I am in the South Tunnel.

        I seriously want to scream from being in a tunnel for so long. Now that it's night, the only light that shines through the tunnel is from the moon, but it's not much. The entire place is mostly filled with darkness. Even though I'm now in a area in the tunnel that can fit around fifteen cats, I still want to get out of here.

Well, first I want to get out of here, and then clean myself of all of the dirt I have on my fur. I shudder when I think about that. I hate dirt.

But I hate tunnels more than I hate dirt.

Oh well, I guess I just have to try to survive here tonight.

         We've been joined by ten other rebel cats. I don't remember what all of their names are, but for the most part, they are friendly. They don't mind that I'm new here. However, now I'm alone. Rain assigned each cat to patrol a different section of the tunnel. Luckily, I got the one closest to the surface of the hole that I entered from. It's starting to feel lonely, though. I have no idea where Rain and Ash are.

I sit down in the corner of this strange rectangular area. Whoever had the ridiculous idea to build these tunnels needs to get the blue-leaf. Now that I think of it, that thought sounds pretty harsh, but at least it's entertaining my bored-to-death mind.

Maybe I should go to sleep. Rain said that we could sleep if we wanted to. We just need to inform the cat that's patrolling near us so they stay awake and guard while we're asleep.

Wait, but I don't want to take that path to try to find that cat. I already have enough of-

A yowl from afar in the tunnel jolts me from my thoughts. It's a battle yowl. My heart freezes in terror. Someone unwelcomed has entered in.

Oh no, what if it's them? What if Ice and Mirage is here to steal me back? I can't hide; I have to stop them!

The yowl sounds again, this time even louder. And before I can think of tunnels, I am on my paws and bolting into the path.

The blinding darkness and the stuffy air surround me again. But no, I can't think of that. I have to keep going.

I reach a larger area. The cat who guards here is already gone.

I keep running and crawling as fast as I can. How long is this stupid tunnel? According to Rain, it's the longest one. After I think that, I want to screech from my agony that is happening on the inside.

But no. I have to keep moving.

What feels like centuries later, I finally reach the area of the yowl. All of the drama and noise is happening outside, so panting and exhausted from my frenzied run, I climb up the slope to the hole and slip out.

        I'm late. Everyone else who was in the tunnel with me is already here, crouched in a position ready to attack as they watch Rain face off against who I'm guessing are three Superior cats. Luckily, none of them are from where I came from. They must be involved in another camp. Relief releases some tension in my body as I stare at them from the back of the crowd.

        I hear Rain hiss, "There's no point for any of you to fight. You're outnumbered. Get out, and never come back."

        Ash pushes past the front of the crowd of rebels and silently stands next to Rain, listening to what they will say next.

        One of the invaders, a white cat with long, unkempt fur and glowing green eyes, hisses, "I don't care if we're outnumbered. We're not backing down. This tunnel is a vital shortcut to the other camps, and we need it." He turns to Ash, looking even angry than before when he sees him. "And you filthy traitor, you deserve to die right now. But no, I'll be glad to wait until you finally fall and die in the claws of your brother. After all, that's what Ice told us to do so he can be the one to kill you."

         The white cat's tone is sharp and mocking, but his words don't seem to affect Ash. The black tom stands there with his fur unruffled. "You should be worried," Ash says in a monotone voice. "The moment you are dreaming of will never occur. I will be the one standing over Ice's body."

        All three of the invaders furiously hiss and spit at Ash, but I finally take in the one thing that makes me so shocked that I almost lose my balance and fall back into the hole.

        Ash is Ice's, or Name's, brother? All of this is so confusing. Why are they on separate sides if they are brothers?

        Maybe I should call Ice by his actual name now.

One of the invaders standing to the right of the white tom screeches at an ear-piercing volume, "That's enough! All of you disgusting rebels, prepare to die!" She opens her jaws wide and releases a gigantic amount of water that hits Rain straight in the face.

Rain screeches and leaps out of the way. The water, with enormous strength, hits some rebels. One cat yowls in surprise. "It stings!"

