Legacy: Infinity (Book 3)

Prolouge

Prologue

Up in the mountains, deep within the valleys and peaks, a bright red-orange tom moved noiselessly over the steep barren rocks. The setting sun bounced off his pelt and it blazed like a dying fire as he cautiously made his way toward the mouth of a black cave that yawned along the precarious mountain path he picked his way over.

Though the wind blew in his ears, he could already hear the rising and falling of voices coming from the cave. Sagacious shouts and laughing purrs mingled in both a wonderful and terrible tide of noise. The tom's fur prickled with excitement with the force of the noise and his eyes alighted upon feline shapes moving inside the shadows.

He stopped at the entrance and waited for a nod from the grim-faced cat sitting guard before proceeding. The cave stank of rotting food and unclean fur, the calming scent of stone and water had long since vanished as the puddles became clogged with old prey and cats scrambled over each other to find sitting places.

The orange tom- although not new to this scent- was uncomfortable with it and stayed at the back where it was more tolerable. He sat beside an elderly white she-cat with long fur and sharp eyes who was with a much younger black she-cat with equally fluffy fur and sharp eyes.

"Crystal, Midnight," the tom greeted the two she-cats respectfully though with a hint of novelty that ruffled the younger cat's fur.

"I haven't seen you for awhile. Where have you been?" the older she-cat rasped, turning her piercing gaze on him and pinning him in it. Despite often being pressed to tell of his secrets, he was uncomfortable with this particular gaze.

"As an informant, I can't divulge such information at will. But I have been working," he added quickly.

Midnight snorted, turning her nose up, "I don't trust a cat that can't answer such a simple question," she declared.

He decided it was best not to press the issue more and after staring hard at the she-cat for a moment smiled and turned his attention to his boss who had leaped upon a pile of rocks that rose above the heads of the cats. His name was Python, as vicious as his name but with a love for justice and integrity that could set even a cold cat's heart aflame.

This impressive persona now quieted the cats with a wave of his tail and the spectators leaned forward, open-mouthed and eager eyed. The orange tom felt the same thumping in his chest as he was sure the others were feeling. Captivated by this cat's noble ideals and unyielding energy he invented for it.

"Friends, the time grows closer, ever closer. Those cavern cats will soon find their evils wiped from the face of the mountainside by the righteousness of our claws. Those beasts, who treat each other so deplorably- especially their better halves- will either be destroyed by their wrongdoings or guided back to the noble right of cats by our superior consciences."

The orange tom nodded solemnly along with the words and images flashed behind his eyes of all the injustices these cats would fix. No, what his cats would fix. He smiled slyly to himself as the cats continued cheering to the end of Python's speech.

"Do you have anything to tell Python, informant?" Midnight spat the last word, catching his grin, and the tom purred cheerfully.

"Of course I have information! Since the snow has melted, things have gotten very interesting with the cavern cats," he mewed.

"Interesting how?" Crystal asked, narrowing her eyes.

The tom glanced quickly from side to side, though he was supposed to tell Python everything first he couldn't help but reveal just one detail... "Night is getting too old to lead and there's been talk about a new leader," he whispered so that only the three of them would hear.