Chapter 9: Fall-Out

The next seven days went shockingly well for Jay and she watched them slip by quietly. Jay estimated that she was now no more than a moon from kitting and no cat could look at her slender frame without noticing the bulge in her belly. She was starting the feel the pressure, but it still wasn't her main concern.

And now she was ready, for after a bit of hard work she and Amelia had constructed a den worthy of envy. They had decided to change the location and had built the den against a felled tree trunk on the outskirts of the meadow a little closer to the sinking-sand. Weaving brambles and briars to form a dangerous exterior barrier while making the insides soft with ferns, moss, and lichen lining to keep out drafts. It was spacious, since Jay had planned it to easily accommodate six full grown cats. At the moment, it looked even bigger with only the two lone dens on either side of the circularly constructed den.

The only entrance was a small opening equidistant from both Jay's and Amelia's nest, as agreed by the two of them. The entrance was the only point where light came in, leaving the inside cool and dark even in the heat of the day. Jay still wanted to line the ground with moss, but for now cold dirt and grass sufficed as a floor.

When they had finished the work Jay had sat inside and admired their handiwork, pride warming her chest as she appreciated that there was not a single hole or draft besides the entrance. And now she wouldn't have to feel chills from unknown eyes.

That terrifying sensation had never come back, but just once had been enough to put Jay on high alert. But no amount of searching and investigating led to anything fruitful. Jay had started to keep a careful eye on Amelia, specifically when they worked together on building the den.

The black she-cat didn't seem to be as edgy as she was, but Jay had noticed Amelia looking around a bit more than usual and she wore an anxious look sometimes as evening came upon them. How odd! Two of the most dangerous she-cats the Clans had ever met, and they were scared of apparently nothing! The irony of it made Jay's blood boil.

There's something more going on here, and I'm determined to find out! Jay hissed quietly to herself, striking the ground as she scraped away the moss from the stone and clean curls. It was the evening of the seventh day since she had been overcome by chills, and just remembering her paralyzing fear angered her.

But she had been busy the last few days, building a den and warming Python's group up to her. She hadn't met the leader himself again, but she'd done little favors for his cats everyday. From helping collect moss for fresh bedding to helping fight off a hawk, she'd made sure she was there whenever they needed help.

And she hadn't had time to send Amelia into investigating it- she wanted to do it herself anyways- but the black she-cat had been assigned to learn as much as she could about the Ivy Cats. Though the reports so far were less than interesting.

"They seem to be broken up in two parts; one fights, the other hunts. I don't know how they are organized and I can't tell who the leaders are yet." "I haven't seen a cat younger than five moons outside of the cave, and those that are younger than about eight are always accompanied." "I have seen a few she-cats outside the cave, but they are always accompanied by a tom and don't seem to do much besides walk and gather herbs."

Jay was impatient with this. She didn't want to know how they survived, she wanted to know why they lived. And why Python thought they needed to be destroyed. Also, knowing their weaknesses was always a good thing.

Jay sighed, time was running out. She didn't know what Ash was doing, but she was sure he was trying to drag things on until after she had her kits and would be preoccupied before he made any moves. I also don't know how close Python is to freeing the pass. But I'm going to have to deal with it sooner or later as well.

Frowning, Jay finished gathering moss and shook out the moisture, rolling it up tight and picking up, trotting back toward her den as the sky turned from flush pink to cool purple and the scenery turned gray in the twilight. The cries of birds died with the light and the melancholy tune of the wind established its dominance as the nightly sound, drowning out the drowsy sounds of tired creatures.

By the time Jay had reached the den the heather blue sky was turning black and the nearly full moon hovered above the peak of the easternmost mountain. The mountain where Python and his troops lived. Jay stared at it for a moment, wondering what was going on over there before sighing and entering the den.

Making her was confidently over to her own nest in the dark, she deftly laid the fresh layer of moss over her nest and kneaded it with her paws to smooth and soften it out. Once satisfied with the plushness, Jay hopped into the nest and curled down to rest.

She groomed her fur before entering into repose, as a means to calm herself since with the shadows came an unknown threat that she knew lurked about somewhere in the valley. And although she didn't think Amelia was much of a comfort, she was a bit more uneasy all alone in this strange new place.

