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Ghost Cat

((Sorry 'bout the bad title, it is an old one I discovered and thought I would share it with you.))

Prologue

It was night. Twilight had passed, leaving behind no trace of its existence. Dawn was far from breaking. Sunrise was a long way off. It was the very hour of midnight. A dark, star strewn sky and a large, snow white moon hovered just above the trees, bathing the forest in a peaceful lake of light. The silence was broken only by the quiet whispering wind that weaved in between the leaf-covered branches. No creature stirred. Nothing moved except the swaying trees dancing to the song of the wind. No apprehension rested heavily on the air. No cloud blotted out the sky. Nothing. All was quiet, peaceful, as if waiting for the birth of a king.

The forest laid silent, hopeful, awaiting the very moment that it would be restored to a thriving jungle of cats. The forest dwellers lied in wait for their King to be born. Their Queen was dying, their only hope rested in the paws of the prince or princess who would take the throne. All was quiet, peaceful, waiting for the birth of the king.



One might find it odd that within this forest, a family of felines ruled over the rest. The forest belonged to the cats. There were cats, and there was prey. Occasionally, a visitor from other kingdoms would drop by, to ensure peace between their lands. Queen Kirrith Muavae Rhyte was close to dying. Her litter of kits was coming fast, unexpectedly bringing her pain above her imagination. King Hyret was already long dead, having died in the epic struggle between felines and canines long ago, trying to save his kingdom from destruction. The Queen of Cats was alone, except for her friend, May, the gray pelted she-cat who waited with the rest of the Kingdom, who waited for the birth of the king.






Light filtered into the den. Ferns were draped over the entrance to the cave, allowing an emerald shaft of light to color the sandy floor. Further back into the little burrow, there laid a blue-gray female cat. Her fox-like tail wrapped itself around the delicate black paws. Her rounded jade eyes stared at space. Another gray cat pushed her way into the blue-gray cat’s vast den. She padded up to the Russian Blue’s nest of moss and bird feathers.

“Milady, do you feel any more movement?” The Russian Blue slowly turned her head to survey this newcomer. She blinked and stared at the entrance, her gaze wearied and her angular face pointed slightly away from the glaring daylight.

“No, May, I don’t.” She sighed. “How could Hyret leave me and still I bear his kittens?” May, the gray pelted she-cat, turned her cerulean stare to the bulging stomach of the Queen.

“I do not know, Kirrith. I don’t know.” May nosed the blue fur of her Queen. “They’re in there, all right. I’m sure they’ll be healthy kits.” Kirrith closed her eyes and sighed.

“May, I just don’t know. I can feel my life force drifting away, draining from my body. I’m afraid that I am on my last life.” May gasped.

“Kirrith! Milady! You didn’t tell anyone else, did you?”

“No!” The Russian Blue’s head shot up, her emerald eyes narrowed and her voice lowered to a barely audible hiss. “I would never let my subjects be terrorized my that simple fact!” May gave a sigh of relief and purred slightly.

“Good. I’d be truly sorry to see you go if you died during kitting, but you’ve got the best Herbalist and Healer in all the Five Kingdoms.” Kirrith placed her head back on her delicate paws.

“I know, May, but will they be able to save both me and the kittens?” Her head lifted again and her intense olive gaze leveled with May’s azure stare. “It’s either me, or the healthy, younger kits.” May’s almond shaped eyes narrowed and a look of concern donned her angelic features.

“But Kirrith-“ Kirrith interrupted May’s desperate addition.

“It’s my wish that you save my children, May. So be it if I live or die. Just save the kittens.” May could not meet the Queen’s gaze. The Queen placed her head on her paws. “Now leave me to rest, May.” May nodded and backed out of the cave, watching the Queen as she drifted to sleep.



The sun rode high in the sky. The heat was harsh. Almost stepping into the sun’s rays was enough to cause the tongue to go dry like tree bark.