“Are you alright to still do your Commander duties?” Riverbird asked. She then shrugged it off the moment she asked. “Not that I should ask since you’ve done this before.”
Commander Moon just slowly nodded to everything Riverbird was going on about. Hopefully her kits would be just as excited as she hoped to be since they haven’t been Trainees that long. I think I need to sit down and take a nap, Commander Moon thought leaving Riverbird’s den.
“Hey, Mom, doing alright?” Trainee Peach asked when she noticed Commander Moon walking out with a dazed expression on her face. She looked a bit worried.
“Huh? Yeah, I’m pregnant,” Commander Moon purred smiling.
Just as she hoped, Trainee Peach was grinning from ear to ear. “Oh my gosh! I’m going to be a big sister!” She mewed as she bounded off. Commander Moon hoped she passes on the news to her brothers to make her life easier.
“Hello? Are any one of you free?” a masculine voice barked. Commander Moon and some of her Campmates all turned their heads to see a wolf and what appeared to be a mystical cat with cheetah spots standing at the entrance.
The wolf was shuffling his paws in the sand as everyone kept their gaze on them until Commander Moon and Lostleap approached them. “What brings you here?” Lostleap asked with a genuine smile.
The mystical cat lowered her ears. “Can we stay here until we can find an affordable home?” She asked. When Commander Moon lifted her tail, she looked away. “We can help with whatever, just don’t ask!”
“Um, was there an argument?” Commander Moon asked.
“I said don’t ask!” The guest snapped. Her comrade placed a paw on her shoulder, and she lowered her gaze toward the ground.
The wolf flicked his tail as he gave a nervous laugh. “My name is Tick, and this is Mara-lu,” he barked nervously. He kept shifting glances with Commander Moon and Mara-lu.
Commander Moon and Lostleap leaned sideways when Riverbird pushed through to stare at them. “Our list of guests keeps growing,” she told Commander Moon. “Seriously, when did we become a hotel?”
“My children and I have a perfectly good reason of needing shelter,” Bushy Plant yelled from the crowd. Riverbird did a face paw before backing away from the Commander and Councilor.
“I agree with Bushy Plant, we should know your reasons for being here,” Lostleap meowed lashing his tail. “Just to be sure.”
Commander Moon couldn’t help but stiffen a bit. It’s been a while, but she believes her Campmates haven’t fully forgave her for choosing Enki over them during a heated argument. These guys aren’t threats, Lost, she thought silently.
“Mom and Dad don’t approve of our relationship,” Mara-lu snapped. Her eyes were full of hurt making Commander Moon guess that this argument was recent. “I thought they would always support us.”
“You are an odd couple,” Sheep pointed out from the crowd. Some of the others chuckled at the slight joke she made.
Commander Moon took one deep breath. “So, in conclusion, your parents cut ties with you?” She asked. The two didn’t answer but their grave faces told her the answer. “You’re welcome as long as you need shelter.”
“Thank you, this means a lot,” Tick said smiling.
One of the other visitors Grayfoot brought for the day, Raiden, only shrugged with disbelief. “I don’t see why her parents won’t let her love the man,” he said. Grayfoot nodded his head.
“Not everyone agrees with interspecies relationships,” Lostleap told them.
Everyone disbanded from the whole meeting to go back to doing what they were doing before Tick and Mara-lu had showed up. Commander Moon remembered that tonight was a Monthly Meeting and scurried to her den to get a quick nap. Please don’t let anything happen this Monthly Meeting…
***
Everyone was stoked when they had reached the island where the Monthly Meeting was being held. For the past couple months, nothing drastic had happened so the other Families should be in a better mood this time. However, Commander Moon had a creeping feeling that something was bound to happen.
Before she reached the white tree, Commander Moon stopped when she saw Sochi and a tall black man standing there waiting for her. You’ve got to be kidding me, Commander Moon thought.
“What do you want?” Commander Moon asked.
“Baruti has something for you,” Sochi said slowly. He kept his hands behind his back as Baruti holds an odd envelope to Commander Moon that had a lavender for a seal.
“Okay, what is this?” Commander Moon asked getting irritated. She noticed Commander Hawk and Commander Pink staring at her with curious looks. They must be wondering what is in the envelope.
“Mr. Heart is coming,” Baruti explained. “Watch your backs.”
