The monster slowed to a stop by the edge of the thunderpath. Kaly sat up on her housefolk’s lap, trying to see where they’d brought her. Her housefolk scooped Kaly in his arms, opened the side of the monster, then set the golden kitten down on the grass below. 

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness outside. Once she could see, she took a few paces forward and gasped in awe.

“Wow! This is the biggest outside I’ve ever seen!”

Stretching out in front of her was what seemed like miles and miles of grassy fields. Way, way bigger than her yard at home. The fields went so far she couldn’t even see the end. But why had her housefolk brought her here so late? They were usually in bed by now. 

Kaly turned back to her owners. Whatever the reason, it had to be something extra special. She purred, waiting expectantly for them to step out of their monster and show her what they were going to do. 

Wait, why did they close themselves back in the monster? Aren’t they coming out? Did they forget something? 

Suddenly the monster roared and its eyes shone bright. It crept forward, roaring louder as it began picking up speed. Kaly raced after it.

“Wait!” She wailed, running as fast as her little legs could go. But it wasn’t nearly fast enough. The monster disappeared into the distance before she could even run a few tail-lengths. Kaly stopped, panting heavily. 

Where are they going? Did they forget I wasn’t with them? Did they need to go back for something? Did I do something wrong? 

She stared down the path as panicked thoughts flooded her mind. She took a few steps forward, starting to follow the edge of the path. She intended on following her housefolk, but soon stopped. She already couldn’t see them anymore. How was she supposed to catch up to them? 

She turned and took a few steps in the other direction. She should find help. She’d always been told if she got lost, other housefolk could bring her home. But she stopped again when she got another glimpse of her surroundings. There was nothing here. No dens or housefolk in sight. 

She paced back and forth along the edge of the path. Her breath quickened with each step. Her thoughts spiraled until she couldn’t tell one panicked thought apart from another.

Eventually, her mind calmed down enough to let her decide something. She found a tree not too far from her, sitting just a little ways away from the path. A small cluster of bushes beside it. It was the only real landmark close by, so she sat down to wait. 

         Kaly blinked slowly. A monster came racing down the path but Kaly didn’t bother looking up. It sped by her, not slowing even a little. None of them had. None of them stopped for her. She was tired of getting her hopes up. Part of her thought maybe she should start looking for something else. Somewhere else. But she didn’t want to move either. A part of her still hoped, foolishly, that her housefolk would come back for her. Surely they would, right? They wouldn’t just leave forever, would they? 

The bushes behind her rustled. Kaly jumped and spun around. Her fur stood on end. But before she could wonder or ask what was there, something stepped out. 

It was another cat. What was she doing out here? Had she been left too? The cat’s gaze fell on the startled kit, gentle and curious. Kaly settled, letting her fur lie flat again. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The new cat spoke softly, “May I ask, what are you doing out here?” 

“…My housefolk left me here. I’m waiting for them to come back.” Kaly replied, staring at the ground.

“How long have you waited?” The she-cat asked, concern lining her voice. 

“I’m not sure, a while I think.” Kaly said slowly, “I think I did something wrong. They’ll come back when they stop being mad.” 

The entire time she’d waited, Kaly had run through everything she did the past few days, trying to think of something she must’ve done to upset them. Maybe it was because she didn't finish her food a few days ago. Maybe it was because she accidentally knocked over one of her housefolk’s pictures three days ago. Maybe it was because she scratched the couch when she nearly fell off it yesterday. She still couldn't figure out exactly what it was. No one had seemed mad at the time, but it had to have been something. 

The silver cat frowned, her ears drooped slightly, “I’m not so sure they are coming back.” 

Kaly stared up at her, her heart tensing, “They…they might! You don't know for sure.” 

The cat didn’t respond and instead just looked solemnly at her. She didn't believe her. Was there something Kaly could say to make her believe her? Did she even believe it? Kaly couldn't tell who she’d be trying to convince. She sat back down by the tree, her head drooping. She just wanted to go home. 

“If you’re going to wait for them, mind if I wait with you?” The cat asked. 

Kaly looked up at her, trying to decide how to respond, and then just nodded. 

The silver cat sat down beside the kit. Draping her fluffy tail gracefully over her paws. The two sat quietly for a while. Eventually another monster raced by. Not stopping. Not slowing down. Not acknowledging the cats at all. Just like all of the others had. In the silence that followed, the grey cat’s words slowly sank in. 

Kaly’s lip quivered, “They’re not coming back for me…”

She crumpled to the ground, burying her face in her arms as she let out a despaired squeak. 

The other cat gently brushed a paw over her head, “I’m so sorry.”

What was she supposed to do? Where was she supposed to go? Why did her family hate her now? What did she do wrong? She wanted to just cry until she disappeared. 

“...if you want, you can come stay with me.” 

Kaly looked up at the she-cat, “Where?”

She pointed with her nose towards the expanse of grass behind them, “I live there on the moor.”

Kaly wrinkled her brow in confusion, “But I can't see any housefolk dens.” 

“I don’t live with housefolk. I live with a large group of cats instead.” 

Kaly’s eyes widened, “You can do that? I thought cats always needed housefolk. Who feeds you and takes care of you?” 

“We take care of ourselves.” She puffed out her chest a bit, “If you live with us, we can teach you how.” 

“Really?” Kaly glanced out at the field, her tail curling around her, “Are the other cats nice?”

“..Yes,” the cat responded, though hesitating a bit too long beforehand, “they might need a little time to get used to you but I promise there are plenty of very nice cats. And there’s some kits about your age you can play with. What do you say?” 

Kaly looked back and forth from the moor to the thunderpath. Did she really have a choice? 

“Ok,” she agreed. 

The silver cat stood up and motioned with her tail, “Follow me then.”

She started heading into the moor away from the thunderpath.

Kaly trailed after her, “Hey, what’s your name?” 

“My name’s Mistypelt. What's yours?” 

“I’m Kaly.” 

Mistypelt smiled, “That’s a nice name, Kaly.”