A New Beginning: DGMWarriorCats crossover

by evalinesilverveil

In feline world turning to bloodshed, two cats rise among the war to set things straight. This is their stories. Point of view of both the Exorcist warrior cats side, and the Noah clan warrior cats side. This is the adventures of two she-cats. Will they be able to stop the war? Or will they only destroy each other...

7. Chapter 6: Silken

This chapter is really Lavi and Silken cuteness X3 well anyways I dont own DGM or warriors however I own Silken and Saiken and they're under the copywrite of evalinesilverveil.

Chapter 6

I lay against Lavi... He was barely hanging onto his own life, I was scared. Scared for him. Scared for us. I nuzzled him closer to my body. He groaned, coughing up blood. Crimson spattered against the dry leaves that were suppose to form a nest.

"Hang in there..." I murmured to him, bringing my tongue across his cheek. I had used all I could to shield his neck wound, using spider webs, and leaves to hold back the bleeding. I couldn't bare to see him die.

"I'm s-sorry..." He choked out.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. All I want you to do is keep breathing. Stay alive." I murmured. "I can't lose you..." I breathed, brushing my cheek against his, my tail curled tightly around his trembling body. Grief ached in my chest to see the tom I loved like this.

"I should've been... been m-more careful..." Lavi murmured.

"No... How were you supposed to know that'd happen? It's not your fault. Besides whose fault it is is the least of our concerns." I said softly, nuzzling him. He nodded slowly, struggling to keep his eyes open. "You can sleep Lavi-kun..." I whispered kissing his head gently. I didn't show it, but fear was exploding in my chest like thunder in the skies during a furious storm.

"No... have to... stay awake..." He groaned.

"Sleep... I'll wake you if a Noah comes..." I murmured, "it'll be alright. You need your strength so you can heal..." I encouraged. At last, he seemed to give in to his exhaustion and fell asleep. I sighed, watching him sleep, my own exhaustion pouring over me. Soon I gave into my own and curled around him tighter, blackness enveloping me.

...

I woke up to the smell of dry meat and water... I opened an eye, hints of sleep pelted my eyes now clear I peered at the scores of the scent, two small scraps of meat lay in front of our paws, a moss filled with water, fresh water... My dry throat ached for it. My instincts screeched at me to grab the water and immediately lap it down. But I knew I had to share with Lavi. He needed it just as much as me, if not more. Lavi woke up after a while, slower than I had. It took him a minute or two to get his eyes open

"Good morning handsome..." I purred nuzzling him.

"Hey there." He smiled weakly. I looked towards the fresh water on the miss and used my paw to bring it over to him.

"Drink..." I said, double checking to make sure it was water. It was. Beautiful, pristine water. Lavi stared at it for a moment, before drinking half of it. I smiled at him and nuzzled my lover. A purr riding in my throat, he seemed to be much better than he had been.

He then turned to me, "you need to drink as well, I'm sure th-they'll give us some more l-later..." He said weakly, nudging the moss towards me. I smiled at him and lay a tender kiss on his warm cheek.

"You need it more," I purred.

However, Lavitalon only shook his head stubbornly. "I had my share, i-it's your turn..." He murmured.

"Alright, alright," I sighed, lapping the moss with my tongue, it tickled my dry taste buds that soon regained moisture as it bathed my tongue and slid down my brittle throat, refreshing me with its cold, moist, liquid.

My tongue brushed dry moss. I yearned for more, I bet Lavi did too... For now, it would do. We'd escape, we'd live alone together, maybe raise a family. Yes... Nice thoughts alone with Lavi... Maybe two kits would be nice... I thought, trying to get my mind off of our situation. It was highly unlikely that we'd make it, but I couldn't help but try to get it off my mind. Lavi smiled at me, yawning slightly.

"I'm gonna take another nap." He said, stretching a bit and curling up into a ball.

"You should eat first, they gave us some scraps," I said nudging one of the two scraps his way.

"Meh..." He groaned lazily. "But I wanna sleep..."

"Yes, but I don't know if we'll get a meal for a long time." I persisted. Lavi sighed and looked lazily at the scraps.

"Fine... but only cause you're beautiful." He purred, winking at me. I smiled, feeling my cheeks grow warmer. He ate his share of the scraps slowly, his nose crinkling slightly, and then closed his eyes. "Can I sleep now?"

"Alright, alright," I purred licking his forehead lovingly, then eating my own share, the taste was a bit stale, kind of gamey… I felt my own nose crinkle, now I knew why Lavi had done the same.

"The Panda is gonna kill me when he finds out the mess we got ourselves in..." Lavitalon groaned. I nodded with a chuckle.

"Not if we can get ourselves out of it," I whispered. He nodded, yawning. I knew there was only few things that could possibly happen to us. 1) The Noah kill us. 2) The Noah make us their slaves 3) We some how escape 4) Gramps manages to find us and saves us. Honestly I like option three the best. I looked at Lavi to ask him if he had any ideas... but he was already sound asleep. I sighed and curled up closer to him. Nuzzling my cheek against his. He purred in his sleep, smiling. I smiled as I saw his own growing smile. I curled up beside him, happy he was feeling better and that he was most likely going to live. I soon felt myself drift away to sleep. Knowing Lavi would be alright, made me able to rest. Closing my eyes, I fell asleep.

…

I awoke who knows how much later, seeing Lavi staring boredly at the ceiling, lounging on his back.

"Hey Lavi-kun," I muttered drowsily, blinking up at him with tired eyes. He looked at me and grinned.

"Yo. You're finally awake." He remarked. I smiled at him and nodded.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked, a yawn dripping from my maw, my whiskers tingling ever so slightly giving me a sort of eerie sensation.

"Uh... I don't know..." He said slowly.

"Anything happen?" I asked with the tilt of my head, one of my ears became lopsided while the other was perked up.

"A Noah came to give us food and water again." Lavitalon said, nudging some more scraps and a wad of moss with water on top of it to me. I realized he'd eaten and drank his share already so I smiled at him gratefully and lapped up my half of the water, the cool liquid trickling down my throat like a small stream. "How'd you sleep?" He asked, smiling.

"Quite well," I replied with a smile, gulping down the tough scraps of god knows what.

"That's good." Lavitalon grinned. "I'm bored... you bored. Cause I'm bored." I laughed and nodded.

"Maybe we could find a way out of here," I offered.

"Yeah! Let's do that." He grinned widely as if I had suggested a fun game. I examined the room, the thorns all over the room were jagged and sharp and would obviously hurt a lot. Not to mention they could be quite deep… But, maybe it was our only chance to go through.

Lavitalon seemed to notice what I focused on. "Oh no, I am not getting my pelt shredded." He said indignantly.

"So you'd rather be killed by the Noah?" I retorted sharply, my voice only loud enough for him to hear.

"Touche..." He groaned softly. I sighed and gingerly made my way towards the pelt ripping tendrils with a grimace. "Still don't like this..."

"And you think I do?" I countered stepping closer to the thorns.

"Course not. Who would?" He walked up next to me, glaring at the thorns. I sighed and used a paw to gently pry an opening for the two of us, I squeezed through, shielding my eyes and feeling sharp needle like things tug at my fur. Lavitalon squeezed though after me, hissing slightly. I hushed him by bringing my tail across his face to tell him to shut up. He fell silent at once. I flinched when I stepped on a thorn, pain pierced through the pad of my paw. I knew the thorn had impaled my paw, but I'd have to tend to it later.

We finally managed to climb through the thorns. They ripped and tore at our pelts, making them quite shaggy, but we finally got out, I looked around, we made it outside of the camp, and there were no other cats, I knew we'd have to get wet to disguise our scent, and that would be a pain…

I crept out, Lavi behind me, then, I ran, once I knew Lavi was following, I ran, ran as fast as I could, the sound of my heartbeats in rhythm of mine and Lavi's pawsteps were all I heard, blood roared in my ears and the pain in my paw grew more and more so. But I ignored it and leaped into the closest water source I could find, I knew we had left foot prints, but beyond the brook, there was only dirt and grass, meaning we'd be safe as long as we kept to dry patches.

As I dove into the brook, I felt the cold water envelope my body completely, causing a wave of shock to ripple through me, it was so cold, like ice. Then the realization of needing to paddle to the surface shot through me. Quickly I pushed the water with my paws, as if I was stalking prey and kicked the water like dad had shown me like stalking prey, like stalking prey… I thought as I kicked my way to the surface, bursting into the fresh air. I gasped for air, feeling the cold air flow into my burning lungs.

I paddled to the shore, struggling against the current, then dragging myself up on shore, sucking in more air. I felt my body tremble from the cold. This is when I noticed Lavi wasn't with me, I looked across the brook to see him standing there, just standing there, his claws dug into the soil, he looked into the water with fear. Then I remembered he couldn't swim.