Squinting her eyes, Commander Moon could feel all sorts of insults boiling up inside of her. Here she was thinking things were going to go smoothly and then this fool had to show up. “Yeah, sure, my friend would’ve warned me,” Commander Moon mewed as she hopped up the tree.
“This is serious business, he’s been causing trouble,” Baruti insisted.
“Okay Detective,” Commander Moon purred. “I’ll announce it tonight.” Baruti lowered his head and he headed to the very edge of the island. Sochi gave Commander Moon the stink eye before following suit.
Commander Lava seemingly enjoyed the little show Commander Moon did with Baruti. “Well, don’t you have some interesting friends,” he chuckled. “I have one too, he can see visions.”
“Heh, yeah, sur…,” Commander Moon stopped mid-sentence when she allowed her brain to process what Commander Lava just said. Wait, does he know Enki too…? She decided to give a nervous laugh when Commander Lava tilted his head to one side.
She yelped when her branch swayed a bit as a wolf landed right beside her. There was a scar on his muzzle that alerted Commander Moon of who he was. “Wolf Fang?”
“Aye, I decided the McFang Pack should attend Monthly Meetings,” Wolf Fang barked with enthusiasm. Down below, several wolves were piling in and started to mingle among the cats and other animals that Flower Family brought in.
“About time you did,” Commander Wicked sighed from her branch. “I’ve told you to come for over a year now.” Although annoyed, her red eyes showed a playful glint about an old friend attending.
Wolf Fang just laughed it off. “I know, we’ve been helping a poor young man out with some training,” he barked. He then placed a paw on his chest, almost swatting Commander Moon. “Had to help a brother out through some mental barriers.”
I have no idea what they’re talking about, Commander Moon thought with a dazed stare. It seems the two had some sort of history together seeing that they could instantly strike up conversations like that.
“I remember your mate telling our Doctor that,” Commander Wicked purred though there was slight worry on her face. “Hopefully he presses through it.”
“Should we get started?” Commander Hawk asked. He had one paw up while looking unsure about butting into someone’s conversation. Commander Moon was grateful as she starting to get confused about who was helping who.
Commander Wicked flicked one ear. “Go ahead, I have nothing to report,” she mewed. Wolf Fang nodded his head in agreement, probably so that they could get things over with and chat some more.
Clearing his throat, Commander Hawk began first. “Misty Family has two new Guardians, welcome Suntail and Starshine,” he meowed. There was a glint of pride at seeing his younger siblings become Guardians.
I hope I feel great announcing my kits as Guardians, Commander Moon thought. It wouldn’t be for a little while, but she knew one day of when the three would be Guardians and soon have kits of their own.
Commander Hawk then sat down and beckoned Commander Moon to get up next. “Aqua, Light, and Orange have started their path of becoming Guardians,” she announced. “Other than that, Sheep gave birth to two healthy pups.”
“I wonder who the father is,” Treasure whispered to Pineclaw who rolled his eyes. Some of them would be questioning since Sheep did attend while expecting and didn’t tell a soul who the father of her puppies was.
Commander Pink cleared her throat which made Treasure start sweating in fear. “Never press a mother to tell the father,” She warned with sharp purple eyes.
“Yes ma’am, I never will, ma’am,” Treasure mewed nervously lowering himself. Pineclaw looked away as he chuckled as his friend being put on the spot like that.
The other Commanders gave their reports until they decided it was time to leave. Commander Moon leaped off the branch and watched Wolf Fang leave the island with Commander Wicked chattering more about this mysterious man he apparently is helping go farther in his training.
“Ugh, Swiftheart chastised me about visions again,” Riverbird groaned when she met up with Commander Moon and Lostleap. She then narrowed her eyes at Commander Moon who shifted her gaze to the side. “Never tell me another bogus vision again.”
“Heh, o-okay,” Commander Moon stammered. She was hoping the other Doctors would know more about these individuals that seemed to have visions like the Doctors and Commanders. Should’ve known Swiftheart was a close friend of Riverbird’s. “Did any of the others say anything about Enki?”
“Eh, Ducksong says they’re known as the Visionaries, I guess,” Riverbird meowed.
“Visionaries were the talk of the street cats,” Lostleap chimed in. He closed his good eye as if remembering some good memories. “Apparently, they haven’t been very close in a long while.”
They all fell silent until Sochi and Baruti ran past them and disappeared into the foliage. Those weirdos better not cause trouble.
