Chapter 10:

Matthew's eyes caught hold of a glimmer, just out of his visibility. In intrigue, he turned and walked away from the others, following its call. In what was the full darkness of the pipe, another starry paw print glimmered brightly before him, in the same sparkly glory he had first seen them in. Farther away, another appeared, then another, and another, until a whole pathway of stars was visible. They shone bright, like a flash of hope in the abyss of depression. Matthew knew what he must do.

He pelted back to his brothers, clutched in a huddle for some reason. He tugged at Arthur's shoulder until the older cat raised his gaze, but the usually bright greens were dulled and faded. Matthew was surprised. He had none of the usual determination evident within him. Defeat had claimed this cat; a feeling Matthew was well aware of. All the times his small stature and meek demeanor had led to failure, where he lay dumb on the ground, refusing to move again, to just wanting to fade from his uselessness.

But that hadn't stopped his brothers from picking him up before, telling him to stand, helping him walk when he refused, and getting him move on. They always convinced him he had use, that he was needed, that being the runt meant nothing now that he had survived. Anything was within his reach.

The cream tom refused to give up. He wiggled under Arthur's forepaw, giving a hardy shove at his armpit, forcing him up and away from Alfred.

"Matthew…" Arthur said numbly. "What are you doing?"

"We have to get out. We have to move." Alfred looked at him confusingly, tears staining his face.

"But Matthew… There is no way out." Arthur looked down dejectedly. "I've got nothing. I failed you." Anger surged through Matthew.

"That's not true!" Arthur's head jerked up. "You could never fail us! Just being here is enough! Besides, I did find a way! There is a way out!" A spark returned to Arthur's eyes, and his voice wavered no longer as he spoke.

"Which way?"

He led them down the way and stopped at the first print.

"There, you see?" The other two whipped their heads around, scanning the empty corridor.

"See what, Matthew?"

"The paw prints! The ones made of starlight on the ground!"

"Matthew… There's nothing on the floor." Alfred was utterly confused. The hard walkway was as cold and green as usual.

"You… you can't see them?" He looked towards the pathway. They glimmered as brightly as before. How could they miss it?

"Are you feeling okay, Matthew?" Arthur lifted a paw to his forehead. Matthew swatted it away angrily.

"Yes, I'm alright! And I do know a way out! Come on!" He started down the starry path, though his brothers remained rooted to the ground.

"Matthew, this is no time for games." Arthur scolded.

"It's not a game!" He cried angrily, startling the other two with his unusually loud outburst.

"You have to trust me." The tunnel rumbled in the distance.

"And we don't have much time." His hardened purple gaze met Arthur's, full seriousness radiated from his stance.

Arthur felt a tug at his paw.

"I trust him." Alfred spoke with utter conviction by his side. Arthur turned back to the smaller of the two. The tunnel gave another shudder.

"Alright. Lead the way."

They had wasted a lot of time with talk and plans, for as soon as they took off again, the water raged out of the opening behind them, flooding over the sparkling paw steps they had passed. Alfred yelped in fear, and tried to tuck himself closer to Arthur's stomach fur as they ran. But Matthew struck out ahead, conviction and faith filling his paws with boundless energy as they followed the gleaming path. The tug grew stronger still, and he almost thought he could hear whispers in the wind.

This is the way. There is an exit. You will survive!

He repeated the final phrase in his mind as a mantra, even as the water's sound blurred all other noise, and he felt a wetness lapping at his pads. A light, shining brighter than all others blazed down and into his eyes, effectively blinding the tom for a few moments. As it cleared, he recognized the warmth and scent of fresh air. The sun had risen, shining rays through an opening just above them.

Matthew nearly cried out with joy as he saw that this one was not blocked by long metal bars, and that a stone stair way protruded from the wall in a crude ladder. A way up, and away from the water. Looking back, he saw Alfred gazing with joy, Arthur with pure disbelief.

They stopped only a moment at the first step, before Matthew felt Arthur's teeth on his scruff, lifting and flinging him upwards towards the top rung. Reaching with claws stretched, he wrapped his small fuzzy paws around the bar, heaving his body upward and to the top. Turning around, he saw Alfred following slowly, heavier weight giving him trouble climbing up. Arthur shoved impatiently at his hind legs, trying to give him a boost. Craning down as Alfred got closer, Matthew gripped his scruff, tugging sharply and giving his brother the final leverage needed to get up.

