The Peace of the Wanderer

Chapter Seven: The Alleyway

Shadow paced back and forth impatiently. Where was he? He was supposed to be here five minutes ago!

The she-cat's head jerked when she heard Marco's deep voice rumbling behind her.

"Sorry I'm late," the big tom said, his face looking down at Shadow in concern. "What have you called me for?"

"Well..." Shadow shuffled her paws. "I can't take being indoors all the time anymore. I just can't, Marco, and I'm sorry, but I need to take a break for a little while."

Shadow had been thinking about this for a while now, trying to decide whether or not to do it. She wanted to be outdoors for a little bit, and though she knew very well there were bears in those woods after the last...incident, she had half a mind to go back there. She could give it a second chance.

She had finally made her decision the week before, and her choice was to leave for a few days. But not to the forest. To the streets. She felt it should be almost a pilgrimage, in honor of her father. After all, he roamed the town when he was younger. She had never met an actual alley cat before, except for her father, but that didn't count. He had become a farm cat in the end.

Marco stared at her with shock. "Where exactly do you plan to go, Shadow? You're like family to me, to all of us. Why do you want to leave and expose yourself to the dangers of the wild? What is your motivation?"

The she-cat sighed. "It's...hard to explain. It's an urge to be outdoors. After all, I was born in a barn. And also, the times I was outside and wasn't being attacked were probably the best in my life."

Marco scowled. "If only Bella was hearing what you are saying," he meowed. "Your mind is clouded. This isn't unusual at your age at all. Actually, it is quite common. Just... think about it." The black cat seemed desperate, as if he were mentally trying to grab air.

"Oh, so since I'm one month younger than you, I'm suddenly dumb?" Shadow hissed, angry and hurt. "Shows what you think of yourself!"

Marco looked horrified at himself. "No, Shadow, that isn't what I meant! Please, don't leave! I, er... I mean we will miss you!"

This conversation was beginning to make Shadow upset. She could feel the tears coming already. She didn't want to leave her friends, but it wasn't like she would be gone for the rest of her life. "M-Marco, I'm sorry. I have to do this, or...or I'll go insane! Tell the others, please... I'm leaving as soon as Eclipse and her parents come back."

Marco frowned unhappily and slowly flexed his claws. "Very well. Just...be safe, Shadow."

The gray cat nodded. "I will," she said gravely. Even though she knew very well that she'd see her friends again, but she would still miss them.

Shadow vaguely heard the front door opening and the voices of the three Hind-Walkers. She knew the time had come.

Marco looked down at his paws, worry written on his face, and his amber eyes clouded with fear for the she-cat.

Shadow couldn't leave on a note like that. She just couldn't. She took a deep breath before turning back to Marco, and giving him a friendly, reassuring nuzzle.

"I'll be fine, okay?" she told him softly into his fur. "I'll be back in...two days. Yes, two days. I promise."

Marco's short, labored breaths evened out into strong, smooth ones, and he nodded reluctantly. "Fine," he said, still hesitant. He withdrew and began to trot away, but before he continued, he looked back one last time, sadness evident in his eyes. Then he padded out of sight.

Shadow felt terrible about leaving him, but she couldn't grieve. She didn't have enough time, for she heard the front door opening.

Bye, everyone, Shadow thought before darting between Eclipse's legs and escaping into the bright sunlight, her fur immediately warming. A new energy seemed to spread through her veins as she raced across the cement of the sidewalk, and a instinct seemed to tell her where to go.

She felt the wind ruffling her fur as she skidded to a stop when she saw a giant...thing rolling on the street. It was terrifying.

It seemed to have an outer armor, in all different colors, and it had big, black, round, paws? And it also had a very loud roar.

Shadow felt a prickle of fear in her heart, and wanted to go back, but when the thing passed, she saw a strange series of buildings. Scary, but pretty at the same time.

Shadow looked down the road on either sides before darting across the street to the large plaza, her heart beginning to beat faster, and her breath beginning to shorten in excitement. What would she find in the town?

The cat finally slowed down to a walk as she padded around, finally settling down on a crate next to a store. She wasn't that hungry, and she figured it would be easier to hunt under the cloak of darkness that was night.

There didn't seem to be any other cats around, but they were probably hiding. Her father had told her that the alley cats he lived with on the streets usually tried to keep out of sight in day, mostly do to humans. But when night came... that's when the cats came out to hunt, socialize, and fight.

Shadow curled up into a small ball, purring slightly. She felt rather happy, with the sun warming her fur. Though she did feel lonely already.

Perhaps she should just go to sleep...yeah, that's what she'd do.

So the she-cat drifted off into the world of slumber.

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"Hey!"

Shadow woke with a start, trying to figure out where the voice came from. It was dark outside now. Had she really slept for that long?

"You! Over here!"

Shadow turned to see a tortoiseshell she-cat and yellow eyes. The cat was looking at her in anger, her tail lashing.

"What are you doing in my territory?" the cat asked, her eyes glowing in contempt. She stepped into the light provided by a street lamp, and Shadow saw that the other she-cat's ear was torn, and she had a scar over her left eye.

Shadow felt her fur beginning to fluff up in fear as the other cat stalked towards her.

"Oh...I'm s-sorry," Shadow whimpered. "I didn't know this place belonged to you."

"Well, you'll learn not to come back here," the she-cat hissed. "Ever again."

The cat leaped forwards, claws extended, and Shadow ran. The tortoiseshell gave chase, snarling as she raced after the cat who had slept on her territory.

Shadow looked over her shoulder to see the she-cat getting farther and farther behind her, and finally, she stopped completely, glaring furiously after Shadow. The gray cat wondered for a few seconds why, but she soon had her answer.

She had darted into the woods.

Before Shadow could stop herself, the ground dipped down into a steep hill, making her tumble down. Unluckily, there was also a pond at the bottom of the hill.

Shadow made a loud splash as she collided with the clear water, and she gasped as she tiredly crawled out of the pond. She hated to do it, but she'd have to go back home. There was no way she could go back to the alley now.

But what direction had she come from?

Panic set in as Shadow realized the circumstances of her situation.

She was out here, alone.

Lost.