The Peace of the Wanderer

Chapter Ten: Strange Dreams

It had been a day since Shadow and Midnight had began traveling, and exhaustion was evident. The sun was already setting, casting warm colors across the blue sky, giving a the two cats hope in their journey.

Shadow turned to her partner, tail twitching slightly. "You tired yet?" She asked casually.

Midnight nodded enthusiastically, giving a long, drawn out yawn. "No, I'm not sleepy at all," he meowed sarcastically, already beginning to settle himself on the roots of a tree.

Shadow barely suppressed an uncharacteristic giggle. She couldn't help it: Midnight's yawn was adorable.

Shadow flexed her claws in and out of the warm earth beneath her paws angrily. Why was she acting so...weird?

The she-cat mentally shook herself, annoyed.

Stop questioning your emotions, Shadow! The cat told herself fiercely. There really was no time for that, no matter how many times her heart began beating a bit faster when Midnight chanced a glance at her.

Shadow yawned herself, stretching before she crept into a bush. How Midnight managed to sleep without shelter was anyone's guess.

Midnight's voice rang out briefly as he bid Shadow a good night. After replying, the she-cat curled up into a tight ball before slowly succumbing to the slumber that was claiming her as its own.

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Shadow groggily opened her eyes and took in her surroundings, learning quickly she was in a dream, for the place where she was...

It was her farm home.

It seemed such a long time ago. She had only been a small kitten then...Shadow had grown so much since then.

It was bright and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky, the grass was a vibrant green, and there was the occasional breeze. For some reason, though, Shadow thought that there was something off.

Shadow's parents weren't present, and neither were her siblings. There actually was only silence. Not even Bailey or the other farm animals were there.

Where are they?

Shadow didn't have to wait long for an answer though: her wrong dream quickly turned into a right nightmare.

The sky turned black, the grass wilted, and the only splashes of color were different shades of red.

Shadow began trembling in fear as she backed up slowly, looking around in panic.

What's happening? What the heck is happening?

She felt a soft bump on her back, indicating that she had ran into something furry.

Shadow really didn't want to turn around, but she knew her dream-self would probably never wake her real self up if she didn't.

With that, she slowly turned her small body around to look up at the obstacle.

What she saw made her recoil in terror.

It was her father and sister's killer, Reagan.

The fox had a manic's toothy grin on its face, its eyes completely red. It had fresh blood on its snout and its teeth, as well as on his paws.

Reagan winked at his prey before pouncing. Shadow felt so very small as she screamed in horror, waiting for the pain from the fox's claws and fangs to occur.

But it never happened.

In a burst of white light, a transparent... thing pummeled Reagan, pinning the red fox to the ground. Reagan snarled in rage, trying to throw the thing off, but for some reason, he couldn't. Instead, he swiftly dissipated in a cloud of black and red particles.

Shadow slowly got to her paws, shivering, staring in surprise at her savior.

It was a shimmering cat, stars in its pelt. It seemed to have the marks of a silver and black tabby cat, and though Shadow couldn't see the cat's eye color, there was some familiarity Shadow couldn't deny...

"D-Dad?"

The tom said nothing, just looked at her through slitted eyes before fading into mist.

"NO! Father, come back! Please! Dad!" Shadow's pleas and shouts were unheard though, and she felt herself waking up.

She also heard a distant voice calling at to her. It wasn't Midnight's voice, either.

It was her father's.

The voice was very distant, but it was there nevertheless.

"Choose the right one... When the time comes choose him..."

"What? No, Dad, please, don't leave me!"

The voice spoke again, but this time, it was Midnight.

"Shadow? Shadow, wake up! Answer me, please!"

And wake up she did. Her eyes flew open and she hurriedly jumped to her paws, knocking Midnight into the outside of the bush she was sleeping.

Wait...the only reason Midnight could have been shoved that far out would be because he'd been looming over her.

His voice had sounded so frightened...

What did Shadow do while she was asleep?

The young she-cat padded to where Midnight had been thrown out, and wasn't that surprised when he was still on his back.

She looked down into his multicolored eyes, and he blinked up into her green ones.

"Sorry, Midnight," Shadow meowed apologetically, slightly embarrassed. "I really didn't mean to-"

She was cut off by Midnight's response which wasn't with words, but rather, while still holding eye contact, a very slow, long, blink.

Shadow's fur suddenly grew very hot. "Did you just- you know what, never mind. I guess you forgave me, huh?"

Midnight nodded solemnly before his eyes widened in mortification.

"Did I just do that?"

Shadow shrugged. "No big deal. What I do find is a big deal, however, is the fact you sounded terrified for my well being when you woke me up."

Midnight groggily got to his paws, sleep still in his eyes. "Well, you were crying and begging. Was I supposed to just sit there while you were in obvious pain? My best friend and former student?"

"C-crying?" Shadow stammered in surprise. "That's weird...I don't remember what I dreamt about..."

"Huh. At least it's over now, right?" Midnight purred, drawing Shadow in what us Hind-Walkers would refer to as a hug.

"Yeah," Shadow replied, her voice muffled against Midnight's fur. She began feeling something rising up in her. She desperately tried to suppress it, but she. Just. Couldn't.

A loud purr erupted from Shadow.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I might make another story, guys! Yep, a story is currently in the works, but I may or may not publish it. Just know I am still going to be writing Shadow! Also, I am going to be editing and polishing previous chapters of Shadow, just for kicks, so don't mind me while you see me publishing chapters that have already have been published. Thanks for reading and have a good day!