Mark of the Moon (MAGIC CAT ACADEMY STORY)

Strike

Dusk squeaked as she bumped into a pan, and it clattered against the wall. She felt awkward afterward as Heart gave her a ridiculous stare. Dusk knew she shouldn't be scared of a utensil, but she was getting used to the eerie silence, other than the occasional rupture of thunder. Dusk glared around, seeing if she could spot a ghost. She let out a sigh of relief and squeezed under the bench of a lunch table. She curled her tail around the metal poles, so it didn't stick out from under the table. She peered over at the area where the pots and pans hung, but she couldn't hear a sound.

"Are you worried? Don't worry. We'll be gentle." Dusk felt dread creep through her from her ears to her tail as she felt someone's hot breath breathe on her side and the rusty voice. Dusk pushed herself out from under the bench and arched her back, hissing at the ghost that snuck up on her. Dusk realized with horror that more ghosts were behind her. She turned and saw three more ghosts.

"Stay back!" She yowled. She raised her wand, but none of the ghosts backed away. Dusk perked her ears as she heard rummaging. Oh no, not another one! But Dusk was underwhelmed when she saw a ghost with a twisted paw explode out of the shadows. He bounded up to Dusk enthusiastically, then raked his tongue over Dusk's ears, purring. Dusk opened her jaw to reply to the weird deformed ghost, but no words escaped her. The place he licked felt cold and uncomfortable, and Dusk slumped to the ground in confusion. Heart was watching them, and at that moment, she lapped her paw and rubbed her head fluff with her damp paw. Everyone except Dusk now eyed her.

"Did you just groom your paw after Wisteria kissed Dusk on the head?" A big tom asked.

"So what? Are you going to lick me now, Wisteria?" The tom jumped up and down, squealing like an excited kitten.

"Can I?" Wisteria cried, shaking with happiness. Dusk thought she would shatter like a piece of glass hit by a hammer. Is this even real? What kind of ghost says something like that? Heart glanced up at the ceiling, drawing back her ears like she heard a treacherous sound. She gave a heartless glare at all of the ghosts, not noticing that Wisteria had dispersed, and mewed, "Seems like a storm is coming."

"What are you talking about? The lightning storm left ages ago!" A small ghost snarled. Heart blinked at Dusk as if a sign, and Dusk lifted her wand quietly and drew a lightning bolt. She slowly slid up until she stood upright, and she drew the final line. A wave of lighting, with colors vibrant as bright yellow to snowy white, crashed down over all the ghosts. Dusk released her paws and let the room light up, flattening her ears to her head and then screeching as power filled her body. But swiftly, only ash and burnt floor were left. Heart was glaring at Dusk like she was insane.

"Good job. Unfortunately, Wisteria ran just in time to escape. He was born with a twisted paw and that crazy personality. But please! Don't ever make that face again!" Heart screamed at the last words. Dusk nodded guiltily.

"Now I'm happy we're late." A voice sighed. Two ghosts tumbled out of the shadows and hopped to their paws.

"Thistledown and Tempest." Heart groaned.

"Yeah, that's us." Thistledown meowed. "Wait, didn't you fade away?"

"Not surprising that Ivy lied." Tempest yapped.

"Ok, Thistle Wind and Storm Chaser." The ghosts immediately looked hostile as Heart spat those words. Dusk drew a line of fire, and Tempest let out a screech as his ghostly body evaporated into the growing flames. Thistledown watched him burn with an unreadable expression. Then, without hesitating, Dusk drew another line, creating a rainstorm and soaking everything around the room. Thistledown disappeared as soon as the water hit his fluff.

"That was easy, but I think I hear a real storm coming." Heart mewed. Dusk did hear the pounding of rain coming from above. Dusk thought her heart stopped when she heard a creak and water gurgling around her paws. Dusk turned and saw that the wall had broke from the pressure of the rain, and now water flooded in. Dusk didn't stop to tell Heart. She just ran. Water sloshed into her eyes, and her fur was heavy with floodwaters. I have to get out of here! She thought, fear washing over her. Dusk dug her claws into an object on the floor, clinging on desperately. A wave of floodwaters knocked her off her paws, throwing her into turmoil.