"C'mon Lavi! You can do it!" I encouraged. He looked at the water nervously.

"I-I can't!" He stammered, backing away slightly.

"You need to! Come on! We'll get captured again! I can help you!" I pleaded desperately, I couldn't lose him. Not ever. He nodded, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before jumping into the water. I dived in after him, forcing my cold trembling legs to paddle towards him. I dived under, using my muzzle to help him resurface.

My lungs screamed for oxygen as we resurfaced into air. Lavi gasped for air as well, coughing. I regained my breath then paddled, trying to keep my spuddering lover from sinking again.

"It's like stalking prey, pull with front paws, push with back paws, strike the water with the front, one at a time and push water down the your paws then kick with your back," I explained, demonstrating. He nodded, doing as I showed him. I stayed by him, helping him along every now and again paddling to shore.

Lavitalon gasped for air, collapsing on shore. I felt my body tremble again, exhaustion shoot me down, panting heavily, I collapsed besides my lover and licked his fur the wrong way to warm him up.

"The one thing the Panda didn't teach me..." he gasped. I nodded, panting heavily as I continued to warm him up. "I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind when we get back." He growled.

"The Noah will attack the clan though, they'll realize we escaped and if they notice us in camp they'll attack," I said knowing they'd most likely spy for us first. He nodded. "We shouldn't go back until we're sure the Noah aren't spying." I said, standing up and shaking my pelt free of itchy sand.

"Good plan." He sneezed slightly.

"We need to go and stick to the dry spots, the water has disguised our scent so we-" I paused then realizing the water didn't have a poisonous scent to it. "Starclan… The water's clean…" I murmured, thirst showing it's ugly face in my system.

"It's is?" He asked in a shocked tone. "Oh hell yes. I'm SO thirsty." I nodded in agreement and immediately began lapping up the water, a river of fresh, healthy water flew down my throat, filling my ravenous hunger for it. Lavi imitated me, lapping up water enthusiastically.

I came up for air, my thirst quenched. "That… Was… Very… Refreshing…" I murmured, closing my eyes, savoring the cool water.

"Yeah..." Lavi breathed tiredly.

"Don't sleep, you could die of hypothermia," I warned, feeling my own exhaustion beating down on me.

"Damn it..." He muttered.

"Well, it's the cold making you more tired than you actually are," I explained, licking his cheek and encouraging him to follow me into the warm brush.

"Okay." He stood and shook himself. I walked carefully in dry patches towards the forest where I saw quite a few trees that had potential dens that we could hide in for a bit. Lavi looked around, then smiled. "Hey! Look, there's a good one." He said. I looked to where he was looking, an old tree, stable, but old, it's roots were tangled and you could kinda fit inside but it didn't look like there was any room unless you saw what Lavi was seeing, he guided me towards the bush that hung in front of it and disappeared inside.

I followed through the bush, branches tugging my long fur, when I got into the small clearing I saw there was an opening under the tree where the roots made a small little opening. He popped his head out from under the tree with a grin. I nodded in admiration.
"I'll never know how you can find this stuff so easily," I mused.

"It's my eye." He said proudly. "As a bookman I can use it to see every single little detail in everything!"

"Well, it's very unique," I purred kissing his cheek, feeling my tail instinctively intertwined around his tail, I was wet, I was cold. But I was with Lavi, making our predicament that much better. He purred, licking my cheek.

I brought my cheek against his own and nuzzled him fondly. "We should get bedding," I said excitedly, we could finally just be with each other. Just me and him… Together...

"Yeah, I'll go find some, kay?" He offered kindly.

"I'm coming too," I said brushing my pelt against his.

"Since I know there's no convincing you to stay here... okay!" He laughed. I grinned and followed him out of our new den. "Now, to use my bookman powers to find some bedding." I laughed lightly and followed him out of the den, being much more cautious than he was, I wanted to make sure we wouldn't get caught by Noah, though I do suppose we're way farther away from the clans then I had thought… I couldn't even see the territories anymore.

His eye seemed to glow for a moment before he grinned. "There!"

I glanced towards where he was looking. Obviously there was moss or something hidden behind some brush. Lavitalon guided me towards his hidden spot with a grin, then he pushed past some brush and stood up on his hind legs and unsheathed his claws, raking something from the tree in front of him. He pulled some material we could use for bedding from it, grinning proudly. I looked at it to see it was some soft moss. I grinned at him as he rolled it into a ball.

I turned my head and saw a plump thrush. I smiled and got into a hunters crouch, feeling my muscles bunch up, I slowly crept towards the unsuspecting prey, ignoring everything else around me. This bird. This delicious prey item. Was the only thing on my mind. Suddenly, I heard the crinkle of a leaf, I looked up quickly, the thrush spotted me, quickly, I sprung at it and I caught it just in time before it flew away, pinning it under me. I felt it's warm, plump, feathery body under my paws.

I bent over and gave it a blow to the neck, hearing a small crunch as my paw ended the creatures life "thank you for the life and warmth you have given us…" I breathed, to the dead prey before picking up my prize and trotting back towards Lavi. He had gotten the bedding all in a neat stack, looking up at me.

I now had our supper, and more bedding, the feathers would do nicely to line our nest to make it extra comfortable. "Done. Let's go back." He said. "Kay?" I nodded, repositioning my catch in my jaws so it would stay in place. We both went back with our supplies.

"We should eat first and then do the bedding so we can add the feathers when we make our nest," I purred, slipping into our den.

"Agreed." He nodded. "I'm starving." His voice was muffled through the bedding but I could clearly make out what he was

I smiled and rested the plump thrush on the ground and waited for him to deposit the moss in our new nesting area. He put it down on the ground, grinning. Then he trotted over to me and began sharing the thrush.

I tore into the carcass, careful to remove any feathers, then I dug in, feeling my teeth sink into the warm, tender meat. Lavi ate with gusto, grinning with delight. I smiled looking at him with a laugh and tearing meat from the bird, and gulping it down grateful to Starclan for giving me this prey.

Lavi lay on the ground. "I feel so much better now." He purred.

I finished my share soon after, deciding to lay on my back, "you said it." I yawned. He grinned, rolling onto his back.

"We should probably set up our nest, it's sundown." I meowed with a yawn, by now our fur was dry, and we were warm again. Lavitalon nodded, standing and walking over to the stack of warm moss.

I stood feeling my back muscles stretch as I got to my paws and walked over to my pile of feathers, I picked them up in my jaws and slid underneath the roots of the tree into the other section of the den. Meanwhile, Lavi was setting up the moss in a large dip in the earth, placing it gently and making sure it's cushioned. I began lining the nest with the feathers and placing feathers in places in between moss crevices, like we used to do at home.

"Done!" Lavi announced proudly. I stood next to him with a grin, proud of our accomplishment. "Now, I believe this is a bit overdue. I have been meaning to ask you this for a while." He started, turning towards me. I tilted my head curiously.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Well, we've been through quite a bit so I haven't had the chance, but. Would you like to be my mate?" He asked softly, his eye staring into both of mine. I felt my cheeks grow warm and I paused. Was this really happening? Or was this some wonderful dream?

"Y-yes… I will Lavi. I will!" I cried out in excitement, feeling tears of joy come to my eyes, I nuzzled against him lovingly, a purr rumbling in my throat, I brushed myself against him. He grinned.

"I'm so happy you said yes, you have NO idea how nervous I was." He laughed, licking my forehead lovingly. I grinned.

"Think about it, what possibility of even the slimmest chance was there that I'd say no?" I mused truthfully, brushing my cheek closer to him, my nose gently touching his ear.

"Well," He shrugged, still grinning stupidly. "anything's possible." I brought myself closer to his side, my purr intensifying, I loved him with all my heart. My mother and father probably saw this love come right from the start of it all. "I love you." I heard him purr.

"I've loved you for so long…" I breathed.

"Me too." He replied.

I felt exhaustion pull at me more and more as we exchanged words of our love for each other, I was tired from everything that had happened today. Obviously, he knew I was tired because he then said "we should get some sleep…"

"Alright…" I murmured tiredly. He guided me to the nest and had me curl up before he lay, curling tightly around me and resting his head on my neck as if it was a pillow. I didn't mind... he was warm and I appreciated it. I felt myself yawn and myself curl up until our pelts brushed.

"Good night." He whispered in my ear.

"Good night my love…" I breathed before feeling myself sink into the oblivion of sleep.

….

I awoke the next morning still wrapped in warmth. Lavi was already awake as usual. I remembered he was my mate now… I was forever his… Together we'd have a family and there was nothing Bookman could do about it… We were in love and he couldn't stop us. He looked at me and smiled.

"Morning." He purred.

"Good morning…" I murmured, pressing my cheek against his chest.

"Sleep well?" He asked. I nodded with a yawn.

"And you?"

