Legacy (Book 1)

Chapter 15: Missing Or Dead

Chapter 15: Missing Or Dead

Half a moon passed. Rainstone found she was expecting kits, lucky her. The days were cold and dark; lonely as well. She was either hungry, aching, or moody. Always uncomfortable, never happy. Not many cats visited her, though Sun would still come and ask her for prank ideas in an attempt to cheer her up, which he usually just barely managed.

She'd tried to dream, tried to reach Song, but the closest she got was a whiff of the scent. But her belly was beginning to be heavy and the air was starting to warm. Life went on even if she wasn't a part of it. That's why she was shocked when Night suddenly visited her and told her something that turned everything upside down.

"I leave tonight?" she gasped, eyes wide.

Night nodded, "I've got it all arranged, you need to get out while you have time to settle yourself somewhere to have our kits," Night mewed. His eyes softened with sorrow and wistfulness as he stroked her growing belly with his tail.

She felt guilty that, by leaving, she was depriving Night of his kits. She'd also been anxious, could she care for their kits by herself in strange territory? What if something happened? She'd be all alone. Even if she didn't like the cave rules, the safety and protection was well welcomed.

"Where will I go?" Rainstone mewed quietly, worry biting her belly. Images of the stretches of endless territory she'd seen from the mountaintops daunted her.

"You'll head west, toward the setting sun, between the last two mountains we visited," Night mewed.

Rainstone flicked her tail, "That's where those rogues live," she muttered.

"But you know how to fight now," Night mewed with an edge to his tone. It was because she knew how to fight that this was happening.

Rainstone shrugged, "Fine, when tonight?" she asked, trying to shake off her doubt.

"Sun is assigned to guard you this evening... When every cat has gone to sleep, Pepper will come and get you," Night mewed.

"You won't be getting me yourself?" Rainstone asked, faintly surprised, and hurt.

Night shook his head regretfully, "Hawk is already suspicious of me," he murmured quietly.

"But he's suspicious of Pepper, is it a good idea to drag him further into this?" Rainstone asked.

"It has to be this way, we can't trust any other cats," Night mewed impatiently.

"What about Blizzard?" Rainstone asked.

"He's just as bad as Pepper, and I've already briefed Pepper on what he has to do," Night mewed.

Rainstone felt a flicker of unease, she didn't want Pepper or Whisper to get in any more trouble for her. "Fine," she agreed curtly.

Night flicked his tail, "Pepper will take you to the border in that direction, then you will be on your own," Rainstone saw the flicker of fear in his eyes and she purred reassuringly.

"Its okay, I can handle myself," Rainstone mewed quietly.

Night nodded, brushing his chin along the top of her head as if she was still a kit. "I'll come with Pepper to say goodbye and give you some extra prey. You should rest until then, you'll need your energy both for yourself and for our kits," Night mewed softly.

Rainstone felt a rush of affection for her mate. "Thank you, so much," she whispered, licking his ear.

Night purred, trembling a little. He lowered his head to stare straight in her eyes. "When you leave, I'll have to take another mate, so that we can have kits and my legacy will go on," he mewed carefully.