The Shadows - A Cat Story ✔

Chapter 3

[Author's note: If you notice any errors in my writing, find something confusing, or have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know! Thanks for reading!]

Ash paced in his den, wondering what it could mean. When everything seems to be the same, there will be change. Ash couldn't help wondering what it meant. He suddenly remembered the warning before the prophecy was told and looked at Night.

"You can't change your destiny, but you can change your journey. That's what she said. When everything seems to be the same, there will be change. What does it mean?" Ash sighed with the amount of pressure weighing down on him.

"I don't know. I don't understand why they gave the message to you and not me. I will be alive for many seasons yet," Night gritted his teeth with frustration.

"Should we tell the Shadows?" Ash asked, hoping the leader would say yes.

"No, this was sent to us alone, and I refuse to acknowledge that unless the Echoes tell us more," Night hissed.

"It was the ancient Echo that spoke to me. She looked as if she wasn't sure herself. But she knows more than we do," Ash admitted.

"Ash? Ash! Have you seen Ash?" A voice was calling around the camp. Night pricked his ears.

"What now?!?" Ash silently growled. He had heard the calls and left the den. "Stream?!" He gasped in annoyance as he seen the white she-cat running around the clearing.

"Ash! I need to talk to you!" Stream yowled urgently as she caught up to him.

Ash absentmindedly started following the she-cat out of camp.

"I will talk with you when I feel like it. Now is not the time. Not with the Echoes sending me signs!" Ash blurted out before he realized he said too much.

Stream stopped dead in her tracks. "Ash. You know that the Shadows can change, right? You were wrong, you may not be able to change your destiny, but you can shape your journey."

Ash stared in horror at the new stand-out. How could she have received the same message? Then something clicked and almost everything made sense. This white she-cat was the first stage of change. He stared into her eyes and found himself in a deep trance.

"When everything seems to be the same, there will be change. When everything seems to be the same, there will be change," Ash and Stream were chanting at the same time. Ash couldn't control himself, when he tried to move or shut his mouth, nothing happened.

Somehow he felt connected to Stream. The way their eyes locked in place, the way they glowed. Ash could slightly see Stream's pelt glowing, and he knew that his was too.

How am I going to tell Night? Ash wondered helplessly.

"You're not going to tell him," Stream seemed to read his mind.

"What are we going to do then? We can't figure this out by ourselves!" Ash reminded her.

"Well, we're going to have to. Night... He just isn't... Well..." Stream tried to say but Ash cut her off.

"He isn't what? He isn't strong?" Ash hissed in retort.

"No, he is strong. He's just not strong enough. Think about it, he's short tempered and well... What would he do to me? To us?" Stream whispered and sat down.

"I don't know. I guess with everything clouding his mind he wouldn't think straight. What will we do?" Ash held back a wail.

"Figure out the prophecy and find more signs. It's all we can do, and I know that you guys will have to change, Shadows or not." Stream lifted her chin.