Chapter 22: A Few Nights

I looked at my mother for a few moments, as she seemed to have a bit of a blank look on her face. It was as if she had said, what she had just said a few moments ago, with no emotion, and as if she had not believed what she had said was going to end up coming true either.

I shivered, as I thought about a life with out Pike... He was always by my side, and he always stood up for me. Even a life with out my sister Gift, even if she was always mean to me, and always treated me like a rat place, she was still my sister, and I did not even dare to think of a life with out her.

I blinked a few times, as I dipped my head down a bit, as I thought on what it was that Nifty had just said. It was our decision in the end, which she was right I suppose. I just was not sure if Gift and Pike wanted to go live out the rest of their lives, in the wild.

Sure, they did listen to all of the stories of what it was like out there, but they did still enjoy the presence of a two leg around them. It made them feel safe, which was fair enough, as I knew that nothing bad could get near you, if you had a two leg by your side.

They loved it when the two legs pet their fur as well, as it made them have the loudest of purs. I was not going to lie to my self, as I had to admit that it did feel quite a bit nice. I just did not want it... I wanted to live out in the wild for the rest of my life, being able to hunt any animal that came in to my path.

Sure, even if the clans were no longer a real thing, I could still go out and live in the wild, as a rogue. There were plenty of other rogues as well, some mean, but some also nice as I had been told. I felt like I could find a mate, and live with him, hunt with him, and build amazing places, and amazing kits with him.

It felt like it was a bit of a fairy tale as well though. As if I was chasing a dream that was a far distance away from coming to fruition. I knew that the wild was not as fun, and as cool as I was making it out to be in my brain... I knew they had told me that there was a lot of scary things out there as well, that would tear me apart if they got the chance to do so.

I knew that my mother did not want me to do it, but I also knew that she would respect my decision in the end. As I began to think more on it, it began to scare me, more and more. I would not have Pike by my side, any longer, if that was the decision that I was going to be making.

How much was the price really worth paying? If I could live out in the wild, I was not even sure if I would enjoy it at all. At that point, my brother and my sister would have made their own decision, and I would have lost them at that point. They might have their claws taken from them, and they might not want to be around me any more.

Or worse, I might not ever be able to find them again. I felt sick, and scared, at all of those thoughts, that were swarming through my brain, at the same time. I looked back up at my mother, as we had been sitting in this spot for quite a bit of some time now.

I saw a bit of a sad look on her face, but there was a little bit of happiness in it as well. I blinked a few times, as for some reason, I then smiled at my mother, to try to lighten up her spirits. It seemed to do a fairly decent job as well, as she blinked a couple of times, and then she smiled right back at me.

It was still silent, as I shook my head, and then I looked over at my brother Pike, as I saw that he seemed to have his eyes locked on some thing in specific. I looked at him a bit confused for a little while, as I knew that he was not paying any attention, and he could not see me looking for answers.

I shook my head, as I then turned my eyes over to where it was that he seemed to be looking at. I blinked a few times, as the sun was right up in my eyes, making it quite a bit hard for me to see what it was that he was looking at in the first place.

Eventually my eyes got used to the sun light, as I blinked a few times, shaking off the fact that it was still burning my eyes quite a bit. I then looked over at what it was that he was staring in to, as I saw that it was a two leg place, and quite a big two leg place at that.

It kind of scared me at the same time too, as to how big that it was, as it looked like it could perhaps come out and eat me at any moment that it felt pleasing to it. I moved back, a little bit afraid, as I stared it to the really big two leg place.

I knew why Pike was staring at it as well, as I knew that it had been the two leg place that our mother, Nifty, had popped out of. That was the new place, and it was going to be our new home. I was still quite a bit scared by it, as the two leg place that we lived with Nut at, was no where near the size of the one that I was looking at right now.

I blinked a few times, as I did my best to try to shake off the fact that I was so scared of the two leg place that I was staring at. I let out a bit of a sigh, as I knew that I was no longer as afraid of it, as I had been just a few moments ago too. It was just a lot for me to take in, all at once.

I realized at the same time though, that our mother, Nifty, had not lied when she had told me that I would have a good view of the wild, as I saw that the two leg den, was right near the edge of the two leg place, that we were in right now, and had been walking through, for the last couple of days.

