Dreams In The Dark

Ch 7

As I passed through the soft wintery forest, I wondered if the weather was nice enough for the two hairless cats to be out. I missed them.

I changed direction and headed in the direction of Din's twoleg den. I briskly trotted through my familiar territory, quickly reaching the familiar fence and jumping it, mildly revelling in my strong form that could easily jump the fence.

It felt just like last season I had to scramble just to get to the top of the fence.

I landed on the other side and padded through the snow covered garden. I walked up to the kitty door and wondered how to get their attention. Should I knock? Is that something cats do? I felt like yowling was a bit obnoxious.

I lightly drug my nails across the frost covered door a couple times after a moment of thought. It worked last time at least.

I waited a bit before I heard scrabbling on the other side and stepped back, glancing up and noticing a window nearby. Just over the edge I saw a familiar peach colored head peak out the curtain covered window.

I barely saw her tail practically wag excitedly as she smiled widely and seems to say hello very muffled before disappearing. Soon I could make out another scrabbling before something clicked on the other side of the cat door and Din pulled it back with her paw.

"Hey Fleck! Come in come in!" She purred. I blinked in surprise but didn't want to be rude. It kinda made sense to not have her come outside, but I felt uneasy going into the home. What if a clanmates saw me? 

Regardless, I pushed my reservation aside and entered the twoleg den. I was immidiatly hit in the face by a wave of warmth. This house was roasting, amplified by having been acclimated to the outside cold for the last few moons.

I glanced around and noticed it was very modernly decorated, something I hadn't thought about at my last visit. All clean glass, white and black furniture. The cat trees and accessories were no different, aside from the occasional large fluffy white or black cat bed around the place.

I think I can see Fror's pink and black fleshy mound sleeping in one of the hidey holes.

"Omg, Fleck how have you been! You are so skinny, are you hungry? We are open fed so there's kibble if you want any." Din offered, sniffing me up and down to seemingly check if I was fine.

"Hello, Din. I'm fine and no, I'm actually not hungry. I ate before coming." I purred good naturedly at her.

"Are you sure? I never see any of the seed birds anymore. What are you possibly eating?" She asked in concern.

"Oh, there's still mice and birds. They are just farther and fewer between catches. That's why we pig out in leaf-gre.....summer." I explained.

"But you were so skinny in summer too! You can't lie to me, your furs long but you are nothing but skin and bone!" Din chastised me.

"I appreciate the concern Din, really. But I'm alright. This is what Im meant to be doing. If I eat some of your food here, how can I face my clanmates when I return with a full belly and they are still hungry? You can't possibly expect to feed all of them." I explained gently.

"Hmph, well I don't like it. Regardless, how have you been. The winter seems rougher than usual. There was even flooding this fall." She asked. I wondered how she knew. Maybe she watches the news?

"I've been good. I had some mishaps, but currently I'm alright." I told her. She demanded I tell her what happened and I recounted the fight with Brokenstar, how I lost my voice for a few days, the attack on windclan camp, and how I've continued meeting Stonefur.

"Oh, I remember Stone. Your not-mate, right? I thought I told you to bring him to meet me!" Din purred jokingly.

"Ya... about that. We sort-of kinda are mates now?" I said vaguely.

"Sorta-kinda? Well are you or aren't you?" She pressed.

"Well, openly we aren't. Cause I think my clan would kick me out. But I'm kinda.....pregnant." I said, not sure how to explain.

".....oh......OH. OMG that's so exciting! How far along are you, when are you due!? Does Stone know? How that gonna work if you guys don't live together? Will it be like half custody?" Din rambled.

"Well, no the kits will live with me until they are old enough to be apprentices. But when they are old enough I want to give them the choice to choose who they want to live with. And they'll have to stay in that clan. And of course he knows." I explained the custody as best as I could.

"Wow, weird." Din said, lost in thought. I glanced around, wondering if napping in such a warm place would be bad.

On second thought, I don't want the twoleg stink to cling to my fur when I returned.

"Well, id love to stay longer, but I have to get back before I'm missed." I sighed, kind of disappointed.

"I wish you could stay." Din mentioned. I smiled gently at her.

"I know. But we both know your human wouldn't tolerate me." I purred.

She chuckled before rubbing cheeks with me one more time as I turned. I purred back at her before pushing my way through the door, back into the cold winter wonderland.