Small Cats ⇧ Above the Forsythia ⇧ Book 4

Thirteen. Confessions.

Hootly watched as Palm Spray walked in with her large group, Forsythia among them. Her heart stung, but she ignored it, wrinkling her nose and narrowing her eyes. The young she-cat had joined the former Naturnesian with her friends not long ago. What're you waiting for? Just go up there, and do... she flattened her ears against her head and shook Alcatri's voice out of her head.

No, I can't do that. The myth had been constantly appearing in her head, whispering lies and other vile deeds that Hootly should do. I can't. She shifted her gaze over, turning her head, but then wincing in pain. Despite the time that had passed, her neck still ached. Wildfire said that it would take a month or more to completely heal. She wished it were sooner, though.

It was mid-day, and most of the cats had taken a break from work, with the amount of prey and other stolen goods from the neighborhood full to the brim, and borders marked freshly just last night, there wasn't much point. The Cliffsiders were pretty neutral, too.

Hootly had noticed some of the senior guardians and Soarians glare slightly at Palm Spray's friends. Deep Ravine had separated from his sister, staying away from the young she-cat. The air was humid, and the wind blew gently, almost taunting her to close her eyes.

Before she knew it, darkness enveloped her vision.

"Here you are, standing before myself, bowing down." Hootly opened her eyes. Looking up, she saw the slender, sleek frame of...

"Alcatri?" she whispered.

"The things in your head, you should let some go," the she-cat mewed, flicking her tail. Alcatri's familiar dark blue eyes flashed dangerously in the darkness of the void surrounding the two.

"What do you mean?" Hootly meowed, narrowing her eyes slightly and standing up, unsheathing her claws. "I'd rather not listen to any of your advice."

"Coincidental I was going to give you some, then?" Alcatri began to move her paws, beginning to circle Hootly, baring her teeth. "You know what? Fine. Have it your way, but isn't there something you want from me?"

"What?"

"Your family? What Rodna's intentions were? Why did I choose you amongst all of my followers?" Alcatri narrowed her eyes, and when Hootly didn't reply, the she-cat continued. "Maybe I'll tell you when you finally do what I tell you to do."

"No, I can't!"

"No, I can't tell you then."

Hootly awoke suddenly, feeling her pelt grow hot and as if she was suffocating. Shaking her head, she looked around, guessing that maybe two hours had passed. The sun was setting. The second blood moon was beginning to rise, as the second day came to an end. And tomorrow is the last and worst one. Shaking her head, she stood up and fluffed her pelt out before smoothing it over, feeling the colder air flood in.

Hootly sighed and felt hunger gnaw at her stomach, yet her claws itched to hunt. Deciding that she'd catch her own meal, she padded out of camp without anyone questioning her on her way out. She padded along a familiar path that had been gradually carved out from multiple Soarians padding through it at least a hundred times, if not more.

The plants had been pushed out of the way, and Hootly walked along the trail before stopping at one point. She opened her mouth and tasted the air, finding nothing. Disappointed, she continued onwards, to the border. Finally, she found the faint trace of a rat. What would something like that do in a forest? It must've wandered away from the neighborhood or the downtown.

Making up her mind about it, she began to track it down. At one point, it was decently strong, and Hootly tried to find it. Her eyes landed on a dead one. What? Confused, she jerked her head back, flicking her tail. The sun was beginning to set, the sky turning to a blue-orange ombre. "I would've scented that it's dead," she murmured to herself.