Chapter 6

Wonder

The sunlight came back strong when Wonder finally rose, stretching their body with a massive yawn. Blinking sleepily, he washed his face to look presentable before cleaning the rest of his pelt to look less rumpled from slumber. Only when he was finished did he slip out of the tree den and climbed his way down carefully before jumping the last few tail-lengths. Aster was crouched on the forest floor, her yellow eyes glancing up at him as he approached one final time. Without a word between them, Wonder touched noses with his Queen in a final good-bye. Their eyes misted before looking away to head off on his journey. With slow methodic steps, Wonder stepped into the sunshine and began his long trek into the unknown of the valley and beyond.

Birdsong sang behind him as he stepped into the valley's long grasses and plains; quickly breaking into a trot to cover distance quickly and efficiently. His eyes wide to take in as much of his surroundings as possible as he twitched and flicked his ears in every direction he heard a sound. His tail kept low to keep himself unseen by most creatures. The dangers of the land of the Twilight Sun was always concerning him, but the sooner he left it behind, the sooner they could find where their destiny lay. The sun was warm upon his pelt as he kept moving, pressing on as far as his legs could carry him as he started to feel his belly growl in hunger.

He wasn't sure how long they had been trotting, but it was long enough they supposed. Slowly, Wonder turned his trotting gait into a slinking stalk, blending into the tall grasses further. The blades of grass brushed against his pelt gently, barely making a sound as though they were part of the wind. Hazel green eyes stretched wide to take in everything before him as stalked deeper and deeper. Birds called out in the massive plains, but none were close enough by in sound for him to hunt. Beginning to feel frustrated, he pushed on to try and find something as he moved forward, only to come to a halt as he picked up the scent of freshly caught prey and cat.

Wonder parted his jaws, tasting the air to try and figure out if it was a single cat or more. He slowed down further as the scent became stronger and more clear. It was a single she-cat with a single meal. He paused, keeping still as he considered his options. Even if the she-cat was friendly, there was no way she would want to share something as precious as prey. Still, if anything, she might be able to direct him to where she hasn't hunted at so he could catch something for himself or even point him to where The Nomads tended to rest.

Carefully, he steadied himself and pushed through the stalks of tall grasses and weeds. As he slipped through, he blinked, surprised as a light golden tabby she-cat came into view, tucking into an artic hare. Her yellow eyes flicked towards him as she licked her lips from the prey-juices. Wonder felt the fur along his spine spike up as he saw no sign of distrust within her eyes. Her gaze flicked over him swiftly as though assessing him as she rose to her haunches.

"Can I help you?" She asked bluntly, curiosity tinging her mew as she tilted her head to one side slightly.

"I was just wondering where you caught that so I could avoid the area." He answered honestly, trying to not let his unease show.

The she-cat stared for a moment, righting her head with a flick of her tail. "Towards the west."

Wonder could sense that she had so much to ask, but was keeping to herself. He could tell from the way she eyed him cautiously. Almost as though she was trying to figure out a new hunting tactic. Swallowing dryly, he padded more out into the open, keeping his tail high to show he wasn't a threat. "Thank you. I'll check out the east from here then." He dipped his head slightly in a show of respect, closing his eyes as a sign of his trust before opening them again.

Thankfully, the light golden tabby returned the slow blink, her body seeming to melt into relaxation. "Mind if I ask where you wandered in from?" She asked, keeping her tone curt. "Not that it's any of my business, but I'd like to know where you came from so I can avoid where you've romped around."

"The valley." He answered back as he took a moment to assess where the sun was to decide where east was now. "My Queen-my mother that is-raised me there. I don't know how big the valley is, but I'm trying to leave the Twilight Sun territory to find out what the spirits mean for me to be merciless."

"The spirits?" She echoed softly, before nodding. "I suppose your mother was one of those kinds of cats to believe in such things."

"It's how I was raised. There are spirits who change seasons, govern the weather, and even chase the moon and sun." Wonder explained. "According to her, the rabbit I caught to prove that I am old enough to wander the land, was also a sign of where my destiny lay."

"And it's to be merciless?"

"It's what she says, I don't know anything more then that. So I figure I'll find it as I go. It can be whatever I wish for it to mean, or at least that's what I personally think. I know it's silly to hear, but if it makes my mother happy, then I'll wander off and find my place in the world anyway." Wonder went on, managing to find where the sun rose. "I'll get going to leave you to your prey."

