THE DARK MATTER | Book One: Stained Trails

chapter eleven

GALETOOTH RESTED PEACEFULLY THAT NIGHT. Being in the confines of a twoleg nest was frightening, but the comfort of Jasmine was enough to keep him asleep. For once in what felt like moons, Galetooth didn't have any nightmares nor did he dream at all. He shut his eyes, let sleep consume him, then as dusk turned to dawn his eyes were suddenly open again.

For once he sat up from his sleep without his chest feeling heavy and his claws tearing at the earth. He had confirmed that the ability to bring back his mate was out there, just unfortunately snug in the mind of an ex-clan cat who now led a treacherous group of rogues. If he could manage to meet with Ibistide and learn the truth of his idea, Galetooth would be one step closer to seeing his love again.

Jasmine was already awake, padding up to Galetooth from where she had been grooming a few tail-lengths away. "Sleep well?" She asked with a purr.

"Yeah... I actually did," Galetooth answered with an assured smile.

"So the kittypet life doesn't seem so bad after all, hm?" Jasmine pestered on, leaning down to look Galetooth in the eyes.

Galetooth snickered at the molly. "Not bad outside the twolegs. They give me the creeps."

Jasmine shrugged as Galetooth stood to his paws, back to his normal height over the she-cat. She was noticeably smaller and more plump than him, obviously never having seen the harshness of a leafbare or a drought in her life. The appearance of her almost made Galetooth envious of the kittypet life in a way that made his head ache afterwards.

"You're in a lot better of a mood today, I see," Jasmine pointed out. "My humans will be awake soon and out of their beds. Would you like to share some food with me before your departure?"

Galetooth could feel his mouth water at the mention of food. "Of course."

He followed the black and white she-cat across the open space of the twoleg den until they approached a wall. At the bottom of the wall lay two objects of bright green color, one of them carrying an able supply of water. The other compartment carried what almost looked to Galetooth like clumps of dirt, the tom stretching forward to sniff at the new discovery. His nose wrenched up in disgust as it smelled like nothing but soil and odd, twoleg remedies to him. Galetooth pulled away and his tongue slipped out ever so slightly in a dramatic display of his disgust, earning a giggle from Jasmine.

"I forget you're used to eating mice and birds." She brushed closely to him to sit and lean over, giving the strange food a sniff and smiling back at him. "It's good, I promise. I also promise I'm not trying to poison you or anything."

"I trust you but I think I'd rather catch a mouse or something when I head back out," Galetooth dismissed with an awkward snicker. He could feel his stomach tighten with hunger but he'd rather lose all his fur than touch that stench Jasmine called food.

Jasmine ate for a moment, Galetooth sticking right at her side. They were positioned with their pelts brushing but Galetooth didn't flinch away from the contact. It was all too similar to the friendly display he had with Rainstar growing up - the comforting kind of friendly that was different from love but lingered so close. For a second he found himself cursing at himself in his head at the thought of it. He and Rainstar's friendship was close and compassionate and he always knew she loved him. Maybe if he never met his love, he and Rainstar would be together, but he did meet her and that was all that mattered. Rainstar would only ever be a friend.

The she-cat beside him straightened back up, glancing at her paws as she spoke. "Are you actually going to go find Ibistide and the Dark Matter?"

Galetooth could sense the sorrow threading through her words and his ears fell at his newfound friend's worry. "I have to. He has the answers I need."