Legacy: Infinity (Book 3)

Chapter 31: Paternal Duties

Chapter 31: Paternal Duties

The white light of the moon was so bright. When had it gotten so close? It was larger than the sun and Jay had to avert her eyes away because it blinded her, her paws tripping over herself as she took refuge in a shadow. Now her vision was black and she could hear harsh pants, her own harsh pants and the throbbing of her heart.

She pressed her back against the cool birch tree that cast the shadow over her. Her legs were trembling and her neck ached, but why? Her mind was blank, an inviting darkness of nothingness that covered all rational thought and left her helpless to emotion.

She was angry. She was sad. She felt responsible. She was tired. She felt awful. She was alone. The cause for this was not something she could trace back very well. In the murkiness of her mind she looked around, the only living creature in sight was the heavy kit she carried in her grasp.

But it wasn't her kit, it wasn't a kit they'd come to rescue. Why had she taken this cat with her? Where were the others? Who had she been running from? Ah, that's right, a bright thought shone from the depths of her boggy mind.

She'd been running, that was why she felt tired and her legs trembled. She'd been running from something very bright, a light that scorched fear through her, an irrational fear that drove out reason. The others... the others were Ash, Silver, Amelia, and Midnight.

Ah ha, there was another thought. Midnight was dead now, killed by a StarReader. A white StarReader whose pelt reflected the moonlight like how Midnight's fur had smothered it. The smell of blood still lingered in her nose. After coming upon her slain acquaintance, the StarReader had lunged into the group of cats with a blood-curling screech.

So they'd ran, taking advantage of their fear to give them speed, and scattered throughout the forest. No cat had stopped to think of what would happen to Midnight's body, they were too busy worrying over saving their own skin. And she was no exception. The dead were not as important as the living. The grief she felt for Midnight was nothing compared to the desire to reunite with the other members of the rescue mission and get out of the forest safely.

Now the thick muddiness in her mind had been dispelled and she felt the light of reason descend again upon her as the chilly breeze ran through her whiskers. She was still deep in StarReader territory, although she couldn't recognize exactly where she was, the scent of mushrooms told her she was near the middle, as this was where it was dampest in the forest.

The StarReader scent had increased since they'd arrived that evening, the activity stirring up more scents than usual. Although it was quiet around her, Jay knew how quickly that could change in a forest. The thick foliage hid sounds and scents until the danger was nearly too close to escape.

Midnight had no doubt been killed in such a way, as there had been no struggle and no sound of a confrontation. Chances were Midnight hadn't even realized what was happening until she was dead. The difficulties her death caused would have to be addressed later, for now, Jay needed to find where her comrades were.

Amelia will be fine, she can run faster than any cat I know. Ash can probably slip away safely enough and knows the area well enough to not get caught. Silver, though, she's too fiery for her own good. If she sees a StarReader she'll probably be stupid enough to fight it in the name of avenging Midnight rather than run away.

Jay decided to set off, keeping to the ground since leaping from tree to tree would be difficult while holding a kit as big as Eagle. He still slept peacefully and Jay couldn't decide if feeding him poppy seeds was a stroke of genius or incredibly foolish. Since now she couldn't have him run for his life should she have to engage foes but he also wouldn't give away her location by making noise or bothering her with questions.