Guardian of Elements

Chapter 5 - Foreign meadow

With that thought in mind, Kate raced into the darkening forest. Soon, she reached the border with the meadows in the east, near the place where she stopped briefly when she was searching for the deer. In the moonlight, it seemed so calm. She took a deep breath and then ran to the plains.

A sudden feeling of foreignness struck her immediately. Everything was new and unknown. Kate was used to running in the forest, where she could hide almost everywhere. But here, she was feeling unprotected. The plains were too open for her and it took her some time to get used to it.

The grass of the steppes was sharp, and soon, her soft feet were burning with pain. She had to stop and rest for a while. That gave her a chance to look around. The meadow was spreading far and wide, and besides a few scattered leafless trees, there was nothing on the horizon, no hills or rivers. When she looked back, her forest was just a thin line in the distance. After a short break, she continued onwards.

It was late past midnight, when she reached one of the trees. The size of the steppes was enormous. It seemed to her that she must've had already crossed half the span of her own forest. Tired and sleepy, she lay down under the tree and fell asleep almost instantly.

Several hours later, a strange squeaking noise woke her. She opened her eyes and saw a tiny creature just in front of her head. She got startled a bit and stood up. About fifteen mice were swarming around her.

"Hey, get off me!" she shouted, and they ran back to their holes in the ground. Kate lay down again, but those mice were still squeaking and poking their heads out of their holes, which was driving her mad. She crouched a bit and began to sneak slowly towards one mouse. When she was close enough, she jumped at it, but the mouse had just enough time to disappear in its hole. She could swear that other mice were laughing at her.

"Aw, come on!" She was quickly jumping from hole to hole, but mice always escaped just moments before she could reach them. But more than a hunt, it was a game for her. At least she could find some entertainment in these foreign lands.

But suddenly, all of them disappeared, as a big shadow passed overhead. Kate looked up and saw a gigantic eagle, flying high in the sky. She stared at it for a moment, but her eyes got sore soon because of the Sun.

"Mice and a big bird. I wonder what I'll find next." With that thought in mind, she resumed her path.

The Guardian of Wisdom saw a small blue cat, playing with mice under a tree. He smiled when he remembered something.

"So, the kitten began her journey."