The Peace of the Wanderer

Chapter Fifteen: Rogue

"T-Tab?"

The tabby she-cat immediately froze in her tracks, tensing up. She uneasily stared at Shadow, seeming confused.

"How do you know my name?" she asked, somewhat aggressively.

Shadow deflated. Of course Tab wouldn't know who she was- she looked so much different than when Tab was taken and presumed dead.

Nonetheless, Shadow felt the tears building up. Tab, her dead sister, wasn't dead. She was very much alive and was standing right in front of her, Shadow.

She wasn't dead.

Shadow kept repeating the words over and over, it becoming a mantra she constantly chanted in her mind joyfully.

She wasn't dead, she wasn't dead, she wasn't dead!

But there still was some sadness in the fact Tab didn't recognize her. Shadow dearly loved Tab, even after her 'death,' but she had moved on. This... this set her back a long time.

Shadow cautiously took a step towards Tab, who hissed slightly and took a step backwards.

"I said, how do you know my name?"

Shadow had forgotten to tell her how. How she had been her sister. How she had defended her from their siblings when needed. How they had so much sisterly love for each other before Reagan had taken her.

The gray she-cat mentally shook herself. Something told her if she didn't answer Tabs question in the next ten seconds, the tabby would attack.

"Shadow, me, I, uhh," she stammered, still dumbstruck the realization that her sister was alive and well.

Tab tilted her head, narrowing her eyes dangerously. "Sorry, didn't catch that. Can you repeat what you said?" Shadow heard the threat behind the warm demeanor, but she also knew that Tab used to act like this when they were kittens- polite with a hint of coldness.

The thought put a smile on her face. Feeling the smallest drop of confidence hit her heart, she spoke.

"It's me, Shadow," she meowed softly, her eyes still filled with wonder. "Your sister."

Tab lashed her tail back and forth for a few terrifying moments before it slowed to a stop. Her eyes began to widen and her mouth gaped open.

Before she could speak, another shrill howl rang through the air. The two cats turned to where the noise had come from to see the wolves regrouping in a battle formation. They charged once again, some laughing.

Shadow put her focus back on her sister, who wasn't watching her nor the battle. She seemed to be staring at Reagan.

Shadow watched them, watched as Reagan was still yet bleeding, watched as his breathing eased to a stop.

Once Tab knew Reagan was dead, she slowly glared at Shadow. The initial surprise of seeing the gray she-cat once again had faded, replaced by anger.

"You killed him," she hissed in a low voice. "You killed him!"

Tab, hissing in fury, launched herself at Shadow, her claws extended and her face twisted with grief.

Not expecting the sudden attack, Shadow tried desperately to shake Tab off, but the tabby seemed to have an unusually strong grip.

Tab pinned her sister to the ground, snarling in rage. The two's eyes met, fear in Shadow's and fury in Tab's.

Why was she so angry about the death of Reagan?

Unless...

Shadow grunted as Tab's fangs came closer and closer to her neck. She squirmed out of the she-cat's grasp just in time, leaping to her paws. She winced a bit, for her leg sent another shot of pain up her body.