☆～Wings of Dreams～☆

Chapter 3: Sticks and Stones

      She lunged at me, paws raised, claws out. I felt her rake the side of my face, and I couldn't think fast enough to defend myself. So, I did the first thing I could think of: I screamed.

      "Stop it!" I yowled over what sounded like a hail storm, but was probably my imagination. I didn't want to look away from my attacker to check, as it took all I had to keep her from scratching my face again, which didn't keep her from beating me up anywhere else.

      "Sky Kingdom cats always think they're better than us. Look at you! You can't even defend yourself!" The cat screeched angrily over their attack.

      I was panicking. Fear was causing my throat to feel like it was clogged up with mud. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't cry out. I couldn't even figure out how to unsheathe my claws. Please let me wake up, please, please, please.... "Stop," I managed to croak out, my throat feeling dry from screaming.

      The cat slowly stood up, looming over me as the sound of hail paused. "And why would I do that?"

      I'd like to say I bravely bluffed my way out of the situation. I didn't.

      Instead, I let out a pitiful squeak of fear, my voice stubbornly not functioning.

      "Fine. I'll take you back to camp with me, and then we'll get your Sky Kingdom prey-brains to come pick you up. Of course, we'll have to assume that you're not a distraction or spy, but," she looked me up and down, then continued, "with how you acted upon attack, I don't think you've even been assigned a mentor, let alone began training, not to mention how young you are."

      "Oh."

      "What? You want to keep getting beaten up?" she asked incredulously.

      "N-No! No, I don't," I quickly corrected, swallowing. "I'm just surprised that you actually stopped."

      "You think I'm done with you? I would have given you the interrogation of a lifetime had you not cooperated with me on this. Either way, I'm going to take you back to camp, we'll have Aster clean up your wounds, and then you're fluttering back to your kingdom of sparrow-brains."

      "Aster? Who's Aster?"

      "He's our healer, the best one available in camp. Of course, there are better healers in Earth Kingdom, but they reside in the Earth Mountain, and I'm not giving you a chance to see the inside of that. So, we are going to one of the outside camps."

      "Well, since we're gonna be walking for what sounds like quite the distance, and  I already told you mine, what's your name?"

      The cat hesitated for a minute, before finally saying, "Lichen."

      "Lichen. Nice - well, now that you aren't attacking me - Nice to meet you, Lichen."

      "Ok...? Whatever. Let's get going," Lichen said.

•☆•【<◊>】•☆•

      We walked for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only fifteen minutes. While walking, Lichen explained where we were going and how Aster would heal me.

      "Aster is one of the best healers we have, not just because of his Talent."

      "...What's his... 'talent'?"

      "Aster's Talent is camouflage, so he can basically make himself look like anything or anyone. He can also change others' appearance, but he can only do small things. He can also get rid of scars using camouflage, because it adjusts your physical appearance. Scars are physical. It makes him really tired if he does it too much, but small cuts like those shouldn't be too bad. Therefore, he can get rid those nasty cuts I gave you. You're welcome, by the way," she added.

      I looked at her confused. "'You're welcome'? Why should I be thanking you for beating me up?"

      "They are a survivor's scars, Aurora. Proving that you are strong enough to face the dangers thrown at you. A reminder that when the world, or in this case, I, was trying to break you, you survived. A true reminder that never fades, should you choose to keep them."

      "I'm not a warrior. I'm just a kid. I was terrified when you attacked me, and I didn't even fight back!" I said somberly.

      "Doesn't matter if you're a kit. You still survived, and you lived to tell the tale. Just because you didn't fight back doesn't mean you didn't survive. You're still strong," Lichen retorted. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you really don't want the scars, Aster can get rid of them. Just thought you needed a reminder that you are stronger than you think."

       I thought about the something my dad had told me whenever I was scared or sad. 'You aren't weak. Things might push and shove, but you have to stand tall. Don't ever let the world break you, because it's nearly impossible to break someone as special as you.'

      My dad would never tell me something he didn't believe was true. Lichen was right. I was strong. Even when I didn't think I was, truth be told, I wanted those scars. I wanted to be reminded of how I survived that attack. I needed  those scars, because one minute I had all the confidence in the world, and the next I thought that I was pure garbage.

      "If I keep the scars, does that mean that if I ever switch back to a hu-er..." Wait, you haven't told her everything yet. "Nevermind. I'll consider keeping the scars," I said with a smiling.

      Lichen smiled, too. "Good. You don't have long to dwell on it, though. We're almost there. Look."

•☆•【<◊>】•☆•

      The camp was beautiful. With the well-made, extravagant tents, lush green grass, and gorgeous flowers, all my anxiety was washed away by awe. If this is the camp, what must the Earth Mountain look like?  I thought, soaking the environment in.

      "Do you like it?" Lichen asked.

      "Like it? Lichen, this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life. The crystals are gorgeous! The grass is so green! The air is so fresh! This is beautiful."

      Samantha grinned. "Thank you. I've lived here my whole life. I was born in the Earth Mountain, but my parents are originally from here, so when I completed my apprenticeship, I was assigned to guard here."

      "Do your parents still live around here?" I asked, distracted by a butterfly floating past.

      Lichen's mood instantly changed from sweet and friendly to the hostile mood that she had been in when I first met her. "Went on patrol one day. Never came back. We assumed that they got attacked by a fox, badger, or even a dog."

      I stopped walking in shock, astonished. I felt really bad. I should have never brought it up. I looked down, ashamed, and said, "Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

      She shrugged. "It's fine. Happened a long time ago. Anyway, let me show you to the Healer's cave. That's where Aster lives and works at. Let's go." She said as I silently followed her to the cave.