Loud barking occurred causing Commander Moon to swiftly turn around. Thornfire had one unsheathed paw digging into the chest of a Yorkie puppy. “Hey, cut it out!” Commander Moon yowled as she bolted towards her Campmate.
“Who are you?” Tigergrowl asked when Commander Moon rushed past him. She didn’t take notice of him heading towards a nearby Shadow Portal.
Thornfire backed off when Commander Moon came over. She helped the puppy get up and started licking his head to help him recover from shock. As he was shaking, Commander Moon swiveled her head towards the gray tom. “How could you attack an innocent puppy?”
“He jumped on me,” Thornfire protested.
Commander Moon rolled her eyes and nuzzled the Yorkie’s cheek. “Where’s your parents?” She asked. She raised her gaze to see a German Shepherd heading towards them. He let out a sigh when he saw her nuzzling the puppy.
“Are you alright, Loovie?” He asked.
“This pretty cat saved me,” Loovie woofed. He left Commander Moon to go and join his German Shepherd brother.
“Let’s get home before Thief Kitty comes back,” he barked. The two scampered off leaving Commander Moon to lead her Family back to camp, without knowing that Tigergrowl was not among them.
***
“Commander Moon, please wake up,” Stormwing’s urgent mew aroused the purple molly out of her slumber. She yawned and followed her mate out of the den without asking what was going on.
Outside, Wolf Fang standing at the center of camp where Iceheart and Crowpelt had their heads lowered. What also confused Commander Moon was that Commander Color was sitting in their camp alongside a dark-skinned nurse. Did I miss something?
“How could this happen?” Iceheart wept.
“Is everything okay?” Commander Moon asked. “Why are these guys here?”
“Ma’am, one of your Guardians is gone,” Commander Color mewed. His eyes were dull as he lowered them back to the ground.
“How?” Commander Moon asked. Now that she thought about it, Tigergrowl didn’t exactly appear after she chastised Thornfire for attacking innocent puppies. She was too tired to even have the thought slipped in her mind.
“My apprentice believes Group 16 might be involved,” Wolf Fang growled. “Or at least Rai may have done it…”
Commander Moon could only blink. Exhaustion was already kicking in and she had just woken up from her slumber. She glanced at Stormwing who only shrugged in confusion. Looks like they were both lost on the situation.
Crowpelt lashed his black tail. “You saw it too, right?” He asked the nurse who was gazing at her fingernails.
“All I saw were crisp orange eyes,” she mumbled. She must be here as some sort of eyewitness. Something about her vibes made Commander Moon uneasy but she wasn’t sure what.
“Who’s to say she didn’t kill my brother?” Iceheart hissed. Her pink eyes burned with suspicion as she kept a steady gaze onto the nurse that mindlessly went back to staring at her nails.
“Wow, no evidence but is confident to blame me,” Nurse Molly sighed. She then lowered her hand and walked away. “I wasn’t paid to be blamed by some stupid cat.”
Commander Moon hopped in front of the dark-skinned nurse. “Wait, she’s just grieving,” she purred. Sometimes in grief, a cat could make outrageous mistakes.
“Whatever you say,” Nurse Molly muttered crossing her arms.
All of them looked up when a light brown Chihuahua suddenly bursts into camp with wild eyes. “Help! Someone caught the forest on fire!”
“What?!” They all exclaimed.
Rushing after Stray Dog, Commander Moon wondered how fire could’ve started during the middle of Autumn. Could this be the work of the mysterious Mr. Heart Baruti Landson had warned them about? When they made it towards the forest that led to Princess Grape’s summer house, Baruti Landson was using a hose on the wildfire.
“This is not a disco,” Baruti exclaimed. “This is a forest for wildlife!”
Crowpelt and Commander Color grabbed two buckets beside Baruti Landson and headed towards Flower Family territory that contained a river. Wolf Fang left to search for any critters that may be stuck in the fire. Commander Moon was unsure of what to do to help.
I wonder if Iceflame could help, Commander Moon wondered staring at the necklace she wore. She then stopped when the deep voice came back.
“Are you forgetting the gift we gave you…?”
“Uh, I guess it might help,” Commander Moon thought to herself. She stared at the fire Crowpelt and Commander Color splashed water on in thought. Rushing towards it, her white paws turned to a dark blue as she blasted water towards the sky.
Rain clouds formed before showering a multitude of rain onto the fire. It soon cleared up and Baruti started panting in exhaustion. “With that cleared, I’m heading home folks,” purred Commander Color.
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