Fianna took a deep sigh, scuffling her paws nervously in the undergrowth that surrounded the old barn. Fiona slowly brushed past her, neck fur bristling with anticipation.

"Come on! The days aren't getting any shorter!" Fianna purred, trying to sound enthusiastic about the whole situation. Fiona could tell right away that Fianna was bluffing, but she didn't make a remark.

Fiona silently stalked past, Pinebranch walking awkwardly at her heels, trying to walk in front of the two she-cats. As they entered the barn, they noticed a warm streaming light that laced elegantly down from the small window at the top. The light showed particles of dust that swayed in the ongoing sunlight. Fianna batted at the sun streak, giggling.

Her sister just glanced at her, ears lowered in annoyance. She raised her voice to call out for any cats. "Hello?" She called, nervous green gaze flitting around. There was no reply for a long while, and Fiona's heart sunk. She lowered her tail, pelt prickling with dismay. She started to collect up Fianna and Pinebranch, when she heard a soft, rough voice. She stopped abruptly in her path, tossing her head over her shoulder.

The voice started to introduce himself while Fiona glanced around to try and see where he was. Judging by the echo of the voice, he was probably somewhere up in the dusty rafters.

Fiona shakily gaped her mouth open, trying to find the right words. "Um. . . my name is Fiona, and I came here with my sister, Fianna, and another cat named Pinebranch. We need—"

She was interrupted briskly by the rogue, and you could hear him scuffling in the hay up above. "My name is Eclipse." he announced, ignoring her.

Fiona shook her head, sighing. "We need help. We came from a lab, and my sister and I switched bodies." She lowered herself down, then noticed the tom, as he gracefully scrambled down to the main floor.

"A lab?"

"Yes, a lab."

"I know a lab."

Fiona stared intensely at the rogue. He was an ebony-colored tom with haunting, ghostly gray eyes. This was definitely the rogue Driftspots had described.

"You do?" Fianna butted in, tail flicking with joy. "That's great!"

Eclipse showed no emotion, but gazed approvingly at the cats. "The lab is very dangerous. And Twolegs can literally do whatever they please, to torture our little bodies. That is not a place for young cats like you." His orbs only stared at Fiona and Fianna, excluding Pinebranch.

Fianna just had to say something, tired of holding her breath. "We have been to the lab. We know what it is like." she retorted, her hackles raising.

Eclipse's eyes widened. "Okay, okay. Don't get your fur in a twist." he muttered. "I'm just saying, once you get your bodies back, be careful." he advised.

Fianna noticed Fiona was staggering a bit, but she didn't know how to help. Deciding to try, she slowly marched up to Fiona, whose eyes looked dazed and unfocused. "Fiona, are you alright?" Fianna asked nervously, flexing her claws in the soft wood of the barn floor.

Fiona didn't look at Fianna, just stared blankly at the floor, blinking. "So dizzy. . . . " she murmured, then collapsed to the floor, passing out.

Fianna ran up to her, trembling in terror for her sister. "Fiona!"

That was written by Animal! 🐛