Autumn sat on the nest with Fall beside her. She stared off in the opposite direction, where there seemed to be no wall but just darkness.

"What's there?" Autumn asked, gesturing to the dark place.

"There's just more stairs leading to other places in the building. I'll show you around sometime," Fall replied. "Not very luminous and pretty, but it is home."

That reminded Autumn of all the lights she had seen in the city. "By the way, the city seemed bright and the trees had lights on them."

Fall chuckled. "It's almost Christmas time. All the humans do that this time of year."

Autumn cocked her head. "Christmas?"

"It's a holiday the humans have," Fall said. "They give presents and eat a lot and sing."

Sing! That was what those humans were doing going from building to building yowling, singing.

"Humans are weird," Autumn said.

Fall nodded. "Yeah, they are in some ways."

The den fell silent and Autumn moved closer to Fall, closed her eyes and fell asleep for a little while.

............................................................

Autumn was back in the moonlit clearing. All her dreams seemed to take place there. She was alone this time, no Fall, no bears, and no wolves. Just empty and silent except for the sound of crickets. Autumn looked around.

The scent of blood filled her nose. Autumn pricked her ears up in alarm and ran through the forest. She recognized the river and knew she was close to home. Something was awfully wrong.

She kept running, blood roaring in her ears, the smell of blood getting stronger as she drew closer to the den. It was almost in view and Autumn was just about to check it out when blackness swallowed her whole.

............................................................

Autumn's eyes flew open. She was thrashing at the air and she felt paws holding her down onto the soft nest. Fall was above her, staring with a panicked look on his face.

"Autumn! Snap out of it!" Fall shook her.

Autumn stopped and looked around panting. The dream was more vivid than other she had had before. She scrambled up and stretched her wings. "Something's wrong," she said and flew off into the night without even saying "goodbye".

The wind ruffled her fur as she soared over the city, over the fence and through the forest. Her heart pounded and her stomach had butterflies. Something was indeed very wrong. Autumn could feel it in her gut.

She landed near the river and broke out into a run. Her dream was coming true: running through the forest, the scent of blood, her home.

The den was coming into view. Autumn ran faster, her heart now beating so rapidly she thought it would fall out of her chest. She was even more scared than ever before. More than the fights with Scarlet, more than when Fall was hurt, even more than when she fell off the cliff as a kit. That cliff and incident seemed so far away now, even though it would only take a short walk to reach the ledge from the river.

Autumn skidded to halt a few cat lengths away from the den. Her stomach twisted and her eyes watered. The smell of blood was so strong, she almost fainted, but Autumn was sure she'd faint from what she saw first.

Blood pooled all over the ground, and two huge mounds of brown fur laid there. Autumn rushed over.

"Grizelda?" Autumn squeaked like a kit.

No answer. Her eyes were open, but they were glazed over and blood started to dry around the deep gash in her throat.

"Grizelda?" Autumn said again more loudly.

Grizelda didn't respond. Autumn padded over to Toko.

"Toko? Wake up! Where's Maverick?"

No answer.

"Toko! Answer me!"

Toko's flank didn't move and his body was cold underneath Autumn's paw, which she now had on his muzzle.

Maverick was nowhere in sight, but the only clear thought that formed in Autumn's mind was that her only family was dead.