Ashwings legacy

Chapter 16

Firesoul glanced back at Owlnose as they walked through the kittypet territory of the large twolegplace. Owlnose, Scarlett and Herself went there hoping to find a new food source. Kade had said that the kittypets were the ones to go to if you needed information, so here they were.
This part of the twolegplace was much different then the part close to Kades camp, it was cleaner and more organized. All the dens looked the same, and it smelled way better. The air here was fresh compared to the rancid, dirty smell of the other place. Firesoul had always hated the smell of the twolegplace, but this was manageable. She felt a little vulnerable just walking on the path beside the thunderpath. She peeked over her shoulder back at Owlnose once again. He was looking around and flicking his tail in anxiety. She guessed he was feeling the same way she was. Up ahead, she spotted a monster turning the corner and heading towards them. She and Owlnose stopped while Scarlett kept walking. Didn't she see the monster coming right at them? "uh... Scarlett?" She said.
The reddish orange she cat stopped and turned to them with her usual irritated look. "What is it?"
"That monster is heading right for us..." Firesoul says, pointing at it with her tail.
Scarlett rolled her eyes and turned, continuing to walk down the path. "It's fine, it won't do anything." She says with an exasperated sigh.
Firesoul had a hard time believing her, and all her instincts were telling her to run as the ground rumbled. She braced for the monster to turn and lunge at her, but it whizzed past, and the only thing that hit her was wind. She blinked as she looked behind her. The monster was leaving, it had taken no interest to her. She caught Owlnose with the same look of surprise. They both glance at each other before bounding to catch up to Scarlett. "How did you know that monster wouldn't attack?" Owlnose asked as they fell in beside her.
   "Monsters rarely ever leave the thunderpath. So as long as we stay off of their territory, they shouldn't attack us." She responds.
   Firesoul knew the logic made sense, but it was still nerve wracking to be so close to the monsters. Suddenly, Scarlett turned and headed towards one of the twoleg dens. Firesoul and Owlnose followed behind her. As they stopped at the entrance, Firesoul wondered how they'd get through. It was a large wooden wall, the same that was on every other den. She'd already seen the twolegs open them by pushing them forward, but there's now way they would be strong enough to do the same, even with the three of them. Scarlett scratched the wall lightly and waited. A small peice of the wall flipped up and a cat head appeared from it, startling her and Owlnose, who leapt back. Scarlett didn't even flinch, only looking at the cat who'd appears from the wall. "Hey Simon, can we come in? I need to ask you something." Scarlett said flatly.
   The tom, eyed Firesoul and Owlnose before nodding. "Sure, come on."
   His head disappeared and the flap closed again. Scarlett looked at them and motioned for them to follow. "It's alright, just follow me." She said as she walked through the flap. Firesoul watched it close behind her and gave a nervous glance to Owlnose before slowly stepping forward, carefully pushing the flap with her nose. She stepped through and looked around. She saw Scarlett and the other tom in the middle of the den, sitting on what looked like a patch of fur. She padded over the hard floor and joined them, hearing Owlnose come through the flap behind her. She took a moment to look around once again. So this is what a twoleg den looks like on the inside... Everything was so strange, and the smell of twoleg was unbearably strong. She didn't understand how a cat could really live like this. "So who are your friends?"
   She was pulled from her thoughts by the toms voice. "Just some newcomers to our group. I just thought I'd use this to show them around here." Scarlett responded.
   The tom looked hesitant, but greeted them anyway. "Well then, hi there, my name is Simon."
   Firesoul dipped her head in a greeting and smiled, trying to seem friendly. "Hi, my name is Firesoul, and this is Owlnose." She said as Owlnose also dipped his head.
   Simon gave them a curious look. "Those are... unique names..."
   "We're not from around here." Owlnose chimed.
   Scarlett cleared her throat loudly, signaling for silence. "Can we focus please?"
   She glared at the two of them. She was obviously irritated. Now that she thought about it, Scarlett been irritated ever since Kade told them to come here. Maybe Scarlett doesn't like this place... or this cat...
   Scarlett flicked her tail impatiently as they settled down. "Now, Simon, what can you tell us about Alpha? Has he or any of his cats been around here recently?"
   Firesoul narrowed her eyes and looked at Scarlett. They were supposed to be finding a food source, why was she asking about Alpha? "No, I haven't seen or heard anything recently..." Simon responded, though he sounded a little nervous.
    Scarlett must have picked up on it, because she pressed him further. "Are you sure? Some of other kittypets we visited today told me he'd been around..."
   Firesoul knew she was bluffing, as this was the first place they'd come to. She didn't know what Scarlett's goal was, but she decided to keep her mouth shut. Simon hesitated, looking very nervous now. He shifted his paws. "I... okay fine... Yes, some of his cats were patrolling around earlier... but that's all I know."
   "And where did they go?"
   "Well..."
   Suddenly, four cats jumped out from behind the various structures in the den, leaping at them. Firesoul was too shocked to react quick enough and was barreled over. She scrambled to her paws, but her claws slid against the hard floor, making her slip. She felt a pair of paws pin her to the ground and her back was suddenly heavy with the other cats weight. She looked around and saw Owlnose pinned down also, and the other cat, a large black tom was pushing down on his throat, choking him. Firesoul watched as his eyes rolled back and his body went limp. "No! Owlnose!"
   She struggled against the weight on top of her but she couldn't get free. A paw pushed her head into the hard floor. "Next time, I won't be so gentle with you..."
   It was a deep, raspy voice of a tom. He laughed and picked her up by the scruff, tossing her aside. She hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of her. She gasped for breath as she watched the four cats leave through the flap in the wall, dragging Owlnose along with them. She suddenly felt lightheaded, and she knew she was going to pass out. She fought it, but it was no use. No... I have to save... Owlnose... She desperately tried to move, but her body didn't respond, and darkness slowly enclosed her vision until she saw nothing.