~~~Evening, West Territory
Many have come across Father and Grey, parent and daughter, and have been more than a little dubious at their relationship. Those few who dare hesitantly express their doubts. Can you really be his daughter? Can you really be her father? Father and Grey always smile before giving the same reply, "He is the one I love as a father, so he is my father." "She is the one I love as a daughter, so she is my daughter." And so, those who doubted continued doubting, and came to see their vague reply as an answer. It was tacit and unspoken, but widely understood that Grey and Father were not related by blood.
To say that they were related was completely impossible. Ludicrous, even. Grey had a dusky grey pelt, a tabby through and through, but Father's was pure white, his fur long and wavy, making him seem gentle and kittypet like. Almost. If you look upon his long white feather-like tail fur, a feather duster too soft and too pure to touch the impurities of his surroundings, you would not doubt there would by a jingling bell hanging upon his neck to signify his loyalties to his safety.
And yet… Take one look into his deep green eyes, the rolling turmoil show that he is so much more than the purity his pelt makes him seem. The large, shining eyes scream as they whisper: We've seen more sorrow than you can ever hope to endure; we've seen more pain than you can ever imagine. The lines in his face are deep and set, chiseled and unchanging. Sharp are his cheekbones that are still visible from his famine, so long ago. His war-torn ears will never heal. Part his untainted white fur to find the crisscrosses of countless scars and wounds of his past, some more recent than others.
His life had been only an endless battle, and his weapons are his paws, his massive, giant paws. They should belong to a bear; their size is enough to smash a cat's head in, and their claws are long and hooked instruments of death. If you get to close, they might pierce your eye and bring it out of your skull.
This was Father.
He stood before Hunter and Grey in all his glory, a muscular guard cat standing behind him, eyes regarding each cat with suspicion, as he should be. Grey didn't doubt that there was another guard hidden somewhere around them, watching and protecting Father from the shadows. Someone of his rank would never wander out of the central headquarters without two or more guards protecting him somehow, in case of an ambush.
Grey turned to the white tom standing behind her, dipping her head in respect. Father, in turn, nodded to her, and then turned towards Hunter.
Hunter scampered over to Father and bowed, the tip of his ears brushing the ground, "Father."
"Hunter," Father murmured, "Do you understand why I have requested Grey to complete an inspection?"
"Ah," Hunter mumbled, "Not exactly. The inspection went smoothly and—"
Grey meowed, "Nothing out of the normal was found. All the hunters are well capable for their jobs, and the messenger system is quite intact. Prey flowed in smoothly. "
"I see. Then, why have our reports of prey count been stating otherwise?" Father asked Hunter, eyes narrowing.
"Well, you see, Father," Hunter meowed, stumbling over his words, "I really don't know why. I think it is perhaps because the cats have been moving away from the twolegplace."
"And to where? The sky?" Grey sneered. When Father turned his gaze at her, she fell silent although his large eyes were neither angry nor disapproving, just observing, and yet it made her feel ashamed as if she had stepped out of line.
Hunter glared at Grey, and growled, "To the forest."
"You think so, Hunter?" Father asked quietly, his eyes lowering ever so slightly into a slight frown.
"Yes, I do." Hunter looked at Grey, but not Father.
"Hm," was all Father said. After a few heartbeats, the white cat turned and started padding out of the alleyway, his plume of a tail waving for Grey.
Hunter started to scamper after him the same way he followed Grey earlier, but she stood in front of him, teeth bared. She hissed, "If Father wanted your company, he would say so."
Hunter snarled, flattening his ears against his skull, "One day, you'll be the one following my orders."
"Believe what you wish," Grey spat, and whisked around to follow Father, shuddering at the thought of ever having to follow Hunter's orders. The only cat she will ever bow to is Father, and only Father.
They walked into an alleyway a few blocks down, away from prying ears. Father waved his guards away, and they stood outside the alley, out of earshot.
"Grey," Father meowed, "What did you wish to speak to me about?"
"It's about Hunter, and Hail. I think they're up to something."
"Hunter, I understand, but your brother?"
"Yes. I observed them discussing something earlier, although I couldn't get close enough to hear. Then, after they spoke, Hail headed into the forest and spoke with a forest cat," Grey narrowed her eyes, a snarl beginning to build up in her throat.
"Peace, Grey," Father purred, his voice deep and like gentle thunder, immediately soothing her.
"I know they're plotting something horrible," Grey mumbled.
"Please have a little faith in your brother," Father murmured, "But I would like you to keep your eyes open for any signs of subterfuge. I want you to keep residing in the West Territory until we figure out what's going on."
The grey she-cat sighed, not looking forward to an arrogant mousebrain at her heels for more than another day. It was so good to hear Father's voice in place of Hunter's even if it was for just one conversation.
After a few moments, Father asked Grey, "Have you met any of the forest cats?" His expression was unreadable as he stared into Grey's eyes, making her rather uncomfortable. It was as if those green eyes could read her very mind, and was turning her inside out.
"Um, well, I did meet a few, but I got away," Grey meowed shortly, not wanting to go into too much depth about the blue eyes.
"I see." A brief answer to a brief explanation.
Grey shuffled her feet, wanting to ask something, but then again, embarrassed about the request. Wasn't she too old for this…?