"I slept wonderfully." He grinned. I smiled and nuzzled against him, the nest was so warm, Lavitalons warmth enhancing it, the scent of sandalwood wafted into my nostrils. This was Lavi's scent, and as weird as this sounds, my favorite smell. He licked my ear lovingly. "Hungry?" He purred. I thought for a moment and then nodded. Hunger gripping me.

"Lets hunt," I suggested.

"Let's." He grinned, standing. I stood up beside him, happily and trotted out of the exit, my pelt brushing against Lavi's, branches tugging at the rest of my fur. I peered out, just to make sure there were no intruders. I looked around, nobody was there to my relief. "Is it alright?" Lavi asked behind me.

"Ya, it's safe," I said stepping hesitantly from the safety from our den and into the clearing… Safe… I declared when nothing went to hurt me. Lavitalon stepped out as well, his eye glowing once more as he looked around. I looked around as well, he was probably looking for enemies, to make sure we were safe.

I raised my muzzle to the air and breathed in, smelling everything around me, including a rabbit. "I smell a rabbit," I declared to him. He looked to the right and grinned.

"I see a rabbit." He smirked.

"Nice, let's head down wind," I said quietly, direction my attention to our prey. He nodded and did as I said. We both panned out to different sides of the rabbit, it was obvious we would be using our usual technique.

I looked at Lavitalon for the signal. He nodded his head slowly, and I bolted from my spot, leaping at the rabbit and landing on it's tail. It squealed and scurried away as quickly as possible, I chased it swerving the rodent away from it's hole, and towards where my mate sat, waiting for me to lead the furry creature right to him. The moment it was in range, Lavi pounced and caught it. It squealed for a bit when I managed to grasp both hind legs in my jaws, I knew Lavi hated when I did this because there was a highly likely chance that I would be kicked in the face and that I could go blind. And he always worried when I did it, but it helped him a lot.

Soon enough, the rabbit was dead and we had gotten ourselves a well deserved breakfast.

...

It was very delicious and we used the pelt to line more of our nest, seeing as it was still leafbare, and it was cold at night, we needed as much warmth as possible, the worst of the weather was to come, and just by looking at the sky, I knew there would be a storm.

"There'll be a blizzard soon…" I said as I peered from the outside of our den, into the cold sky. "We should get some water and at least a bit more prey…" I suggested. Lavitalon nodded.

"I'll go do that. Okay?" He offered kindly.

"Do you want me to get water then?" I asked.

"Sure." Lavi nodded, smiling. "I'll get prey, you get water and we'll meet back here in a few."

"I'll be going back to that brook a ways down," I told him softly, licking his cheek, I knew separating was very dangerous, especially for us. But, we needed to prepare for the upcoming storm, neither of us knew how cold or long it would be, so it would be best to catch some prey and gather water before it's too late.

"Alright." He replied. "Be careful okay?"

"I will be as long as you are…" I purred, nuzzling him, and trotting towards a tree, where I unsheathed my claws and scraped moss from the bark, feeling the rough tree skin, pull my claws and I tore long strands of moss from the tree.

When I finished that, I headed towards the stream, bundles of moss in my maw and under my chin in two separate balls. I filled them both to the brim with clear water. The water was extremely cold, but I knew I needed to do this.

When all the moss was drenched with the cold water a few minutes later, I trotted back to the den, listening for enemies, keeping my scent enabled for precautions.

To my surprise, Lavi was already back with a ton of prey. Maybe it had been more than a few minutes that I had been collecting moss and water… I gently rested the moss wads on the ground, and Lavi looked up at me, relief filled his face.

"Welcome back." He grinned, licking my cheek. I could tell how relieved he was that I had returned, he had seen something that probably had scared him.

"What's wrong?" I asked, as he had me pick up my moss and he picked up his prey. He hurried me inside our den and deposited the fresh kill into a pile, I rested the moss on some stone so the soil wouldn't soak up our water.

"Nothing... nothing. You were just gone for a while. So I got worried." He assured me.

"Don't lie, you saw something or someone didn't you?" I said looking at him sternly. He sighed and nodded slowly. "Who or what did you see?" I asked softly, nuzzling up against him.

"Well... remember those stories about how the leader of the Noahclan can call back the souls of the dead and use them to make monsters called Akuma?" He asked slowly.

"Ya?" I said softly, now curious if that was true.

"They're not stories... they're real..." He shuddered with disgust.

"You saw one? What cat was it?" I asked. He shook his head.

"I-I don't know... but it was someone from our clan." He said in a grave voice, trembling with fear. "I can't remember their name." I nodded and nuzzled his chest with my head gently and licked his cheek. "When it saw me... it... it transformed and... ugh..." He shuddered.

"You're alright now…" I soothed, making my voice as honeyed and soothing as I could.

"It was horrible." He said, looking up at me. I nodded and licked his ear in reassurance.

"It's alright now…" I purred, placing a kiss right on his lips. He nodded slowly, nuzzling against me. "It'll be alright." I murmured.

"If you're with me... I know it will be." He smiled, kissing me back.

"I plan to stay with you, so don't worry about that," I smiled humorously and touched noses with him, his cold wet nose, against my own.

"Good." He purred. I sat down next to him with a purr.

"Nothing happened while I was getting water," I shrugged, reassuring him I was safe when he looked me up and down.

"That's also very good." He grinned. I nodded a bit.

"Are you thirsty?" I asked all of a sudden. He shook his head.

"Nah, I'm fine." He assured me. "You?" I shook my head.

"I was with the water and drinking it unintentionally for Starclan knows how long," I mused.

"Touche. Touche." Lavi laughed. I looked outside, snowflakes drifted from the clouds, I knew that Lavi wouldn't let me outside, besides, I didn't want to now, I saw a dull, lifeless cat, walk around outside, so I just stayed with Lavi, and together we curled up in our nest, watching the creature, Lavi was very uneasy, his claws unsheathed, and his tail wrapped protectively around me. I felt his warmth defend me against the harsh winds that begun to blow outside. I nuzzled into his arm and watched the flurries of snow grow harsher and blow faster, creating a white blanket of snow.

"Lavi?" I asked. A sudden thought came to my mind.

"Ya gorgeous?" He purred, turning his attention to me, his singular eye looking into mine, a small warm smile stretched across his lips, making my insides feel all happy. But there was something I wanted to know.

"Do you think, that someday maybe…" I felt myself trail off, a bit of a nervous feeling came over me.

"Someday what?" Lavi pried.

"Do you think that maybe someday, we could… maybe… have... kits?" I asked, finishing my original question, praying for a positive answer. Lavitalon looked at me in surprise for a moment, blinking in surprise. Then, to my delighted surprise, he grinned.

"Hell yeah." He laughed. "Sure we can, if you want." Lavi said, licking my cheek. I beamed at him and brushed my cheek against his happily. He purred, nuzzling against me. Ok this way too good to be true… I am living in the best dream of my fucking life… I purred mentally, licking his cheek lovingly. "Well then, what do you wanna do while we wait out the storm?" Lavitalon asked.

"Dunno, but sure as hell I aint sleeping," I said.

"Me either." He shivered. "Too cold." I nodded in agreement.

"I bet gramps is gonna be pretty pissed when he finds out where you've been," I mused stifling a mrrow of laughter. He shuddered.

"He's gonna give me such a beating..." Lavi muttered.

"Not if I can help it, I'd prefer you alive," I purred, nuzzling against him. He laughed.

"Yeah, you'll show him." He grinned, nuzzling back. I laughed realizing that didn't really last long and that I needed to come up with something else to amuse us unless Lavi had some idea. "What do you think... Yuu-chan is doing right about now?" He asked.

"Probably having a party cause we're not there to enhance his day" I laughed. Lavi laughed again.

"Bet Allen is eating everything again. Or fighting with Yuu." He grinned.

"Well, Allen is probably doing that, or fighting with Cross or flirting with Lenalee," I mused.

"And Komui is trying to stop him." Lavi chuckled. I laughed.

"Doesn't he always?"

"Indeed he does." Lavi mused.

"Starclan, I might miss everyone at camp," I sighed.

"Yeah... weird isn't it?" He sighed. "Never thought I'd miss them this much." I nodded.

"I guess it's because we're so used to them, I mean after all we've been in Spiritclan our whole life…" I said.

"You think the Noahclan is like that too? I mean, do you think they all care about each other?" Lavi asked.

"I'm not sure…" I said softly, "they did seem pretty sad when Yuu-kun killed one of their cats," I shrugged. He nodded.

"Hey, remember those Noah that attacked us?" He asked.

"Ya. Why?" I said wondering where he was going with this.

"Did you see the two toms. The ravenette and the blonde?"

"Ya…" I said, fury growing back into me when I remembered the two who had hurt my father.

"They didn't look like that before... did they?" I shook my head.

"No, they didn't." I said.

"Who... who do you think did that to them?" He asked.