"I swear, I'll never take seconds again!" he cried in terror and relief.

Arthur was last, Alfred's slow climb leaving him near the bottom, but he was climbing fast. The water was faster, though. Most of it reached to his paws now, and with a flash of horror, Matthew could see the huge swell approaching. If that crest of water hit Arthur, he would be swept away and drowned.

"Come on, Arthur!" Matthew yelled.

"You can do it!" Alfred shouted alongside him.

With a final push, Arthur leapt past the last few steps and landed out in the open, just as the wave his the wall, sending a splash of water after them, harmlessly brushing their fur.

All three collapsed on the side of the alley they had fallen into. Matthew gazing back towards the dark crevice on the side of the wall they had crawled out of. The sucking, slapping noise of water could still be heard, but it was far below and out of mind; they were safe. Matthew let out the breath he had been unaware he was holding in.

Arthur was flopped straight out on his stomach, heaving with the effort of flinging himself outside. Alfred rolled over on his side, wide blue eyes meeting his brother.

"Arthur?" he replied with a grunt.

"I'm hungry."

A shocked silence filled the air. Matthew looked horrified towards his brother. Now was hardly the time or the place- A warm chuckling filled the air, growing steadily into a full out laugh. Arthur had rolled onto his back, giggling hysterically.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahah!"

His brothers looked frightened and confused, but Arthur continued to laugh. It was not a laugh meant to be creepy, it was a laugh of joy, of happiness, of disbelief that Alfred could go through all that, and all of this torture and chaos in one night, and still come out thinking about food. The full weight of the situation and their escape crashed down on them, and Arthur could not help but laugh. Matthew soon caught the fear induced hysteria, and chuckled right along with. Eventually Alfred joined in, and all three cats were practically rolling across the ground.

"Wh-wh- ha ha ha!- Why are we laughing?" Matthew questioned through teary eyes.

"B-because- pffffft- Alfred's hungry." Arthur sighed before rising, shaking the laughter clear from his body.

"Come." Light had returned to his eyes as he looked at his brothers. "Let's find you both something to eat."

With hope restored, the three walked off with Arthur in the lead, to where? Still uncertain. But Alfred hoped there would be food.

The day dragged on hot and weary, and the brothers at last felt the effects of the nightly escapades hit them full force. Matthew and Alfred wavered on their paws, and Arthur stalked forward with his head down, tail brushing the dusty floor. The huge dens next to them provided no shade from the never ceasing heat, and there was barely a break in between them. These dens were much different from the ones Arthur had grown up with. There were no gardens, no flowers, no pleasant colors or wide windows. They were tall, emotionless, brick monoliths with no way to see inside. There were no Nofurs from what he had seen, no way to contact them to get some food. Arthur's stomach growled at the thought, and Alfred moaned in hunger behind him.

The situation was getting desperate. It was plain to see they would be getting no help from Nofurs now.

How did the world turn so cruel over night?

He could only wonder at what happened while they were in the pipes as the three settled for a moment against the wall. Matthew and Alfred fell asleep almost immediately, and Arthur could not help but sigh at the sight. They looked so peaceful. But this would not last long. Kits could starve easily in these conditions. He needed to think of a plan.

Arthur turned to survey his surroundings. The red wall of dens finally ceased a few tail lengths ahead, broken up by lengths of fences that led to smaller, more familiar dens. Perhaps that would be an easier place to look for food. Sniffing ahead, he found a section of fence that was cracked and missing a bottom plank. Through the gap, he could see the wall of a Nofur den, sagging and leaning in age. There was a large, gaping hole in the wall, large enough for them to get into.

This is as good a place as any, I suppose.

Arthur trotted back to the two kits and tried to rouse them from sleep.

"Up and at'em you two."

Alfred groaned and rolled over, swinging out a paw to swat Arthur out of his face.

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Too tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired…"

"Come on, we need to move. An open alley is no place to sleep." They both grumbled in response.

"Alfred?" Arthur leaned close to the fuzzy tom's ear. "There's food."

"Food!" Quick as a cream and ginger flash, he was up and away, racing a bit down the alley, before slowing himself and remembering that he had no idea where he was going.

Alfred padded back to them, smiling sheepishly at his brothers. They laughed warmly at his antics, though inside Alfred was scolding himself for acting so much like a kit at his age. Allowing Arthur to take the lead, the brothers crawled their way into the Nofur yard. There was no way Arthur could have predicted what he saw.

