☆～Wings of Dreams～☆

Chapter 4: Healing and Help

      Lichen rushed me into the cave, almost like she didn't want anyone to see me. The cave was covered by a curtain of vines on the outside, and yet still nicely illuminated on the inside. Soft moss covered the floor all the way until a small pool of water and two circles made of moss, ferns, and feathers. I assumed that the circles acted as some sort of nests.

      "Aster? Aster, where are you? ASTER!" Lichen yowled impatiently.

      "Maybe he went outside?" I suggested, wanting to cease her yelling.

      "Probably not. We would most likely have seen him," she said, then turned around and continued yelling, "Aster! ASTER! Aster, I swear to King Oak if you don't come here this minute, I will-" She stopped abruptly as a large brown, black, and gray cat walked through the door.

      "Lichen? What's all the commotion? Who's your fr-" He stopped short as he laid eyes on me. "Lichen, would you like to explain why there is a Sky Kingdom cat in my tent?"

•☆•【<◊>】•☆•

      Aster wrapped a wad of cobwebs around one of my paws as I continued to explain my journey here, skirting around the fact that I wasn't supposed to be a cat. "I just woke up sometime later. I wandered through the forest until I found Lichen. She beat me up a little, took me here, and here we are."

      Aster sighed in exhaustion. "That sounds like a lot. It's giving me a headache just thinking about it."

      "You're sure you have no idea what the necklace is?" Lichen asked me.

      I nodded. "I found it at my do- er... den. I don't know how it got there."

      "Who knows? Anyway, you're all bandaged up. Before Lichen takes you to town hall, I want to make sure you understand how to care for your wounds. Especially if you ever end up using your wings.

      "Wings? What wings?" I asked in confusion.

      "Sky Kingdom cats have wings. It's how they fly until they learn how to do it without their wings."

      "How are you sure I'm a Sky Kingdom cat again?"

      "It's actually very simple. Come here," he instructed, and led me over to the pool.

      "Ok, now you see the faint lines above the sides of your shoulders?" he asked me. "Those are where your wings are. Most Sky Kingdom cats keep theirs hidden, as they learn how to 'fly' without them, as that's apart of the Trait of the Sky Kingdom."

      "That's how I knew you were a Sky Kingdom cat," Lichen said.

      "What kingdom do you guys belong to? I asked.

      "Earth Kingdom," they replied at the same time.

      "Most Sky Kingdom cats think they're better because they have a greater variety of Talents," Lichen snarkily explained, annoyance obvious.

      "All opinions aside, both kingdoms have their strengths and weaknesses." Aster said. "Now we are going to walk to town hall. Let's go." he said, then leaned closer to me and whispered, "After we leave the area of camp with the dens, fake a fall. Don't tell Lichen about this. Please trust me," and he stepped away like nothing happened.

•☆•【<◊>】•☆•

      We walked for what seemed to be about four minutes, and I couldn't stop thinking about what Aster had told me. Of course, a million other things were buzzing around in my head. For example; "Why is he named 'Aster'?" "What even is an 'Aster'?" "What did Lichen mean by 'talents'?" "How did the cats make these little, weaved hut-things?" "What do the cats eat?" "Why did I eat a flower yesterday, while I was still human?" Normal things, for the most part.

      I was thinking all those questions so much that I didn't even notice the large branch on the ground. Perfect, I thought as I tripped over the branch.

      I let out a yelp of pain as I fell hard on the ground. At least I don't need to fake pain.

      Aster and Lichen crouched down next to me. "Aurora, are you okay?" Lichen asked.

      "She's not okay. She probably opened an old wound." Aster said. "Lichen, go to the meeting. I'll take her back and we'll just have to arrive late," Aster ordered, and Lichen bounded away to the meeting.

      Aster pretended to help me walk until we were a good distance away from Lichen. Then he sighed and said, "Thank you for trusting me."

      "I don't really have a reason not to," I replied. "Now that we're alone, may I ask what this is about?"

      His eyes scanned the camp, as if to make sure that no one was listening. "Listen, I'm going to get you out of here. You have to go to the Sky Kingdom."

      "What? Why would I leave without talking to the council? We were going to talk to them, and I was hoping they'd let me stay.... Why do I have to go? Do you... Do you not want me here?"

      "Believe me, I would love for you to stay, it's just... They  will hurt you." He said. "Lichen has never been on the Council. However, I was. They won't care that you found the Amulet. Actually, that's why you must leave. They'll imprison you, take the Amulet away from you, or just get rid of you. Lichen thinks she's helping, but... the Council just doesn't want a Sky Kingdom cat here, and especially not with one of the more powerful Amulets."

      I expected to feel upset. Outraged, even. I thought I could stay here, but leaving is preferable to imprisonment, or worse, death. 

      "I'll go, but can I ask why you're helping me?"

      "I'm helping you because of my brother. He was originally an Earth Kingdom cat, but his Trait, for some reason, ended up being the Sky Kingdom Trait... They've protected him there. I used to secretly meet with him, until the amount of sentries increased due to the tension between the Sky Kingdom and Earth Kingdom. His name is Birch... I miss him everyday. Maybe I'm also helping you because you remind me of him sometimes. Well, honestly, I don't know why I'm helping you. The point is, at sunhigh they send out patrols. They'll see you with your wing markings, you can give them the whole story, and... just go. I'll take you to the edge of the forest, but I can't go any farther than that."

      "If I leave, what will happen to you? The council is expecting a Sky Kingdom cat with a purple amulet. Please, Aster, come with me..."

      "I can't. I'm needed here. Besides, they can't do anything severe to me because they need me. I'm the only healer that's not on the council. Before you say anything, this is not debatable. I can't come with you."

      "Fine. I'll go alone. But, before I go, is there anything I can do for you? You're risking so much..."

      He sighed. "There is something you could try to do for me. Give a message to Birch. I don't know if you'll ever see him, but if you do, please tell him that I miss him and want to find a way to meet up with him soon. Also, take this," he said as he jumped and pulled off a random leaf from a tree right next to him. "Give this to him when you tell him the message so he knows its from me."

      "Ok...?" I said, then continued, "So... What's so informative and important about this leaf?"

      "It's a leaf from an aster tree, the tree I'm named after. Now let's go," he urged as I followed him into the forest, sealing my fate.