The Four Guardians

Part 5: Cloud's Journey(pt.1)

         As Cloud ran, the clouds began dissipating behind her. When she reached the level of the clouds in the sky, she looked down at the two cats that were turning and entering the cave. I'll prove to all of you I can do something!

Cloud ran up through the clouds, more gliding than running. Her paws were several inches above the clouds, but her legs moved back in forth, in blurs. She panted slightly, smiling, as she quickly traveled up the path. She loved her power. She had always loved the sky. And flying, it was amazing. She began nearing the top where the path reached; a huge cloud was at the top. A world in the sky! She thought to herself. She watched it, expecting the wind to move it, but it didn't. It was almost as if it were waiting for her. Her body lowered back onto the cloud path, and she walked onto the lone cloud, immediately she began falling. A normal cat might've thought they would die, but her mind stayed composed. She calmly focused her powers to surround her body, and she lifted herself back up. Instead of getting on the cloud, she pushed the air underneath it upwards. She slowly lowered herself back down and tested her right hind paw on the cloud. It was fine. She lowered the rest of her body onto the cloud and looked all around. Behind her, the path had disappeared. Her only options were forwards, left, or right. Her left side had no clouds in sight; her right side only had thin clouds. So she decided on going forwards. She walked up and down across the cloud until she was at the cloud's edge. A group of thick clouds was several yards away. She leaped, the wind at her back, pushing her with a force strong enough so she was able to get to the other side. She landed, tensing up immediately, expecting a fall. Her body loosened as she stayed safely on the cloud. Oh, she realized. Only some of the clouds have no support. I have to notice the differences from now on. She noted. But why here and now, she thought to herself, confused. Oh right! The king! He was the one who put the orb up here. So this was his doing . . . She continued to walk across the clouds path, waiting to see an end, but nothing came. As she continued to walk on, her leg muscles began to tire and her paws began to ache. Ever since she had begun coming up the path of clouds, she had to use her powers to bring new air up so she could breathe since for some reason, it became harder and harder to breathe. The cold air pressed against her body and she shivered. She hugged herself with the newer, and warmer air. Her breath was thick and she could see her own breath. Suddenly, a bird flapped by. It was half Cloud's size. She leaped into the air and stabbed her claws into its side, dragging it down until they were both on the cloud. The bird struggled for a few moments before giving up, knowing it couldn't escape from being Cloud's meal. Aqua and Scorch, she thought as she started gnawing on the bird. I have to make them proud! She reminded herself. So they'll realize that I'm not just a kit. Loved and babied. That was the past. Something she actually liked back then. But it wasn't like that anymore. She smiled. Aqua and Scorch, wait for me! She closed her eyes and felt her way through the air to Aqua and Scorch in her mind. She could feel their mouths moving in the air as they spoke, their heads were tilted upwards, looking at the spot she was. Aqua was pointing his paw where she was, and Scorch was nodding. A big amount of held-in air was let out as Scorch opened her mouth. She could practically hear Scorch's familiar sigh of relief. Thanks Aqua and Scorch. And for once, she felt like the happiness she had wouldn't disappear like all of her happiness in the past had. Her head began to bob in tiredness. She felt her eyes slowly close and her body loosened onto the clouds, no matter how much she willed herself to stay awake. Darkness came for her.