In the garden, he could see the tops of other dens and homes, or at least, where they used to be. Few remained standing, most caved in on themselves or lay in heaps of wood and stone on the ground. Smoke flooded the air from a few small fires raging across the wreckage. Fences lay in disarray, and he could hear the barks of strays and the moans of Nofurs echoing through denning place.

"What happened?" Matthew asked with wide eyes.

"The earth growl." Arthur replied grimly.

No wonder it was so quiet before. It has reached even here. The earth jumped up, to reclaim the land occupied by Nofurs. But why? Are they being punished?

It seemed silly to think that the earth itself could get angry at those living on it, but with how Nofurs tamed and combed back wilderness, who's to say it wouldn't? With all the crazy that's happened this past sunrise, Arthur was just about willing to believe anything. But there was no time to focus on the qualms of others. His family needed food and sleep. That was the most important thing.

"Come." He swept Alfred and Matthew away from the sight. "Where there's a Nofur den, there's food. Let's look inside."

He led the way into the hole, gazing cautiously at the darkness surrounding him. Arthur sniffed the air, checking for strange scents. Aside from stale Nofur and dog, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Taking a few steps in, he tested the floor and walls. Seemed sturdy enough. With a signal of his tail, Matthew and Alfred crawled in behind him, standing and shaking dust from their fur.

Alfred sighed in the relief the den provided from the hot sun. It was becoming unbearable to be out in his thick fur. Matthew pricked his ears and studied the area closely. Adventure sparked in both young cats, begging to be chased and followed until all that was unknown in the den became known. Alfred turned to Arthur, a pleading look in his eyes. The ginger tom sighed.

"Alright, you can look around." They squealed in excitement and took off. "But stay down stairs!"

Arthur quickly scouted the other rooms. They were empty aside from plush Nofur sitting spots still arranged in strange patterns across the floor.

Those will make good sleeping places later.

Exploring further, he found himself in the kitchen, the place that Nofurs prepared food.

Bingo!

Though as he investigated further, he found no food left in the open spaces, and the cabinets were shut tight, with no way to get his paws in to open. The only food still available was stale dog kibble. And there was no way any of them were eating that.

I suppose there's only one option.

Arthur turned his attention to the stairs, which led up to a balcony that allowed one to look over the downstairs before leading behind a wall. He strained his ears, listening for any signs of activity above. Nothing.

Can't tell if that's a good sign, or a bad one…

The last thing he was going to do was leave Alfred and Matthew down here alone, so he called the two to his side, told them to stay close, and took the first step to the upstairs.

The wooden boards creaked ominously underneath him, each shriek setting his fur on edge. If anything was up here, the last thing he wanted to do was alert it. Matthew pressed close to his stomach, Alfred's pelt bristled with excitement as wide eyes surveyed the stairway. They at last reached the top of the steps, where the pathway led back along the wall. The passage looked somewhat like the alley they had been in, small with the walls close together. Other doors hung ajar in the entrances to the other rooms. Sunlight filtered through the windows on the opposite side, filling the hall with sunlight. It felt suspiciously warmer than the downstairs.

Previous wariness forgotten, the group proceeded slowly forward checking each room before moving to the next. One room was small and orderly, with a single nest against the wall, covered in a flower pattern. Another was much larger, with a bigger nest and more storage things lining the sides. A third had a large variety of boxes and stuff, but none had food. Arthur was beginning to lose hope of ever finding something to eat in this den, until a tangy scent caught his nose. It was coming from the next room over. Padding towards the next one, Arthur's eyes widened in surprise, and Alfred let out a gasp of disbelief.

This new room was much messier than the past few, with toys, colorful pelts, and other strange items all over the floor. In the center, a huge pile of food sat abandoned by who ever had set it up. A box sat in the middle, with a round disk of bread covered in gooey cheese and a sharp smelling meat. In a bowl next to it were crispy, flakey things that smelt of grease and salt. The overall scent in the room was delicious. With a cry of joy, Matthew and Alfred raced in, Arthur following behind.

Alfred dug into the cheesy disk, mewling in happiness as he chewed. Arthur joined him. The food was still fresh and warm. Whoever was here must have abandoned this when the earth growl hit. Thank the stars for that!

"What's the gooey stuff?" Alfred mumbled through his food.

