Post by Blackie on Apr 25, 2009 9:08:14 GMT -5
Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread,
Through shadow, to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
And there are many paths to tread,
Through shadow, to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
In the light of dawn, the Twoleg Place was the most peaceful in the world. When no one - Twoleg or animal - was quite awake yet. A few brave birds chirped softly, eager to begin their daily concerts. Somewhere, a dog woofed gently at another. The fence shook with the pitter-patter sound of claws. A squirrel was making it's way across to a favorite tree where it kept much of it's food supply. A door echoed as it was gently opened. Seconds later, a monster revved into life and quietly left the peaceful scene. And all around, as the sun began to shine more brightly, the morning held its breath in preparation for the awakening of all the other sleepers.
At the edge of the forest, a very small flame-bright, orange kitten sat watching. Her dainty body was straight up, ears pricked forward and tail wrapped neatly around her tiny paws. Even her small, black collar was carefully arranged. Her pale eyes took in all her surroundings with the calm confidence of a much older cat who knows her place as the supreme. Her fiery coat was well groomed and slicked down, as if the kitten had attempted to hide her still-present baby fluff. She kept her head very high and was occasionally flicking her whiskers to pick up a new smell or feel the air. Soon, other cats would be waking up and then the kitten would leave. Despite her kittypet adornment, the little one was no house cat and never would be. All she wanted now was to look at the place she had once lived, where a beloved cat might still be waiting for her.
Invisible to any other eye, the kitten had two companions. Though they were imaginary to other cats, they were as real to her as flesh and blood. One of the companions was a very small kitten very much like the real one. Only this one crouched and trembled, a sad look of longing written across her face. The other cat was an even more brilliant orange than the real kitten, and she was grown up. On her back sat a folded pair of wings.
"I miss him." squeaked the trembling kitten.
"Oh, hush!" snapped the winged cat. She had a severe, dark look in her almost white eyes. "That's quite enough, Emotion, we don't need to hear anymore about how much you miss him."
Emotion wailed in despair, clawing the ground frantically. The real kitten let out a sigh, the only betrayal of her true feelings. "I'm afraid I miss him sometimes, too." she rasped. Her voice was strange. Not as light as a kitten's should be, yet not as heavy as an adult.
"You do as you please, Phoenix." the winged cat murmured. "Only, just don't bother to tell me about it, because I truly do not want to hear."
"Yes, Will."
They were silent for awhile until Emotion suddenly sighed, "Oh, poor Gryphon! He did so love us, like a real father."
Phoenix hissed in reply, laying her ears back for a split second. "We do not have a father. For the final time, Emotion, we do not need a father. Won't you stop going on about it!"
"Yes, please, it's killing my self-control." Will muttered fiercely. Emotion only sniffed sadly and curled into a tight ball.
They stayed that way for quite some time, watching the morning fast approaching until Will meowed softly, "It's almost time to go, and . . . Someone's coming."
Mist and shadow,
Gale and shade,
All shall fade,
All shall fade.
-- J.R.R. Tolkien
Gale and shade,
All shall fade,
All shall fade.
-- J.R.R. Tolkien