I know Amelia likes being out at night, but can't she let me know when she's going to be gone? Jay thought crossly, tugging at a knot in her fur. The black she-cat hadn't been around much since the den had been finished. She came to sleep sometimes and give Jay reports, but that was all Jay saw her for.

Once Jay was finished with her grooming she laid her chin on her paws, staring into the darkness as she waited for tiredness to drag at her eyes. The muted sounds of the wind sounded eerie and the brushing of branches against each other sent shivers under her fur. She flattened her ears against her skull, wishing to block out the noise.

She didn't want to think about the night, she didn't want to remember. She just wanted to sleep. In peace, like a kit with no fears to tear at the mind until it was broken and bloody. Or memories that made her heart ache and choked her throat with emotion. What a wondrously terrible life she'd had that could frighten and exhilarate her even now as she laid in a safe den far, far away in both distance and time from the happenings that seemed to be the only real thing she'd ever experienced in her life.

Morning found her sound asleep, exhausted from the night's silent ordeal. She had fallen asleep as the first light had found its way into her den, complacently unaware of the massive pattern of life the valley had. Or what was in store for her that day.

...

By sun-high Jay was awake and had eaten, setting out for the eastern mountains to see what she could do today For Python and his soldiers. Half way there, her stomach turned. Something was wrong. Jay paused and looked around, the sky was a mix of blue sky and white clouds. The trees waved happily by the lively streams and the prey was on the move. The wind had lessened to a faint breeze that could just barely keep the sun's warmth from being too much. Nothing seemed to be out of place in nature.

But there was a tension in the air, a moodiness that Jay recognized as usually foreign to the valley. A change had occurred, that was all it could be. Jay debated whether to turn back and wait for things to calm down, whatever had happened, but she figured it would be better to know right away and continued to advance toward the mountain, feeling the tension grow with every stride.

As Jay reached the base of the mountain trail a cloud covered the sun, casting her in shadow. Out west she could still see the sunlight on the faraway mountainside, but even that light was being swallowed up by the gray clouds spreading across the sky. Now even nature was feeling moody.

With a pensive frown, Jay carefully picked her way up the trail. The cat scent was heavier than usual on the trail, as if more cats had come this way. And the slightly musky scent that was mixed in with the clear mountain cat scent alarmed Jay.

They couldn't have already gotten back, could they? Fear darkened her heart and for a moment she once more considered turning her back and saving this battle for a different day. No, I have to get this sorted out as quickly as possible. With faint heart and weak legs Jay dragged herself the rest of the way up the mountain. The scent trail didn't end at the tunnel but continued on to where the meetings were held and as she neared the cave the murmur of voices reached her.

Jay took a deep breath, hovering out of sight along the trail next to the cave entrance. She could see the gaping black rock that stunted the mountainside, a dark cavity that could not be filled. Jay pricked her ears, hoping vainly that her assumptions were wrong. She scowled as she recognized Spark's happy voice. I hate always being right.

Jay stepped out in front of the cave entrance, her figure clearly silhouetted and looking into the darkness she was blind. But she stepped forward confidently, it was paramount that she did not betray her nervousness if she was going to convince any cat of her fabricated innocence.

"Jay," a low voice greeted her. It was Python's, but it was not as warm or respectful as the first time he had greeted her. Jay stepped toward him, her eyes picking up his dark shoulders and bright eyes even in the dark. For some reason, she felt like she was stepping into a den of foxes. Perfect silence, all eyes on her, malicious growling rumbling in throats, yes, a fitting allegory.

"Python, I didn't know you were having a meeting today," Jay mewed cheerfully, keeping her eyes on him.

"And I didn't know you were insolent enough to dare show your face to us again," a voice snarled behind her. Jay's ears flicked, it sounded like she'd have to play it cool in the face of fury.

She turned to face Silver. The she-cat didn't look much different from the last time Jay had seen her, the same ferociously appalled expression, though where there had been blood on her face last time, now an arced scar creased over her right eye.

Jay smiled politely, "I'm happy to see you finally made it to the mountains safely."

She could feel the atmosphere ripple, as if it were being separated between outrage and confusion, those who had seen her work and those who had only heard of it. Silver was clearly only on one side, the pale gray she-cat leaped for her, claws outstretched and reaching for her throat just as Jay had showed her not so long ago.

It was all Jay could help to not laugh. Silver's offensive attack wasn't so bad, but she had left herself completely open to attack, thinking nothing of defense. If Jay had cared, she could have sliced Silver open before the she-cat's attack could connect. But that was not what this situation called for.