"That's cheese, Alfred. I've seen it on Nofur food before. And don't talk with your mouth full." He scolded and playfully cuffed the younger cat over the ear.

"What's the meat, then?"

"Hm. I'm not sure, actually. Must be some strange Nofur prey we never heard of."

"What are these crunchy things?" Matthew asked from the bowl, remembering to swallow first before he spoke.

"I think they're called chips, Matthew. They come in all sorts of strange flavors."

"This is tangy." He mewed as he padded over to them. "I think I'll have some of this instead."

They spent quite some time munching away. Eventually, Arthur's stomach felt full, and he tore himself away from the sticky cheese that covered his mussel, deciding to settle down on the floor as the other two continued to eat. Even now, they were still hungry. It had been a long day. After this, they could rest. And as soon as they had their strength, they could move on. Arthur settled his head on his paws to get a bit of rest before they finished.

A harsh yowl broke the silence, and Arthur jumped to his paws, fur bristling in anticipation. Out of the dim doorway, a black, slinky rouge stalked into the room, eyes narrowed, surveying the group with obvious contempt. Arthur rushed in front of Matthew and Alfred, standing in a defensive position as he blocked the new cat's view of the kits.

"Who are you?" the cat growled low and fierce, fur fluffed and legs stiff in an attempt to be intimidating.

Arthur's fur settled slightly. Perhaps they could talk this out. Avoiding a fight might be a possibility.

"Hello, we are-" The cat sniffed the air, eyes widening, before he snapped and interrupted.

"Oh, I know who you are."

"You do?" Arthur asked confusedly.

"Yeah. You're a bunch of stinking, over fed kittypets." He hissed the last word like it pained him to say it, speeding his approach until the tom was face to face with Arthur.

"Kitty pets who have stalked into my den, stuck their chubby faces into my food, and left their filthy scent all over my nest!" The black cat was practically spitting in Arthur's face, still encroaching on him, forcing the ginger tom to back up.

"This is yours? We had no-"

"Don't try to weasel your way out of this one, kittypet." He sniffed Arthur's fur indignantly. "You reek of Nofur. How can you even stand to be around them? Just because you hang out with the big guys, all you house pets think you can run the place! Taking whatever you please, it makes me sick. You don't deserve to be called cats!"

Arthur's fur bristled indignantly.

"That was uncalled for-"

"Oh, it was plenty called for, kittypet. And guess what? You may not have noticed, but your time is up. The earth has over thrown the Nofur reign, and with it, your life of privileges! You're the lowest on the food chain now! And since you haven't seemed to have learned your place yet…" The tom raised a clawed paw high above his head. "I'll be glad to teach you a lesson you won't soon forget!"

Before Arthur could react, the paw came swooping down, slashing across his face and sending him tumbling backwards with a grunt of pain. The black tom followed with a yowl, crushing him to the floor under his weight. Alfred and Matthew yelped and pressed themselves into a corner beside the plush cushion on the ground.

Thinking quickly, Arthur squirmed from his grasp before the rouge could get a good snap at his neck. Breaking from the hold, Arthur rolled to his stomach and heaved upward, flinging the cat off with his broad shoulders. With a hiss of agitation, he went tumbling a few tail lengths away, but was up again in the flash, lashing out towards Arthur's exposed flank.

Arthur matched his strikes blow for blow, exchanging impressive boxing moves as the black cat forced him up against a wall. The rouge aimed a few high swipes, luring Arthur's attention away from his center as he strove to protect his face. In one swift movement, Arthur's legs were swept out from under him and he was lying on his back again.

The skinny tom was upon him instantly, both cats spitting and scratching, struggling for dominance in the violent grip as they fought. Eventually, the smaller tom had Arthur pinned on his stomach in a choke hold, one paw pressed on his neck, the other supporting the cat as he pushed all his weight onto Arthur's back, effectively holding the ginger feline in place. With a growl, the rouge sank his claws into Arthur's shoulder, and he yowled desperately in pain.

"Feel that, kittypet? That is just a taste of the pain your kind have caused me. The hunger, the desperation, the cold, cold nights. The scars and wounds of being beaten and kicked by your oh so precious caretakers. What a joke you are. You have no strength at all; no wild instinct, no drive to fight. A blind stray can fight better than you can. And this pain? That you feel in your shoulder? It is only the beginning." He twisted the claws set in his muscle, and Arthur cried out once more. "There will be soooo much more before me and my brethren are content." And with a terrible riiiiiiiiiiip, the rouge raked his claws down Arthur's flank, immense pain blossoming across his body, ginger fur running thick and wet with blood.

