Cats Eye 1: Seeking A Path

Chapter 6 Certain Death

Vala's eyes grew wide at the sight of the smoke and flames. "Leon!" she shouted over the roaring river. It had risen. She leaped back up into the tree to escape the flood. The river was rising to the tree! "Leon!" she repeated. She thought she caught sight of pale gray fur, but she couldn't tell through all the rain and smoke and fire. "Spirits help me!" she pleaded as she raced up the tree, into the choking smoke and blazing fire. I have to find Leon! Vala strained to catch sight of gray fur again, but all she could see was the dark smoke. Then, movement caught her eye. A soot-stained shape crashed down through the branches, sending twigs flying. The world seemed to stop as Leon fell into the raging torrent that they had just been fishing happily in. "Leon! No!" Vala screamed, and she dived in after her brother. The cold water hit her like an icy claw, gripping her and not letting go. The current caught her and she was shoved forward. She opened her stinging eyes, trying as hard as she could to find her lost brother. Then, something hard hit her leg. She heard a sickening crunch, and pain jolted through her leg. She let out a muffled yowl. Vala closed her eyes as tight as she could, trying to block out the pain. I'm going to die! she thought dreadfully. She opened her eyes again and saw what had hit her: a jagged rock with sharp ends, poking out like splinters on tree bark. She clambered out onto it and watched her world drowning around her. Pain still seared through her leg, but she knew that she had to stay on the rock, for she would get swept away again if she jumped back into the black water. "Leon! Leon..." her voice was hoarse with grief for her brother. He could be out there somewhere, dying. The wind plastered her wet fur to her body, making it terribly uncomfortable. She looked down at her paws. The water was rising still. Soon, she was swept of the rock. But this time, she felt nothing, not even fear. Just nothing. I don't care! she spat to herself. I'll die if I have to! I have nothing to live for now! Leon is gone! Vala closed her eyes and let darkness engulf her.

Vala lay on solid ground. She was no longer wet. But she was to weak to get up or even open her eyes. I'm probably dead anyways. She felt a paw nudge her on the shoulder. Her eyes flew open. "Leon!" she shouted. But it was not Leon. It was Grace. Vala snorted in disgust. "What do you want?" she spat. Grace looked down at her, the bright moonlight turning her fur silver and the soft breeze ruffling it. "Vala, don't worry. Everything will be okay," Grace started. "No!" Vala exploded. "It's not okay! My brother might be dying down there! And I'm not there to help him!" Vala had only spoken to this strange cat once before, but now she spoke to her with such rage that any cat would think that they were lifelong enemies. "Please, listen Vala." Grace pleaded. "Vala, you're special. You can tell the future before it even happens. Now it is just feelings, but as you grow, you will see visions." Grace finished. Vala stood there, shocked by the news. I don't want to be special. I just want my family! she yowled silently. "Use your power wisely, young one, and it will work in your favor," Grace broke into Vala's thoughts. "Like this power could be used for evil!" Vala hissed. Grace's only reply was a worried look, and everything soon started to fade. The lush forest faded until all Vala saw was the dark, black water.

Vala felt the rain pattering down on her fur. She blinked open her eyes and saw that the storm had passed, the rain ceased to a light drizzle. The shining stars and dark blue sky told her that night had fallen. She got to her paws but winced as she stood on her left back leg. "Ow!" she screeched. She looked down and saw that her leg had a nasty gash on it, her fur smeared with blood. She dragged herself along, desperate to find her brother. "Now, if the current carried me down here, it must have carried Leon down somewhere over here!" she told herself hopefully. She limped downstream. "Leon!" she called. But she heard no response, just the slight pattering of the rain and the flowing river. Where could he be? she wailed silently. "Leon, please! Please just come out!" Vala hung her head in defeat. Then she realized with a jolt that her mother might be looking for her and Leon. "I'm coming, mama," she whispered. "And then we'll find Leon together!"