"Twolegs." I replied, they were the only things I know that would probably do that to a cat. Lavi shivered.

"Some messed up twolegs." He muttered. I nodded in agreement, ya I don't like Noah, but I'd never do anything like that… I thought with a shudder. Lavi fell silent, probably lost in thought.

"They all seemed to care about each other though, if you payed attention to their reactions," I commented.

"Yeah, especially that ravenette one." Lavi mused. "Did you hear him, 'Don't you dare touch Jasdero!'" I nodded in agreement.

"I think those two are siblings," I remarked.

"Maybe." He shrugged.

"Well you saw them morph," I shrugged.

"Yeah, that was weird." He pondered.

"Must be their power I guess," I sighed. "Wow this really is the apocalypse." I laughed.

"What?" Lavitalon asked in surprise. "Why?"

"Because you don't actually have an answer for something," I mused.

"Hey, I'm only an apprentice Bookman." He pouted. "I'm still kinda trying to figure out the powers and shit." I snorted in amusement.

"Alright, alright, I'll cut you some slack," I chuckled. He grinned then looked outside, his eye glowing.

"Looking for Akuma?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah." He whispered. "There are still a few out there." I sighed, and curled up closer to his body as if for protection other than comfort. "God... there's one from every known level out there."

"Maybe they'll leave when the storm gets worse…" I offered.

"Hopefully. I don't really want to fight them." Lavi said.

"Nor do I…" I said softly, resting my chin on his paws.

"We should rest." He suggested softly.

"Alright…" I breathed, laying on my side and keeping my chin on his paws. He rested his chin on my neck, purring softly. I felt myself smile, an instant purr rumbling in my throat.

"G'night." He murmured.

"G'night Lavi-kun…" I purred. In a few moments I heard his breathing even out, signaling that he had fallen asleep. I decided to stay awake and make sure we were safe. I didn't want to chance our safety. Especially with Akuma outside, probably waiting for their chance to attack. I nuzzled closer to him, not knowing how long I'd be able to stay awake. Lavitalon's warmth was making me a bit drowsy.

I felt my eyelids droop, with a sigh, I gave into the sleep, and closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the never ending abyss.

...

I awoke the next morning still beside Lavitalon who was still asleep. I wasn't sure what woke me up, but something did. I looked around the room, nothing was there. I wanted to wake up Lavi, but I also wanted to make sure he got some sleep. The storm outside had stopped, the ground covered in fluffy snow.

I decided to go outside, just to make sure we were safe so I didn't have to disturb Lavitalon. Quietly, I stood up, making sure I didn't touch Lavi so I didn't wake him. Then, slowly, I crept from the safety of our den, looking behind me to make sure he hadn't woken.

When I saw him still fast asleep the way I left him, I trotted towards the exit, easily squeezing from underneath the roots and into the bush, when I exhaled, I saw my breath become steam in the frosty air. The surrounding area was empty of any other cats, or Akuma.

Slowly, I crept from the safety of the bush, and made my way out of the den, each paw step cautious and slow. I felt snow crunch beneath my paws. I shivered at the cold feeling that showered my skin. I looked back into the den, hesitant to completely go out. I knew Lavi wouldn't be happy that I left. Especially without telling him first. But I was curious, so I let it take the best of me and I finally was completely out of the den.

I raised my muzzle to the air and breathed in the fresh cold air, not one scent of any cats, alive or dead. Thank god. It seemed we were safe for the time being. I looked around in the snow and bounded around happily, the snow felt fresh and good on my skin. I sneezed when a snowflake landed on my nose. I looked up at the tree above me, covered in snow. It began to wobble, and before I could move, the snow fell on top of me, I felt my legs give way.

I yelped as the cold reached my skin. Cold! Cold! Cold! I shivered feeling the snow weigh me down. I think my yelp may have woken Lavitalon up because I heard noise come from the den. A moment later, he walked out of the den and looked around sleepily.

"Silkendream?" He called out tiredly. I sighed and used my paws to claw myself to the top, scooping the snow out of the top so I could fit my head into the air.

"Hello," I said, a small clump of snow on the top of my muzzle making me sneeze. He blinked at me for a moment then let out a sound that sounded like a sigh and a laugh combined. "I got bored and didn't wanna wake you," I puffed, clawing my way from the rest of the snow and shaking my pelt free of clinging snow. Grinning, he walked up to me and helped free me from the snow. I smirked for a second then batted some snow into his face with a mrrow of laughter.

"Gah!" He cried, shaking himself. I laughed and kissed his cheek, bounding around in the snow playfully. He laughed and bounded after me. I grinned and leapt away, jumping around and spraying snow in his direction. He dodged swiftly, kicking snow at me. I ducked finding myself right at Lavi's paws.

"Hello there," I purred, looking up at him.

"Hey." He grinned. I squealed as he pounced on me making me lose balance and fall. I gently batted his ear with a purr. He playfully tapped my nose with his paw. I craned my neck up and kissed him right on the lips. He grinned and returned my kiss, purring loudly. I closed my eyes and leaned into him, nuzzling my cheek against his lovingly. "Can we go back inside, it's cold." He asked.

"Alright," I laughed, "but that means you have to get off me," I purred. Lavitalon laughed and climbed off of me. I stood up, shaking my pelt off. We made our way back to the warmth of our den, shaking off out cold pelts and crawling into the warmth.

Immediately I pinned him down and licked his ears gently with a wide smirk. "Meh..." he said lazily, swatting at me. I purred nuzzling him. "Hey, Silken, want me to tell you another twoleg story?" He asked.

"Sure," I said with a smile, getting off of him and stretching.

"Alright. Which one sounds good to you? Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, or the Little Mermaid?"

"They all sound derpy to me, but whatever one you feel like telling," I said, lying down beside him.

"Little Mermaid it is." Lavi laughed and began the story. "Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as the prettiest cornflower, and as clear as crystal, it is very, very deep; so deep, indeed, that no cable could fathom it: many church steeples, piled one upon another, would not reach from the ground beneath to the surface of the water above. There dwell the Sea King and his subjects.

We must not imagine that there is nothing at the bottom of the sea but bare yellow sand. No, indeed; the most singular flowers and plants grow there; the leaves and stems of which are so pliant, that the slightest agitation of the water causes them to stir as if they had life. Fishes, both large and small, glide between the branches, as birds fly among the trees here upon land. In the deepest spot of all, stands the castle of the Sea King. Its walls are built of coral, and the long, gothic windows are of the clearest amber. The roof is formed of shells, that open and close as the water flows over them. Their appearance is very beautiful, for in each lies a glittering pearl, which would be fit for the diadem of a queen.

The Sea King had been a widower for many years, and his aged mother kept house for him. She was a very wise woman, and exceedingly proud of her high birth; on that account she wore twelve oysters on her tail; while others, also of high rank, were only allowed to wear six. She was, however, deserving of very great praise, especially for her care of the little sea-princesses, her grand-daughters. They were six beautiful children; but the youngest was the prettiest of them all; her skin was as clear and delicate as a rose-leaf, and her eyes as blue as the deepest sea; but, like all the others, she had no feet, and her body ended in a fish's tail.

All day long they played in the great halls of the castle, or among the living flowers that grew out of the walls. The large amber windows were open, and the fish swam in, just as the swallows fly into our houses when we open the windows, excepting that the fishes swam up to the princesses, ate out of their hands, and allowed themselves to be stroked.

Outside the castle there was a beautiful garden, in which grew bright red and dark blue flowers, and blossoms like flames of fire; the fruit glittered like gold, and the leaves and stems waved to and fro continually. The earth itself was the finest sand, but blue as the flame of burning sulphur. Over everything lay a peculiar blue radiance, as if it were surrounded by the air from above, through which the blue sky shone, instead of the dark depths of the sea. In calm weather the sun could be seen, looking like a purple flower, with the light streaming from the calyx. Each of the young princesses had a little plot of ground in the garden, where she might dig and plant as she pleased. One arranged her flower-bed into the form of a whale; another thought it better to make hers like the figure of a little mermaid; but that of the youngest was round like the sun, and contained flowers as red as his rays at sunset.

She was a strange child, quiet and thoughtful; and while her sisters would be delighted with the wonderful things which they obtained from the wrecks of vessels, she cared for nothing but her pretty red flowers, like the sun, excepting a beautiful marble statue. It was the representation of a handsome boy, carved out of pure white stone, which had fallen to the bottom of the sea from a wreck. She planted by the statue a rose-colored weeping willow. It grew splendidly, and very soon hung its fresh branches over the statue, almost down to the blue sands. The shadow had a violet tint, and waved to and fro like the branches; it seemed as if the crown of the tree and the root were at play, and trying to kiss each other.