Jay simply blocked the attack, knocking Silver's front paws away and letting her glide past her, so close to her that their fur brushed. Jay looked over her shoulder at Silver who spat, "I don't understand what I did to provoke that attack," she mewed, allowing her voice to drop to a sad tone. But her eyes were all for Silver, and she flashed the she-cat a discreet look of contempt.

"You betrayed us!" Silver hissed. Behind the silver she-cat Leaf lined up, looking less hostile but as angry as her fellow solider. All the other she-cats lined up behind them as well, each with a different degree of anger. Jay noticed Night looked the calmest of them all.

Jay tilted her head to one side, "And what did I do to betray your trust? I didn't even know I ever had it."

Silver glared at her. How much a look of fury changed a cat! The silver cat was no longer pretty, her features twisted in anger made her look more like a ravaging canine than a graceful feline. "We made a deal and you broke it," Leaf growled, the cream tabby she-cat looked hard-set and grim as she faced her.

Jay dipped her head in apparent shame, "I admit that I didn't hold my end of the bargain of helping you get to the mountains, but I didn't have the luxury of time. I had to get here before my kits came," Jay mewed, still with a lowered head, staring at the ground. The cats would be more sympathetic if they thought she had made a poor decision for the sake of others instead of for herself.

"You could have told us that, but you didn't. Plus, you used us to get into the mountains! We were almost killed!" Silver hissed, her anger had faded a little. But only just a little.

Jay jerked her head up, opening her mouth and widening her eyes to give a most convincing shocked expression. "What are you talking about?"

The absolute surprise in her voice sent the whole cave into silence and cats started giving Silver doubtful glances. Only Silver herself seemed undaunted, "I saw you during the battle! You didn't come help fight like in the plan, you fled up the mountain path while all the rogues were busy with us!"

Jay continued staring at Silver with her shocked expression. Start out hesitantly, don't be too concerned over defending your actions. Instead, take it personally.. "I-I would never do such a thing!" Jay made her voice high-pitched and flicked her gaze quickly from one cat to the other.

Now even Silver was looking confused, "I know I saw you..." the she-cat trailed off, murmurs were starting to echo around the cave.

Now Python stepped forward beside Silver. His eyes were clear and he still looked stern, he wasn't going to be swayed so easily. "If that is the case, how can you explain how you disappeared during the battle and then ended up in the mountains not long after?"

Jay looked at him and she allowed her shock to calm down. "During the battle I got chased away by one of the rogues. I decided to give up since there was no way we'd be defeating the rogues anytime soon and I started searching for another route up into the mountains. I found one that was a little bit north of where the pass was and that's how I ended up here." After doing some investigation, Amelia had found that there was indeed another way into the mountains, a small, precarious trail that was just past the Ivy Cats borders to the north west. The path existed and no cat could say which one she entered the valley through.

Python frowned, "There is that path, but it is hard to find if you don't know about it. And it is extremely dangerous for a large group, but one cat might manage it."

"But there were two of you, wasn't there?" Spark spoke up, her green eyes flashing toward her. "Where's Amelia?"

Jay shook her head, "We were only traveling together. Once we got to the mountains we split up. I don't think she wanted to stay in the valley. I don't know where she is," Jay mewed and she refused to give up anymore information about Amelia.

Python sat back on his haunches at the end of a long interrogation. Jay had been careful to keep her story straight and they had failed to convict her. Even Silver looked willing to admit that the crime she had accused Jay of was exaggerated.

"But the fact still remains," Python mewed, "That you chose to help yourself over others. Your kits may be important, but if you have to lie and deceive for them, than I am not sure I can trust you."

Jay dropped her head, "I was desperate and I wasn't thinking clearly. I know now that I can be loyal to both you and my kits."

"You may say that now, but what if you're in a position where you have to choose the safety of our cause or that of your kits? I am not convinced that you'd make the right choice, after all, a mother's first instinct is to protect her kits," Python mewed, he didn't sound angry anymore, in fact, he sounded consoling.

Jay kept her eyes downcast, of course I'd choose my kits over them in a heartbeat. But I can't let them think that. "Will you give me a chance? To prove my loyalty?" Jay asked.