"Um… Father, can you tell me about that night, again?"
"Aren't you getting a bit too old for a story?" Father asked, an amused smile ghosting across his face.
"One more time, Father, please," Grey purred.
And so Father began the story about that night. The night Grey was born.
"It was the night fall meets winter, and the skies are beginning to grow cold again. The last few moons have been blessed with clear skies and cool breezes, the golden brown leaves of the forest beginning its descent. I was taking a midnight stroll by the forest to enjoy the scene in the moonlight, for all things can be observed in a new beauty in the light of the moon.
"Night was melting into day when I heard a cry. It was the cry of a she-cat; I could tell her voice would be beautiful if it were not filled with pain. I heard the murmurs of a tom comforting her, and I contented to observe from a distance, as they were mates, the female going into labor to create a new life—you, Grey.
"After you came into the world, your parents had a hushed conversation and I sensed secrecy of this stolen moment. I heard these whispers.
" 'What shall we name our kit?' the she-cat asked, still gasping at the feat she had just performed.
"The tom meowed hurriedly, 'We can't stay now. We must go, quickly.'
"'What of our kit?' the she-cat inquired, shocked.
"'I am sorry…' the tom murmured in sorrow, 'We cannot keep her.'
"The she-cat cried out in grief, sobbing, 'At least let her have a name… She will be Grey, for the grey skies to come in the winter.'
"The tom bowed his head in acquiescence, murmuring, 'That is a beautiful name.'
"The father helped the she-cat stand on her feet and so they departed, into the forest. I waited in the undergrowth until their lover's mournful whispers disappeared completely, so that I could come forward to greet you. You were a tiny little thing back then, eyes closed, squirming, but not crying. You seemed to be confused at the loss of the one who gave birth to you, but no whine or wail escaped your lips. Even in the face of abandonment, you were determined to live without complaint. I received this as a sign of strength, and so I took you in as my daughter; you have not disappointed me."
The story ended smoothly, the last syllable uttered and disappearing like a drop of liquid falling from a tilted cup. But, there was still a strange feeling that the entire cup had not been emptied.
Grey smiled, murmuring a thank-you, and silence fell upon them again, but it was not awkward; the silence fitted the moment like a glove, and they sat together enjoying each other's presence for a few more moments. It was the first instances of peace Grey had experienced for a while, and she was glad to have it.
And then a growl broke the silence.
It was not a cat's growl, but the growl of an empty stomach. Grey dipped her head in embarrassment as another gurgle sounded from her stomach. She had not eaten since before inspecting Fury, and once more she needed food. How embarrassing.
Father purred in amusement, "You should get some prey. Hungry cats don't survive in the twolegplace."
"I know that," Grey sighed, smiling slightly. She had heard that piece of knowledge more than once.
The white cat waved his tail, and his guards leapt from their spots, assuming their position at his flanks. After nodding a goodbye, he padded out of the alley before disappearing around the corner like a wisp of white smoke.
~~~ Late Evening, West Headquarters
The prey room was large, so it will be able to hold the vast amounts of prey that is brought in each day. However, once it is divided, one section being delivered to the central headquarters, and the other to feed the cats of the West Syndicate, there is not much left over. Any leftovers have the potential to be used as bribes and enticement for other hungry cats. Some particularly vicious cats enjoy eating their meal in front of starving prisoners and watch them salivate and beg for food, which is never given without a good reason.
A line was already forming, rowdy cats yowling for food. There was an order to this: the leader ate first, of course, then hunters in order of seniority, and the rest of the cats by fighting, shoving and such. No matter whatever casualties are suffered, the system worked.
The room hushed when Grey stepped into the underground cavern. She felt what seemed like a hundred pairs of eyes focusing on her. Whispers spread like a wildfire as she started walking towards the prey pile, refusing to meet any of the staring eyes.
"I heard she's here for an inspection."
"Really? For what?"
"You know cats say she isn't really Father's daughter."
"No, really?"
"They say Hail is actually going to be leader, not her."
She turned her head to the owner of the last statement, pinpointing a small black she-cat in the corner of the area, turned to another tabby standing beside her, jaws still busy spreading gossip. The other cats followed her gaze, and soon the entire space was staring at the pair.
The black she-cat suddenly noticed how silent it became, and turned, horrified to see Grey glaring right at her. She squeaked and dipped her head.
"Where did you hear that?" Grey's voice cut through the silence like a cold knife through warm flesh.
The she-cat backed up towards the wall, mumbling something unintelligible. Growing impatient, Grey leapt onto her and pinned her to the wall, causing her to shriek and gasps to sound across the room. However, no cat lifted a claw to defy Grey. Doing that would be suicide.
"Do repeat that, I didn't quite hear," she meowed breezily, a dangerous tone evident in her voice.
"Ah, um, I heard Hunter saying that."
"Is that so?"
"Y-yes, Grey."
Grey released the shivering black cat and strode to the fresh kill pile, easily parting the sea of cats staring and murmuring. She selected a plump mouse from the large pile and picked it up with her teeth, carrying it towards her den, to save the pitiful underlings from having to eat their meal in terror of her presence. Her walk was confident and her eyes sharp. She knew what she would be doing tomorrow.
A/N: So sorry for the wait~ This one's actually longer than usual. ^^ Reviews and critiques are appreciated!