~ Chapter 9 - Dreamwalking ~

Instructions

It's been a week since the mad cat came to my Village. Since then, my life has been both utterly ruined and rebuilt better than it was before. It's evening now, and the little group of cats that I'm with are resting under the sunset. The little green cat, whose name is Tangle or Tangie is fast asleep already. She's barely more than a kit, so I don't blame her. After dropping by the news agency, where Banana told his story, our group of outlaws? I guess are hiding out on the plains outside the city. Banana and his mate, Lazuli, are snuggled up together, both toms half asleep. The black tom in the blindfold happened to be a revered and respected member of the Palace Authority. He was allowed back into their council and has informed everyone already about the other corrupt officials. I'm lain curled next to Wisteria, and her steady breathing threatens to lull me to sleep, but I stop myself, getting up and sitting away from my friend's warmth. I should be keeping watch. As I sit, watching my companions, my gaze lingers over Wisteria, and my heart flutters slightly. I force myself to look away. There is absolutely no way I have any feelings other than friendship for the other she-cat. Absolutely certain. Probably. But it is true I can't stop myself from thinking about her. Her fierce spirit and smile. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. No. Definitely just friends. Besides, there's absolutely no way she sees /me/ as more than that, so what's the point in hoping? Hmph. Glad I got that cleared up. I sit there, not daring to look at her as I watch over them all. My shift must be nearly over, and I'm feeling weary, so I plod over to Lazuli, waking him with a nudge. He groans, rolls over, then gets to his feet, blinking sleep from his eyes. Shutting my own, I lie next to Wisteria, once again calmed by her presence as I sink into darkness. Blinking open my eyes, a familiar rush of excitement hits me that I always get when walking in another cat's dreams. I look up. Mint green fields stretch for miles around, scattered with pastel flowers. I've seen this before, back in my Village when I was trying to enter Azurite's mind. And then it hits me. This must be Wisteria's dream world. Stopping and hiding behind a pastel coloured tree, I notice the inner Wisteria go past. I can't let her know I've been in her dreams. Uh uh, definitely not. That would make me seem like a crazy stalker cat, and I really didn't want that. A voice gently echoes around the world. Wisteria must be awake, and thinking. I know, I know, I should really be getting out of her dream world at this point, but i can't help myself but listen. "Eugh. Stupid sunlight." the voice grumbles, and I smile. "You're gonna wake Azzie up." it pauses, and my ears flick up. The flutter in my chest is back. Its voice softens. "That wouldn't be good, would, it? Don't want to disturb her. She needs it." The voice stops again, and I urge it to continue. "I'm sorry." It continues quietly. "If I'd just thought about it, I never should have agreed to do that. Ever. Huh. Well, it was kind of a good thing, in a twisted kind of way, because it did let me meet Azalea. And she's still alive, isn't she? And maybe I can- no, don't be stupid, Wist, leave it alone. You'll travel together for a bit, but then she'll go back to her Village and you'll be lonely again." I make a mental note that I'm going to tell her that I'll stay with her, and go wherever she wants to go, as long as she's there. I realise that my Dream form is starting to fade, but I cling to Wisteria's dream as hard as I can. Her voice is growing fainter... "But isn't it just better, if you're not gonna see her again, to tell her-" My eyes snap open in the real world. What do you want to tell me, Wisteria? Is it that you secretly like me in that way, and- Don't be ridiculous, Azzie. There's no way she could have meant that.