Legacy: Infinity (Book 3)

Chapter 40: The Mighty Fall

"Jay's back!"

"Mom!"

"Are you all better now?"

The gray queen was overwhelmed by the sudden noise and the presence of so many cats. But it filled her with happiness to see all the kits, including Eagle, welcoming her back with joy. She glanced sideways at Ash who had accompanied her back.

Although it had already been three days since they had spilled their pasts to each other and ceased their intimacy, there was still an awkward tension between them. Even though she knew it had been false love, it still excited her. Even though she knew it had been only for curiosity's sake, he was the only one who knew her past.

And likewise, she was the only one who knew his. To hold such a secret bond was a delightful and terrifying thing.

"Jay, I'm glad that you've recovered," Silver's soft mew attracted her attention and she looked at the pale gray she-cat who was standing side-to-side with Thunderstorm, eyes softer and gentler than Jay remembered.

With a feeling of pleasure, Jay thanked her and took her time greeting and nuzzling each of the kits, listening to the little stories they told of their latest victory in their game or the impressive catch they made. "Adder, how are you doing?" She asked, greeting the young tom. He had hung back, still clearly awkward with being part of a fuss.

"Uh, I'm doing fine. And so are you, I hope?" he forced out, glancing up at her and down again.

"Yep! Fully recovered and ready for work!" Jay purred, nodding at the tom and then turning to Crow who was standing just outside of the den. He was looking a little better, but he was still thin and she could see his long, curly fur needed a good cleaning.

"Glad to see you back in camp, it just isn't the same without you," Crow greeted her warmly, if not a little sarcastically.

"I'm glad to be back, I missed everyone and we've lost a lot of time thanks to being sick. Ash told me you guys have been training, but leaf-bare will be over soon, we need to get ready," she mewed, turning to all the cats as she said this and narrowing her eyes in determination.

She could feel pride swelling inside her as she looked at them. Dusk Howl's steady strength, Adder's quiet spirit, Silver's willing heart, and Eagle's eager energy. And her kits as well, they had grown- oh, how they'd grown! It seemed like just yesterday she was cradling them at her belly. But not now, at eight moons old their ear tips were reaching the shoulders of the older cats.

Flint, especially, who had the size of his father, was as big as Eagle and catching up fast to Adder. Ice had grown into a graceful form that she hadn't inherited from Jay, and Hail, now fully recovered from sickness, seemed to have grown like a weed and was inching just slightly ahead of his sister, most of his size still in his legs though.

And it wasn't just her kits, Ash's daughters and son were bigger. Breeze and Rusty were about a mouse-length shorter than Ice, though Panther was still only coming up to her father's belly. They had grown in the past moons of hardships, and although she shied away from asking them to fight, she knew they would have to play some part in saving the valley.

Meeting the eyes of every cat Jay felt touched, even after everything she had done, here she was, surrounded by cats ready and willing to fight with her. "Right now in the valley, our real home, the StarReaders hold many of our friends and family captive and are threatening the livelihoods of every other cat in the valley. They will force us to leave or join them, but we won't run and we won't submit," Jay paced back and forth in front of the cats, tail lashing and getting them riled up.

"We cannot submit, for if they win now, they win forever. This will not be an easy battle, we are incredibly out-numbered and they have strange abilities we cannot fathom. But we are not alone; we have each other, the prisoners will rally behind us with the promise of freedom, and Amelia is doing good work for us in the valley. Together, we can succeed," the cats nodded in agreement with her and Jay stopped her pacing to face them.