Nothing gave her so much pleasure as to hear about the world above the sea. She made her old grandmother tell her all she knew of the ships and of the towns, the people and the animals. To her it seemed most wonderful and beautiful to hear that the flowers of the land should have fragrance, and not those below the sea; that the trees of the forest should be green; and that the fishes among the trees could sing so sweetly, that it was quite a pleasure to hear them. Her grandmother called the little birds fishes, or she would not have understood her; for she had never seen birds.

"When you have reached your fifteenth year," said the grand-mother, "you will have permission to rise up out of the sea, to sit on the rocks in the moonlight, while the great ships are sailing by; and then you will see both forests and towns."

In the following year, one of the sisters would be fifteen: but as each was a year younger than the other, the youngest would have to wait five years before her turn came to rise up from the bottom of the ocean, and see the earth as we do. However, each promised to tell the others what she saw on her first visit, and what she thought the most beautiful; for their grandmother could not tell them enough; there were so many things on which they wanted information. None of them longed so much for her turn to come as the youngest, she who had the longest time to wait, and who was so quiet and thoughtful.

Many nights she stood by the open window, looking up through the dark blue water, and watching the fish as they splashed about with their fins and tails. She could see the moon and stars shining faintly; but through the water they looked larger than they do to our eyes. When something like a black cloud passed between her and them, she knew that it was either a whale swimming over her head, or a ship full of human beings, who never imagined that a pretty little mermaid was standing beneath them, holding out her white hands towards the keel of their ship.

As soon as the eldest was fifteen, she was allowed to rise to the surface of the ocean. When she came back, she had hundreds of things to talk about; but the most beautiful, she said, was to lie in the moonlight, on a sandbank, in the quiet sea, near the coast, and to gaze on a large town nearby, where the lights were twinkling like hundreds of stars; to listen to the sounds of the music, the noise of carriages, and the voices of human beings, and then to hear the merry bells peal out from the church steeples; and because she could not go near to all those wonderful things, she longed for them more than ever. Oh, did not the youngest sister listen eagerly to all these descriptions? and afterwards, when she stood at the open window looking up through the dark blue water, she thought of the great city, with all its bustle and noise, and even fancied she could hear the sound of the church bells, down in the depths of the sea.

In another year the second sister received permission to rise to the surface of the water, and to swim about where she pleased. She rose just as the sun was setting, and this, she said, was the most beautiful sight of all. The whole sky looked like gold, while violet and rose-colored clouds, which she could not describe, floated over her; and, still more rapidly than the clouds, flew a large flock of wild swans towards the setting sun, looking like a long white veil across the sea. She also swam towards the sun; but it sunk into the waves, and the rosy tints faded from the clouds and from the sea.

The third sister's turn followed; she was the boldest of them all, and she swam up a broad river that emptied itself into the sea. On the banks she saw green hills covered with beautiful vines; palaces and castles peeped out from amid the proud trees of the forest; she heard the birds singing, and the rays of the sun were so powerful that she was obliged often to dive down under the water to cool her burning face. In a narrow creek she found a whole troop of little human children, quite naked, and sporting about in the water; she wanted to play with them, but they fled in a great fright; and then a little black animal came to the water; it was a dog, but she did not know that, for she had never before seen one. This animal barked at her so terribly that she became frightened, and rushed back to the open sea. But she said she should never forget the beautiful forest, the green hills, and the pretty little children who could swim in the water, although they had not fish's tails.

The fourth sister was more timid; she remained in the midst of the sea, but she said it was quite as beautiful there as nearer the land. She could see for so many miles around her, and the sky above looked like a bell of glass. She had seen the ships, but at such a great distance that they looked like sea-gulls. The dolphins sported in the waves, and the great whales spouted water from their nostrils till it seemed as if a hundred fountains were playing in every direction.

The fifth sister's birthday occurred in the winter; so when her turn came, she saw what the others had not seen the first time they went up. The sea looked quite green, and large icebergs were floating about, each like a pearl, she said, but larger and loftier than the churches built by men. They were of the most singular shapes, and glittered like diamonds. She had seated herself upon one of the largest, and let the wind play with her long hair, and she remarked that all the ships sailed by rapidly, and steered as far away as they could from the iceberg, as if they were afraid of it. Towards evening, as the sun went down, dark clouds covered the sky, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed, and the red light glowed on the icebergs as they rocked and tossed on the heaving sea. On all the ships the sails were reefed with fear and trembling, while she sat calmly on the floating iceberg, watching the blue lightning, as it darted its forked flashes into the sea.

When first the sisters had permission to rise to the surface, they were each delighted with the new and beautiful sights they saw; but now, as grown-up girls, they could go when they pleased, and they had become indifferent about it. They wished themselves back again in the water, and after a month had passed they said it was much more beautiful down below, and pleasanter to be at home. Yet often, in the evening hours, the five sisters would twine their arms round each other, and rise to the surface, in a row. They had more beautiful voices than any human being could have; and before the approach of a storm, and when they expected a ship would be lost, they swam before the vessel, and sang sweetly of the delights to be found in the depths of the sea, and begging the sailors not to fear if they sank to the bottom. But the sailors could not understand the song, they took it for the howling of the storm. And these things were never to be beautiful for them; for if the ship sank, the men were drowned, and their dead bodies alone reached the palace of the Sea King.

When the sisters rose, arm-in-arm, through the water in this way, their youngest sister would stand quite alone, looking after them, ready to cry, only that the mermaids have no tears, and therefore they suffer more.

"Oh, were I but fifteen years old," said she: "I know that I shall love the world up there, and all the people who live in it."

At last she reached her fifteenth year.

"Well, now, you are grown up," said the old dowager, her grandmother; "so you must let me adorn you like your other sisters;" and she placed a wreath of white lilies in her hair, and every flower leaf was half a pearl. Then the old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to the tail of the princess to show her high rank.

"But they hurt me so," said the little mermaid.

"Pride must suffer pain," replied the old lady. Oh, how gladly she would have shaken off all this grandeur, and laid aside the heavy wreath! The red flowers in her own garden would have suited her much better, but she could not help herself: so she said, "Farewell," and rose as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water.

The sun had just set as she raised her head above the waves; but the clouds were tinted with crimson and gold, and through the glimmering twilight beamed the evening star in all its beauty. The sea was calm, and the air mild and fresh. A large ship, with three masts, lay becalmed on the water, with only one sail set; for not a breeze stiffed, and the sailors sat idle on deck or amongst the rigging. There was music and song on board; and, as darkness came on, a hundred colored lanterns were lighted, as if the flags of all nations waved in the air. The little mermaid swam close to the cabin windows; and now and then, as the waves lifted her up, she could look in through clear glass window-panes, and see a number of well-dressed people within.

Among them was a young prince, the most beautiful of all, with large black eyes; he was sixteen years of age, and his birthday was being kept with much rejoicing. The sailors were dancing on deck, but when the prince came out of the cabin, more than a hundred rockets rose in the air, making it as bright as day. The little mermaid was so startled that she dived under water; and when she again stretched out her head, it appeared as if all the stars of heaven were falling around her, she had never seen such fireworks before. Great suns spurted fire about, splendid fireflies flew into the blue air, and everything was reflected in the clear, calm sea beneath. The ship itself was so brightly illuminated that all the people, and even the smallest rope, could be distinctly and plainly seen. And how handsome the young prince looked, as he pressed the hands of all present and smiled at them, while the music resounded through the clear night air.

It was very late; yet the little mermaid could not take her eyes from the ship, or from the beautiful prince. The colored lanterns had been extinguished, no more rockets rose in the air, and the cannon had ceased firing; but the sea became restless, and a moaning, grumbling sound could be heard beneath the waves: still the little mermaid remained by the cabin window, rocking up and down on the water, which enabled her to look in.

After a while, the sails were quickly unfurled, and the noble ship continued her passage; but soon the waves rose higher, heavy clouds darkened the sky, and lightning appeared in the distance. A dreadful storm was approaching; once more the sails were reefed, and the great ship pursued her flying course over the raging sea. The waves rose mountains high, as if they would have overtopped the mast; but the ship dived like a swan between them, and then rose again on their lofty, foaming crests. To the little mermaid this appeared pleasant sport; not so to the sailors. At length the ship groaned and creaked; the thick planks gave way under the lashing of the sea as it broke over the deck; the mainmast snapped asunder like a reed; the ship lay over on her side; and the water rushed in.

The little mermaid now perceived that the crew were in danger; even she herself was obliged to be careful to avoid the beams and planks of the wreck which lay scattered on the water. At one moment it was so pitch dark that she could not see a single object, but a flash of lightning revealed the whole scene; she could see every one who had been on board excepting the prince; when the ship parted, she had seen him sink into the deep waves, and she was glad, for she thought he would now be with her; and then she remembered that human beings could not live in the water, so that when he got down to her father's palace he would be quite dead. But he must not die. So she swam about among the beams and planks which strewed the surface of the sea, forgetting that they could crush her to pieces. Then she dived deeply under the dark waters, rising and falling with the waves, till at length she managed to reach the young prince, who was fast losing the power of swimming in that stormy sea. His limbs were failing him, his beautiful eyes were closed, and he would have died had not the little mermaid come to his assistance. She held his head above the water, and let the waves drift them where they would.

