Silver
It was dawn when she tiptoed back, he knew that. What else had she seen? Her legs were trembling as she set herself as if she had been sleeping for the entire time. She seemed to be in a state of shock, and Sunset wasn't the best comforter for these kind of situations. He was spared from this as she finally fell asleep, breathing even but not relaxed. A few moments later, her legs pawed at the air as if she was trying to bat off an attacker. He rolled over and tried to fall asleep. A few moments later, her paws went still and she relaxed completely. Now it was his time to roam the night.
A golden amber glow peaked over the dark green trees as the first rays of the sun awakened the birds and wildlife as they stirred, leaves crunching all around the forest. Distant calls reverberated through the sky as flocks of jays and tits flew up in high arks towards the clouds, wingtips nearly brushing and they plummeted down, the scent of blood suddenly hitting his nose as numerous bodies were slain and carried up a few seconds later. Soon there was another blanket they covered the sky as the birds carried their food back to their nests, towards the multiple peeps of tiny juveniles waiting for their breakfast.
There were no clouds, but mist still hung in several places in the air. After the birds had done their morning hunting, the bees and other insects swarming the dewy flowers. It was always a pleasure to see such beauty in nature, for he knew that before, there was destruction. He didn't know how he knew, just that something dreadful had happened to create such beauty. Was there going to be a downfall again? How long had it been, since.. since what? He was sure he was there, but which side was he on? The lines between the two were blurred, so that it didn't matter that much anymore. Was it crisply clear at that time, long, long ago?
Silver's memories held no answers. She had forgotten, the pact sealed by him so she did not need to suffer, to know what was before. If she knew there was a parallel, the entire line would collapse and the prisoner would finally be released.
The ancient prophecy was still in his head. Did she know?
The universe held no answers.
He was jolted from his thoughts as Silver stirred, her back arching into a luxurious yawn. 'Has the sun gone up yet?' He quickly leaped lightly onto the roof and perched there for a second, before acting as if he had been there the entire time. The floor shifted as she rolled over.
But she did not arise and a second layer her snores were audible as she fell into sleep again. He relaxed and began to watch the sky turn slowly lighter and lighter blue.
Before
She was running away, away from him and all her doubts
No one would listen. That's what made her come here, wanting peace after their fight. Would things be right again? She had only just found him. As she was thinking, a small spark appeared somewhere away, near the trees dappled with sunlight. This was much better than home.
The forest suddenly became alight with fire, the inferno consuming everything behind Silvester's paws as she sped towards the lake, paws burning as the fire heated the dirt and animals ran with her, large and small, predators and prey alike in the race towards cool safety. The fire swarmed towards her, taking the trees and what must have been centuries of nature growing, now being destroyed as every second passed. *Help me, help! I'm sorry! Please take me home.. I don't know where am I…*She thought, willing him to hear her. What was she thinking, coming here? The forest was too dangerous for an inexperienced cat like her.
The small patch of blue gradually grew larger and she hacked and coughed, desperately trying to get to the water before the fire caught up with her, scorching her tail and sending her careening towards another direction. The world was hazy there, as if the heat had blurred her vision but the fire burned clearly in front of her amber-flecked eyes. Would this be her last moment before the wings of angels took her up? Everything was destroyed. It would take another decade of lifetimes, much more than she had left.
All of a sudden, she collided with thin air. Cracks spread through the air like glass and shattered instantly. The fire paused, as if watching this scene with hesitant interest. Flames still licked around her but they seemed skeptic, not willing to take her. The shards revealed a scene of devastation. Was this all a dream? Only the small happenings of that place seemed real now, even though the fire still felt warm. Did it feel like fire? She had never been burned. Why didn't it just slither over the last patch of grass and take her? Was this.. was this all a dream?
A face thrust itself through the small opening, and a familiar face appeared. Sunset! He had heard her inner cries. Or had he? He certainly seemed confused. 'Silvester! Oh, there you are. It's time for lunch! They prepared us tuna! Your favourite.' Why didn't he seem worried about her? Was this even real?
