ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴇᴅᴇɴ
{мαy тнoѕe wнo αre ɢood αт cυrѕιɴɢ cυrѕe тнαт dαy. υɴleαѕн тнe ѕeα вeαѕт, levιαтнαɴ, oɴ ιт.}
The petite she-cat confidently propelled herself up onto the ridge. The world around her was almost silent, having gone to sleep for the night. She was not like that though. The black cat felt most alive in the darkness; her Void drove her to it. Settling herself down, she curled her tail regally about her paws, seeming as one with the night, except for her green eyes, which shone with the vibrancy of youth and wisdom.
About her, nature stopped; all became quiet. The owl, the cricket, the croaking frog, ceased their ghostly music to the moon, sensing that she was among them. They were not perturbed or intimidated by her presence. All the contrary. These creatures of the night were in wonderment of her. And so was he.
It was not the sleekness of her jet black fur, or her striking elegance, or the shrewdness that shone deep within the green of her eyes. No, it was her simple ferocity that attracted him to her. He could not escape it, no matter how he tried.
What was this? This feeling she had. It was not the simple feeling that she was being watched. No. She felt a void, one unlike any she had ever seen. A void with potential only for darkness. The she-cat shivered. This was not of the norm. Shadows had potential for both light and darkness. There was a choice. Or that was what she had thought all alone. She could not doubt herself, for she knew to doubt herself would lead to her own demise.
"I know you are there, Traveller. I bid you to come forward, that I may see whether you are friend or foe," she mewed, her soft voice floating clearly across the distance between them. The she-cat gracefully got to her paws, her eyes glued to the place she expected him to emerge from. Her tail flicking with mild impatience. She, however, was not aware that he did not understand a word she had said.
He had no choice. The long-legged tom left the shadows and padded into the open, the moon shining down upon his shaggy, pale fur. He was handsome in his own right, and in his pale blue eyes shone playfulness, innocence. He was a noble looking cat, holding a shapely head upon broad shoulders. His short pelt was of an ivory color, with contrasting spots scattered across it.
"Meum nomen est Fallan. " he offered, dipping his head in greeting. The she-cat was taken aback at his speech. She had heard it before, in a future, in a Void. She was sure he was not from this region. Instantly, she was plunged into this Traveler's Void. His name was Fallan. She let herself be enveloped by the darkness, the pain he felt. Oddly enough, she saw herself by his side, white winds swirling about them with pallid ferocity. But there was another cat present... beside her. Who... the picture faded away.
"Ventis vos de terris, albis, non potes? You are from the lands of the White Winds, are you not?" she inquired, coming out of her reverie with a blink. The tom looked a bit mystified at her words, most likely surprised that she was a fluent speaker of his language. Whoever he is, she thought, I must keep him by my side. Though he is filled with darkness, it is my destiny to travel to his land, to become one with his kin.
Fallan purred in amusement, his eyes shining with something of innocence. "Ah, vocatis omnibus terris Albo ventis? Ah, you call our lands the White Winds?"
Tilt dipped her head in affirmation. "Quid hic agis, viator? Why are you here, Traveler?" she asked, looking down at him, curiosity a faint beacon in her gaze. All things truly wicked start from innocence, Tilt thought to herself, padding down the small rise she had been sitting upon.
"I come in search, of one great, whom my ancestors have called to rescue my tribe." Fallan mewed solemnly, gazing deep into her eyes as she stood before him. Tilt scoffed.
"You will not find that one here. In the city, among a a group of bands in the city, going by The Fallen, is where your best wager lies." She lifted her head, gazing at the stars above them, for a moment, seeming to Fallan as if she belonged in the realm of the sidereal.
"What do you go by?" Fallan inquired. Her gaze moved not from the night sky as she replied, "My name is Tilt, third daughter of Celeste and Shallow, cats of The Circle."
She must be a Noble One, Fallan thought, his interest peaked to its climax. "I am Fallan, of the mountain kingdom of Algor."
He is from far away, Tilt thought, placing a paw forward on the ground, and eyeing the young tom.
"There is no need to stare, Tilt of the Circle," Fallan mewed, sitting up straight, his tail wrapped around his paws in the most regal fashion. This tomcat was intimidating; the aura around him was superior to that of others.
"Are you willing to come with me, Fallan?" Tilt asked, blinking, but keeping her gaze on him.
"Yes. No need to treat me other than any of your friends. It is of utmost importance that this fact is kept clandestine," the young tom alerted her.
"Then allow me, Fallan," Tilt meowed, winding about him, her sleek fur brushing his. The Traveler looked bewildered, probably wondering why this she-cat has desecrated his personal space.
