The Beginning

Chapter 35

The assembly was so sudden that when Klickhaze heard the news, she scrambled onto her paws and walked to the Hollow, where the leaders were already sitting. Clauchice was pressed against Jhaufyther and Lhrioun, the three of them looking like a little cloud. Their eyes were wide as Slaughlitte stepped forward, waiting for the conversations to finish. When they died down, he spoke up. "Our three human friends are in danger," he announced. "One of the newcomers, a female called Crystal, is plotting something, something that will harm Riley and her friends."

"Be on the lookout," Littefhur called. He glanced at Klickhaze, asking her if she knew about this. She subtly nodded, and his eyes shone with relief. He turned back to the crowd. "What do they look like, again?"

"Blond hair, around the same height as Riley, fierce, bold, snappy," Jhaufyther said, standing up. "Tommy and Marissa, her former friends, are plotting with her, although they are doing it against their will."

The uproar that followed this announcement made Klickhaze crouch and cover her ears. "We need to kill her!" Litteleph spoke up.

Lepardhirk's tail twitched with uncertainty. "We need to make sure what she's plotting," he said.

"MAKE SURE?" a Catwing yelled. Beriflit, Lephhice's sister, was standing up, her tail lashing and her green eyes flashing. "A young human's life is in danger, for Comet's sake!"

"I know," Slaughlitte said, nodding. "But we need to see what she's planning. And it's clear that it has ill intent."

"Well, obviously," Hazefhur spoke up. "Riley's life is in danger, and there's no way it's not ill intended."

Klickhaze noticed that every Catwing was feeling angry on Jhaufyther's behalf. He's done a lot for all of them, which Klickhaze found really sweet. She wondered if Jhaufyther felt happy knowing that all the Catwings supported him. She scanned the crowd and noticed Beriflit whispering with Lephhice.

"What are we going to do?" Klickhaze asked.

Her father's eyes was filled with anger. "We should act now," he growled, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"How, though?" Slaughlitte asked, turning toward his brother. His gray tail was puffed up.

"I don't know, but it's clear to me that we should let Jhaufyther deal with this," he replied, looking at Jhaufyther.

"She's terrified of us," Jhaufyther said, facing the crowd.

"As she should be," a Catwing muttered.

"The point is, make any noise to let her know that you're searching for her. She should take the signal and retreat farther back into the forest, where I scented her."

All the Catwings nodded with agreement, their tails lashing. Littefhur stepped forward. "My guess is that she's biding her time," he pointed out. "She's waiting to strike."

"When, though? According to Jhaufyther, she's unpredictable," a voice said. Flicklitte's white and brown tabby fur rippled along his back. "And we all know what an unpredictable human can do to another human."

"That's true," Lepardhirk agreed. "But we don't know if her plan is for now, or if it's for the near future."

A bushy white Catwing stood up. "It seems to me that Crystal has been plotting this for a long time," he observed. Cluodfhur's tail was twitching. "Maybe we can track her movements throughout the forest and see if she's closer to Jhaufyther's camp."

"I agree," Litteclau said. "Who knows what she's capable of? It's the safe way of doing it."

Lepardhirk nodded. "I think that is a great idea. We lie low and wait."