The Adventures Of Mint & Coco

18: A Sky Full of Mysteries (Mint)

I step back; the mother who was being so kind... has now turned against us. Again. I snort. Shadow doesn't react with anger, obviously trying to get her approval. "I'm very sorry... I didn't mean to upset you!" Shadow pauses, "I need your help, that's all I'm here for. I'm not here to fight, or anything else. I... I just need help. I need to know where I can find a cat tribe..." he explains. The grey-haired twins give each other a look of understanding, and then pass it on to Hazel, who is still boiling with anger. She lets her ears flop back up, and then turns to me. "Is he? Or is he just trying to remind me of what I lost... who I lost," she barely chokes out. My eyes are darting from her, to her daughter Buttercup, who is standing in confusion. "He's telling the truth," I say. I think. Hazel is still waiting for a reason why. "He does need help. I have agreed to help him and... I lost a lot when I did. That must mean I care for him." Right? Hazel nods and lets her fur lay flat across her tail. "Okay, I really don't have anything to lose besides Buttercup. If you agree to protect her at all causes, then I'll help." Shadow's face perks up, and he looks at me. Thanks.
I turn away. I helped him. Um, why did I do that? I thought I was trying to save Raven and Luke. Not build an army! I turn around, and silently hit myself in the face. For shame! I turn back around to find all of the other cat mutants introducing themselves. The two grey-haired cat mutants step up. The girl begins, "I'm Ash, and this is my brother Kona." Shadow nods. The two red toms step up and introduce themselves, "I'm Flame, and this is Thunder." The brown tabby female shoulders pass them to introduce herself as well, "And I'm Kali." Shadow's eyes are wide, and it seems like he's into her. Huh, better her than me! Something twists around inside of me at the way they are looking at each other. Jealously? No way... Shadow shakes his head. "Alright that's good. So if you are joining me in the fight against the bird mutants, you're going to have to come with us, back to my hideout for the night," he tells them all.
All of the cat mutants nod their heads, and Shadow leads the way back into the pine forest.

The grey-haired boy, Kona, makes his way up to the front, to stand next to me. I ignore his constant staring. "Hi, I'm Kona. Wait, I think you know that already... Um... or maybe you didn't? But, you might? Or did you not? Okay hold on. Let me start over," he stutters. I flick my right ear. "Hi," he finally begins. I turn my head, "Hello..." I reply. He doesn't react after that, and for hours silence surrounds us; nothing but crunching of pine needles, and hoots echoing throughout the forest.

When we finally make our way out of the trees, to step over to the grassy biome, nightfall has begun. Kona had been next to me the entire journey. And I finally realize who had been next to Shadow. Kali. But I don't care. I didn't like him anyway. Raven is the one I love... right? Of course he is.
Shadow pushes open the stuck door with a huff, and it creeks open. Buttercup is shivering, and Hazel reaches down to pick her up. I remember where the string to the light is, and I push past Shadow to get to it. I reach up to pull it, and light flickering on and off filters through the shack. All of the cat mutants enter, and Ash hops with a squeak. "What is it?!" I ask, unsheathing my claws. "It's a spider!" she screams. I half-close my eyes, and sheathe my claws. I walk over to where Ash is huddling in a corner, and bend down. I blow the tiny spider away and step back, allowing Ash to pad past. Jeez. She is going to need major training.
As the wind howls outside, I am huddled by the window. All of the others are asleep, but I'm not tired. I yawn. I miss Raven. I shouldn't have agreed to do this... But I can't back down now. It's... it's too late. I don't even know where Coco is. I let the terrain outside take me away from this shack, far away; the cracks in the wood allowing tiny bursts of wind to come in, and the candle lit in the corner flickers. I listen to the whisper of the late night rain on the window... Like the sky knows how I feel. I shake the sad thoughts out of my head. So maybe this must be my destiny. I agreed to this. And I want to help. I think. So I'm going to. I am in my cat form, and I lay my head on my paws. I look down; my mint leaf pendant is glowing.
Yes, this is. It must be. My destiny awaits...

I awaken to see Hazel, Buttercup and Ash, in the corner sharing a squirrel. Flame and Thunder are eating pigeons by the couch. And on top, Shadow sits with Kali, sharing a rabbit. She snickers as he whispers something into her ear. I flatten my ears. Whatever. I pad over to the pile of prey, and grab a plump mouse. I can't believe that when I'm in my cat form, I think this tastes good... Well at least I won't have to worry about what to eat when I'm in human form. I can just shrink and catch a mouse. I settle down by the window, and bend down to take a bite. Just as I sink my teeth into it, Kona hops up beside me on the window sill, scaring me and making me drop my meal. I growl as I look down to see it floating in a puddle of mud made by a hole in the roof above. Muddy mouse. No thanks. And on the pile of prey, one fish remains, and I spot Buttercup skipping over to grab it and pad away. I squint my eyes at Kona, who is smiling sheepishly. "Uh, sorry..." he apologizes. I hiss, "Sorry won't feed me!" Kona tosses a squirrel at me, and I automatically feel bad for snapping at him. "Oh... um thanks," I choke. Kona is looking at me. "Yeah I didn't know that you already had a piece of prey and I was going to share mine with you..." I nod. "Okay." I reach down to take the first bite, and then scoot it over to Kona. He hunches down and takes a big bite, than passes it back. I flick my tail. "Oh, I'm not that hungry, so I suspected this would be enough for me." He explains. I nod, "Alright." I gobble up the rest. A beautiful iridescent morning light is shining through the window and I jump down to stand beside Shadow, who is having a conversation with Kali. Kona stands beside me. "Yep, that sounds like a good idea. You capture Luna, and I'll attack the guards," I hear Kali say. "Hey Shadow..." I interrupt. He pauses and turns around to face me. His icy blue eyes send shivers down my spine. I wait for him and Kali to grow to their human form, and then Kona and I do the same. He smiles. "Mint? What is it?" he questions. I sigh, "What's going on? Are we going to begin training them?" I ask, confused. Shadow shakes his head. "No, Kali was just telling me about a pack of cat mutants over the mountains; I didn't know that there was still more cat mutant packs out there until just now. We are planning on traveling there, and getting them to fight with us," he finishes, a contempt look painted on his face. I flick my ears, "Oh, okay, so all of a sudden we're going to listen to her? What if she's lying?" I point. Kali growls, "I'm not lying! Huh, how about you go find your own pack if you're going to be miss bossy. Shadow and I have a lot of work to do." She instructs. I hiss, "Who made you the boss?" Kali lashes her tail, "Shadow did." She marches away. I am speechless, "You made her boss? What? I am so confused..." I mumble. Shadow steps up to me, and I tremble. "Forget she said that... Neither of you are. The leader of the cat mutant pack she is talking about, 'Pack of Sharp Claws' is responsible for who gives orders." Shadow assures. I whip my tail, "What if she is lying?! We'll be in the wilderness forever!" I remark. Shadow's ears flatten. "I'd rather look for something that doesn't exist to help us, than try to fight the bird mutants with what we have right now," he confesses, "Just look around. The only cats here that could survive the first thirty seconds are you Kali and I." He walks in the opposite direction. I look down in concentration. "Not if you train them," I say. Shadow stops, "That will be for the pack leader to decide," he declares. We make ephemeral eye contact, and then he keeps walking. I shake my head. "If there is one," I murmur to myself. I can tell Shadow isn't completely sure. He turns his head one last time. "We are going to leave first thing tomorrow, so prepare everyone," he instructs.

I settle down behind the couch, and I look aside to see that the family picture is still there; cracked around the sides. I wonder what happened to them, and who they are?