𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗦ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ 一 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔷𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔱 [𝟑]

❆☾𑁍𓆱ᥴhᥲρtᥱr 𝟹𝟽𓆱𑁍☽❆

Larkwing had fixated her gaze on the swaying tip of Cirrus's tail. They had been walking through the forest for quite a while, seemingly without a destination.

Surely the grey and cream she-cat wouldn't lure her into an ambush. Nevertheless, she remained vigilant. She had already experienced being betrayed once by a cat she had never expected. If such an incident were to happen again, she would be prepared.

Next to an old, gnarled tree, its heavy branches touching the ground, Cirrus stopped and turned to Larkwing. A serious expression could be seen in her blue eyes.

"This is the Tree of Protection," she explained, sounding reverent, but in a fearful way. "This is where we go when we surround ourselves with issues that have brought the world much, much sorrow and danger. We believe that the evil from the past and the evil that lurks around us cannot follow us under the branches of this tree."

Larkwing hurriedly slid to her among the roots. Her fur prickled. Don't behave like that, a reproachful voice whispered in her mind. I'm too old to believe in scary stories anymore.

She forced herself to stay relaxed and sat down, her bushy black tail tucked neatly around her front paws. Somehow, she already had a faint premonition of what Cirrus wanted to talk about, assuming the so-called evil from the past referred to the fire-and-suffering-infused event she'd seen in the world of the Ancient Stone. It seemed extremely suspicious to Larkwing that Sunray had reacted so aggressively when she had found out where the tortico she-cat had been. All signs were that she wanted to hide it at all costs.

Larkwing eyed Cirrus curiously. "Is it about the past?" she blurted out.

Instead of answering, Cirrus paced in a circle around the wide tree trunk while she drew a furrow with her right front paw. Her mouth moved slightly, she seemed to whisper something, but nothing could be understood.

Once she had closed the circle, Cirrus sat down in front of Larkwing. "I had to say a protection prayer," she explained.

"Oh, okay." Larkwing wiggled back and forth. She wasn't superstitious, but she did feel uneasy. If Cirrus had led her to a special place, that said a lot.

"I already informed the other Clan cats about this while you were sleeping," Cirrus began. "You've ventured beyond your borders to find answers. Not many cats have that kind of courage, and it's the least I can do."

Larkwing faltered. It was as if an invisible force was crushing her lungs. "The Shadowless... You're not seriously talking about them, are you?" she croaked in a soundless voice.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about." Cirrus's expression was serious. "You only joined us because you wanted to find out where they came from. But in the whole of the last moon, we barely let you get close to us. I'm sorry about that. That's why I've decided to tell you everything I know. Because you don't want to stay here much longer, do you? It's time for you to return home."