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My fur bristled and I slowed to a walk. My instincts told me I had stepped into enemy territory. They were right. It felt different. Usually I went by smell but this had an enemy feel. I really can't explain it. It was like all of my senses at one but none of them.
I sensed something moving away from me. It had a dull reddish brown color to it. It seemed putrid, disgusting, large. It reminded me of rancid meat.
As it moved away I felt another entity. It had been masked by the first nauseating one. This one felt light blue. It was refreshing like a cool drink of water, like rain. Recognition hit me. I knew this one. I had heard it. This one had called me. It seemed faint... faded.
I shifted my focus to Rancid Meat. It made my stomach churn. Rancid Meat must have hurt Rain. It was logical. I would have to reach Rain before Rancid Meat returned.
When I returned my focus to Rain I noticed its feel seemed to flicker. This, I decided, was not a good thing. I growled. I knew I would have to reach Rain quickly. I also knew that if I just ran up Rancid Meat would be sure to notice me. I worked to maintain the distance between myself and Rancid Meat.
I slowed to a creep when I spotted a human building through the leaves. It was built of gray stones. They were fresh. This was new. The forest around had been burnt away. It was blackened, charred, this had all been done recently. Rain was inside. I circled the structure twice. There were only two ways in: a door (far too large and heavy for me to open) and a window (there was a ledge outside and barred shutters that were latched as well).
The window was my best bet. It didn't look good though. It looked far too high. I looked around again. The area was barren. There was nothing to aid me.
I crouched below the window, I'd just have to jump it. There was no other option. I tensed my muscles to spring. Ready. Ready. I couldn't imagine how I'd manage this. I shifted my weight slightly. It was imposable. There was no way a cat could jump that high. I couldn't. I had to help Rain. I had to do this.
I'm not just a cat anymore.
I sprung with more energy then I had ever had before. I more then made it to the window sill. The shutters were closed barred and latched. I knew this. I managed to to knock the bar off simply enough. It was heavy though. It clattered loudly as it hit the sill and then the bare earth under the window.
I heard shuffling inside. Rain became more focused. On me, I supposed.
the latch. It looked so simple but so complex at the same time. I was clueless as to how it worked. I'd never opened a latch before. I never paid attention when humans did either. Now I wish i did.
:Huh: I heard. It was tentative. It was cautious. It was Rain.
I meowed in response.
Rain did not make another response. Rain thought I was just a cat. I'm not.
:Hey: I thought loudly. I hoped Rain had heard it.
:What: I received in return:Who:
:I'm not just a cat: I told Rain.
:I'm called Snowdance: he said, I could tell now by his voice that he's male:Don't you have a name:
I thought about this. The humans had once called me Mura. I told him this.
:What are you: he asked.
:I was a cat: I said:Now I am not just a cat: It seemed simple enough to me. He didn't seem to understand.
:Do you know how to open this latch: I asked before he could question me further.
:Show me what it looks like: he said. It was my turn to be confused. I simply stared at the lock trying to figure out what he meant. I went to say something but couldn't think what to say. :That's perfect: he said:Keep doing that: I realized that I was sending him the image of the latch.
The latch I was looking at moved. I blinked and it returned to the way it was before. :Do that: Snowdance instructed. I sat down and manipulated the latch as Snow dance said. I can't say I was very good at using my thumbs yet but I was trying. Finally it was off. I dig my claws into the wood and pulled the shutter open.
I finally saw Snowdance. He was what the humans I had lived with had called Hawkbrothers. His shoulder length hair was died with a leaf pattern and his clothes looked like they might have been part of a tree at one point.
The scent of blood reached my nose. Snowdance had a variety of injuries on his body. That wasn't the only blood to smell though. There was bird blood.
My eyes swept the room. It was divided by iron bars. On the other side of the bars was a table covered in feathers and blood. Flecks of white bone stuck out of the mess. Even though I was hungry that did not look appetizing.
:My bondbird...: Snowdance explained. His voice wasn't just sad it was sorrow itself. The world around us was silent. A single salty tear splashed against the stone floor.
I wanted to do something, but what?
The door slammed open. A sickening feel entered the room. I knew without looking that it was Rancid Meat.
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Cliffhanger! I'm sorry it took so long but I'm a slow typist and have limited computer time.Please review!