++Chapter 11++ ~Blitz~ Sort of dejected, me and Archer trudged back to the small village I had seen Tasha in. (oopdeloop smol detail, the village is called Aria, forgot to mention that lol-) We agreed to rest there, then find Misti the next day, when she was calmer, hopefully. I tried to focus my mind into the excitement of seeing Misti tomorrow, but i couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched... that we weren't safe at all... I jerked myself free from my thoughts as we turned the corner to Aria. The small, lively village seemed quieter, somehow, more desolate, and it had started to rain, but i convinced myself that that was just the nighttime vibe, as it was evening now. Of course, i was wrong. almost immediately i heard yelling, followed by the sloshing of pawsteps. I ran towards the voices, my heart lifting as i saw a pale silver blur... ...and crashed head-on into Gala. "ow!" i protested, then smiled crookedly, trying to lift the mood. "hiya Gala! uh, have you seen Misti?" i attempted to sound nonchalant, but as soon as the words came out of my mouth Misti barreled into me, stumbling to a stop. i winced at the sudden contact and tried not to react. "oh hi Misti!" I tried, but it seemed like the wrong time to act charming and friendly. Misti's normally sarcastic, glowing golden eyes looked exhausted and maybe even slightly wild. "Blitz! I'm so glad you're here," she gasped, and I cocked my head, surprised that she actually said that. Misti admit she was glad to see someone? Extremely unlikely. "Ooh, it must be important if you admit you're glad to see me," i teased gently, but she grabbed me and, wrestling me to the ground, pinned me and stared at me seriously in a way that i couldn't possibly look away. "Blitz," she said, slowly, carefully. "I'm serious. Gala and I have just went to see Mizumi -- the Guardian -- and she said that-" I never heard what she said after that because suddenly, a blue-gray she-cat shot through the trees and crashed into a dwelling next to us. she collapsed and groaned. "What is up with everyone crashing into things?" i muttered as Gala ran to the cat and tended to it. Gala spoke a few words and pointed to me, apparently introducing me to her. "Blitz, this is Mizumi," she said hurriedly. "Mizumi, Blitz." Mizumi turned awkwardly to greet me, and I examined her features more closely; she looked so young but so old and wise at the same time. I guess that was the effect of being the Guardian...? "Mizumi, how could you do such a reckless thing?" fussed Gala. "you could have died!! You can't see anything, let alone find your way in the rain!" It was then when i realized that the Guardian was blind. Mizumi grunted. "My nose works just fine, Gala. Stop worrying." She then looked at us seriously. I wondered how she made so grave an expression. "Cats of Quicksilver," she called out, her voice ringing in the dark streets of Aria. Cats opened windows and doors to listen. "We don't have much time," Mizumi continued, getting more and more worried. "the Dark is on the move. They are now powerful enough to break into Quicksilver, and-" yep. another cut-off. and i'm one of those cats that hates incomplete stories. they bother me so much- Suddenly with a great clang, the giant golden gates of Quicksilver opened (did i mention Quicksilver has gates? sorry again lol ;w;) and everyone felt gloomier, somehow, as if the opening of the gates had affected everyone's moods. Then they soon saw why. The Dark rushed in, slowly at first, then whisked to the center of the village, cloaking it in darkness. It was nothing like i expected, just a giant shadow, radiating pure terror and gloom. suddenly, it stopped on top of the fountain in the middle of the town, and melted to reveal a shadowed cat in a hood with it's head bowed. we all shivered in terror as the darkness engulfed us all. We all looked up at the cat on the fountain, and he raised his head. All we could see were two beady red eyes and a large grin. "Cats of Quicksilver!" he rasped, and his voice made me shiver, "We are here to take your kingdom in the clouds. Where is Goldenleaf?" Clearly the cat was terrible at speeches and very impatient. Goldenleaf stepped out from behind us. I hadn't even realized she was there. "i'm right here," she stated, and i awed at how she kept her even glare and poise in front of the shadow cat. "what do you want with Quicksilver and -- and Blazen?" her voice cracked at the last bit. The hooded cat chuckled. "only revenge, my dear," he replied, and Goldenleaf stifled a protest. "you see, when Blazen and I were younger, he was always more liked. Popular. and, of course, he was the 'kind, lovey-dovey' one. He was that cat who liked all the good things, so people saw him as good. 'I, on the other hand, was seen as moody. Depressing. And in case you were all wondering, no, it was not my fault that my favorite colour was black (cont below)
(cont from above) no, it wasn't my fault that i was so quiet and reserved, and no, none of these things are my fault. (teehee i got lazy) 'Blazen and I were running for Leader of Quicksilver when everyone started to actually, purposely jeer at me and tease me for having the courage to run for Apprentice of the Leader of the Stars. And, at the time, I didn't know what to say. I was upset, and no one comforted me, even my own brother. 'By all the stars, i studied so hard, and worked my tail off, but who was it that became the Apprentice?" Here, he turned and lashed his tail threateningly. "Blazen," he growled when none of us spoke. "my silly, incompetent brother got chosen. At this point, everycat knew that i was much smarter and more fit to be leader. And i was good, at the time. But because Blazen was so perfect in every way, and because of my personality, he got chosen. And everyone laughed at me, the failed Apprentice. Not even my own brother helped me." Bravely, Goldenleaf stood. "Wait. Brother? Blazen is your //brother//??" the hooded cat chucked. "why, he didn't tell you? Poor Goldenleaf. I guess even the Commander of Truth can tell lies." Goldenleaf looked pale, and i sympathized, brushing my tail over her flank. "you're Shadow," she whispered. "Blazen's brother." Shadow nodded, then sat, appearing to scowl, then stood again. "now is the time I will take back what is rightfully mine. I've trapped Blazen in his little jar for eternity, all i have to do is get rid of //you//." "You can't do that!" called out Misti, and i admired her courage. "We outnumber you a thousand to one." Shadow smiled with all of his teeth. "that's where you're wrong." Then the hooded cat gritted his teeth and yowled his rage to the sky, and suddenly all of the shadows around us rushed up to him and bunched into one big ball of darkness. the darkness grew bigger and bigger, then, with a flick of Shadow's tail, stretched and shook and morphed. Finally it split into billions and billions of smaller groups of shadows, each one morphing into a shadow cat. The shadows bared their teeth and growled, obviously ready to fight. The hooded cat was using the remains of evil souls to create himself an army. He stopped yowling and stared at the citizens of Quicksilver, a malevolent grin on his face. "I'm finally strong enough, Blazen," he said, tossing his head. "and i'm ready to show who's really more important." he closed his eyes and let the feeling of triumph soak in. he had waited so long, and this was all finally happening. he waited a few seconds, then swished his tail. "fight!" Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/429169279 Prev: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/422836519 sCREECH it's done a huge weight has been taken off of my shoulders- yeshh go evil shadow cats so, smol spoiler, the book's almost done, it'll probably stop in about 2 chapters- anyways enjoy hehe