In the morning the storm had ceased; but of the ship not a single fragment could be seen. The sun rose up red and glowing from the water, and its beams brought back the hue of health to the prince's cheeks; but his eyes remained closed. The mermaid kissed his high, smooth forehead, and stroked back his wet hair; he seemed to her like the marble statue in her little garden, and she kissed him again, and wished that he might live.

Presently they came in sight of land; she saw lofty blue mountains, on which the white snow rested as if a flock of swans were lying upon them. Near the coast were beautiful green forests, and close by stood a large building, whether a church or a convent she could not tell. Orange and citron trees grew in the garden, and before the door stood lofty palms. The sea here formed a little bay, in which the water was quite still, but very deep; so she swam with the handsome prince to the beach, which was covered with fine, white sand, and there she laid him in the warm sunshine, taking care to raise his head higher than his body. Then bells sounded in the large white building, and a number of young girls came into the garden. The little mermaid swam out farther from the shore and placed herself between some high rocks that rose out of the water; then she covered her head and neck with the foam of the sea so that her little face might not be seen, and watched to see what would become of the poor prince.

She did not wait long before she saw a young girl approach the spot where he lay. She seemed frightened at first, but only for a moment; then she fetched a number of people, and the mermaid saw that the prince came to life again, and smiled upon those who stood round him. But to her he sent no smile; he knew not that she had saved him. This made her very unhappy, and when he was led away into the great building, she dived down sorrowfully into the water, and returned to her father's castle.

She had always been silent and thoughtful, and now she was more so than ever. Her sisters asked her what she had seen during her first visit to the surface of the water; but she would tell them nothing. Many an evening and morning did she rise to the place where she had left the prince. She saw the fruits in the garden ripen till they were gathered, the snow on the tops of the mountains melt away; but she never saw the prince, and therefore she returned home, always more sorrowful than before. It was her only comfort to sit in her own little garden, and fling her arm round the beautiful marble statue which was like the prince; but she gave up tending her flowers, and they grew in wild confusion over the paths, twining their long leaves and stems round the branches of the trees, so that the whole place became dark and gloomy.

At length she could bear it no longer, and told one of her sisters all about it. Then the others heard the secret, and very soon it became known to two mermaids whose intimate friend happened to know who the prince was. She had also seen the festival on board ship, and she told them where the prince came from, and where his palace stood.

"Come, little sister," said the other princesses; then they entwined their arms and rose up in a long row to the surface of the water, close by the spot where they knew the prince's palace stood.

It was built of bright yellow shining stone, with long flights of marble steps, one of which reached quite down to the sea. Splendid gilded cupolas rose over the roof, and between the pillars that surrounded the whole building stood life-like statues of marble. Through the clear crystal of the lofty windows could be seen noble rooms, with costly silk curtains and hangings of tapestry; while the walls were covered with beautiful paintings which were a pleasure to look at. In the centre of the largest saloon a fountain threw its sparkling jets high up into the glass cupola of the ceiling, through which the sun shone down upon the water and upon the beautiful plants growing round the basin of the fountain.

Now that she knew where he lived, she spent many an evening and many a night on the water near the palace. She would swim much nearer the shore than any of the others ventured to do; indeed once she went quite up the narrow channel under the marble balcony, which threw a broad shadow on the water. Here she would sit and watch the young prince, who thought himself quite alone in the bright moonlight. She saw him many times of an evening sailing in a pleasant boat, with music playing and flags waving. She peeped out from among the green rushes, and if the wind caught her long silvery-white veil, those who saw it believed it to be a swan, spreading out its wings. On many a night, too, when the fishermen, with their torches, were out at sea, she heard them relate so many good things about the doings of the young prince, that she was glad she had saved his life when he had been tossed about half-dead on the waves. And she remembered that his head had rested on her bosom, and how heartily she had kissed him; but he knew nothing of all this, and could not even dream of her. She grew more and more fond of human beings, and wished more and more to be able to wander about with those whose world seemed to be so much larger than her own. They could fly over the sea in ships, and mount the high hills which were far above the clouds; and the lands they possessed, their woods and their fields, stretched far away beyond the reach of her sight. There was so much that she wished to know, and her sisters were unable to answer all her questions. Then she applied to her old grandmother, who knew all about the upper world, which she very rightly called the lands above the sea.

"If human beings are not drowned," asked the little mermaid, "can they live forever? do they never die as we do here in the sea?"

"Yes," replied the old lady, "they must also die, and their term of life is even shorter than ours. We sometimes live to three hundred years, but when we cease to exist here we only become the foam on the surface of the water, and we have not even a grave down here of those we love. We have not immortal souls, we shall never live again; but, like the green sea-weed, when once it has been cut off, we can never flourish more. Human beings, on the contrary, have a soul which lives forever, lives after the body has been turned to dust. It rises up through the clear, pure air beyond the glittering stars. As we rise out of the water, and behold all the land of the earth, so do they rise to unknown and glorious regions which we shall never see."

"Why have not we an immortal soul?" asked the little mermaid mournfully; "I would give gladly all the hundreds of years that I have to live, to be a human being only for one day, and to have the hope of knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars."

"You must not think of that," said the old woman; "we feel ourselves to be much happier and much better off than human beings."

"So I shall die," said the little mermaid, "and as the foam of the sea I shall be driven about never again to hear the music of the waves, or to see the pretty flowers nor the red sun. Is there anything I can do to win an immortal soul?"

"No," said the old woman, "unless a man were to love you so much that you were more to him than his father or mother; and if all his thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you, and the priest placed his right hand in yours, and he promised to be true to you here and hereafter, then his soul would glide into your body and you would obtain a share in the future happiness of mankind. He would give a soul to you and retain his own as well; but this can never happen. Your fish's tail, which amongst us is considered so beautiful, is thought on earth to be quite ugly; they do not know any better, and they think it necessary to have two stout props, which they call legs, in order to be handsome."

Then the little mermaid sighed, and looked sorrowfully at her fish's tail. "Let us be happy," said the old lady, "and dart and spring about during the three hundred years that we have to live, which is really quite long enough; after that we can rest ourselves all the better. This evening we are going to have a court ball."

It is one of those splendid sights which we can never see on earth. The walls and the ceiling of the large ball-room were of thick, but transparent crystal. May hundreds of colossal shells, some of a deep red, others of a grass green, stood on each side in rows, with blue fire in them, which lighted up the whole saloon, and shone through the walls, so that the sea was also illuminated. Innumerable fishes, great and small, swam past the crystal walls; on some of them the scales glowed with a purple brilliancy, and on others they shone like silver and gold. Through the halls flowed a broad stream, and in it danced the mermen and the mermaids to the music of their own sweet singing. No one on earth has such a lovely voice as theirs. The little mermaid sang more sweetly than them all. The whole court applauded her with hands and tails; and for a moment her heart felt quite gay, for she knew she had the loveliest voice of any on earth or in the sea. But she soon thought again of the world above her, for she could not forget the charming prince, nor her sorrow that she had not an immortal soul like his; therefore she crept away silently out of her father's palace, and while everything within was gladness and song, she sat in her own little garden sorrowful and alone. Then she heard the bugle sounding through the water, and thought: "He is certainly sailing above, he on whom my wishes depend, and in whose hands I should like to place the happiness of my life. I will venture all for him, and to win an immortal soul, while my sisters are dancing in my father's palace, I will go to the sea witch, of whom I have always been so much afraid, but she can give me counsel and help."

And then the little mermaid went out from her garden, and took the road to the foaming whirlpools, behind which the sorceress lived. She had never been that way before: neither flowers nor grass grew there; nothing but bare, gray, sandy ground stretched out to the whirlpool, where the water, like foaming mill-wheels, whirled round everything that it seized, and cast it into the fathomless deep. Through the midst of these crushing whirlpools the little mermaid was obliged to pass, to reach the dominions of the sea witch; and also for a long distance the only road lay right across a quantity of warm, bubbling mire, called by the witch her turfmoor. Beyond this stood her house, in the centre of a strange forest, in which all the trees and flowers were polypi, half animals and half plants; they looked like serpents with a hundred heads growing out of the ground. The branches were long slimy arms, with fingers like flexible worms, moving limb after limb from the root to the top. All that could be reached in the sea they seized upon, and held fast, so that it never escaped from their clutches.