"If you want, you can have it." The she-cat told him, "I'm about done here and it would be a waste to leave it unfinished if another cat can have it right now."

"Are you sure?" Wonder asked, looking back at her.

"It's up to you." She reminded him as she stretched to her paws. "I'm Weasel, what about you?"

"Wonder." He replied as he approached slowly.

"Wonder?"

"That's my name."

Weasel snorted softly. "It's a strange one, your mother must have been creative."

Wonder held his tongue before taking a bite of arctic hare. As much as he was glad to not be alone, he knew he couldn't tell a stranger everything. His name was a symbol of the hardships he and his mother had gone through. A moment of where her confidence had been shaken, her belief's fractured until she knew he would make it. With it in mind, they could only focus on the meal before him. Nothing could be done for the past as they lived to be the present now. Still, he knew he had to push past it and ask the really important questions.

"Do you know anything about those nomadic cats that travel around?" They asked, looking up at the she-cat.

The pale golden tabby thought a moment. "I pass by them from time to time. They've been stationary for a while, but they might start moving pretty soon."

"I need to find and catch up with them." Wonder spoke up. "I don't know much about the terrain so I know I need to see them and learn their ways around."

Weasel's gaze brightened a bit. "Well, if you allow me to, I can show you where they last were. They tend to hang around until their kits are about four moons old and I think they should be by now."

"How well do you know them?" Wonder asked, finishing off the arctic hare as they listened.

"I was staying with them for a while, they're friendly and they teach a lot about the territories they have seen." She explained warmly. "I've been debating on whether or not to join them, so I guess this settles it. I'm going to see where they go."

The blue-gray cat felt a little relieved to not be going to a group of cats on his own. "I appreciate that."

"By the way, your mother is able to read into the rabbit you caught, right?" Weasel asked.

Wonder nodded, feeling a little puzzled. "Yes, why?"

"Could you do the same with my arctic hare or is it only a skill she possesses?" She asked aloud with a twitch of her ears.

"She does it before it gets eaten, looking at the pelt, how the dispatch was done and the specific creature caught and it's color and everything." Wonder explained thoughtfully, "I've never actually tried myself."

"If I catch something, we can test it out then." Weasel promised, "Now follow me, I'll show you to the Nomads." Without waiting a moment longer, the young she-cat darted away in a playful bound towards the brush.

Wonder hesitated, having never been with any cat around his age before; but he followed as swiftly as he could. Their eyes bright as he spotted the whisk of a pale golden tabby tail flicking away. With racing paws, they charged after her, slowly gaining with his longer stride. With a destination in mind, Wonder felt more at peace then before. No longer blissfully wandering aimlessly to the south, but heading to a group to help him find where he could be himself and live a healthy life. Perhaps he will stay with them and become one of the Nomads himself!

The pale golden tabby continued to lead the way, following an unknown winding trail that Wonder found difficult to navigate on their own. If he had to guess, it must have been an old rabbit or fox trail. Narrowing his gaze, he followed Weasel's tail tip as far as he could until, after what felt like forever, they entered a glade hidden in the edge of a forest. Several cats were already there with mice and hares of their own to tuck into. Their eyes slowly training onto them.

"These are the Nomads." Weasel introduced him. "Their leader is that ginger and white tabby over there named Snow."

"Who have you brought with you Weasel?" A brown tabby cat asked, approaching.

"And this is Vixen." She went on before turning her attention fully on the cat before her. "This is Wonder, he lived in the Valley further north from here. He was looking for some prey, but I talked him into coming here so he could wander with us until he finds a good place to live."

"I see." The brown tabby murmured as their green eyes flitted over Wonder. "Come with me, Snow should know of your presence."

"Thank you." Wonder mewed, following the older cat's lead.

The light ginger and white rosetted tabby lifted her head. White lined her gray eyes as she began to sit up more. "So, who did she bring, Vixen?"

"This is Wonder. She brought him here to learn the lay of the lands we cross most likely." Vixen answered.

"Is that so?" She glanced to them. "How may we properly address you?"

"Excuse me?" Wonder inquired back, confused. "I just go by Wonder."

"Yes, but are you only a tom?" Snow pressed, tilting her head to one side.

"I don't understand what your asking of me." The blue-gray tom muttered, half to themself in their own confusion. "I'm not a she-cat that I know of."