"I don't know if you deserve a chance. Look, we aren't going to target you. We may just decide to exclude you from our activities. This way you can focus on being a mother," Python's voice was gentle and he didn't seem to be malicious. But I need to have a paw in this! I can't let you decide my life without me having a say in it!

"Please!" Jay raised her eyes imploringly. "I want to help, this cause means so much to me!"

Murmurs passed through the cats, some positive, some negative. Jay noticed that Grass was staying strictly silent. "I think she reserves a chance," Jay looked up in surprise to see Screech, her wide blue eyes staring at her and her face carefully blank of emotion.

Jay dipped her head thankfully toward the she-cat and turned hopefully back toward Python. The brown tom seemed strained, showing for the first time the weight of leadership upon his shoulders. "Jay, if I test your loyalty you may not be so grateful. It will be a dangerous task to both you and your kits. You should know I'm not forcing this on you, if you refuse you can live peacefully in the valley like any other cat. But if you accept this mission and carry it out faithfully, I swear to welcome you as a top member of my soldiers," Python mewed.

Jay hesitated although she already knew what her answer would be, the weight of it was like a blow to her head. "I accept."

... Amelia's POV...

Amelia lifted her head, her sleek black fur rippled in the wind and her tail waved behind her as she stood at the top of a hill, looking back over the valley. The waves of grass, the bouncing green bunches of trees, and the clear blue streams woven together into a plump visage. I wonder how Jay is faring?

She snickered to herself, she'd witnessed for herself Leaf and the others' return. And they hadn't kept Jay's trick a secret. As she'd watched from a dark cleft, animosity had grown like a black storm cloud against Jay. But Jay hadn't told her to warn her when they returned, so why should she go through the trouble of telling her?

Besides, Amelia turned her face into the wind, Jay could probably talk herself out of death's grasp if she put her mind to it. She's an incredibly amusing cat. So clever and yet so foolish. Amelia's current job was to investigate the Ivy Cats, giving Jay aid of any sort was not in her itinerary.

Presently,Amelia stood on the northeast mountain side in the Ivy Cats territory. She'd spent a lot of time here recently and she found the quiet hills peaceful. No cat lived here and the Ivy Cats rarely came this way because of the tricky terrain in getting here. Between the green hill she sat on and the rest of the valley was a gulf, a good jump across might save you from a break-neck fall.

But Amelia had found a different place to cross where the jump was only two tail-lengths across, so getting across was no problem. On the valley side of the gulf the ground was torn up a foot lower than the ground of the rest of the valley and it was raked with coarse brown dirt with no vegetation at all, as if the land had been sliced clean away. And the only prey to be found there was a few stray birds looking for worms in the dirt.

Amelia closed her eyes and pricked her ears, distant murmurs coming to her. Endless babbling against a black drop, it irritated her that it never left. Was it too much to wish for a quiet world? She just wanted perfect silence, but that wish would never come true. So why did it remain in her heart? There was nothing as infuriating as a wish that you can't make come true and you can't leave behind.

But right now, there was one murmuring that interested her. It was different than the others, a softer, sweeter voice that even as she ridiculed it in her mind, her heart reached out for it. Ever since that night when Jay had looked at her with such destitute fear she'd been on her guard for oddities. But this was far beyond her.

Still, I ought to check it out. After all, I told Jay I'd look into it. With a sigh she headed in the direction the murmur came from. Up a grassy trail she headed deeper into the mountain, the grass turning more sparse and sharp rocks piercing her soft paws.

But the murmur grew louder and Amelia crept stealthily along the shadows of the mountainside. Now the murmur was joined by others, what was this? By now she should be able to hear the voices, the words should be clear. But it remained in a foggy echo that both annoyed and interested Amelia, tempting her onward until she felt sick of the voice's loveliness.

"Stop!" a sharp hiss jerked her out of the voice's grip. By reflex, Amelia whirled around, knocked the cat to the ground and pinned it to the ground with a corresponding thump to the cat's shocked face, she unsheathed her claws, angry that in her trance she had let her guard down. The fast-breathing cat that had interrupted her stalking was an orange tom with gray eyes. His chest rose and fell in swift pants and his eyes were wide with fear, no, more like surprise.

"Let me up!" the tom hissed, recovering from his fright quickly, his gray eyes narrowed but he didn't look angry. Amelia twitched her ears, this cat had an air about him that was oddly familiar.

"You're an Ivy Cat?" Amelia mewed suspiciously, wondering why his voice seemed familiar. Have I heard him in my investigations before?

