Chapter 4

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049 drifted in and out of sleep that night. The new "Clan" had set up in an abandoned set of holes and patches of brambles in the darkest part of the forest. 106 had decided for the group to sleep somewhat separately, with individuals that had separate roles staying in different sections of the space.
106 himself had chosen to sleep in a large hole near the back of the camp. The den is accessible by a hall like section that is entered at an angle and turns sharply, making the entrance to his sleeping quarters difficult to notice at first glance. Although he never stated this outright, most of the Clan knew that this was to remind him of the maze-like pocket dimension that he used to kill his horrified human victims. 106 had chosen a thick patch of brambles for 682, 999, and 231-7. This left 048 in an obscure hole in the left side of the camp, surrounded by thorns and vines. It wasn't normal for 049 to deal with the idea of sleeping, the concept was alien to him. In fact 231-7 was the only one that normally slept, being a human after all, in fact, given her pregnancy she seemed to need more sleep than ever. In theory, sleeping should be easy, simply lye on the ground with the eyes closed until the body goes unconscious. In practice though, it was oddly difficult. Every sound seemed amplified by the hollow 049 resided in, and the idea of his sudden mortality still haunted him.
Finally 049 succumbed to his exhaustion and fell in a heap on the sad excuse for a nest he had hurriedly made for himself. He allowed his heart rate to drop and his breathing to slow, raspy breaths becoming less and less voluntary as he slipped in and out of consciousness, until finally he found sleep.
049 found himself in a sunlit clearing, the grass green and bright, the sun washing the area in a pleasant yellow sheen. Despite having little familiarity with the place, 049 found himself filled with an eerie calm. A small rustle in the surrounding long grass caused 049 to jump slightly. When he turned around he found himself facing a group of cats, all with sparkling fur and somber expressions.
"Um..." 049 cleared his throat. "Hello." He finally managed to choke out, his voice stalling with nervousness.
"Hello." Meowed a cat from the group, 049 tried to find who but it was little use.
This is insane. 049 thought to himself. Who are all of these cats, and what do they want?
"Hello 049." A large orange tom meowed, revealing himself from the crowd. He was being followed by two older looking she-cats one dark grey, another blue.
"How do you know my name?" 049 inquired, becoming noticing worried.
"We know not just your name." The blue female mewed.
"We also know of your past." The grey she-cat grumbled.
"This world is not for you to destroy, the same for your Clan." The orange tom meowed.
"The path ahead is dangerous, but if you ever intend on returning to the only place you find familiar, you will stay with the Clans." The blue cat meowed, her voice almost seemed to echo.
Her final words bounced throughout his head until he found himself being shaken over and over.
"049, 049, get up!" He heard until he sat, blinking in the morning light, to see 106 looking at him coldly. Although his eyes seemed to refuse to betray it, a flicker of worry seemed to cloud his eyes before he began to speak.
"Jayfeather is here." 106 meowed.

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