and listen, you decrepit old fleabag!" Spark yelled, her anger roaring like a fire. "I. Am. Not. With. The. Dogs. I hate them and I hate you. You-you and the dogs murdered my family and my friends' families. You are not my father. You're just-just a twisted traitor to our kind!"
"I'm the traitor?" Chase hissed, walking towards the younger cat. "I am loyal to Shard. You are the one who cannot appreciate the good he's done! He has united the cats and dogs, two natural enemies!"
"You know what else he did?" Spark challenged. "Murdered innocent cats, ruined lives, and torn apart families!"
"You insolent little thing!" Her father cried.
"Better insolent than-"
Spark was cut off as her father smacked her, sending her sprawling across the floor.
Deciding he wouldn't listen to anything she said, Spark sprang at him, her claws unsheathed. She tackled him and clawed at his face.
Chase kicked her off and heaved himself up.
"You dare attack your father?" He snarled.
Spark smirked. "That's not the worst I've done."
The tom sighed and shook his head.
"You are a stupid little creature," He said. "But I do not wish to fight you. Go. I can't stand to look at you anymore."
Though Spark didn't know it, nor would she ever, her father couldn't look at her because he saw Emmy in her, and he did indeed feel remorse for her death. He hadn't thought she would be so audacious, but he truly had loved her.
"Fine," the silver tabby hissed. "Good riddance, murderer."
And she turned and marched out. She never looked back. She never saw him again, either.
oOoOoOo
"And I don't know what to do about it! I mean, I love my brother, but he's just such an idiot, y'know?"
Bubbles huffed, and Venus took it as a sign that he did understand.
"So, you mentioned you had a sister," The Bengal said after a while of rather awkward silence. "What's she like?"
"Different from you, that's for sure," Bubbles muttered. "Lot less talkative."
"And?"
The brown tom wasn't usually the type to just give away information, but he had started to like Venus quite a bit, so he was okay with telling her a few things.
"Well," He said, thinking. "She's really sweet and hates fighting. Her eyes are two different colors- one's amber and one's blue- and I always thought they were so pretty, but she feels insecure about them."
Bubbles hadn't meant to say that last part- it was sort of a secret between the siblings- but Venus often made him forget he was saying things out loud.
"Oh. Well, I think she sounds very nice. I'd love to meet her."
The larger cat sighed. "I'd love to see her again, as well. I miss her. I- we're the same age, but I feel like it's my job to protect her. She's such a gentle soul."
Venus just nodded. She, too, would love to see her sibling, but he wasn't really the same anymore. Maybe, though, he could be changed. Venus hoped so. Oh, how she hoped so.
"Wait," Bubbles suddenly whispered, stopping. "Something's not right. There are other cats near- lots of them."
The orange feline nodded, her eyes wide. She could smell them- and feel them. They were being watched.
She looked around, particularly in the bushes, but couldn't find anyone.
"Venus," Came Bubbles rather nervous voice.
"Yeah?"
"I...you'd better run."
Slowly, Venus turned around to see Bubbles surrounded by two other cats- one dark grey and one an orange, white, and black calico- who looked quite angry.
"Who are you? A spy?" The grey one, a tom, hissed.
"Maybe they're soldiers from Shard," The calico she-cat growled.
"No!" Venus cried. "Never!"
"How can we be so sure?" The tom yelled, baring his teeth.
"Venus, please, I can deal with this. Go." Bubbles said, his blue eyes calm.
The Bengal shook her head. "Sorry, Bubbles, but I'm not leaving you. Not now, not ever."
Bubbles smiled, but before he could say anything, the calico spoke up.
"Bubbles? Your name is Bubbles, you say?"
Slowly, the bulky tom nodded.
The calico looked at her partner. "Storm, wasn't that the name of Owl's brother?"
"Owl?" Both Venus and Bubbles said at the same time.
"That's my sister," The tom breathed. "Where is she?"
Once more, the two cats whom Bubbles nor Venus had ever seen exchanged looks.
"Should we let him?" The grey tom, Storm, asked.
The she-cat nodded. "I suppose. If we were separated, I'd stop at nothing to find you."
Slowly, the two cats- who were presumably brother and sister- moved away from Bubbles.
"Follow us," The calico said.
Deciding they might as well, Venus and Bubbles did. The siblings lead the two cats through an extremely dense patch of foliage to a clearing where many cats were going about their lives. Well, not really. They all seemed like they had a shadow over them- a shadow Bubbles knew.
"They're mourning," He murmured to himself.
"I'll go get Owl," Storm said. "She's been really upset since...you know."
The calico nodded. "Yeah. I'll stay with these two."
After her brother had run off, the she-cat looked over the other two cats.
"I'm Daisy," She said. "And that was my brother Storm. Who're you two?"
"Well, as you know, I'm Bubbles," The tom said. "And that's my friend, Venus."
Daisy dipped her head in acknowledgment.
"It's good to meet you, Bubbles and Dasiy," She said. "I wish we could've met on better terms, or even just at a better time. We're all mourning now."
"Why?" Venus asked. Then, more bashfully, added, "If you don't mind telling us."
Sadly, Daisy began.
"We're a Rebellion, against Shard and his army. Our leader, Casper," Her voice cracked over the name. "Recently died. He-he was helping- no, saving- our youngest member."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Bubbles said, his head bowed.
Venus frowned at the news, but something about the name Casper sounded familiar. Casper...wasn't that the name of someone Spark had known?
Before she could know for sure, a loud cry rang through the camp/clearing.
"BUBBLES!"
The brown cat's head snapped up, and his blue eyes filled with a joy Venus hadn't ever thought she'd see on him.
"OWL!"
The two siblings ran at each other, collapsing in a heap when they met.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Owl wept, her face buried in her brother's fur.
"Me too," The tom whispered, only loud enough for his sister's ears.
She was grieving, Bubbles knew, but right now, all she knew was the joy of seeing her brother.
Aww...isn't that cute? I love family fluff. I live on it. xD
Anyway, I put a pop culture reference in here...if you spot it, please review saying what it is, and your favorite character from this. If you're right, I'll write a one-shot about them.
Please review, and have a great day/night! (Next update on Thursday)
Peace out,
~Kitkat