First her mom dies. Things only go downhill from there. Alongside raising her new siblings, Junco must navigate the now dangerous waters of life as a Wanderer. Death and feelings are the worst kind of problems.
Oriole was always very cheerful, and...
Junco was pushed along by the leaps of her friends before she knew what was happening. Then her feet were pounding against the earth too.
The black cat was in the lead, running for her life from something just out of view. The scent, sweetgrass and musk, grew overpowering. What is that? From the fear and confusion on all the Wanderers' faces, none of them knew either.
She knew. The black she-cat. She had seen it before.
"We need to make it to the twoleg nests! They aren't far and we will be safe! Follow me!" she yowled as she ran.
Guess I have no better plan.
Junco could run as far as she needed to survive and continue trying to do something about Static. Snapdragon on the other paw.
The healer's short legs could pose a problem. Behind all the other cats, Estcado ran beside her, clearly going much slower than he could be. Slower than they should be, that whatever-it-is is gaining on them!
Slowing to keep pace with them, Junco caught her first glance of the beast.
Thick brown fur covered the body of the biggest animal she had ever seen. Towering many tail-lengths tall, it galloped towards them, huge claws tearing at the grass as it ran. Its dark eyes stared at them, full of rage.
"What is that thing?!" she cried to the black cat.
She looked back as she ran and answered, "It's a bear! They live in these parts!"
"Why is it chasing us?!"
"I may have accidentally walked too close to its nest! It probably has cubs!"
Great! Just great!
"Why would you do that?!" she screamed.
The she-cat looked hurt, "It wasn't intentional!"
"Pay attention next time! You're going to get us all killed!"
The black cat looked away. The bear was gaining on them. Junco could see the tops of the twoleg nests in the distance. She looked at Snapdragon. She's not going to make it!
Staying next to the healer, she urged her on. Snapdragon's short legs weren't her only hindrance, her age was showing clearly. Her breaths seemed pained and she slowed after only a little running.
Junco looked back at the bear again. It was so close she could almost hear its heavy breaths, just a few tail lengths away. Looking back at the twoleg nests, they grew closer but not fast enough.
Looking back at the bear. Looking back at the nests.
Time is running out.
What can I do?
And then something odd happened.
The bear slowed, seemingly losing interest in the chase. Slowing to a walk, the beast turned its head. Sitting down, it pulled a branch off of a berry bush and turned around.
It just stopped? The Wanderers and the black cat slowed and turned to watch the bear leave.
"We must have left its territory, or we got far enough away it wasn't afraid for its cubs safety anymore," the black she-cat mewed.
That was the luckiest thing ever. One more moment and Snapdragon would have been bear food.
"Sorry for disturbing you guys like that, my name's Inky."
Snapdragon spoke from where she had lain down, "You look very familiar."
"I uhh, don't think I've ever met you before..."
"Your face, those markings under your eyes. You look just like someone I used to know."
"Oh you knew my mother! She had them too and I know she met you. Zoe?"
"She was your mom? We visited her often!" Snapdragon seemed excited.
"What are you doing out here then? Wasn't Zoe a kittypet?" Junco asked. The kittypet they took me to when I was bitten.
"I was actually looking for you guys. Mother used to tell me stories about the Wanderers. It seemed like the kind of lifestyle I would like."
"She used to?" Snapdragon asked, "She doesn't anymore?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. My mother, Zoe, died over a year ago."
Snapdragon went quiet. I know how that feels.
"I'm sorry to meet you by leading a bear to you. My bad," Inky laughed.
"I'm afraid you've met us in a rough time as well, young one." Snapdragon mewed gravely.
"Yes, Static here murdered our previous leader and my mate."
"Junco!" Llano burst out. "How could you accuse your own, our own, sister of killing our friends?"
"Because she did," Junco mewed. He needs to understand. Even though we are blood, she can still be a terrible cat.
Inky's eyes were wide, "Is this a joke?"
Junco's glare told her otherwise. Of course it's not a joke, mouse brain. Why would we joke about that?
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