Thief of the Throne-Chapter 3

Obsidian panted as she skidded into the camp of the Cats of the Ice Breath. Her paws left a smeared trail of scarlet blood on the sand as she dashed into the camp, sand greedily pushing its way into the cuts on her pads. She stumbled through the clearing.

Suddenly, three large, muscle-bound cats sprang on top of her. Weakened for her long run and bleeding pads, she tried desperately to get out from underneath them. She knew that she couldn't harm them even if she could because that could cause their leader to say "no" to her question.

"Get...off...please...." Obsidian mustered the energy to feebly meow.

A large gray tom jumped off of her. He exchanged glances with the other tom and a she-cat before meowing, "Why are you in the territory of the Cats of the Ice Breath?"

"And where do you come from?" the black tom added in a questioning tone.

Obsidian weakly lifted her head and began to lick the fresh scratches that crossed over her pelt to hide her fear of the cats. Then she meowed in a shaky voice,"I am Obsidian, a messenger for the Cats of the Majestic Ways. We ask for help from the Cats of the Ice Breath because--"

"We are not going to help you!" The black tom hissed. "Leave!"

"Wait," the sand-colored she-cat meowed. "Let her finish. And as for whether we help her or not, that is for Flare to decide."

"You must help us!" Obsidian cried desperately. "We are under attack! The Cats of the Tunnels of No Escape, the Cats of the Shape-Shifting Figures, and the Cats of the Ways of the Claws are attacking us! Please help us!"

"I will ask Flare, our leader, if we should help you or not," the gray tom meowed. With that, he darted toward a stream and....dived under?

The she-cat must have seen her shocked expression because she laughed, "He'll be fine. There's an entrance way to these tunnels underground where Flare li--"

"STOP! You are giving away to much information, Fleck!" the black tom spat.

"Oh. Sorry."

Obsidian could tell that Fleck was young, just about her age. It seemed unfair to speak to the kind cat so harshly, but Obsidian decided to keep quiet.

A few minutes passed with unease pricking the air when, finally, the gray tom emerged from the water. He hardly looked wet at all. Then he announced, "Flare says that we will help you. Lately we have been scenting that Cats of the Shape-Shifting Figures have been crossing into our territory. It's time we showed them not to mess with us!"

Obsidian felt relief wash over her as the gray tom began to assemble an army. Soon, they were ready to go.

"I can go to the Cats of the Blasting Winds by myself. The Cats of the Majestic Ways needs your help more than me," Obsidian meowed as she saw cats approaching her to escort her the the faraway tribe.

The cats nodded, dipped their heads in farewell, and joined the rest of their tribe mates, led by Flare herself.

*****

Soon, Obsidian found herself bowing in front of Feather, leader of the Cat of the Blasting Winds, explaining her case.

Once she was done explaining the battle, she pleaded, "You must come! The Cats of the Majestic Ways needs you!"

Feather laughed, "Of cause I will. The Cats of the Majestic Ways have always been good friends of the Cats of the Blasting Winds and have always been kind to us. This is our way of saying our thanks."

Obsidian, surprised, was led by Feather and her cats toward the camp of the Cats of the Majestic Ways. They came across a wide road.

Obsidian gasped, "I can't believe that the dark path so large!"

"Yes," Feather agreed grimly. "And this dark path is the last thing that we have to cross to get to your camp."

Feather separated her cats into five groups. Obsidian took a deep breath.

Feather called, "Go!"

Obsidian and four other cats shot across the tarmac. The stone-hard road was hot and sticky and cut her paws with the lose shards hidden among the shadows of the trees beyond. Finally, Obsidian's paws met the cool, soft grass and the sent of green, leaf-laden trees hit the back of her throat. Obsidian skidded to a halt on the dewy grass, letting out her breath in a soft huff.

Obsidian turned back to the wide expanse of foul-smelling darkness along with the other cats of her group. The gap in the road had ended for the moment, halking cars zipping by with terrifying speed.

The minutes ticked by. Obsidian was getting impatient. Her tribe mates were fighting a battle, their every movement determining life and death, victory and loss, while she sat here with a battle patrol watching cars.

After what seemed like an eternity, there was a gap. Patrol after patrol crossed the road in this long-lasting, wide gap. The fourth patrol, Fleck and six others dashed across the path. Finally, it was time for the last group to cross. This group was very small, just Feather and the gray tom that Obsidian had met earlier. They darted into the road. They were half-way finished with the crossing when a noise, a thunderous rumble, started. The sound vibrated through Obsidian's paws and up to her chest.

Blinding, bright white lights lit the brown-gray pelt of Feather. Feather's eyes were wide with fear as she attempted to out run the car. Obsidian couldn't move. She couldn't make a sound. She was frozen with fear.

*****

Feather ran as quickly as she could, the car seeming to case her. Suddenly, she heard a shriek of warning. The call came to late. Feather felt a sharp pain slice through her.  A pain that overwhelmed her. A greedy roar split the air.

Feather's vision blurred. She heard paws pounding the black tarmac. Everything faded away, voices were only as audible as soft waves on a calm lake. She felt life ebbing away.

Scarlet blood dripped the ground like tears. Feather's eyes shut to meet blackness. She gave in and let death claim her.

-KittyLover8

© 2012