Based off of the fact that the place, was just so big, and so tall, I had to assume that there would be a window that I would be able to look in to, as I saw all sorts of windows along the edge of the den. A smile then popped up on my face once again, as I thought on the fact that I would be able to get a good view of the wild.

At the old place, that we lived at with Nut, I would only be able to see the tips of some of the trees, and get to see the sky, but at this place, the den seemed to be higher up than the fence that was surrounding the area. I was starting to get quite a bit excited by all of this, as I began to hop up and down repeatedly.

My mother began to laugh, as she saw me do so, as it was always funny to see my hop up and down, just because of the fact that I had a messed up paw, that did not only just make me walk around a bit funny, but it made every thing that I did, look funny to a lot of other cats.

I kept the same smile on my face, as I then looked over at my mother, seeing that she, too, also had a smile on her face as well, as she nodded to me. I nodded back to her as well, as she let out a bit of a sigh at the same time as well, when she looked at the rest of her kits. She shook her head, as she then decided to speak up to me, and the rest of us as well, as I stared at her, as I made sure to listen to what it was that she had to say.

"Well... It seems like, at least one of you are enjoying this... You 2 should lighten up as well, this is a new life that we are going in to, and it will be fun... My mate is a great, and friendly tom..." She said to us. I looked at her for a little while longer, as I thought on what it was that she had said.

I could not help but not feel excited by what it was that I saw in front of me. It was amazing, and it was one of the best things that I had ever laid my eyes on. It shook off all of the facts that we were leaving Nut behind, as I no longer felt like I cared any more. I looked at Gift, at the thought of Nut, as I could tell that she still was hurt.

I was not even sure if she had lifted her head up, to see what it was that we were even in front of. I shook my head, as I let out a bit of a soft sigh, at the exact same time as well, as I knew that at some point, very soon too, she would get over it, and she would learn to enjoy the new home that we were about to head in to.

I turned my head over to Pike, as I saw that he no longer had his gaze on the two leg den that was in front of him. He instead had his eyes on Nifty, as I saw that his eyes were wide, as it was clear that he was still taking it the fact that we were about to live in such a beautiful home.

He shook his head, as it was clear that he was doing his best to shake off all of the thoughts that were swarming across his head, all at once. After all of that was done, he manage to crack a bit of a smile him self, as he dipped his head down a little, and then he began to speak back to our mother, Nifty.

"It is amazing Nifty... Its just... Words can not describe what it is that I am looking at right now..." He said to her, as he then turned his head back over to the two leg den, after he had said, what it was that he felt like he needed to explain to Nifty.

Nifty once again cracked a little bit of a smile on her face, as she then, as well, also looked at the two leg den that was standing ahead of us. I blinked a few times, as I shook my head, it was still very big and scary to me, and I felt like I did not want to look at it, for much longer.

I did keep a smile on my face, as I knew that even if it was scary to me, it was going to be better than any thing that I had ever imagined. When Nifty had told me that I was going to get a good view, I had not really thought that she was lying to me, but I felt like she was over exaggerating, that way she could easily get me to follow her.

Now, it felt like she might have been under exaggerating all along. I turned my head away from it, and over to my sister Gift, as I felt like I should say some thing to her, that might make her feel a bit better, or perhaps might even get her excited about the new life that we were about to be heading in to.

I knew it was no use, as I felt like she was going to say some thing, such as, 'I enjoyed the life that we had before.' I then shook my head, as I looked away from her, and down at the ground, as I imagined what it was that I was going to be looking in to, once I looked in to the mirror inside of the two leg den.

I would get an amazing few, for thousands of tail lengths on out, of the wild, and I knew it was going to be amazing. It began to get me a bit excited once again, as it cleared out all of the thoughts from my head, that Gift was hurt, and that she was not happy by any of this at all.

After she saw how amazing it would be, I was sure that she would quickly change her mind on all of it. I looked over at Nifty, for just a little bit of time, as she was not sure what kit it was that she should be looking, at, or which she should speak to either.

Nifty just kept a smile on her face, as she let out a bit of a loud sigh at the same time. I thought she was going to start to speak to us, but I heard the voice of Gift, from right behind me, decide that she was going to be the one who was going to be speaking.

