Chapter 40: A Path Unwalked

Now that I finally had some time to explore some things, there was something I'd noticed about the shape of the Darkforest, more specifically something missing. Imagine if you will, a pool or basin filled with water. Then imagine that there is just a black sphere nestled in the depths of it. This ball of black doesn't behave like a hole, because the Darkforest doesn't flow into it. It also doesn't act like Starclan's barrier because the bubble slides around in the Darkforest. It is something that acts utterly foreign; thus I wouldn't leave it unbothered.

I waited by the entrance of my once camp for Frecklewish and Splitpelt. We had some time to do some exploring. The two soon met me and brushed up against my sides lovingly. I let them groom me as I did the same in turn.

So, now that we have time, how would you two feel about coming with me to look into something that seems to be deliberately evading my powers?"

Frecklewish jokingly replied, "I'd usually say that's a bad idea, but knowing you, you'd go after it anyways. I swear keeping track of you is like herding kits."

I chuckled in response. "You love me for it."

Apparently, my inquiry had Splitpelt in serious mode. "If it is evading you, whatever it is, it may be a threat."

Splitpelt liked his lips and his eyes went sharp with bloodlust. "Or a challenge."

I took note of my companion. Seeing his face and feeling his soul, I could feel the tom was pining for a fight. It was, needless to say, attractive. I already knew how his taught muscles felt, those gorgeous mismatched eyes, the way his claws could race through flesh. I was accidentally working myself up, and the feeling was infectious. Frecklewish isn't bloodthirsty like Splitpelt and I are, but since becoming our mate, she was getting riled up for what came after. She'd also come to appreciate end enjoy using her powers, so a good fight was a good time for her.

Still riding on the high, I made a suggestion. "Let's go check it out. If it's nothing, we'll have some fun, but if it's something, we'll deal with it."

The two nodded at me and I began to blaze a trail. Normally, this kind of trip would take at least a day's worth of time to reach, but my new ascension had changed how I felt the forest. The best way to describe it is, the Darkforest is layered. Imagine a sphere covered in markings. Then imagine that same sphere rotated slightly and layered onto the first sphere. Keep doing the same about a million times. My new way to travel was to jump us from one layer into another. The distance to travel was less because I was moving us a smaller distance through an indescribable dimension of motion. We weren't travelling to an alternate dimension or teleporting. We were simply travelling a path unable to be seen by those who cannot sense this extra layering of existence. To an outside viewer, it'd appear we simply walked in out of nowhere.

Regardless of how I moved us, we found the bubble, or more specifically, the area of the bubble. It was a fascinating bit of power utilization that I'd hope to replicate for the camp later. To the untrained eye, the bubble appeared to be nothing at all, but what it did was act as a portal from one side to the other. To a cat that couldn't sense it, the bubble was not there at all. The space it occupied didn't exist. Walking into it just brought you straight to the other side none the wiser. I grinned at the thing considering how I'd punch through it and how I'd use something like this.

"Can either of you two feel it?" I asked.

Frecklewish was the first to answer. "I can feel something. I can't tell what it is, but something about the space ahead feels wrong. It's like I'm not seeing something, like things have that fuzziness they have at great distances."

I looked at Splitpelt to hear his response, but he gave me one I wasn't expecting. "I can feel the origin of the bubble, and it feels familiar. It is something very old. I can't put my paw on it, but it makes me feel both very nostalgic and angry at the same time. I must know something about it, but it feels too fuzzy to tell you what."

Now this bubble was something I had a vested interest in. If the bubble and whatever powered it made Splitpelt angry, what kind of mate would I be to let it remain. The question was, how do we bypass it. I can't just tear a hole in it. Whatever created it is too crafty. The power I'd use would just pass right through it the same way a cat would. I couldn't crush it. I couldn't prevent the effect from happening to me. Then I realized something. This bubble only works in three dimensions. I let out a sinister chuckle as I looked through layers of existence, looking for the closest path between that exited inside the bubble. The nearest one would look kind of silly to do, but my companions wouldn't doubt me.

I guided Frecklewish and Splitpelt up a tree onto a branch just wide enough for single file.

"What are we doing up here?" Asked Frecklewish, somewhat worried.

"We're getting through the bubble. Just follow me closely and try not to think too hard on how it works."

Frecklewish and Splitpelt steeled themselves as I led them to jump of the branch at running speed, and then I pulled them through the layers. It was like a mouse weaving through cat's legs as I had to jump us through several layers, using our momentum to reach the connection points from one to the next. Then we landed on solid ground inside the bubble. What we found was a clan camp made for one, a mock obelisk that emitted the feeling of the bubble, and a very old light grey tom with blue eyes.

Splitpelt stood in shock and uttered only one name.

"Skystar?"