It had been 2 months since my father passed away. Between crying my eyes out and lashing out in anger, a lot had happened in those long weeks. For instance, I am no longer a kit. I have grown into a beautiful young cat, or that is what my mother tells me. Speaking of my mother, she has been acting strange lately. She is more tired than usual and been eating more the share given. I just hope she is not sick. I see her less and less these days ever since she had become the leader. Also, the leadership balance had been shifted. You see, when my father was alive he was the main leader of the alleys then after him four other cats to represent the four corners of the city. They would hold meetings while we slept at night, discussing food supply, and territory skirmishes. Now everyone is muttering Frost under their breaths. Everyone is in fear of what he would do next since assassinations are not common. Everyone is certain he is taking over the alleys through a rebellion and that is the just the beginning, like my aunt Shadow says.

The problem is half of the cats are planning to split up and take Frost on their own terms, the rest of us argue that we should stick together and fight Frost in the final battle. Whatever that means. What I do know is that mama is going to be the next leader, since she is the mate of the previous leader. She hasn't picked a successor yet but she's more worried about her other duties, such as trying to calm down the other half who want to leave. So I wasn't surprised when I woke up to see her nest empty.

I looked over to the other nests around me.
Dad's? Also empty.
Patches'? Empty too.
Did my entire family leave me?

Sighing, I rose to my feet, shaking the sleep out of my legs. I walked to the far side of the room near the window to find Violet stirring. "Hey, sleepyhead," I say. Two violet eyes looked up at me. At first, they blinked in surprise but when she recognized it was me, warmth flooded them. "Hi, Nut did you sleep well?" I shrug.
"Yes," I say a bit too quickly. Violet stretched keeping her odd eyes on me. "Are you sure? " I gave up. "Not at all," I admitted. "I tried I really tried but every time I would wake up to seeing him." I curled my lip in disgust just mentioning Frost without saying his name made me sick.

"Where is Jay?" I suddenly ask, noticing Jay already woke and wasn't in his nest.
"Probably went for a hunt, to clear his head. You're not the only one with nightmares you know." She reminded me.

"Do you want to go hunting?" I asked her.
"A good hunt sounds good." She stretched.
"Okay, meet me at the entrance."
Now if I was my mother where would I be? I pondered. Well, leaders need to be present at meetings, maybe she's at one now.

I turned to the back room knowing most meetings were addressed in the second private room that was at the rear.
I came in just in time to see two cats I identified as Rookie and Dawn leaping at each other.
Is this how they settle disagreements? I wondered in alarm. I slipped in, grateful for the distraction and found my mother at the back of the room struggling to keep the council together as everyone was either cheering on the fight or talking among themselves.
I tapped on her shoulder with my thick tail. She turned to me in surprise.

" Nutmeg what is it?" She snapped. I flinched at her tone, realizing I came at a bad time.
"Just wanted to tell you Violet and I are going hunting. " I said quickly. My mother nodded in approval.
" You may go, be careful Nut." I rubbed my cheek against her shoulder. "Thanks, mama. I'll bring you some when I come back. " I promised.

As I left I felt a weight on my tail, preventing me to go further. I glanced over my shoulder to see Shadow. The adult cat's green eyes were sharpened and fixed on me.
"Where are you going?"
"Hunting with Violet. " I replied simply.

" You are 11 months old almost a year, technically an adult, you should be joining the meetings. It will teach you somethings on how to become the next leader. Your mother isn't going to In charge forever you know. " She meowed. I am pretty sure there was a deeper meaning when she said my mother won't be in charge forever but I felt my claws ich impatiently for release so I let that slide.

"I am aware of that aunt Shadow, and I'll promise to join the meetings if that is what you want me to do. Just how can I be a leader? Sure I have the qualities of one, that doesn't make me a leader. I may be an adult but I am still young. Besides who wants an inexperienced leader in charge of the alleys?" Shadow releases me but kept her eyes on me. "You are your father's daughter Nutmeg, don't limit yourself. " Shadow turned, waving her tail in farewell to go back to the meeting.

Me leader of the alleys? That's crazy! Even mama seems to have some difficulty with just holding meetings, what chances I'll succeed?
When I approached the entrance I found Violet waiting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. " Violet brushed her shoulder with mine. "Its okay, I wasn't waiting too long. Now let's get on with this already! "
With me, in the lead and Violet at my heels, we came to the park; avoiding the puddles that were a result of the recent rainfall last night.

" You go right I'll go left," Violet suggested. So we were off. I was slightly worried about the amount of prey we would haul because of the rain. Most animals, (myself included) would rather stay indoors after a rainfall. But at least no humans either. Humans are strange, besides how they look with no fur only on their heads and the way they walk and stand are weird.