"Well... We have been sitting here for ever now... Rather than thinking of what it is going to be like, can we just go ahead and go in... I want somewhere to lay my head down... I am tired..." She said to us. I looked at her, for just a few moments, as I was a bit surprised by the fact that she had stepped up and spoken finally, in that manner as well, none the less.

It was a bit of a surprise to Nifty as well, as I saw that her thoughts seemed to be racing through her head, and what it was that she should do, and several other things as well. Eventually, it seemed like Niftys brain had begun to settle down a bit, as I saw a crack of a smile pop up on her face.

I blinked a few times, as I saw her nod to both me and Gift, as it was clear that Gift had made a fair point. I kind of agreed with her as well, as I no longer wanted to stare at the building, as I would much rather just go inside at this point, and find out what it was like from there on out.

Nifty then turned her head over to Pike, as she let out a but of a loud cough to get his attention. Pike turned his head around, as he was a bit confused for a couple of moments, as he blinked his eyes a few times as well. It seemed that he was no longer paying any sort of attention to all that was going on around him.

Pike looked over at all of us for a few moments, as I knew that he was a smart kit, as he then nodded, as it was clear that he now realized what it was that Nifty had been getting at, and that we were waiting for him, to get ready to go over to our new home.

Pike then nodded to Nifty, as he knew that she was the cat that was in control right now, as he saw that both me and Gifts eyes were on her, at the current moment. Nifty nodded back to him, as she looked back over at our new home, the really big two leg den that was in front of me, for just a couple of moments.

She then let out a loud sigh once again, and then she turned her head back over to us, as she smiled at us, making sure that we smiled back at her. Pike and I did so, but I was not sure that Gift was ready for that. Nifty ignored Gift, as she then began to respond to what Gift had said, quite some time ago, as I listened to what it was that she had to say to all of us.

"Very well... Follow me... Its a bit of a walk through the path, as it is a very big yard... Its nothing to what you guys have done the past couple of days... I am proud of you all." She said to us, as I saw her lean her head towards me, at the same time of saying all of that as well.

I blinked a few times, as I was a bit shocked by it. It was a lot to take in, as I saw that she had been staring right at me when she had said it. A part of me, in my head, felt like she was attacking me, by saying that I was the reason why we had taken so long.

That was the anger, that I was trying so badly to hold in. Nut had been trying to teach me to do so, after Pintclaw, and Brokenfoot had died. It seemed like he had given up on that though, as that only lasted a few days. I let out a bit of a sigh, as I looked right back at my mother, at the same time as well.

I knew what it was that she was really getting at... It was just the fact that I was not used to it, coming from her, and directed towards me. Also, there was the fact that my brain seemed to over think, and over analyze a lot of things as well.

I wished it were not true, but it was. I knew that my mother was proud of me, and that was why she had directed it towards me, as I saw that she had quite the smile on her face. I could not help but to smile right back at her, as things seemed to be going perfect at the current moment.

I felt like there was no way that this could go wrong for me, or for all of us for that matter. We were going to go to a new home, that was bigger, and better than our last home. Our mother was going to be happy as well, as she had finally found a new mate to be with for the rest of her life.

Gift, though I could tell she was still a bit hurt right now... I knew that she would get over it, at some point in the near future, and she would learn to enjoy our new home. There was plenty of space to move around, I had to assume at least, just based off of how big the place was.

It meant that there was going to be plenty of fighting with Pike, whether that be play fighting or not, I was not all too sure. I just knew that, if things were to get all that rough, there was going to be a safe place for me to go over to, and to just look in to the wild, and the great world beyond all of that.

I sighed, as I blinked a few times. I saw that Nifty was going forward, ahead of us, and that Gift, and Pike were following her as well. I was a bit confused with all that was going on at the current moment in time, until I remembered what it was that Gift had asked of Nifty.

I then quickly began to follow them, as quick as I could at least, until I caught up to them. They seemed to be going slower than they had been all day, and I was not sure if it were due to the fact that they were all so tired, or if it were due to the fact that they were looking up at what it was that was in front of them.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a bit of a smile on the face of Gift, at the exact same time as well. I blinked a few times, as I was a bit surprised by it too. It was good to see from her though, but I saw that the smile did not last all that long at all, as I saw her notice that I was looking at her.

