Shrieking, blood, claws, darkness, death, bodies. It was more than a nightmare. Autumn was engulfed in it and couldn't escape, not until an image of the clearing filled her mind and jolted her awake. Maddy was sleeping and Autumn saw her chance to slip away.

She crept out of the den, jumping silently onto the rock, then leaping out of the den through the opening. Dawn was approaching and dew glittered on the blades of grass. Autumn started running, stumbling on her weak and bandaged paws.

The clearing looked identical to the one in her dreams except or the sky. It wasn't nighttime like it normally was, but it was still the same. It was all surreal to Autumn as she crept out from the trees and walked right into the center of it. Why had everything revolved around this? A clearing? What for?

An image of Fall filled her mind and she immediately took flight towards the abandoned building, ripping the bandage off of her paw with her teeth. Autumn's wings weren't working as well as before and she had to use all her might to keep her hindquarters from dragging on the ground.

Maddy was already up, looking for Autumn and screeched in alarm when she saw her trying to fly away. Maddy grabbed Autumn by the tail and dragged her out of the air. She landed with a soft thump.

"Hey!" Autumn exclaimed. "You let me go!"

Maddy just shook her head. "You should still be resting. It is bad for you to be up and about! Come back to the den with me."

"No!" Autumn said harshly. "I need to find my mate and see that he's alright. Those wolves are still after us, specifically me."

Autumn tried to flap her wings again but was only lifted a foot off the ground, then she fell back down. She tried again, but still no use. Her tail drooped and Maddy rested her tail on Autumn's shoulder.

"Rest a while longer, then you can see your mate. Alright?" she said soothingly. Autumn just nodded her head solemnly and trudged back towards the nest with the black cat.

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

Strength started returning in Autumn's limbs the next day and the rest of her cobweb bandages were removed. Flying wasn't so much of a struggle and she was back on her paws. It was time to say goodbye.

Maddy touched her nose to Autumn's muzzle. "Take care. If you start feeling any pain or get sick, come straight back."

Autumn purred. "Sorry I was so mean and harsh to you, and thank you for healing me. I'll know where to come for the best treatment."

Autumn and Maddy bid farewell, then she took to the skies towards the abandoned building. Through the forest, over the fence, above the city, and to the roof of Fall's home.

Autumn landed on top of the building just like she always did, but the door was closed. She tried pushing it open. Nothing. She tried pulling open by clamping the knob with her teeth. Still nothing. Weird.

Autumn decided to try going up the stairs from the front door, which she hadn't done before, or she could break through a window. She flew down the side of the building and found a smashed window. She flew through it and landed on the inside. There were chairs and big desks from the humans, and these big boxes on the desks that Autumn didn't know. They had wires coming out of their broken bodies and even flickered occasionally.

Autumn started running through the aisles of desks and tried to navigate her way to the stairs that led to the roof. Something smelled familiar. Autumn stopped to taste the air. Wolves!

She started running again, trying to find the stairs. She could hear rumbling from upstairs and knew that a fight was ensuing. She charged towards the stairwell and flew up it. "Fall!" she cried. Just as she reached the top where Fall's nest lay, the scent of blood filled her nose, several sets of amber eyes fixed onto her, and Scarlet had her teeth fastened around Fall's neck.