Sometimes I wonder if they are the superior beings. They seem to have the ability to go anywhere without fear of us cats who live by certain perimeters. No matter how strange they may be they don't go out much in the park after a storm either.

Tired of stalking around on the ground, I clambered up a tree with ease and gazed downwards. My sharp eyesight cut through the bleak sun's glare and stare at the movement in the grass.
A squirrel was busily burring its nut, preparing early for winter since the summer sun and rain were still frequent, and the tree leaves haven't changed yet.
No longer willing to be distracted by my thoughts I climbed down, sinking my claws into the rough bark. Once I landed I began to slither forward, keeping my eyes fixed on my soon breakfast.

I was in pouncing distance when a sudden flicker of grey caught my eyes. The squirrel looked up in an alert.
Great. I grumbled.

I leaped the squirrel with outreached claws. I caught it only to knocked over on my side and crushed like a tin can. Still pinning my lunch I twisted my head to be faced with dark blue eyes. Dark stripes streaked from its corners down his handsome silver face. I frowned in recognition while a lopsided smile appeared on his face.
"Morning Nutmeg." Jay meowed. He climbed off my side and helped me up while giving me an apologetic look. "I didn't mean to squish you like a bug. It looks like we were after the same meal. Funny isn't it that we seem to bump into each other? It's like we are stuck together like a moth to a light." He joked.

"Don't you mean drawn not stuck? If we were stuck it would be like honey against fur. " I corrected him. Jay shook his head. "Always so technical." He muttered.

Jay also has changed a bit. Now a young adult as well he had certainly been getting a bunch girls from turning their heads his way. I just don't see it. He had been very sweet to me but that's because he is my best friend. Sure he is handsome, strong built and is a great listener. However, he is very uncomfortable with the new attention and tries to rub it off on me by giving a bad joke or a joke that doesn't make any sense so I have been correcting him ever since.

Aren't you going to bite that?" He asked me, looking down at the pinned squirming squirrel, trying to get away.
I bent down and sank my teeth into my catch and picked it up "How long have you been out here?" I ask him between my teeth. Jay shrugged. "Since dawn I guess. I caught two birds so far. " He said puffing out his chest proudly.

"So Jay who managed to chase you out here? I ask through squirrel fur as we walked. Jay paused and started to dig out his buried thrush.
"Wasp." He weakly admitted. I pictured the golden black striped she-cat. Wasp was a sharp-tongued and a very demanding cat.

No wonder he looks terrified of her.
I have seen her every once in a while, never met her in person but I have heard of her. She lives far from the alleys and the big city in the suburbs. Some say she lives out in the wild others says with a human family as a pet. Regardless of what we think she refuses to confirm either. Wasp is probably number one on the list to grab Jay's attention. Followed by Jewel, a white house cat and Sparks, a dark ginger cat who is a frequent visitor to the shelter. I realized no matter how hard I try I just could not imagine Jay in love with Wasp or any of them. Strangely that brought relief to heart. Confused my reaction I decided to laugh it off.

" You know last night I had a weird dream last night. I had a dream that you me and Violet were out in this spacious land chasing this big clumsy creature with magnificent claws, long as your tail." His eyes grew wide in astonishment. "That's crazy!" He exclaimed.

It was when Jay picked up his second bird was when Violet was bounding towards us, holding 3 mice in her jaws.

Dropping her prey she gave her brother a warming embrace.
"I was kinda worried where you ran off to. Jay licked his chest in embarrassment. "Sorry Vi, I had to get out of there." The silver she-cat suddenly understood. "Let me guess Wasp right?" Jay flushed.
" What a girl, can't she just move on? You clearly don't like her, in fact, you're scared of her."

Jay twitched his ears. "I don't normally don't like to be seen scared but I'll admit, she is pretty terrifying. What's worse is I don't know how she will react.

I dropped my prey at my feet and shot him a quizzical look. "You mean to tell me you haven't told her no?" I gasped.
Jay's ears burned, clearly embarrassed. "Well, I couldn't say yes! I'll be finished and all my dreams will be wasted."

"But you didn't tell her no either. She'll keep nagging you until you snap. And that will be ugly. Sure she might be heartbroken but you'll be free." I heard violet explain. Jay gave a troubled sigh.

How I felt sorry for the guy. I'm lucky to not have a long list of toms crushing me with their promises. I'll never survive.Jay shook his pelt, signalling he is trying to put our conversation aside. Relief flooded my chest. Talking about his personal love life was making my fur crawl.