She then lowered her head to the ground, which confused me quite a bit, as I was not sure what was up with her, or why she had always been like that as well. It was as if she did not want me to see her happy, and she wanted me to think of her as a mean, and heart less kit.

I blinked a few times, as I shook my head, and I continued to follow Nifty in to the yard that was in front of us. It was amazing! The path that was on it, was bigger than any path that I had seen by a two leg den, and it split in to 2 different sections at the exact same time as well.

In the middle of those 2 different sections, there happened the be a strange small little water fall, much unlike the ones in the stories that I had been told by Pintclaw and Brokenfoot. I had been told that they usually were on mountains, or at the edges of really tall cliffs.

This was a tiny little one, and I did not see a river any where near it, at all, either. I blinked a few times, as I felt a bit excited once again, by what it was that I saw, but also at the thought that I might be seeing some thing, that not even Pintclaw or Brokenfoot had ever seen before.

I looked up at the sky, as I blinked a few times. I wondered if they were looking down at me right now, and if they were just as surprised as I was, as to what it was that was in front of me. I looked up at the sky for just a little bit longer, as I then heard a hiss from a cat that was a fair bit in front of me, at the exact same time as well.

I lowered my head back down from the sky, as I was a bit confused as to who it was, and why they had done that. I stared ahead of me for a bit of time, as I saw that it was Gift, who was staring at me with her eyes squinted. It seemed like she was the only cat that was paying me any sort of attention, at the same moment, as I saw that the others were heading closer and closer to the front of the two leg home.

I saw that there was a cat door there as well, as I blinked a few times, as I began to get a bit excited by what it was that I was looking at. I began to hop around, as I ran over to Gift. Gift rolled her eyes at me, as she began to walk a little bit faster, so that she could catch up to Nifty and Pike, who clearly were paying neither of us any sort of attention.

I looked around at the massive yard that was around me, as it looked amazing, and quite a bit beautiful as well. I then turned my head over, as I saw that there were monsters right in front of me, at the exact same time too. I jumped back, as I was a bit scared to get any where near them.

I had been told of the stories about cats being destroyed by them. Most of the time it was the cats fault, as monsters usually stayed in the two leg path, but to be fair, we were walking along a two leg path right now. I blinked a few times, as I stared at the monsters, for just a little while longer.

They did not move, nor did they make a noise at all either. It was clear that they were asleep, as I let out a bit of a sigh of relief, at the exact same time too. I did just so how ever, look at them for a bit more time, as I could not help but say to my self, just how beautiful the monsters looked, that were in front of me.

I knew that I should not be thinking of that though, as they were monsters, and they killed cats. I shook my head, as I continued to follow Gift over to Pike and Nifty, who had now stopped right in front of the cat door. As me and Gift caught up to them, we looked at the both of them, a bit confused as to why they had stopped.

There was a cat door that was in front of us, and it was clearly open for us to head through it, at the exact same time as well. I blinked a few times, as I looked over at Nifty, hoping to get some kind of answer, as to why it was, that we were standing in this spot.

Nifty had a bit of a blank look on her face, which confused me, even more than before. I saw that Pike was still excited, so I was not sure what was going through Nifty's head at the exact moment. I shook my own head, as I let out a bit of a soft sigh, and then I began to speak up to her, at the same time too.

"What are we waiting for? There is a cat door right there! Why do we not just go in?" I asked Nifty. Nifty just stood there for quite a few moments, as if she had not heard a word that I had said to her just now. I blinked a few times, as it seemed like I was just non existent at the current moment.

After a few moments longer how ever, I saw Nifty then turn her head over to me, as she had a bit of a strange grin on her face, which confused me quite a bit as well, as I had not a clue as to what was going on right now. I looked at Pike and Gift, as I hoped to find some sort of answers from them, but they seemed to be just as lost as me.

Nifty just looked at me, for a little while longer, as she kept her strange smile on her face, all the while, whilst doing so. I stared back at her, with a bit of a blank look on my own face, as I waited to hear some sort of answer, to all that was going on right now, from her.

