Hope's Final Wish

Chapter Sixteen

    We set out on the first window. Flicker stood underneath and I carefully got onto his back. I was unballanced, but I managed to get a glimpse over the window. Nobody was there, though. I signaled Flicker and I jumped off. We walk over to another window, careful so that nobody sees us. I climb once more onto his back and struggle to stay onto his back. I peer over the window. I let out a gasp as I see a beautiful white she-cat with patches of calico walking across the wooden floor lazily. I tap on the glass with my paws, and meow at her. She perks up her ears, and looks around. Her gaze finally finds me, and they lift in surprise.

   "Out the door!" I say loudly. She cocks her head, but she walks over the door. I drop down and I meet her by the car door. Flicker disappears through the side of the house, so he doesn't scare her.

   Shakily, she steps out. "Who are you?"

   I step forward to introduce myself. "I'm Hope, but I won't hurt you. We have. . .something that you might be interested in."

  She tips her head to the side and meows, "What is it?"  

   "Mommy!" a squeal erupts from the bush. She runs forward and hops onto her mother's back. I have no doubt now that she is her daughter, because the she-cat squeals and licks her kit furiously. They both are purring loudly.

   "Jessie!" the mother says. I feel so bad for her. Losing her kit after all this time. It must be truly horrible. I watch in happiness at their reunion. "My kitten!"

   "I missed you," Jessie says. "But Hope, Midnight, and Flicker helped me come back home after that bad cat took me away!"

   For a brief moment, fear flashes in her amber eyes. But then she turns to me. "Who?"

   I purr and signal for Midnight to come out. She whips around to face him, putting a tail over her kit protectively. "Don't worry," I meow. "None of us will hurt you or your kit. This is Midnight, my mate." Midnight nods respectively to the she-cat. 

   "W-who's Flicker?" she asks, her mew still shaky.

   I glance at Midnight. "Er, do you mind foxes?"

   "What are those?" she asks. I figure since she doesn't know what they are, she won't be afraid of them. I call out to Flicker for him to join us. The she-cat only stares at him quizzically, studing him. Flicker dips his head to her.

   "Are you a dog of some sort?" she asks.

   "Well . .  a wild dog, I suppose." Flicker says, sounding like he's just trying to make it simple for her. "I helped take Jessie here."

   The she-cat purrs. "Oh, thank you all so, so much for returning my little Jessie! My name is Clarra." Her purr immediately drops, and her tail goes flat. "I can't." she whispers suddenly.

   I flick one ear. "You can't what?"

   Clarra wails. "I can't take Jessie!"

   I flatten my ears, confused. "Wh-what do you mean, you can't keep her?" Clarra stands to her feet and paces around, while Jessie tries to follow her.

   "I can't keep her!" Clarra wails. "Oh, how I wish I could! But my human doesn't want anymore animals here. If she finds Jessie, she will surely take her far away. And there's another danger, too. The tom-- Scar-- which you were talking about, will come and also try to take her away. That's Jessie's father. He thinks that Jessie is rightfully his, and that she will have to live with him forever. . . He took her, and that's how I lost her in the first place."

   I share a look with Midnight. Does that mean we came all the way here for nothing?!

   "But surely he won't." I say.

   "He will! My human doesn't like any other cats, too." Clara looks like she's about to fall to the ground. "I'm a horrible mother!"

   I walk toward, resting a tail on the upset she-cat. "No, you aren't. It's not your fault. We. . . we will talk about this, and settle it all out. Okay?"

   Clarra whips her gaze behind her, to the door, then back at us. "I have to go. Please, please meet me here tonight, by this bush. Will you please take care of Jessie until then?" Her voice is so pleading and desperate, I can hardly turn her down.

   I force a purr. "I've taken care of her until now. Of course I will, and we will see you soon." Clarra flashes me a grateful smile before disappearing back into the cat door.

   "Mom!" Jessie wails, trying to jump in after her. But I quickly stop her with a paw.

   "Jessie, we will see her later," I meow. "Alright? We just need to go away until tonight, then you can see her again."

   Jessie pauses. "Promise?"

   I nod. "Promise."

___________________

OMG sorry for the SUPER late update on this!! D: i was so busy with my other things, but it's finally here, and i made it longer. i will continue updating, warrior fans! :D

-Wolfang11