The Shadows - A Cat Story ✔

Chapter 9

[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 didn't know what was going on in the camp. He heard voices, but he couldn't understand anything that was said, nor could he decipher who was who. It seemed like an eternity, he sat up in this tree. Then the voices stopped and lots of paws could be heard, coming Ash's way.

Rat scat! The plan failed and they're coming for me! Ash thought, but then he saw Stream and Night at the head of the group, and Stream didn't look scared- nor determined. He could see anger, clearly, but what he thought was bravery at first, now appeared to him as doubt. The two cats stopped under Ash's tree.

"Go!" That was Flame. His yowl was so loud, it almost knocked him off of the branch.

No one seemed to realize at all that Ash was perched in the tree. Did they forget? The movement of the battle below was so fast, but when Stream had pinned Night down, she didn't bite him. Instead Ash saw Night buck her off, as Stream must have loosened her claws. The she-cat jumped to her paws, ready to defend herself. The leader aimed a blow at her throat, but she jumped, and the Night's claws raked the air.

It happened so quickly that Ash didn't know if he should help. As fast as the flick of a tail, Night had Stream pinned. Stream didn't struggle.

"It's not worth it. Killing you. It'll only make me just as cruel as you," The she-cat's blue eyes seemed to fall upon nothing but air.

Night looked at her, clearly confused. But Ash knew he would still kill her.

Stream looked up, and finally saw Ash, catching his eyes. Ash looked at her, there was no expression, and then she closed her eyes. Ash threw himself out of the tree.

"Watch out! Ash is above you!" Stream warned Night, but Night didn't pay attention. Ash landed on his shoulders, causing the leader to miss Stream's throat and his face plunged into the dirt.

Ash had Night pinned. "You- You're the meanest, cruelest, most evil cat I know! I didn't want your stupid leadership! I didn't even want to live with the Shadows until-" The young tom looked at Stream. "Her."

But Night was looking at Stream, too. "A fine she-cat you are. Why would you warn me about another attacker when you were battling me anyway?"

The white cat groaned, and sat up. "Because if I didn't warn you, I'd be just as bad as Nectar not saving his mate from the dog. And if I killed you, I would have been just as bad as you threatening to murder Ash."

Ash felt bad. He didn't want to kill the leader either, Stream may look down upon him and he didn't want that.

"Stream- you win. I don't deserve to be a leader. I never did. Ash, you can take on the leadership, as planned." Night relaxed under Ash's grip, but Ash let go. He was breathless, how could he be a leader?

"What? It isn't my time!" He managed to squeak aloud.

"Ash. I challenged Night to a duel and if I won, you'd be granted leader," Stream sighed, exhausted.

Night pushed Ash off. "I'll be leaving now, and I won't come back," He started limping to the river.

An orange streak flashed into a bush. Ash wondered if any other cat saw. He peered through the leaves, but he saw nothing. Then all of a sudden, Nectar appeared.

"Well, Stream. I guess you fell for my brother. He stole everything from me anyways- so I shouldn't be surprised," Nectar meowed.

"I was never yours! What are you talking about?" Stream shuffled her paws. Ash wondered what she knew, what did Nectar mean she fell for his brother? He didn't have a brother.

"I watched. I saw and heard everything. You helped make a plan to make your precious love safe. You challenged Night to a duel so Ash could be leader. I knew something was on your mind when you were so quick to leave me," Nectar stated, glaring at Ash.

"She was never with you! You idiot!" Ash stepped in.

"Yes she was. Her stand-out friends came looking for her, and she didn't want to leave." The orange tom pressed.

"No, you wouldn't let her leave- you pushed her into the river after she started to leave!" Ash bared his teeth and growled.

"How would you know? You weren't there, brother!" Nectar retorted.

"You're right," The new leader sighed. "I wasn't. But I have a special connection with that she-cat. I saw through her eyes- falling down the waterfall. It was so real to me, and you're trying to tell me it's a lie? And for the Echoes' sake, stop calling me brother!" The black tom snarled.

"Pft. 'Special Connection'? What nonsense. And- I am your brother. I killed our parents, I mean, you lived royalty while I just sat around." The orange stand-out confessed factually.

Ash went cold. Peer anger surged through his bones. But then a black mist surrounded him, and forced him to hit his head on a nearby rock. Darkness clouded his vision.

"It's true! I do have a special connection with him, I'll show you!" He heard Stream's faint voice before all was silent. He waited. He started to hear a faint chant, but only because it exited his mouth.

"When everything seems to be the same, there will be change. When everything seems to be the same, there will be change." It echoed as blue eyes became visible in the darkness. He saw nothing but blue eyes, but he felt his body being lifted upright.

Soon Stream's color and shape came to view, but he was already lost in the chant and her swirling blue eyes. His head pain slowly eased until it had disappeared.

Ash felt more alive than ever when the world became fully visible around him and every cat came into focus.

"I thought you were dead- I wasn't sure I could save you," A soft purr grew loud with emotion.

"Thanks, Stream." Ash croaked.

"Connection maybe, but not for long!" Nectar through himself at Ash, but the black tom pelted out of the way, heading the direction Night went, hoping to leap the river as he had before, while this furball drowned.

Ash made it to the river's edge, but Nectar was fast. The orange cat barreled into Ash, knocking him on his side. He had his brother pinned, and ready to tear through.

"Why brother, yes, kill me too, just as you killed the rest of your kin, I mean, that would surely impress Stream," Ash tried to outsmart the very little witted cat.

Instead Nectar's claws dug deeper into his shoulders. His teeth nicked Ash's neck before an enormous weight knocked the orange cat over.

"Ah, Nectar! Always causing trouble eh? You won't murder the leader of the new and improved Shadows if I can help it!" Night had come to his rescue! Night had pinned Nectar right at the water's edge. He watched Nectar struggle out from under him and leap at Ash, but Night gripped his teeth on Nectar's back leg.

"What do I do?" Ash shrieked.

"Push him!" Night ordered.

"But you'll go in too!" The young cat shuddered.

"Just do it! I'll be fine!"

Ash threw his weight onto Nectar's face, causing him to rear back and trip over his captured leg and fall back into the river. The water tugged Night in after him, and the water carried them away.

"Ash!" Stream caught up to his side. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"The danger is gone now, we are free to live!" The she-cat cheered.

Ash caught black mist in the corner of his eye before it disappeared. "The black mist- or smoke- it is still here. The battle isn't over yet."