"You smell of places, anywhere but here. I, however, carry the scent of the cats of The Circle," Tilt explained, holding back the urge to purr. "Follow me."
The two cats padded silently through the night, Tilt thinking to herself and wondering why. Why had he come? Who had sent him? She felt as if she of all cats should have known; but yet, she did not. She stopped in her tracks, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head slightly to the right. A sentinel past, his ears and eyes alert. She recognized him to be Copper, a handsome tom. He had just become a Defender on the same she had become a Learner. Her sister, Jett, had her eye on him, constantly swooning over him with dilated dark blue eyes.
Tilt snorted. She had admitted Cooper was handsome, with his cream striped fur and engaging green eyes. But there were two others had her eye on, ones closer to her in age. Edge and Jakal. As they grew, the toms became more pleasing to look at by the day. Jett saw this, and also did Soliel, who had had her eye on Aeonian, a handsome brown tabby tom for some time, until they had joined the Learners den. Majority of the Learners had become Defenders in the last seven moons, and the Circle was as strong as ever, and with Memory and Eternity expecting, the Kit Den would be full once again.
"Who my overseer will be," Jett had whispered excitedly to her on the day of the Rising, the day when they would rise higher in the Circle's hierarchy. Tilt had purred, placing her tail on her sister's shoulder for reassurance.
"You will most likely receive Phantom. She seems to be the one with most promise, to overlook your training," Tilt had mewed. She was sure of this, as both Jett and Phantom's Voids had yielded these facts.
"And what do you think about my trainer?" Jett had inquired as they had stepped out into the Main Corridor on the Upper Level.
"Most likely Chasm, considering that he asked the High Council if he could train you," the Bombay she-cat informed her.
Jett's face fell. "He's not as handsome as Copper," an d with that, she stalked away, sulking.
It had surprised Tilt when she actually received Melt, the Seer, as her overseer and Cooper as her trainer. Jett had not talked to her for seven nights, until finally she came up to her sister, asking questions about him. Her fighting partner often differed between Jackal, his trainer, Zee (her elder sister) and Strife, and his trainer, Aeonian. At first, Strife had been annoyed that for him, an amateur trainer, had been chosen. But in his weekly assessments, done by his overseer, Raven, he always passed, thanks only to his training with Tilt as a kitten.
{мαy ιтѕ мorɴιɴɢѕтαrѕ тυrɴ тo вlαcĸ cιɴderѕ,wαιтιɴɢғor α dαylιɢнт тнαт ɴever coмeѕ, ɴever oɴce ѕeeιɴɢ тнe ғιrѕт lιɢнт oғ dαwɴ..}
His size had awed the High Council, and Tilt had been told to await the verdict outside the Sunrise room. However hopeless the request had seemed, he had been accepted, as a Learner, after the High Council had assessed his skills. They had changed his name. He was no longer Fallan, but Fate. His overseer was Night, a member of the High Council, and his trainer was Tilt's beloved uncle, Sorrow. As Fate trailed her through the corridors, Tilt felt that they would become close, considering that he was always by her side, in a way.
Tilt slunk off into the shadows to her cloth nest, allowing the tired tom to join her. He curled around her, his body conforming to her lithe shape. It was to his warmth, and soft breathing, that Tilt finally fell into a calm, peaceful sleep. She was visited, however, but a cat she had never seen, but felt as if she knew.
"My Daughter," the silver marbled tabby mewed, placing a paw before her and lowering her upper body, while her hind legs and romp remained upwards. It finally occurred to Tilt that the beautiful, exotic she-cat was bowing to her.
"Please, rise," Tilt mewed, uncertain of what to say. She sat down, wrapping her tail around her paws and sitting as tall and regally as she could.
The marbled she-cat did so and sat before her, keeping her head bowed in great reverence as she continued. "My Daughter, we have long awaited your coming. However, we were not aware of you location, and it has taken us one-hundred years to locate your place of abode." Tilt, despite her confusion, played along, while attempting to enter this she-cat's Void. However, she had no Void!
"Come, darling. There are many things which I have yet to teach you." The she-cat stood, padding over to Tilt and nuzzling her jaw affectionately. The snow whirled around them, the sky the colors of a beautiful dawn. Yet, the moon shone above them, shining a ghastly light upon the plain around them. The silvery, golden grass swayed to the music of the wind, which danced between their stems.
"Yes, Mother," Tilt mewed automatically, gracefully ascending to her paws. The she-cat purred affectionately, leading the way into the high grasses and disappearing without a trace. Tilt quickly her followed, the fear of being lost driving her forward. Her silver paws rose and fall as she ran through- wait, silver? She had never had silver fur! But now that she looked at her heaving flanks, she saw that she looked just like Mother.