The tom nodded quickly, and Amelia backed off, letting the tom regain his footing. "I'm busy, move out," Amelia growled, prodding him back to where the valley lay. The trail she had taken had led up into the mountains so that the valley now lay far below.

"I didn't follow you by accident," the tom mewed, now much more confident with his paws on the ground, "I came to stop you, going this way will only give you trouble," he warned.

Amelia was silent, she didn't care. In fact, she had been so bored the last few days that she might welcome trouble. But then she remembered that sickly luscious voice, "What's up there and why did you want to follow me?" Amelia asked, jerking her dark muzzle up into the mountains.

The tom dipped his head, "My name is Ash, who I am and what I do are of no importance."

Amelia almost snorted, so this is the furball Jay asked me to investigate a while back. I know exactly who he is now, and I understand why Jay doesn't like him. The two are birds of a feather, but I'd say Jay is better at thinking on her paws. "But what's up there?" she repeated. He was an informant, so he ought to inform her.

"Nothing good," Ash warned. "I can't tell you what exactly, but I'm telling you that if you go up there uninvited you'll never be the same again," with that the orange tom turned and started down the trail, much to Amelia's annoyance. He paused and looked back at her after going a few steps, "Don't get involved with things you can't understand."

Amelia's tail tip twitched, she had been born unable to understand herself. Not understanding was not something she was afraid of and as soon as the tom had disappeared she turned her paws back up the trail. Her ears pricked for those drugging murmurs.

Amelia frowned, she was unsettled. How long had it been since those sickly butterflies had last visited her before now? But she was nervous, the fur prickling along her spine and a cold sweat coated her. Amelia paused as the murmurs grew louder, she could practically hear the words, it wouldn't be far now.

She rounded a turn on the mountain tail. The faint path ahead became shrouded in shadow, in front of the shadows stood a gray stone archway, like a gateway into a forbidden world. Amelia's heartbeat skyrocketed, the murmurs undoubtedly came from beyond the archway, echoing along the stone ravine. Words she couldn't understand, sounds she didn't comprehend. Gosh she was nervous.

......

Amelia blinked open her eyes, her mind muggy as she found herself staring up at a black and silver belted sky. She lay on her back in the green grass, the comforting sound of a sluggish stream and the rustle of leaves sounded nearby in the dark. She was back in the valley.

What happened? She remembered stepping underneath the stone archway, heart in her throat. And then, then nothing. It all went dark, now she was waking up in the valley with no knowledge of how she got here or what had happened, but her whole body ached.

Amelia sat up, by the sound of it, she was just past the Ivy Cats borders, near her and Jay's den. But what happened? She frowned and concentrated, trying to remember something, anything. But nothing came to her, it was as if her life had skipped from one moment to the next, no knowledge at all about what had transpired between those two moments.

It wasn't until she tried to stand that she realized she was shaking, why? Worried, she looked herself over, she didn't appear to be injured even though her body was heavy with exhaustion. Had she been drugged? Poisoned? No, there was no taste in her mouth or any other side effects.

When she tried to take a deep breath to steady herself and felt it catch in her throat, she realized she was terrified. Scared of what? Does my body remember what my mind has forgotten? There was no answer to her questions and only when she had given herself time to rest was she able to get to her paws and stumble her way home.

I bet Jay will have an idea, she'll know what to make of this. But when she reached the den, it was empty and dark. And, from the scent of it, Jay hadn't been there since at least sun-high. Amelia's heart fell, that's right, she had to deal with Leaf's return today. I hope she'll make it back here soon, I could really use her help in all of this. What should I do about this?

Snorting to herself at her own helplessness, Amelia curled down in her nest and watched the entrance with sharp eyes. She couldn't imagine sleeping right now and she felt that staying awake would bring Jay back sooner. But dawn came and still the she-cat had not returned. Should I go look for her?

Amelia dismissed the thought, if Jay was being kept at Python's, then Jay certainly didn't want her to show up when they were supposed to be strangers to those cats. And it'd be especially bad if Leaf or any of the other she-cats were there.

I'll just have to wait for her to come back on her own. Amelia shifted in her nest and closed her eyes, finally prepared to get some sleep. As her breathing deepened a fresh chill came over her and she felt her mouth go dry. A coarse voice sounded in her ear, "Get Out."