The little mermaid was so alarmed at what she saw, that she stood still, and her heart beat with fear, and she was very nearly turning back; but she thought of the prince, and of the human soul for which she longed, and her courage returned. She fastened her long flowing hair round her head, so that the polypi might not seize hold of it. She laid her hands together across her bosom, and then she darted forward as a fish shoots through the water, between the supple arms and fingers of the ugly polypi, which were stretched out on each side of her. She saw that each held in its grasp something it had seized with its numerous little arms, as if they were iron bands. The white skeletons of human beings who had perished at sea, and had sunk down into the deep waters, skeletons of land animals, oars, rudders, and chests of ships were lying tightly grasped by their clinging arms; even a little mermaid, whom they had caught and strangled; and this seemed the most shocking of all to the little princess.

She now came to a space of marshy ground in the wood, where large, fat water-snakes were rolling in the mire, and showing their ugly, drab-colored bodies. In the midst of this spot stood a house, built with the bones of shipwrecked human beings. There sat the sea witch, allowing a toad to eat from her mouth, just as people sometimes feed a canary with a piece of sugar. She called the ugly water-snakes her little chickens, and allowed them to crawl all over her bosom.

"I know what you want," said the sea witch; "it is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty princess. You want to get rid of your fish's tail, and to have two supports instead of it, like human beings on earth, so that the young prince may fall in love with you, and that you may have an immortal soul." And then the witch laughed so loud and disgustingly, that the toad and the snakes fell to the ground, and lay there wriggling about. "You are but just in time," said the witch; "for after sunrise to-morrow I should not be able to help you till the end of another year. I will prepare a draught for you, with which you must swim to land tomorrow before sunrise, and sit down on the shore and drink it. Your tail will then disappear, and shrink up into what mankind calls legs, and you will feel great pain, as if a sword were passing through you. But all who see you will say that you are the prettiest little human being they ever saw. You will still have the same floating gracefulness of movement, and no dancer will ever tread so lightly; but at every step you take it will feel as if you were treading upon sharp knives, and that the blood must flow. If you will bear all this, I will help you."

"Yes, I will," said the little princess in a trembling voice, as she thought of the prince and the immortal soul.

"But think again," said the witch; "for when once your shape has become like a human being, you can no more be a mermaid. You will never return through the water to your sisters, or to your father's palace again; and if you do not win the love of the prince, so that he is willing to forget his father and mother for your sake, and to love you with his whole soul, and allow the priest to join your hands that you may be man and wife, then you will never have an immortal soul. The first morning after he marries another your heart will break, and you will become foam on the crest of the waves."

"I will do it," said the little mermaid, and she became pale as death.

"But I must be paid also," said the witch, "and it is not a trifle that I ask. You have the sweetest voice of any who dwell here in the depths of the sea, and you believe that you will be able to charm the prince with it also, but this voice you must give to me; the best thing you possess will I have for the price of my draught. My own blood must be mixed with it, that it may be as sharp as a two-edged sword."

"But if you take away my voice," said the little mermaid, "what is left for me?"

"Your beautiful form, your graceful walk, and your expressive eyes; surely with these you can enchain a man's heart. Well, have you lost your courage? Put out your little tongue that I may cut it off as my payment; then you shall have the powerful draught."

"It shall be," said the little mermaid.

Then the witch placed her cauldron on the fire, to prepare the magic draught.

"Cleanliness is a good thing," said she, scouring the vessel with snakes, which she had tied together in a large knot; then she pricked herself in the breast, and let the black blood drop into it. The steam that rose formed itself into such horrible shapes that no one could look at them without fear. Every moment the witch threw something else into the vessel, and when it began to boil, the sound was like the weeping of a crocodile. When at last the magic draught was ready, it looked like the clearest water.

"There it is for you," said the witch. Then she cut off the mermaid's tongue, so that she became dumb, and would never again speak or sing. "If the polypi should seize hold of you as you return through the wood," said the witch, "throw over them a few drops of the potion, and their fingers will be torn into a thousand pieces." But the little mermaid had no occasion to do this, for the polypi sprang back in terror when they caught sight of the glittering draught, which shone in her hand like a twinkling star.

So she passed quickly through the wood and the marsh, and between the rushing whirlpools. She saw that in her father's palace the torches in the ballroom were extinguished, and all within asleep; but she did not venture to go in to them, for now she was dumb and going to leave them forever, she felt as if her heart would break. She stole into the garden, took a flower from the flower-beds of each of her sisters, kissed her hand a thousand times towards the palace, and then rose up through the dark blue waters.

The sun had not risen when she came in sight of the prince's palace, and approached the beautiful marble steps, but the moon shone clear and bright. Then the little mermaid drank the magic draught, and it seemed as if a two-edged sword went through her delicate body: she fell into a swoon, and lay like one dead.

When the sun arose and shone over the sea, she recovered, and felt a sharp pain; but just before her stood the handsome young prince. He fixed his coal-black eyes upon her so earnestly that she cast down her own, and then became aware that her fish's tail was gone, and that she had as pretty a pair of white legs and tiny feet as any little maiden could have; but she had no clothes, so she wrapped herself in her long, thick hair. The prince asked her who she was, and where she came from, and she looked at him mildly and sorrowfully with her deep blue eyes; but she could not speak. Every step she took was as the witch had said it would be, she felt as if treading upon the points of needles or sharp knives; but she bore it willingly, and stepped as lightly by the prince's side as a soap-bubble, so that he and all who saw her wondered at her graceful-swaying movements. She was very soon arrayed in costly robes of silk and muslin, and was the most beautiful creature in the palace; but she was dumb, and could neither speak nor sing.

Beautiful female slaves, dressed in silk and gold, stepped forward and sang before the prince and his royal parents: one sang better than all the others, and the prince clapped his hands and smiled at her. This was great sorrow to the little mermaid; she knew how much more sweetly she herself could sing once, and she thought, "Oh if he could only know that! I have given away my voice forever, to be with him."

The slaves next performed some pretty fairy-like dances, to the sound of beautiful music. Then the little mermaid raised her lovely white arms, stood on the tips of her toes, and glided over the floor, and danced as no one yet had been able to dance. At each moment her beauty became more revealed, and her expressive eyes appealed more directly to the heart than the songs of the slaves. Everyone was enchanted, especially the prince, who called her his little foundling; and she danced again quite readily, to please him, though each time her foot touched the floor it seemed as if she trod on sharp knives.

The prince said she should remain with him always, and she received permission to sleep at his door, on a velvet cushion. He had a page's dress made for her, that she might accompany him on horseback. They rode together through the sweet-scented woods, where the green boughs touched their shoulders, and the little birds sang among the fresh leaves. She climbed with the prince to the tops of high mountains; and although her tender feet bled so that even her steps were marked, she only laughed, and followed him till they could see the clouds beneath them looking like a flock of birds travelling to distant lands. While at the prince's palace, and when all the household were asleep, she would go and sit on the broad marble steps; for it eased her burning feet to bathe them in the cold sea-water; and then she thought of all those below in the deep.

Once during the night her sisters came up arm-in-arm, singing sorrowfully, as they floated on the water. She beckoned to them, and then they recognized her, and told her how she had grieved them. After that, they came to the same place every night; and once she saw in the distance her old grandmother, who had not been to the surface of the sea for many years, and the old Sea King, her father, with his crown on his head. They stretched out their hands towards her, but they did not venture so near the land as her sisters did.

As the days passed, she loved the prince more fondly, and he loved her as he would love a little child, but it never came into his head to make her his wife; yet, unless he married her, she could not receive an immortal soul; and, on the morning after his marriage with another, she would dissolve into the foam of the sea.

"Do you not love me the best of them all?" the eyes of the little mermaid seemed to say, when he took her in his arms, and kissed her fair forehead.

"Yes, you are dear to me," said the prince; "for you have the best heart, and you are the most devoted to me; you are like a young maiden whom I once saw, but whom I shall never meet again. I was in a ship that was wrecked, and the waves cast me ashore near a holy temple, where several young maidens performed the service. The youngest of them found me on the shore, and saved my life. I saw her but twice, and she is the only one in the world whom I could love; but you are like her, and you have almost driven her image out of my mind. She belongs to the holy temple, and my good fortune has sent you to me instead of her; and we will never part."

"Ah, he knows not that it was I who saved his life," thought the little mermaid. "I carried him over the sea to the wood where the temple stands: I sat beneath the foam, and watched till the human beings came to help him. I saw the pretty maiden that he loves better than he loves me;" and the mermaid sighed deeply, but she could not shed tears. "He says the maiden belongs to the holy temple, therefore she will never return to the world. They will meet no more: while I am by his side, and see him every day. I will take care of him, and love him, and give up my life for his sake."

Very soon it was said that the prince must marry, and that the beautiful daughter of a neighboring king would be his wife, for a fine ship was being fitted out. Although the prince gave out that he merely intended to pay a visit to the king, it was generally supposed that he really went to see his daughter. A great company were to go with him. The little mermaid smiled, and shook her head. She knew the prince's thoughts better than any of the others.