"Arthur!" Matthew cried out from somewhere outside his vision, which blurred and throbbed with anguish. The rouge leaned close to his ear, crow-food scented breath making Arthur's eyes water even more.

"And when I'm finished with you, I'm sure those pitiful fuzz balls you call kits will make fun toys for later."

NO!

"Nooooooooooooooooooooo!" Like a reprise to his thought, the call echoed across the room, and with a hiss of pain, the weight was removed from his back.

Turning his head and blinking bleary eyes, Arthur saw the tom shaking his head furiously, mewing a frustrated stream of curses as he did so. A cream, ginger patched burr clung to the back of his head.

Alfred. Arthur thought with a mixture of fear and relief.

"Get. Off. Me. You… FUR BALL!" The rouge grunted in rage as he continued to shake like a wet dog.

"Don't touch my brother!" Alfred growled out through tuffs of fur clenched between his tiny, sharp teeth.

The rouge reared up on his hind legs, attempting to fall on his back and use the weight to crush Alfred under him. Arthur's breath caught in his throat as the tom teetered for a moment, before letting out yet another cry of pain and dropping back to all fours. Whipping his gaunt head around, the cat's eyes trained on another lump clinging to his legs. Matthew had wrapped his entire body around the tom's back paws, fangs sinking into one leg, claws firmly rooting him to the ground. The cat limped and shook about the room like a crazed beast, slowed and hindered by the kits attached to his body.

Arthur felt pride swell in his chest at his brothers' bravery, but this was beyond dangerous for them. They could not handle one rouge on their own, no matter how small or malnourished. Rising unsteadily to his paws, mind still fogged slightly from the extent of his wound that still bled freely, Arthur crouched and rushed the rouge, claws sliding free once more.

But the tom saw him coming, and lashed back with an exclamation of success, blocking his poorly timed move. The cat chuckled before him, forgetting the cats clawing at his head and legs.

"Even with two others weighing me down, I can still fight you. And that wound won't be helping you much!" He lashed out again, but Arthur had enough reflexes left to dodge back and out of range, circling his enemy and breathing hard.

"Hey!" Alfred brought a hind claw down on the cat's eye, blinding him for a moment as he howled in rage once more. "I said don't mess with my brother!"

Gah, Alfred! Arthur mentally scolded. Stop drawing attention to yourself! Are you trying to die? This is no time to go on a power trip!

The kits wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. With each shake, their grip loosened, each swipe and snap closer to a vital organ.

I need a way to distract him. Get his guard down, make him vulnerable.

Arthur's eyes were drawn to the stomach, the most sensitive and easily wounded part of a cat's body. Any creature's body for that matter.

I need some way to expose his stomach. A distraction…

The realization hit him. He had two perfect distractions clinging to the cat already. They just needed to be guided.

"Alfred!" He called to the young tom gripping the back of his head. "The ears! Grab and pull his ears!"

"What-" The rouge's words were stopped by a blood curdling screech of pain as Alfred clamped down hard with tooth and claw, ripping and pulling back on the cat's sensitive ears. With a yank, the cat's head raised up, the rest of his body following as he tried not to get his ears ripped off.

"Matthew!" But the smart cream tom had caught on to the plan, rooting his weight in place on the cat's hind paws, preventing him from moving and keeping him reared into the air, exposing his belly.

Now!

Arthur gathered what remained of his strength and flung straight at the cat.

"Alfred! Matthew! Clear off!" Alfred jumped from his perch on the cat's shoulders and landed shakily on the ground. Matthew scampered off at the last minute, causing the rouge to stumble over his small body as the force of Arthur's push sent them tumbling down again.

As they fell, Arthur lashed out at the exposed area, landing heavy blows and slicing the skin open. The salty tang of blood filled his mouth as the ginger tom bit down hard close to the life giving artery in the throat, and the cat's cries changed from battle calls filled with rage, to desperate yowls of pure terror and fear. No more was he the intimidating force from earlier that threatened his brother's lively hoods. He was a small, scraggly cat, bleeding heavily and pleading for mercy under his paws. His pelt was dull and unkempt, and Arthur could now clearly see the bones that jutted from this pitiful cat's pelt, barely covered in thin muscles. He was defeated.