Her eyes fluttered and she opened them, back with Sunset and her house folk, on her plush blue bed.
'I'm-I'm so sorry for everything I said.. please forgive me!' She cried, eyes filling with tears. Suddenly, his face morphed into a shadow which dissipated almost instantly. 'NO!' She yowled but everything was in ruins, she was back in the ash coated of what once was a beautiful forest. Now only the lake, murky and black lay nearby. Nothing remained.
It had been like this ages ago, a voice with a jagged and rough tone growled. You were simply back, in the past. Never go there again.
Act slain, whispered another. You are never safe. They are watching.
They were always watching.
How can I look back, when there is nothing left? How can I look forward when I have nothing left?
After
Why did she fall asleep again..? Wasn't she going to head out? He wasn't here. It was already morning but she was too tired to move. She was always energized. Why was this happening? Why did she suddenly remember? Why now?
Did the flames tear through the forest like a razor cutting swiftly through skin and bone? Why did she remember this? She had asked herself this question too many times days. How did she know the word 'razor?' She was a cat. She had never learnt how to speak. She just-knew. Was sunset like her or was he just a normal cat who just happened to come here injured for no reason? Didn't he have family or at least some form of relative? She had amnesia. He didn't seem like a cat who was forgetful.
Unable to express her emotions, she slowly crawled to her feet and stepped out of the clearing as always. Sunset was not to be seen, but he had probably gone hunting. His scent of morning glories was stale, so that probably meant that he had gone out a while ago. She slowly padded towards the trees, hoping that the herd of deer was still there. She was hungry and was really picky today for some reason and found cold and stale deer unappealing for a beautiful morning. She longed for the taste of blood as she cantered now, the trees looming closer with every step.
Sunset watched her from above, the tip of his tail flicking this way and that, maple in the growing light. Her expression was hidden in shadow but he sensed something was wrong. Maybe it was jut a trick of the light. She was usually so positive but maybe it was because of last night and her troubled sleep. In the entire time he was here he knew that she sometimes had strange dreams, sent by him and the secret corporation no one knew about. He could never tell her, only until her last breath. He shed a tear then, thinking about everything she would never know. He had not run into the forest for no reason, being chased by the dogs. He had a choice. To turn back and leap right over them in a high arc, for he was blessed. They were no match against him. After all, he had lured them into chasing him, outside of the home of Glinda. He chose to smell like this for a reason, to try and jolt her memory.
The sun slowly rose, higher and higher until it beat down on the trees, signaling the first moments of summer. Hadn't the sun been soft against their fur? Now as soon as it appeared everything was warm and the air had already blurred with heat. It seemed only a moment ago.. and it had only been a day.
So much had changed.
He decided to go back down to hunt some prey because he too was feeling hungry and the prey-scents had begun to waft towards his general direction. The wind blew in his face as he soared upwards and landed lightly, fur slightly ruffled. A mouse sniffed the bushes next to a very unusual amount of blood and he pounced, the mouse completely oblivious to his flashing claws until they sunk to its backside, gouging deep into its skin. Blood gushed out, a lot times less than the dried puddle and stained his paws as he put the mouse in his jaws and carried it back to the shed. What had caused this amount of blood? She would never hurt herself voluntarily. There were not many options of this and she did not seem to have any type of injuries, rather than being a bit stiff and her tail sometimes clumsily supporting her while she was trying to catch prey. Hopefully she in the emotional state she was would bring back some prey. She was, of course an amazing hunter, even when the prey was scarce in the winter. They had told him everything.
Where would he go, after? He knew he would not stay here forever and Silver had her mother, that she didn't know about. Would she ever find her? Silver had no intention of letting him go and he was probably the only cat who had talked to her in ages.
After all, it had been a hundred years. They had fed lies to her, telling her it had only been one year since in the forest. She was lucky she could still talk properly after the isolation.
He would worry about this later. It was a sweltering summer day, and he had to get some food because he did not especially like deer. A squirrel or starling was better.
He set off towards where Silver had disappeared and once he was in the forest he followed a different trail that was stale to find more prey.
There was plenty more time for him to contemplate his thoughts.