A/N: The picture above is what happen when I get bored during free time and school. It's the symbol that will soon be mentioned in later chapters, but I chose to include it here.

***
It was funny, that such a beautiful place could exist underground. Sparrow followed Tiquail while her friends cowered behind her.

The sky above them was crisp and blue. A few clouds floated around here and there. The sun shone with a heavenly sort of light. Unreal. Soft and pastel yellow, yet bright and providing plenty of light.

Sparrow sped up and matched her pace with Tiquail's. She heard a few anxious squeaks from her friends. What are they so worried about? Sparrow wondered as she poked Tiquail's shoulder. Tiquail flicked her ears to show that she was listening.

"How can I understand you?" Sparrow asked. A purr rose from the depths of Tiquail's chest. "Glad you asked, young one." She rumbled. "You are part of a special ten percent of the world's population that has ancient blood running through your veins. Your father and sisters were like this too."

"Is that why they were taken away from me?" Sparrow asked. Tiquail twitched her tail uncomfortably. "Your kind is hunted, Sparrow." "But what about my mother?" Sparrow interjected. Tiquail shook her spotted head. "Your mother was not like you. People are afraid of you. They are afraid of what you can do."

"What can I do, though?" Sparrow whispered. Tiquail chuckled, though it sounded more like a good-natured growl. "There's plenty of magic inside of you, child. It only matters how you chose to use it.

***

The dirt beneath their feet became winding cobblestone the glowed rainbow in the sunlight. Glittering white buildings lined the path. Grass greener and more vivid than Sparrow had ever seen waved cheerily in the gentle breeze.

The path seemed to go on forever. Sparrow couldn't tell where it ended, though she guessed that the trees that could just be seen behind the rising and falling hills would be the most logical place.

People and wild cats and roamed around, waving to each other with hands and tails. Sparrow heard bits of conversation as she walked. It went from cheery hellos to grim news about a war.

Ainnya led them to a huge white building bigger than the rest of the structures on the street. The roof was domed with golden stars painted on the glass. Windows went all the way around the circular walls.

"What's that?" Sparrow asked, her purplish eyes widening. Ainnya flicked her tail in annoyance. "Don't you think we'll go over that with you, child?" She growled. Sparrow bit her lip as her gaze traveled over Ainnya's lethal form and hard shoulders. As beautiful as she was, as somewhat fragile she looked, there was a certain air of power around that cat.

Ainnya stalked through the doorless opening. She twitched her tail tip as a signal for the others to follow.

Sparrow stepped inside and felt her breath hitch in her throat. The place was beautiful. A gurgling fountain with with crystal blue water stood gracefully in the middle of the room. The floor was white tile laced with elegant golden thread in the shapes of swirls and flowers. The walls were white and plain. Chairs of the lightest and most suttee purple and tables that were actually bookshelves were stationed accordingly around the room. The natural sunlight flitting through the windows gave the place an impression of freshness and strength.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Tiquail murmured as she padded past and gently led Sparrow and to the middle of the room, her paws making no sound. Sparrow squeaked in reply.

Miki, Marley, and Dot shuffled up to Sparrow, huddled in a tight group. "Why do those cats keep growling at you?" Miki asked, her voice trembling. "And why do you keep replying?" Dot continued, not giving Sparrow the chance to answer.

"You mean you can't understand them?" Sparrow whispered, shocked. "No, we can't, and it's a crap-load of stress watching them stalk around you and growl." Marley hissed.

Sparrow turned and walked up to Tiquail, her shoes making loud slapping sounds that echoed around the room. "Why can't my friends understand you?" She questioned. Tiquail glanced sideways at Sparrow, her bright blue eyes gleaming and narrowed slightly. "I've explained already, though in different words. They are not like you." She replied simply.

Unsatisfied, Sparrow pressed on, following Tiquail as she padded and sniffed around the room. "But why?"

Tiquail flicked her tail. "Because they are not."
"Could you give me a clearer answer?"
"That's about as clear as it's going to be get, child."
"Is there a way to make them like me?"

Tiquail pauses and stared at Sparrow, her eyes glittering with amusement. "If they are...willing." She whispered. Sparrow squared her shoulders and set her jaw. Tilting her chin up proudly, she said: "I'm sure they will be."

Tiquail purred. "Go ask then." Sparrow nodded and made her way back over to her friends, who were all gazing at her with wide, anxious eyes. "You guys want to be able to talk to them?" She asked, jerking her head in Tiquail's direction. Dot bit her lip. "Is that a trick question?"

Sparrow shook her head. "Come with me."

As she led her friends back to Tiquail, she realized that Ainnya had disappeared. She looked around for the cheetah, and noticed a staircase, white and able to blend in almost perfectly with the walls. The clear connectors Between each step and the clearer railings made the staircase nearly invisible. It was long and winding, curling around a white bar and disappearing into a white tiled ceiling.

Tiquail sat waiting for them, her bushy tail curled neatly around her paws. Her eyes flickered with surprise before she purred. "So they have agreed?" She asked. Sparrow nodded, trying not to smirk. She probably looked like she was constipated.

"Well then, move."

Sparrow stepped aside. Her friends shot her terrified looks, and guilt clawed at her heart. Was it really fair to make them do this?

Too late.

Green light laced around Tiquail's paws. She stared at Dot, Marley, and Miki and flicked her ears.

Blinding green light flashed around them. Sparrow gasped and dropped to her hands and knees, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she froze in complete and total shock.

She couldn't see.