"I must travel," he had said to her; "I must see this beautiful princess; my parents desire it; but they will not oblige me to bring her home as my bride. I cannot love her; she is not like the beautiful maiden in the temple, whom you resemble. If I were forced to choose a bride, I would rather choose you, my dumb foundling, with those expressive eyes." And then he kissed her rosy mouth, played with her long waving hair, and laid his head on her heart, while she dreamed of human happiness and an immortal soul. "You are not afraid of the sea, my dumb child," said he, as they stood on the deck of the noble ship which was to carry them to the country of the neighboring king. And then he told her of storm and of calm, of strange fishes in the deep beneath them, and of what the divers had seen there; and she smiled at his descriptions, for she knew better than any one what wonders were at the bottom of the sea.

In the moonlight, when all on board were asleep, excepting the man at the helm, who was steering, she sat on the deck, gazing down through the clear water. She thought she could distinguish her father's castle, and upon it her aged grandmother, with the silver crown on her head, looking through the rushing tide at the keel of the vessel. Then her sisters came up on the waves, and gazed at her mournfully, wringing their white hands. She beckoned to them, and smiled, and wanted to tell them how happy and well off she was; but the cabin-boy approached, and when her sisters dived down he thought it was only the foam of the sea which he saw.

The next morning the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful town belonging to the king whom the prince was going to visit. The church bells were ringing, and from the high towers sounded a flourish of trumpets; and soldiers, with flying colors and glittering bayonets, lined the rocks through which they passed. Every day was a festival; balls and entertainments followed one another.

But the princess had not yet appeared. People said that she was being brought up and educated in a religious house, where she was learning every royal virtue. At last she came. Then the little mermaid, who was very anxious to see whether she was really beautiful, was obliged to acknowledge that she had never seen a more perfect vision of beauty. Her skin was delicately fair, and beneath her long dark eye-lashes her laughing blue eyes shone with truth and purity.

"It was you," said the prince, "who saved my life when I lay dead on the beach," and he folded his blushing bride in his arms. "Oh, I am too happy," said he to the little mermaid; "my fondest hopes are all fulfilled. You will rejoice at my happiness; for your devotion to me is great and sincere."

The little mermaid kissed his hand, and felt as if her heart were already broken. His wedding morning would bring death to her, and she would change into the foam of the sea. All the church bells rung, and the heralds rode about the town proclaiming the betrothal. Perfumed oil was burning in costly silver lamps on every altar. The priests waved the censers, while the bride and bridegroom joined their hands and received the blessing of the bishop. The little mermaid, dressed in silk and gold, held up the bride's train; but her ears heard nothing of the festive music, and her eyes saw not the holy ceremony; she thought of the night of death which was coming to her, and of all she had lost in the world.

On the same evening the bride and bridegroom went on board ship; cannons were roaring, flags waving, and in the centre of the ship a costly tent of purple and gold had been erected. It contained elegant couches, for the reception of the bridal pair during the night. The ship, with swelling sails and a favorable wind, glided away smoothly and lightly over the calm sea. When it grew dark a number of colored lamps were lit, and the sailors danced merrily on the deck. The little mermaid could not help thinking of her first rising out of the sea, when she had seen similar festivities and joys; and she joined in the dance, poised herself in the air as a swallow when he pursues his prey, and all present cheered her with wonder. She had never danced so elegantly before. Her tender feet felt as if cut with sharp knives, but she cared not for it; a sharper pang had pierced through her heart. She knew this was the last evening she should ever see the prince, for whom she had forsaken her kindred and her home; she had given up her beautiful voice, and suffered unheard-of pain daily for him, while he knew nothing of it. This was the last evening that she would breathe the same air with him, or gaze on the starry sky and the deep sea; an eternal night, without a thought or a dream, awaited her: she had no soul and now she could never win one. All was joy and gayety on board ship till long after midnight; she laughed and danced with the rest, while the thoughts of death were in her heart. The prince kissed his beautiful bride, while she played with his raven hair, till they went arm-in-arm to rest in the splendid tent. Then all became still on board the ship; the helmsman, alone awake, stood at the helm. The little mermaid leaned her white arms on the edge of the vessel, and looked towards the east for the first blush of morning, for that first ray of dawn that would bring her death. She saw her sisters rising out of the flood: they were as pale as herself; but their long beautiful hair waved no more in the wind, and had been cut off.

"We have given our hair to the witch," said they, "to obtain help for you, that you may not die to-night. She has given us a knife: here it is, see it is very sharp. Before the sun rises you must plunge it into the heart of the prince; when the warm blood falls upon your feet they will grow together again, and form into a fish's tail, and you will be once more a mermaid, and return to us to live out your three hundred years before you die and change into the salt sea foam. Haste, then; he or you must die before sunrise. Our old grandmother moans so for you, that her white hair is falling off from sorrow, as ours fell under the witch's scissors. Kill the prince and come back; hasten: do you not see the first red streaks in the sky? In a few minutes the sun will rise, and you must die." And then they sighed deeply and mournfully, and sank down beneath the waves.

The little mermaid drew back the crimson curtain of the tent, and beheld the fair bride with her head resting on the prince's breast. She bent down and kissed his fair brow, then looked at the sky on which the rosy dawn grew brighter and brighter; then she glanced at the sharp knife, and again fixed her eyes on the prince, who whispered the name of his bride in his dreams. She was in his thoughts, and the knife trembled in the hand of the little mermaid: then she flung it far away from her into the waves; the water turned red where it fell, and the drops that spurted up looked like blood. She cast one more lingering, half-fainting glance at the prince, and then threw herself from the ship into the sea, and thought her body was dissolving into foam.

The sun rose above the waves, and his warm rays fell on the cold foam of the little mermaid, who did not feel as if she were dying. She saw the bright sun, and all around her floated hundreds of transparent beautiful beings; she could see through them the white sails of the ship, and the red clouds in the sky; their speech was melodious, but too ethereal to be heard by mortal ears, as they were also unseen by mortal eyes. The little mermaid perceived that she had a body like theirs, and that she continued to rise higher and higher out of the foam.

"Where am I?" asked she, and her voice sounded ethereal, as the voice of those who were with her; no earthly music could imitate it.

"Among the daughters of the air," answered one of them. "A mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being. On the power of another hangs her eternal destiny. But the daughters of the air, although they do not possess an immortal soul, can, by their good deeds, procure one for themselves. We fly to warm countries, and cool the sultry air that destroys mankind with the pestilence. We carry the perfume of the flowers to spread health and restoration. After we have striven for three hundred years to all the good in our power, we receive an immortal soul and take part in the happiness of mankind. You, poor little mermaid, have tried with your whole heart to do as we are doing; you have suffered and endured and raised yourself to the spirit-world by your good deeds; and now, by striving for three hundred years in the same way, you may obtain an immortal soul."

The little mermaid lifted her glorified eyes towards the sun, and felt them, for the first time, filling with tears. On the ship, in which she had left the prince, there were life and noise; she saw him and his beautiful bride searching for her; sorrowfully they gazed at the pearly foam, as if they knew she had thrown herself into the waves. Unseen she kissed the forehead of her bride, and fanned the prince, and then mounted with the other children of the air to a rosy cloud that floated through the aether.

"After three hundred years, thus shall we float into the kingdom of heaven," said she.

"And we may even get there sooner," whispered one of her companions. "Unseen we can enter the houses of men, where there are children, and for every day on which we find a good child, who is the joy of his parents and deserves their love, our time of probation is shortened. The child does not know, when we fly through the room, that we smile with joy at his good conduct, for we can count one year less of our three hundred years. But when we see a naughty or a wicked child, we shed tears of sorrow, and for every tear a day is added to our time of trial!"

"Well, that was long," I commented. By now my head was in my paws "may I once again restate how strange two-legs are." I mused.

"You said it." Lavi mused. "I mean, come on, half fish half two leg? That makes no sense."

"How does that even work?" I laughed. He shrugged.

"Panda said it's just a fairy tale." He said.

"Hmm, well, if it keeps their sticky, weird cubs happy," I shrugged. "But it was interesting," I reassured him, hoping I didn't sound like I hated his story.

"Our stories are better." He admitted. I nodded.

"But your story was interesting," I purred licking his cheek.

"Yeah, guess it was." he grinned. I smiled and nuzzled my cheek into his neck. "Took a lot of breath to tell."

"I suppose it did," I laughed.

"Hey, Silkendream," Lavi suddenly purred.

"Ya?" I asked with the tilt of my head.

"Remember when you said you wanted kits?"

"Yes. Why?" I asked, a strong suspicion growing inside me.

"I think you know where I'm going with this." He purred. I nodded.

"I believe so," I purred. He smirked, kissing me on the lips. I purred and leaned into him. Now we'd be able to do as I had dreamed for years, have a family of our own...