Nifty then nodded to me, as it seemed like she was finally going to respond to the question that I had asked from her, quite a bit of some time ago. I nodded back to her, as she let out a bit of a sigh, as she then began to speak to me. I listened to what it was that she had to say to me, at the same time as well.

"Give it a bit of some time... I called him in... He heard me... He will be here in just a little while... You can see that it is a big home right? It will take him some time to get down to us..." She said back to me. I looked at her for a little while longer, as I then looked back at the big two leg den that was in front of me.

I suppose that she had a bit of a fair point, as I looked all across the area that I was looking around. It looked like the door way, and the porch that we were on right now, was big enough to eat apart Nuts old home. I let out a bit of a sigh, as it was so much for me to take in.

I looked back behind me, as I looked around at the yard. It smelled so nice out side, as it smelt better than the yard that was at Nuts place, and much better than inside of the home as well. There was certainly nothing for me to complain about, at all right now.

I closed my eyes, as I sniffed in the smell of all of the flowers that were in the yard, as I was almost ready to start hopping around again, just because I was so happy, and I was so excited to head in to my new home. I opened my eyes, as I blinked a couple of times, as I stared in to the big yard that was in front of me.

I hoped that Nifty would in fact let us play in the yard, just as she had said that she would. She had told us, "as long as you promise not to go any where near the two leg path." All of us had nodded to her, as I knew that even Gift could not deny the fact that she was excited to play in the yard.

As I turned my head, and looked over at Gift, I saw that she had quite the smile on her face, at the exact same time as well, as it seemed like she had finally began to get over the fact that we had left Nut. I still kind of felt bad for the poor cat, but it no longer mattered to me, now that I saw how amazing this place really was.

Nifty did not do a very good job of explaining things to us, because I saw that both Gift, and Pike were looking around at the place, wondering if any of this was real, or perhaps we were in a dream right now. I was happy to see that the both of them were happy as well.

I shook my head though, as I blinked a few times, as I heard the voice of Pike, as he finally decided to step up, and speak, for the first time, in quite a bit of some time as well. I blinked a few times too, as I listened to what it was that he had to say to Nifty.

"What if left, and he is out side, like you always do... You had to meet some way right? He can't just be some normal kittypet... We all know what happens if you are..." Pike asked Nifty. Nifty turned her head over to Pike, as she had heard what it was that Pike had just said to her.

She had a bit of a strange smile on her face as well, as it kind of creeped me out a bit, as I shivered. It was my mother though, and I knew that nothing wrong was going to happen, and I knew that she did not have any sort of evil plans for us.

Though, when I was younger, I might have thought other wise. I knew that she was a good cat though now, and she cared for us deeply. I shook my head, as I continued to stare at her, for quite a bit of some more time as well, as I waited for her to respond to the question that Pike had just asked of her, as I was in fact interested on what it was that she had to say, as I knew that Pike had a bit of a point.

Nifty then dipped her head a bit low to the ground, as she kept her smile on her face, all the while of doing so. We all had our eyes on her, as we waited for her to go ahead and speak. Nifty looked at us, as I saw a look on her eyes that looked as if she was a bit worried, but she did not hesitate on her words, as she began to speak back to us.

"He knows we are coming... I told him a few days ago... He will be-" She had begun to say, but just as soon as she had said it, I saw a cat poke its head out of the cat door. She had heard the flap open, and she had stopped speaking, as she quickly turned her head over, to see the cat.

It was a large tom, quite a bit bigger than our mother, as he had a bit of a sad smile on his face. I was a bit confused by it as well, as it looked as if he had just lost a loved one, and was thinking back on the memories he had with them, all the while, also realizing that they were gone.

It was kind of like, how we had all been, when Brokenfoot and Pintclaw had passed along. I was a bit worried for the tom cat, as I tilted my head a bit to the side, as I waited to hear some sort of answer to what was that he had to say. Nifty did not hesitate at all though, as I saw that once she had seen him, she then begun to rush over to him.

The cat stopped her though, as it was clear that he did not want her to get any where close to her. I was a bit confused by it as well, as for a cat that she was supposedly in love with, he did not seem to want to be any where near her at the moment.