Tilt looked up. There were things underway that she could not comprehend; she would have to ask Mother what was happening. She could only hope for a reasonable explanation. The now long-legged, silver she-cat halted, looking around. The only thing she could see was grass; Mother was nowhere to be seen. Tilt tasted the air, hoping to find the sweet scent which Mother exuded. There wasn't a trace on the air.
"I am here, my child," the wind whispered into Tilt's ears. She spun around, hoping to come face to face with- but no. Not a soul was there.
"Where?" she cried to the wind, looking to the skies for help. There were no stars to give her direction, no birds to whistle her comfort.
"Beside you, my daughter. Though you cannot see me, I am always beside you. Look down, dear one," the winds replied, rushing through Tilt's fur.
Looking down, Tilt came face to face with a cat, a reflection, trapped beneath a clear pool of water. She was beautiful. Her marbled, silver fur was sleek and shone with health. Her eyes, the color of an amethyst, shone with depths of wisdom and knowledge. Her head was held high, her broad shoulders pulled back with pride. She stood tall, ready to face whatever came her way. But it was her aura that struck Tilt. It was gentle, yet fierce. Fearless, yet prudent. Regal, yet understanding.
"She is you," a soft voice mewed from beside her as another cat stepped into the picture.
Mother stood beside the she-cat. They were so alike, they seemed to be the same cat. Tilt turned her head to the side to see Mother watching her with kind, violet eyes.
"This, my Daughter, is your true form." Her mother told her. "Your true name is Stella filia Essentia and Lumen. Star, daughter of Essence and Light."
"But Mother, why do I not live with you and Father?" Stella inquired, quite curious.
Her mother's beautiful face took on the emotion of sadness. "Come, my dear, and let me tell you a story."
Stella padded over to her mother, her amethyst eyes wide as she snuggled up to Essence.
"Long, long ago, before even the first cat was made, there was darkness. The Great One, one who made your father and I, and everything on the earth, made the world without blemish or evil. When we born in time when humans were tall in stature and long lived. However, evil entered the world before your father and I were born. We were born in the time of a great, righteous man. He became close to The Great One, often conversing with him in the quiet vale. Now, Lumen and I would often join him in his wonderings, as we were attracted to the light within him. The Great One was so fond of him, that one day, when we were with him, he took us to the place we lived, and we have never been back to Earth since." Her mother paused here.
"However, evil became so great upon the earth, that The Great One was forced to send a large flood, to wipe out the entire world, except for eight humans and two to seven animals of every species. You, my daughter, died that day. But your distant cousin, Tenebra, lived. He loved you, and it broke his heart that you died. Darkness entered his lonely soul, and his Void was full of evil. I, too, was brokenhearted, and I beseeched with The Great One, to have you born again. He agreed, a his heart being full of compassion, he has allowed you to be reborn ever since, but as a different cat, in different places, every hundred years." Essentia sighed, her eyes clouding over as she remembered the day.
"Tenebra has been reborn ever since, for you two shared a heart. Each century, he looks for you, and every time he does not find you in time to save you, it kills him, and again, the cycle repeats." Stella's eyes dropped, her vision becoming blurry as sleep threatened to end her mother's story.
"Never forget me, my daughter, never forget." Those last to words echoed in Stella head as she let sleep take her.
{wнy doeѕ тнe ɢreαт oɴe вoтнer ɢιvιɴɢ lιɢнт тo тнe мιѕerαвle, wнy вoтнer ĸeepιɴɢ вιттer people αlιve?}
The next morning when she woke, Tilt was not surprised to find all the she-cat Learners were swarming around Fate. Tilt was as expected, pushed away, and she slunk over to the sidelines, watching with the toms tom from the sidelines. She sat there, beside Strife, watching with amusement faint in her green eyes as Fate attempted to speak to them in his language, of which these she-cats knew nothing off. They were memorized by his looks, drawn in by his aura.
"Quaeso, quaeso, mitescere," Fate called out, seeming used to all this attention, but at the same time, scanning the crowd for Tilt.
"What's he saying?" North inquired, having taken a seat on Tilt's other side.
"He says, 'Please, please, calm down,'" Tilt translated smoothly, ignoring the curious, knowledge hungry glance of Strife.
"Hey, Tilt, have grown over night, or something?" Edge inquired, finally talking to Tilt after three moons.
At this, the black she-cat tilted her head. "Not that I know of, considering that I have always been small."
"But you are as tall as North, now. The tips of your ears barely used to reach his shoulder," Edge observed, eyeing his former best friend quizzically.
"I think Tilt has experienced what you might call," Strife spoke up, "a growth spurt. Things like these often occur with small cats."
