Spirits on the Wind

Chapter 8

Minnowsplash frantically clawed at the wooden board. Night had fallen and he stopped scratching. He sat on his haunches, not knowing what do to. He padded down the wall, hoping for another hole in it.

As he walked, noises sounded behind him and ahead. He froze, fearful. But he took a deep breath and kept going. Finally after a long walk and sore pads, a top portion of the brick wall was crumbled away. He leapt to the top, a strong wind buffeting his fur. He got the shivers and jumped down, landing softly into short, trimmed grass.

Minnowsplash looked around, alert for any noises. A a gray head poked out of a plastic flapping door in a Twoleg nest that Minnowsplash was near.

The gray and white she cat slid out cautiously. "Hello! Why are you in my yard?" She asked. It seemed that she was trying to be brave but she was afraid on the inside.

"Look, I don't mean to intrude. I am trying to find my mate who got lost. I'll be on my way." He dipped his head politely to the kittypet and turned to walk to the other end of the lawn.

"Hey! You won't get far if I don't help. Please! Dawn is breaking so my Twolegs will be okay if I'm out." She called out behind him.

Minnowsplash turned around slowly. "Okay but I have to find her." He meowed gently, not wanting the kittypet to be frightened if he raised his voice.

"I understand. I'll help. This way!" She meowed cheerfully and led him to the edge of a small Thunderpath. They walked beside it on sand colored rock that had straight lines in it every few tail-lengths.

"I'm Carly by the way." The kittypet meowed and flashed a warm smile at him.

"I'm Minnowsplash. Where are we going exactly?" He asked, trotting to keep up with Carly.

"First you need to tell me where you lost her." Carly nodded.

"Uh in some back alleys... That way." He flicked his tail in the direction if where the hole covered with a wooden board was.

"I see. Let's hope she didn't run into Ty or Dagger." Carly meowed.

Minnowsplash froze. Dagger was the tom they met. "Why don't you want her to meet Dagger?" He asked, fear skyrocketing for Silvermoon.

"Oh he has at least a dozen mates that he had kits with. He flirts with all the she cats and they all fall in love with him. One alley cat, Brick. She's nice. She hated Dagger so much for forcing her to live with him. She had kits but two died in their first moon and the other got taken by a Twoleg later in its life." Carly explained.

"Carly! We need to find Silvermoon. She's with Dagger. I don't want her to have his kits! She's my mate!" Minnowsplash meowed. "Have you actually ever met him?"

"No, I've heard stories, but I happen to know where his place is. It's down that way quite a while." She flicked her tail in a direction. She she rested her tail tip on his shoulder. "Don't worry, we will find Silvermoon." She purred reassuringly.

Minnowsplash nodded.

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Silvermoon woke up in another alley. She had nestled down in a black stretchy pelt that was squishy. Her claws flexed on the bag.

"Okay where to now?" She asked herself. First she stretched and then started trotting to a small Thunderpath. It wasn't busy at all. She felt a weird sense wash over her.

I'm being watched. She thought and shook her pelt. A sudden mass of silver fur flew over her shoulder and pinned he to the ground.

"Don't think you got away, beautiful." Dagger hissed in her ear lightly.

"I told you! Go away!" She yowled in pain as his claws sunk into her belly fur. Only now did she realize how empty her stomach was.

"You'll endure much more pain if you don't come with me. You need food don't you?" He asked.

She nodded. "Alright. Good compromise." Dagger purred and guided her along a light alley.

She wanted to run. Run away from everything! She had to find a way to escape this love-thirsty cat.

Silvermoon tripped and almost fell onto her muzzle but Dagger caught her by her scruff and pulled her back to her paws. She had to admit, he was helpful.

They kept walking slowly. Then Dagger came to a halt and held up his tail indicating her to stop.

Silvermoon froze, looking up and seeing Dagger leap on top of a metal cylinder. Many things spattered out. A piece of white meat rolled right to her paws. She jumped back but then stretched her neck and sniffed it. It smelled alright. She nibbled at it and it actually tasted good!

Dagger looked back at her. He was rummaging through the trash. "That's called chicken. The Twolegs put it in a giant box that goes into a wall. The box heats up and that comes out! It's magic!" He laughed. Silvermoon smiled back at him.

"Well it's good and that's all that matters." She meowed and pushed it towards him. "Have some. You must be starving."

"Thanks Silvermoon! We could maybe go out of Twolegplace where it's more peaceful. Maybe I could hunt. The rats around here aren't the best." He mumbled through a mouthful of chicken.

"Ew, rats? I understand eating a mouse but why a rat?" Silvermoon twisted her face in disgust.

"Well you do everything you can out here to live." Dagger licked his lips. Silvermoon watched him stretch his long limbs.

Then she gave a confused scowl when he got up and grabbed a cloth tendril in his jaws. "This will help at my shelter to keep it in place." Dagger explained.

"I get how that would help keep it sturdier." Silvermoon nodded in understanding.

Thoughts ran through her mind while she walked along beside the silver tom, her stomach full on chicken. I hope Minnowsplash is coming to find me. Of course he is, he wouldn't just get a new mate and leave me here with Dagger....would he? No!