The alluring scent of milk filled Amber's nostrils, waking her with a start from her dream. She'd been with Coal again, and he was saying how much he looked forward to meeting their kits, but before he finished speaking, he was hit by that same twoleg machine. She shuddered and blinked the horrid memory out of her mind. 

 Like a snake, she slithered off of the sofa and followed her nose to the warm milk laid out by Silky's person. The fluffy she-cat was still sleeping in her cozy nest by the window, her tail flicking and eyes moving. Dreaming. Amber could tell it was a pleasant dream because a small grin had appeared on her pretty face. 

 The past few days in Silky's nest were just what Amber had needed in order to refresh and get her mind back on track. It was so lovely here, and Silky kept assuring her that her person would let her stay as long as she wanted, but despite how much she may have wanted to stay, to take the easy way out instead of finding her father's Clan, she knew she had to leave. She had to go before she talked herself into not wanting to.

 She had to think of her kits. Traveling with them, however many there would be, would be far too difficult, and it would be unfair to have them born in this warm, sheltered nest and then take them out into the freezing cold leaf-bare. 

 She pondered all of these things as she lapped up the last of the milk. Today she would go. As soon as Silky woke up, she would tell her and leave right away, without any sappy goodbyes or prolonged farewell messages. 

 Amber was sitting on the ledge of a window overlooking the garden when she felt the soft brush of Silky's tail on her shoulder. The light fur stood out so vividly against her red striped pelt. The she-cat yawned and sat down on the floor, Amber jumping down to join her.

 "Listen, Silky, I have to tell you something," Amber began.

 "Save it, darling, I know," Silky pouted. "I knew you wouldn't stay forever."

 "I'm really sorry, and I want you to know how grateful I am. Taking me in for the past few days after everything that's happened..." She shook her whole body to keep herself from sinking back into the deep dark memories of her journey here and how Coal's had been cut short all too quickly. "It's been great, but I need to leave. Nowish."

 "I understand, Amber," Silky said, smiling sadly. "It's been so nice having you here, and you're allowed to come any time, you here? You are welcome in our nest!" The pair of cats had migrated to the door, and Amber smiled at Silky before disappearing out the cat flap and into the blustery coldness.

 And just like that she was back on her adventure. She tried to recall all the pieces of the dreams she had had where the starry cats came to visit her, to give direction. She saw the way she had come from, and went in the opposite direction. This felt right. Her belly was full, and her thirst was quenched. The only thing that was off was the overwhelming lack of voyaging companion.

 Amber walked for a long while in one straight line without having to maneuver around twolegs or fences, until she came to the biggest road she had ever seen. Twoleg machines moved in either direction in huge packs, with about eight rows in total. Coal had lost his life on a road far smaller than this one, but Amber was determined to make it across. His death wasn't going to be in vain, and his kits would live to hear about his life.

 There would be no rash decisions or unplanned movements on Amber's part. She wasn't just acting for herself, she carried the lives of her unborn offspring, and that, if nothing else, made Amber more weary of how she chose to operate.

 She sat by the edge of the road for a good while, trying to find patterns and good moments to rush, but there was no rhyme or reason to the machines. They came in bursts, but there would hardly be enough time between them to get to the next lane before having to wait to go again. And she had to do it eight times.

 She looked down the road. A gap was coming, and it looked just big enough for her to pass over the lane without interference. She stood, ready to sprint when the time came. She counted out loud.

"Three. Two. One!" She ran.