The black she-cat, Edge gazed upon, had changed. She was taller, as he had stated, but also, she was strikingly beautiful. He couldn't seem to explain it, but it was a different sort of beauty then that of Jett. Her simple presence enchanted him. Edge could now understand Jackal's gushing over Tilt. The shaggy-furred tom had harbored a crush on Tilt ever since he had seen her. She hadn't reciprocated his feelings though, considering that he had never told her. Edge didn't think that Tilt noticed Jackal's wistful looks, or affectionate glances that were often directed her way.
She didn't notice that Jackal constantly was by her side, had even made his nest beside hers. Jackal often glared daggers at Strife though, and sensing this warfare, Edge and North, both loose friends of Tilt, had stayed away from the two toms. It was clear that Jackal had no opponent for Tilt's affection at the moment, as Inferno had his eye on Ice, North had his eye on Jett, and up until now, Edge had also had his eyes on Jett.
But now, looking at Tilt, he saw everything that Jackal saw, and maybe even more. He saw why his brother stood so loyally by her side, why North regarded her as fit to converse with, why Inferno often play-fought with her, why Jackal loved her. These are the things which whirled through Edge's brain as he looked at his paws. This train of that is what changed his perspective on life.
Meanwhile, Tilt had had enough. His pale eyes had found her, and begged for help. She honestly felt bad for Fate, being almost suffocated by her peers. She leapt down from the dresser top she had been sitting upon. "He needs space; leave him alone," she mewed, loud enough for those around her to hear. Disgruntled, her fellow female Learners backed off, though still casting flirtatious glances Fate's general direction.
"Thanks, Tilt, thanks a lot!" Fate mewed, relief flooding his features. Tilt was mildly surprised as he began to speak her language.
"Not a problem. It is not my fault you were 'blessed' with such good looks," Tilt replied, her voice lined with sarcasm. Fate pouted playful, his eyes shining.
"What is your name?" Ice spoke up, "And are you apart of The Circle?"
"Tell them about yourself," the black cat informed him, ignoring Ice's outburst. The spotted tom nodded.
"My name is Fate. As you can probably tell, I was a stray, accepted into this family by Mother and Father. However, I hope to make this place my home, and I hope to become friends with you all," he finished, his gaze sweeping those before him, before resting affectionately upon Tilt, who sat beside him. Edge saw Jackal tense noticeably, his ears flattening.
Immediately, the silence that was in the room was broken by a million questions. Tilt, not sure what to do in such a situation, just melted skillfully into the crowd of she-cats crowding Fate.
"Well, that is a cruel fate you left him to," a voice lined with amusement, sounded behind her. She only flicked her tail.
"Well, Jackal, what you have me do? Join them in claiming him for myself?" Tilt inquired snidely, almost purring as she felt the handsome tom tense beside her.
"Relax," she instructed him softly, placing her tail upon his shoulder in show of affection. Jackal gazed down at her lovingly.
"Don't look at me like that," Tilt purred, dropping her eyes and bumping his shoulder. It was true. She felt affection, maybe even a love for Jackal, and he reciprocated her feelings. Tilt, however wise she might be, was a very guarded cat. She could see through any lie, any scheme you threw at her. But she was particularly protective of her heart. Nothing could go past her defenses unless she allowed you. She had allowed only Strife and Jackal. And seemingly this new tom, Fate. That was something Edge couldn't understand.
Jackal nuzzled the cat of his dreams, making obvious to those around him, that he had a liking for this black she-cat. Tilt did not object to the tabby's show of affection, and Fate, out of the corner of his eye, noticed this. The time for daily training grew near and the juvenile cats filed out of the den. However, only Fate's sharp eye caught the silver fur, the graceful manner, the luminous eyes. A faint outline followed Tilt out of the den. As she passed, the ghostly cat's sweet scent engulfed him, drawing him to her. A determination sprung up in Fate's heart. Jackal would not win Tilt's heart. She. Was. His.
This upon his mind, the handsome tom, flanked by Jett and Ice, padded out of the den and into the first day of the rest of his life.
{тнoѕe wнo wαɴт ιɴ тнe worѕт wαy тo dιe, αɴd cαɴ'т, wнo cαɴ'т ιмαɢιɴe αɴyтнιɴɢ вeттer тнαɴ deαтн.}
A/N;;thank you, sword, for following and reviewing. I apprentice every kind word. It means alot to me. Sorry it took so long; I celebrated my birthday and that was only after I had a fever. Also, sorry it is so short. I promise it will be longer.
{wнo coυɴт тнe dαy oғ тнeιr deαтн αɴd вυrιαl тнe нαppιeѕт dαy oғ тнeιr lιғe?}