Cats Eye 1: Seeking A Path

Chapter Three Star Spirits

Vala seemed to go blind while staring at the dazzling light. The light started to grow dimmer and a silver tabby she-cat stepped out, her fur still glowing. Ivy hissed at the glowing cat and she grabbed Vala by the scruff of her neck and started to run. Vala bounced along, hitting Ivy's legs when the she-cat stretched her paws out for long strides. The silver cat merely trotted, but she seemed to get closer and closer. Vala let out a squeak as Ivy tripped on a stone and dropped her. Vala rolled for a moment and then lay still, stunned by the impact. Vala mewled in as pain shot through her back leg as a sharp rock flew and hit her leg while Ivy was scrambling to stand. She watched the silver cat walk up to her. She looked around for Ivy, hoping that she would rescue her from this unfamiliar cat. Vala shot off the ground and ran, despite the pain searing through her leg. The cat followed. Vala looked back to see if she was catching up, but before she could see anything clearly, the ground under her paws disappeared! She was falling! The world was spinning around her and she hit the side of the cliff, ripping out clumps of fur and scratching her skin. Her claws scrabbled on loose rocks and she couldn't get a hold of them. She finally managed to hook her claws into some cracks in the rocks. "Spirits save me!" she wailed. She looked down below her to see a raging black river. Her eyes grew as big as full moons. She wailed and mewled, hoping for someone to hear her and save her. "Don't worry little one." she heard a voice say. She thought it was Ivy at first, but this voice was softer, calmer. Like a river flowing over smooth stones. She saw the silver cat scaling the face of the cliff with unusual grace, her long fur not snagging on the jagged rocks. She gently grabbed Vala's scruff and practically flew up the cliff. Once they got to the top, the cat set Vala down. "You must learn to be more careful little kit." the she-cat scolded Vala. "I wasn't going to hurt you." Vala looked up at the cat. "Well, you are just a kit, and this is unfamiliar territory for you. I am Grace." The she-cat introduced herself. "I-I am V-Vala." Vala stammered. Grace licked her between the ears. "Be more careful next time." She said calmly. Grace's green gaze shifted to a shadow lurking behind the leafless trees. "Ivy!" Grace boomed, her voice full of rage. Ivy stepped out her yellow eyes glaring at Grace with defiance. Ivy held her head high and said angrily to Grace, "What do you want? Why are you on Shadow territory?" She spat. "This kit made a promise to you! Now she will never be free!" Grace raged. Ivy's claws scraped the earth, leaving deep scares in the dirt. "This kit chose to make a promise! There is nothing more to it! Leave before I rip your fur out!" She yowled in Grace's face. Vala stared at the two she-cats there eyes locked together. Grace swat at Ivy her claws unsheathed. Her claws connected with Ivy's side and she howled with pain. "I will come back," Ivy shouted as she left. "I always do!" And with that, she disappeared, becoming no more than a shadow amongst the dark forest. Vala breathed a sigh of relief, she was glad that it the she-cats argument hadn't led to a battle. "Vala, you don't know what you just did." Grace whispered with sorrow. "You made a promise that you cannot break." "Why not?" Vala asked her. Grace's gaze clouded. "Let's just say, that the consequences can be great." Vala gasped. "How do I stop Ivy?" Vala panted,she could hear the blood roaring in her ears, her heart pounding. "You must defeat her." Grace said solemnly. Suddenly everything started to fade around her. "Have courage little one!" Grace said before she faded altogether.

Vala woke up in her den. The early morning sun shining through the bushes leafs. Her breathing came out in ragged gasps until she realized she was home. She snuggled deeper into the curve of her mothers belly. The sound of her brothers snoring and the gentle rise and fall of her mothers belly soothed her. 'It was only a dream.' Vala told herself. But, she realized her legs were sore and she felt scratches and dry blood on her pelt. She rapidly checked her self over. There wer scratches on her flank and her back legs. She started panting. It wasn't just a dream! It was real! She had made a promise to an evil cat! A shadow cat is what Ivy called herself. Vala fluffed out her fur as if Ivy was going to jump out at any second. But, then Vala remembered Grace's words. Have courage.