Alleycats book 1: thunderstorm

chapter 24

 Thunder woke in a haze of sleep. He was in a room that was both strange and familiar. He shook his thumping head.

Could it be?

Was this really his home from kitt-hood?

If so, that meant...

He raced to the clear panel and peered out, to see the white and gray form of his sister, Spirit.

Beside her was a familiar white shape.

Could it be?

Joy flooded him.

Angel!

It looked as of they were chatting for a moment, before spirit laid her tail comfortingly on Angel's back, leading her away around the corner.

No!

Thunder's desperation rose as the two white she-cats disappeared beyond the wall.

"Wait! Angel! Come back! I'm here! Don't go!" He pleaded, voice rising to a desperate yowl, but the two snowy cats had already left his view.

Desperate not to lose her again, Thunder sprang forward.

Pounding down the hall, Thunder scratched the door and meowed piteously.

Overhead a round, oak wood table stood, surrounded by four chairs. In the far one sat a person with long brown hair.

She turned at the sound of Thunder. The person bared its teeth in a friendly way when it caught sight of him.

"Oh!"

It exclaimed.

"Thunder! You're all better!"

Quickly turning around, it stood up and opened the door for him.

"There you go boy!"

With a deep breath, Thunder placed a paw outside, then another and another, until he was standing on the small silver band that lines the base of the clear door. It shut behind him.

Thunder took a hesitant step forward. Suddenly, a strange familiarity swept over him.

I've been here before...

He realized with awe.

This had been his home when he was a kit! And his litter mates Spirit and Rusty played at young age. Where his mother, flower comforted him and groomed them. When the people fed him and pet him and cuddled him for watch and joy...

Thunder shook his head.

No. He thought. Don't think about that. Grief and regret pierced him, but he forced it down.

That life is over...

I can't live like that anymore...

He shook out his fur to hide his excitement.

Where was she?

Thunder scanned the yard.

A small square of segment was surrounded by neatly trimmed grass on three sides leading to the red chicken coop and... Wow!

I don't remember that from before!

A huge lush garden lay before him, thriving with huge plants and snaking vines arching over the blossoms of pink and yellow and white. Bees hummed in the air, the leaves rattled, singing in the breeze.

Why did I ever leave this place? His mind drifted and he was drawn to the garden, stretching like a forest at his paws.

Full of excitement, Thunder dove into the shrubbery, feeling the large leaves brush his spine as he leapt. To his surprise, when he landed, his paws hit a shiny black surface that crinkled with every move.

Huh? He wondered.

Weird?

Shrugging his broad shoulders, Thunder stepped lightly as he padded through the vegetation, avoiding stepping on it with instinctive caution.

Carefully, Thunder swerved through a long, spindly vining plant with small, narrow leaves and yellow blossoms. For some reason, he spotted many green bulbs clustered together.

What were they?

He gave them a cautious sniff and shrugged. It was to unusual to eat, but tempting to play with and toss around from paw- to -paw...

Thunder shook his head, resisting the temptation. Somehow, he had a feeling that if he did anything reckless he'd be in big trouble...

So he continued on, skirting colorful bushes and weaving through the arching fronds of foods- At least he thought they were foods...

The odd lumps and skinny bulbs reminded him of the wired stuff people crunched on.

No wonder their food was weird! It grew right out of the ground!

Avoiding a patch of fuzzy prickled broad leafed plants, they made him nervous, unfamiliar and towering over him.

Thunder came to rows of green stalks with small steams breaking off it, winding and leafy like trees. He stopped, sniffing curiously at a bright pink blossom. Jerking his nose out of the way of a passing bee, it's fuzzy orange stripped body powdered with golden, fluffy pollen, sticking to its long black legs like mud.

Thunder purred. This plant was comforting, it seemed bright and lush in the sunshine, it's branches stretched out as if to catch him and wrap him in their blooming stalks and shield him from all his problems...

Thunder heaved a sigh, eyes beginning to close as he lay down, surrounded by the friendly foliage, the leaves seeming to whisper a promise of peace...

Then, suddenly, Thunder's green eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright.

That's right!

He remembered.

My problems!

Thunder burst of the garden with a slight twinge of regret, but Thunder stifled it, racing into the open grass, the wind on his fur, giving him strength.

He had been so close... So close to forgetting what mattered most and why he was here!

He blinked through the wind, eyes watering at its breezy touch.

He had been lost in memories full of joy that he almost lost the true meaning in life.

Thunder shook his head, not slowing the pace, angry at himself for being so foolish!

But I'll never do that again!

He promised firmly.

I'll never forget! Ever!

He put on a fresh burst of speed.

He was home! And someone was waiting for him..,

I've found you my love...

And I'll never let you go....