This cat had been fighting to kill. To kill all of them. Him, Alfred, Matthew. Who's to say he would not do so again given the chance, if he was let go? Arthur had been so close to the jugular before. He could rip it out right here, end this permanently and remove all chance of retaliation so they never had to worry about him again. But…

He looked back to his brothers. Alfred was standing firm and ready, claws out and pelt bristling in defiance. But he was visibly shaking, stress of battle taking a toll on his young mind. Matthew crouched behind Alfred, purple eyes wide and watching the exchange with both fear and intrigue. They were so innocent, so sweet, so kind… What would seeing their brother murder in cold blood do to them? To their perception of the world?

No… No, this should not be the world they see.

They should not know a world of blood, where violence is the answer and victory is only found in death. A lesson needs to be shown. That mercy does not make you weak, that sparing a life is just as easy as ending one, that the higher road is always better.

So instead, Arthur leaned close to one of the shivering cat's shredded ears.

Alfred sure did a number on those.

"Listen carefully, dungface." He whispered, not wanting the young ones to pick up a swear word. "I want you to get out. And don't come back." He leaned closer. "And if you ever, EVER, threaten my family again, you will regret it. Understand?"

The cat nodded furiously, lips quivering in fright.

"Good. Now out of my sight." He hissed as he released his hold on the rouge.

He turned and fled, squealing like a mouse. His lanky black tail swept round the corner and disappeared into the afternoon light. Just before his entire form vanished, Arthur noticed a peculiar mark. A small, 'x' shaped scar marked between his shoulder blades.

I don't think I put that one there… he remarked to himself.

Arthur shook the thoughts from his mind. Now was not the time. A yowl of joy and admiration sounded behind him as Alfred and Matthew rushed towards him.

Matthew was shivering, though his eyes were bright with excitement and adrenalin. The young cat opened his mouth, as if to say something, but the young tom seemed to be at a loss of words for the situation. Alfred on the other hand…

"Whoa, Arthur! Did you see that? Did you see me?"

"How could I have missed it?" Arthur chuckled lightly.

"My first battle!" The ginger speckled tom mewed in excitement. "I totally gave that rouge what for! I was all like, rawr rawr rawr rawr with my teeth, and like, scritch scritch scritch with my claws, and he was all like, aaah aaah aaah! He was crying like a kit!-"

Arthur zoned from Alfred's ranting for a moment, reflecting on what had happened. They had beaten a rouge! And a skilled one at that. Surely the word would spread from this one cat to the others… perhaps this would turn out to be a blessing. Street cred would get them respect, and cause other rouges to think twice before trying to pull something on them. He looked back at the smaller two, Alfred still going on and on about the event that just happened as if neither had been there, Matthew listening intently to every exaggerated word. They were safe, alright. Arthur smiled. And none of them were worse for wear.

"And I bet he'll never hear the same way agai-" Alfred's sentence stopped short as his attention was caught by a sudden moan from Arthur. Concern glittered his eyes as his brother swayed slightly on his paws.

Letting out a huff of air, Arthur plopped to the ground, sitting on his hind legs. He was breathing heavily, head bent in exhaustion. The older tom's eyes swam and blurred, and his fur felt hot.

"Arthur?" Matthew padded close. "Are you okay?"

Arthur shook his head, chasing away the fuzziness that lingered at the edges of his vision.

"I'm… I'm all right, Matthew." The cream tom walked to his side and gasped slightly, sniffing at the gaping claw marks that scored his side. The wounds were still bleeding slightly, sending scarlet drops down his fur.

"But that's a really bad scratch…"

Arthur craned his head and licked at the burning marks slightly, wincing at the tinges of pain that sparked in his shoulder.

"It's all right. It'll heal." He assured the small cats. Alfred looked satisfied, but Matthew still gazed at him uncertainly, his eyes seemed clouded with thought.

Shrugging to his paws, Arthur walked towards the door.

"Come on. We've eaten our fill, and this place has proven itself to be not a very reliable place to sleep. We don't need other cats sneaking up on us."

"Okay!" Alfred chirped happily, previous weariness forgotten in the heat of combat. Arthur smiled at them as the brothers stepped outside the room now stained with blood and signs of struggle.

"Let's go find somewhere safe."