I blinked a few times, as I could tell that both Gift, and Pike, were just as confused as I was. The tom cat stood there for a bit longer, as he lowered his head a bit low to the ground. I could tell that Nifty was a bit hurt by it, and she was a bit embarrassed by the fact that her mate did not want to get close to her.

It did not really seem like much of a mate at all to me, as I squinted my eyes at the tom. He had a big home and all, but how much did that really matter if he was not a nice, or a friendly cat. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I was a little bit lost, on to all that was going on at the current moment.

The tom then suddenly turned his head around, as he let out a couple of loud coughs. I stood there a few times, as I realized that it was not a normal cough that he had just had. It was a cough that sounded quite a bit familiar to my ears.

I had heard the cough before, as it was a couple of moons ago. It was the cough that Brokenfoot and Pintclaw had, shortly before they had passed along. I felt a bit sick, and a bit scared at the same time, as I thought back on those last couple of days, that I had with them.

The coughs had gotten progressively worse and worse, as eventually it got to the point where they had begun to start to cough up blood. They then passed away, just a couple of days after that. While the tom cat was not coughing up blood just yet, I could tell that he was sick, and he was going to get to that point.

I could tell that Nifty noticed it as well, as she had been with her parents a lot, in the last few days before they had passed along. I could see quite the scared look on her face, as I knew that she was thinking back on Brokenfoot, and Pintclaw, as well.

Nifty dipped her head up to her mate, as I saw that they locked eyes with one another. I could see quite the sad look in both of their eyes, as it was clear to me, that they were in fact, in love with one another. I knew that the tom was only doing it, so that she could protect her, and her kits.

The tom dipped his head a bit low to the ground, as I could tell that he was deeply hurt by all of this. He let out a bit of a sigh, that seemed like it was a painful sigh, from a very old cat. He stood there for a bit of time, as he then began to speak to Nifty, at the same time as well.

"I am sorry Nifty... I can not risk you and your kits getting sick... Even if I were to let you in, the two legs would not take you to help you after that... They do not know you yet..." He said to our mother. I looked at the tom for a bit of time, as I realized that I had a bit of a bad first impression on him.

It was clear that he cared for our mother, and for us as well, as he just did not want us to get sick, such as he was right now. I did not blame him either, as I could tell that he was in a lot of pain, such as Brokenfoot and Pintclaw had been, shortly before they had passed along.

I saw a sad look on his face, as I could tell it hurt him a bit, to say what it was that he had just said as well. I dipped my head to the ground, as I tried to fight all of the stuff that was going through my head at the current moment, as I dropped a tear from my eyes at the same time.

I saw that Nifty, as well, dipped her head a bit low to the ground, as it was clear that she was hurt by it too, and she knew what was going on. Nifty let out a bit of a sigh of pain, as she then began to speak back to the tom, and I listened to what it was that she had to say.

"I... I don't know what to say... I love you Hero... I just hope that you get safe... I don't know what to do... Nut will not let us back in now..." She said, hesitated at the end over each line that she said. I blinked a few times, as I felt like I wanted to go up to her, and get close to her, to try to make her feel a bit better, but I was not sure how much that would even help her.

I saw from the corner of my eye, at the same time too, that Gift had now dipped her head back down to the ground, as the name, Nut, had now slipped back in to her head. I stood there for a few moments, as it felt like it was all going down hill, and all of this was all going wrong.

I wanted to just lay down and cry... We had left a perfectly normal home, for this... I knew it was not Hero's fault, as he was only trying to keep us safe, but I still could not help my self, as I just wanted to cry all of the pain away. We had no where to go now... Were we just going to be stuck in a ditch for the next few days?

It was the nastiest stench that I had ever smelt in my life, and I did not want to think back on it, and on the fact that we might be having to do that once again. It was a strong possibility though, as I knew that we might not have much of a choice, as I knew that we did not have much else to work with.

I shook my head though, as my eyes locked back on to Hero, as I saw him lift his head up just a little bit. As his smile was no longer there, and all I saw was just pure pain on his face. Hero looked at Nifty, and then he began to speak to her, as I listened to what it was that he had to say as well.

"I am sorry... I will be okay soon... I just don't want to get you all sick... Just try to find a place to stay for a few nights..."