"Say, do you guys see me as a future leader?" I asked them with bright curious eyes. Violet was the first to respond. "I can see it, I mean you" are your father's daughter so you being a leader shouldn't be a surprise." She explained quickly. Jay, on the other hand, took a while before he answered me. "You have the qualities of being one. You're smart, understandable, responsible, honest, confident, you inspire others, and a good communicator. " He listed then gave me a quizzical look. "Why do you ask?" He added.

I sigh, wrapping my fluffy tail around my white paws. "Shadow caught me leaving the meeting room and wanted me to start considering leadership, reminding me I am-adult cat and should be looking into the future than just living in the present. Telling me that my mother won't be the leader forever and that I should take her place." I explained with no enthusiasm.

"I mean sure I'll consider it maybe when I'm a little bit older when my mother is getting older and can't lead anymore. But she says it in such a way that I have to do it now as if mama is on her deathbed!"

My two friends looked at me then each other strangely as if they knew something that I didn't. Violet tilted her head towards me, telling me she was the one who wanted to share the news. Jay, on the other hand, was acting on it. Staring into her odd eyes, flashing his tail as a warning. Inpatient and dying to know what was behind those secret glances I blurt out. "If there is something you guys want to tell me just say it already. "

Jay sighed, sloping his shoulders in defeat. "Fine, you can tell her." I heard him say.
Violet ears perked. "Your mother isn't sick Nut. In fact, it's the opposite, she's having kits!" My jaw slackens in surprise as my tail shot up in the air, quivering with excitement.

Kits? I'm going to be a big sister!
"How do you know? Did she tell you?" Suddenly feeling betrayed that my own mother failed to share the news.
"Our mother figured it out and told us. " Violet explained. "Isn't this amazing?" I nodded, unsure of what to feel. I love kits and to be a big sister is very exciting. At the same time, it's just too soon. After my father died, Patches left me and my mother distraught. Even though he had been doing stupid things recently he is still my brother, a cat I'll love regardless of what he does. A cat I am not sure I want to replace.

"I think it's time I talk to my mother," I announced. We picked up our catch and with me, in the lead, we walked home.

Inside we dropped our prey in the basket. I took my squirrel and went off in search of my mother.
I found her in her nest finally getting some rest. I pause for a moment and began to observe her. She lay on her side, her thin tail laying protectively on her swollen belly. I stared at it wondering how many kits wherein there. Two? Three? I guess I'll have to wait until they're born.

I kept admiring her as she slept until something strikes me, nearly having me to topple over. If she is going to have kits then she needs someone to look after her and her duties.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation I padded over to her. She woke up to the sound of my approaching feet and gave me a purr. "Thank you Nut, a good meal is what I need. " I placed her food on her paws and sat back watching her break it into pieces, offering me one. I shook my head. "No you have it, I'm not hungry. " I meowed.

"Are you sure? You look like you haven't eaten all morning." Peper observed. I pushed the food closer to her with a paw. "Trust me, mama, I don't need it, besides you have other kittens to feed. " I hinted looking back at her half hidden belly. Peper blinked in surprise then slanted her tail feeling unsure of herself.

" You found out." She said flatly, pointing out the obvious. I nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded her, ears pinned back, tail drooped.
"Your father and I wanted to surprise you and your brother the moment I found out but then. Walnut... and Patches... She stammered unable to finish. Her green eyes grew misty and her shoulders shook. I settled down beside her, brushing my ginger fur with her grey pelt, stroking her back with my tail reassuringly.

" You didn't want to tell me because you were worried I might not like them and think they will replace Patches," I concluded. "Well don worry mama, I am rather happy about it and I vow to take care of you and the kits. " I promised.

Peper laughed, licking my face lovingly with tears streaming down her face. "Bless you Nutmeg, you're the sweetest daughter a mother could ever ask for. " She purred. A loud purr rumbled in my chest.

After all that had happened to us, all the hard blows we had encountered, dad murdered, Patches running away, both promising never to return. All that dissolved and faded away. The dark clouds no longer stayed, the hope of a brand new beginning was peaking through. So as my mother and I chatted, creating names, laughing at ones we thought was too weird, I was set free from my depressed state now focusinonothing but new beginnings.

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Author's Note

Hello readers!
Amelia here!

So I tried making a happy chapter as I promised;
Like how Nutmeg would bring food as she promised, and Patches leaving as he promised.
So we are women of our word,
Except for Patches for he is a man of course.

(Probably will understand what I wrote if you ever watched Pirates of the Caribbean :D )

Anyway, what did you think?
Eager to find out the new addition to the alley cats family?

Please comment your thoughts!

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