"Rebels, attack!" Ash screams above all of the chaos. Many of the cats next to me let out fierce battle yowls as they spring into action. With incredible speed, everyone rushes toward the three invaders that are in front of them. I have no choice but to join in.

I choose to go for the third invader, a scrawny-looking, tall cat with dark brown fur and menacing yellow eyes that glow in the indigo darkness. The darker swirls that tell me that this is a Superior cat is in his or her eyes. I take notice of them as I stop next to the cat, joined by four other rebel cats.

The cat growls insults at us as I swing a paw at her chest in an attempt to knock her off-balance. A rebel on the side of her does what I've been wanting to do by leaping on her side and making her fall down.

As soon as the rebel pins her down, though, the cat simply disappears from sight, leaving the rebel to trip over his own paws.

"Woah," I blurt, "where did she go?"

My question is soon answered when one of the cats next to me shouts, "She teleported over there!"

I whirl around halfway to see the brown invader talking to her water-spitting friend. They are behind the white cat, who is aggressively fighting Ash. Or trying to fight Ash, I should say. Ash is skillfully blocking and dodging every single attempt of a blow the cat is making. He smoothly and quickly pins down the white cat, who is looking more like a damaged white ball of fluff at this point.

I turn my attention away from them and focus on the two invaders behind them again. Some rebels are trying to attack them, but they stop when the water-spitting cat cries out in a loud, high-pitched voice, "This is no use. We're retreating, but mark my words, we will be back with a stronger force!" With that, she turns tail and starts to run off into the distance. The teleporting cat disappears into thin air again.

I look back to the white cat to see if he will follow them, but what I see makes me shiver, even though he's my enemy. The attacker doesn't look like he's alive anymore. His body is not rising and falling, so he's definitely not breathing, and blood is spilling out from his stomach. I don't want to see what else is coming out of the white cat's insides, so I look away. He is laying at the paws of Ash. Ash's bloody claws are still unsheathed.

"Wait," Ash growls to the remaining enemy who is still running. His voice is not loud, but it's articulate and noticeable, so the water-spitting cat, who still happens to be within hearing distance, halts. She slowly walks back to where all of us are still standing.

"Take your friend with you," Ash commands, so quiet that he's almost at a whisper. But his whisper sounds toxic and deadly, a warning in itself that if she tries to avenge her friend's death, she won't get out of it alive.

The water-spitting cat's eyes are widened in pure terror at the sight of the dead cat. She looks so small and pitiful now that I almost feel sorry for her. With shaking paws, she creeps up to where the white cat laying and takes him by the scruff into her jaws.

"Now run off, you fool, and do not come back." The water-spitting cat jumps when Ash speaks again, this time in a normal volume and tone.

She skitters away as fast as she can, dragging the body with her.

        All of the chaos that happened is replaced with an uncomfortable silence. Ash's amber eyes are staring off into the distance. Rain walks near him, looking mostly unharmed by the attack.

        Before Rain can say anything though, Ash slowly whirls around to face all of us.

        He says, "I deeply apologize for that. I lost control of myself." Ash pauses, glances at Rain, and sits down in the grass.  He sighs wearily. "Please return to your assigned spots and try to rest. I will figure out a plan for tomorrow."

        Cats murmur, "Yes, sir," and "Thank you, sir," as they gradually slip inside the hole.

        For a brief moment, I stay in my place. Rain is whispering something to Ash, who is still seated. I'm not sure why, but before I go back to where I was before, I walk over to them.

        Rain stops talking when she notices my presence. I look at Ash and ask, "Are you okay...sir?"

        "Yes," he replies, looking at me with a steady gaze. "You do not need to call me sir."

        "Oh, okay. Sorry." I take a step back, glancing at both of them. "By the way, can I go to my assigned spot from the other hole? It'll be closer."

        Rain snorts. "Fine. But I'm not letting you do that again."

       "Okay. Thanks!" I pad away.

        I end up falling into a deep sleep the second I lie down in my corner again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading Chapter 19 of Forest's Fate! I hope you are enjoying it. If you are, don't forget to leave a vote and a comment.

Oh, and here's a good question: Who's your favorite character so far? (I don't know why, but I really like Ash. 😊)

-Midnight