Vixen shook their head. "No, she is asking how to properly address you. For example, Weasel is a she-cat and feels best being referred to as a she or her. I feel most comfortable being referred to as a they or them."

Wonder blinked, having never considered any of that before. "I guess just refer to me as a him?"

"Are you certain?" Snow asked, when Wonder began to open his mouth, she added in, "I only ask since most cats who travel with us end up doing so as they cannot fit in anywhere. Most territories don't have a term for a cat like Vixen; but after they came across some strange massive rat-like creatures with pointed teeth like a fox, they've come to refer to themselves as a jack and others who are somewhat like them as different variations such as she-jack and tom-jack."

"I understand, I think." Wonder relented with a soft sigh. "I just don't really know. I've never known being anything else really."

"Neither have I." Vixen assured him, a warmth in their mew. "But when I found that being a jack-cat is what I am I felt better with myself then I did before. You may never truly know until later on and that's okay. Not every cat is able to figure themselves out completely. There are still things about myself I learn every day. But one thing remains a new constant, I am a jack-cat and that is just who I am. Just as Snow being a she-cat is who she is through and through. It has no bearing on your skills or abilities. It's just a part of who you are and helps make sense of who you are to you and making sure others respect that."

Wonder nodded as he listened, curiosity slowly building up in his heart. Yet, he kept it down and away. He swallowed it as dryly as possible. "I'll keep an open mind to find myself then."

"Good, that is part of life." Vixen promised. "Not just finding a place to call home, but being true to yourself."

"And with that, you are now very much welcomed as a Nomad." Snow spoke up proudly. "Weasel will tell you how we all refer to ourselves as so you may learn our ways and adapt them into your own way of life."

"Will it be that easy to do though?" Wonder asked before he could stop themself.

Vixen nodded, "It's easier then it sounds. Some end up thinking it's harder then it is, but it isn't once you start. It's like learning to hunt, you keep at it and before you know it, it's just second nature."

With a blink, the blue-gray cat nodded, accepting the answer. "Then I will give it my all to learn."

"Excellent, we leave tomorrow at dawn." Snow informed him, "Tell Weasel that so you both can get to work now before we rest. Feel free to have a bite to eat if you need to, there is quite a bit of prey left over and we can't just lug it around as he travel."

"Understood, thank you." Wonder dipped his head politely before turning away to go and see Weasel.

He had a lot to learn, but he hoped that Weasel won't feel pressured at all. They were still practically strangers even if they started to warm up to one another just recently. Warmth spread in Wonder's chest at the thought that, somehow, he would find his way to discover why his destiny wished for them to be merciless as though hunting an injured rabbit. At least until he felt a cold wind blow through his pelt. Startled, he slowed to a stop, just a cat-length from where Weasel was waiting.

He looked up to the sky, it was still sunny and white puffy clouds in the sky. The breeze felt warm again, yet the chill he sensed made his heart pound wildly like a bird trying to escape a cat's claws. Slowly, he turned his attention to the pale golden tabby she-cat as she approached, a puzzled expression on her face. Her yellow eyes glancing around as she attempted to make sense with what could have been a matter.

"Is everything all right?" She asked.

Wonder hesitated, unsure how truthful he wanted to be before speaking. "I think so, I just had the strangest feeling that there was a cold wind, but there is nothing of that sort. I could have imagined it." He glanced to Weasel and saw the concern in her eyes, prompting him to assure her. "It has to be nothing, if anything that strange happens again you'll be the first cat to know."

"If you say so." She mumbled as she went on with her inquiry. "So, what did Snow and Vixen tell you?"

Feeling a little better, Wonder began to explain everything he was told to Weasel. He hoped it would lift the mood back up, but the concern in Weasel's eyes never left. He wished he knew what it was that was trouble her, but she didn't seem keen on bringing it up anymore than he was. In the back of Wonder's mind, the cold chill in his fur was a memory he wished he could go without.

Yet, not even he could say what caused it no matter how much he wanted to pretend it was just his imagination.

Author Notes:

In case anyone is wondering, Wonder's name came from a misspelling of "Wander" and I just fell in love with the idea his name is "Wonder". As you can tell, this is a story of three journey's, but they are interconnected and happening all at the same time to create a slight theme about the passage of time.

Any guesses on what the theme's passage of time really means?

Thank you for reading, have a wonderful morning, day, evening, or night. - NightSky