The ground was wet and muddy from all the light rain they have been receiving in the past weeks. Commander Moon stayed behind Sochi and Stray Dog as they lead her away from the Family territories. She wasn’t sure where they were taking her, but it was not anywhere near the Families she knows of.

“Where are we going?” Commander Moon asked when she spotted a Portal near a pointed rock.

“Leafstar Lane, it’s where she lives,” Sochi told the purple molly.

Leafstar Lane? I don’t think I’ve been there, Commander Moon thought. It sounded like it would either be a city or a town, but it had some sort of residential places if someone is living there.

She was taken right out of her thoughts when Sochi jumped through the orange Portal as it made a whooshing noise. Soon after, Stray Dog hopped in right after the green dinosaur. Unsure, Commander Moon gulped as she hopped right on through as well.

Her vision was engulfed by sparkles before she felt her body plummeting toward the ground. “Oof!” Grass filled her nose as she opened her eyes to see Sochi and Stray Dog already making their way toward a two-story house. Scrambling to her paws, she quickly followed. Didn’t bother waiting for me.

Memories of Eddie and Grape’s house came flooding back in causing Commander Moon to sweat in anticipation. Hopefully this family doesn’t have crazy kids…

Instead of knocking on the front door, Sochi and Stray Dog went to the side of the house and latched open a side window. It looked like it was going to lead them straight into the kitchen. A little suspicious, Commander Moon stood back and watched the two enter in.

Once they were in, she lowered herself to watch what was going on inside. Moon Family’s messenger Pigeon was perched proudly on a black man with fuzzy orange hair’s shoulder as he spoke with two teenage boys.

“This is Pigeon, he always comes in to check on me,” Mountain said with a gentle smile.

The two teenagers looked at the man with disbelief, not noticing Sochi and Stray Dog who crawled under the table. “Dad, you acting like you need a therapist,” the one boy with a purple striped jacket on said with a laugh.

“Why not just keep him here instead?” The other boy brought up.

Commander Moon unsheathed her claws, not imagining the thought of Pigeon being locked up in this cursed house. Where is this Cynthia anyway?

Suddenly, a growl sounded as Stray Dog launched himself at Mountain’s pants. A yell arose and Pigeon fluttered off into the air as Mountain was shaking his leg for Stray Dog to let go. Sochi exited from being under the table to try and catch Pigeon who was flying in circles.

Almost losing his balance, Mountain put down his leg where Stray Dog let go as the small dog watched the older man lose balance and slam his shoe right into Sochi’s stomach. Brayton and Marcel were covering their mouths to avoid anyone seeing them laugh as Sochi started coughing up blood.

This is my chance! Commander Moon thought determined. She would deal with Sochi, Stray Dog, and Pigeon later as she needed Cynthia the most. Dashing past them, she made it into the living room where two girls, Imani and Nahla, were cooing at a hamster. She’s not in here.

Hopping up the stairs, Commander Moon found a stern woman on the phone looking focused. She took a seat and waited until the woman she believed to be Cynthia finished her phone call.

A few minutes passed and the woman noticed Commander Moon staring at her with wide eyes. “Yes? What is it?”

“Are you a lawyer?” Commander Moon asked. She swished her tail back and forth in anticipation.

Cynthia placed one finger on her forehead. “I very much am,” she spoke. “Are you in need of one?”

“Yes, I need help negotiating with a cat named Bluestep,” explained Commander Moon getting straight to the point. She gave a wide smile with her most pleading eyes.

“I would have never thought,” Cynthia sighed. She crossed her arms and tapped one foot on the ground. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you!” Commander Moon mewled. “Moon Family resides in Darkfall if you needed to know.” Cynthia only smiled as the purple molly hurried back down the stairs.

Once downstairs, the two girls from before were watching Sochi stumble to the door while holding onto his pale blue stomach that appeared to be bruised. Stray Dog and Pigeon were in front, holding the door open. They both smiled as Commander Moon tagged along with Sochi on their way out.

As the group made it to the portal, Commander Moon stopped. “Why did you two make a scene by sneaking in?”

Sochi stopped and fumbled with his claws. “I wasn’t trying, I just got caught up in the moment,” he said, his cheeks turning red when Commander Moon stared at him with slit eyes.

“Did you get her to help?” Stray Dog asked changing subjects.

“Indeed,” Commander Moon meowed. “All we need to do is wait for her to come and visit.”

***

 Sochi and Stray Dog had parted ways with them after they traveled through the Portal, leaving Commander Moon to head home with Pigeon flying above her. As they made their way back, they abruptly stopped when they spotted Trainee Cinder nuzzling her muzzle against Trainee Sonic’s.

Both Trainees jumped, appearing startled when they realized that Pigeon and Commander Moon were looking at them. “Don’t mind us, heh,” Commander Moon mewed her cheeks red as she quickly walked past the young couple. I just made things awkward, whoops.

When they arrived at camp entrance, Commander Moon scented Stray Dog nearby, which was weird as she swore he went with Sochi. She nodded to Pigeon who stayed back at camp as she dove into the bushes as she didn’t want to intrude on Trainee Cinder’s privacy.

Following the scent, Commander Moon could also scent raccoon, gorilla, and another one that she couldn’t decipher the species of. There was also a tang of blood mixed in as well pushing Commander Moon to go faster. The scent trail ended up taking her back to Eddie and Grape’s house where a scene was happening.

An orange and purple gorilla laid on the ground, eyes fixed toward the sky as if he was dead. There was no blood, but Stray Dog and a raccoon were weeping over what was probably their friend. He doesn’t smell dead though.

“Guys, he’s not dead,” Commander Moon meowed. She poked at the arm and no response came.

“You are certainly right about that, moon cat,” a sly voice spoke causing Commander Moon to turn around. A figure stood with his arms behind his back as he stared at her. A silver mask covered his upper face

Commander Moon lowered her ears. “Who are you? Are you one of those hooded people?” This thing certainly had no hood but an odd silver mask on.

Instead of answering, the figure lifted his arms up causing Commander Moon to look up in the sky. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of the dark clouds hovering over the area. “Yes, yes, the tides of fate are surely in my favor.”

Okay, definitely not one of them, but he is weird, Commander Moon thought as she took a couple steps back. Behind her, Raul Raccoon was holding onto Stray Dog as he trembled from head to toe.

“Commander Moon, let us see how long you uphold along the Path!” The figure proclaimed.

“SPEAK PLAINLY!” Commander Moon snapped. Where was this guy going?  How does he know her name?

There was a smirk and his plum-colored eyes started to glow. “I, Cabal, will test your worth!” He placed one of his claws on his mask.

Commander Moon squinted her eyes and tensed up in case anything was to happen. Shining Skies, what is this lunatic’s problem?

“Begin!”