[Milestone2] Loyalty and Loneliness

Creek kept his steps light and quick as he followed after his mother.

Life on the streets was never easy, but at least there was a certain predictability to it that he was being taught to take advantage of.

Though…

He knew one day he’d no longer need such skills. That the hunting skills he practiced on pigeons in the park would be far more useful than the ability to determine which humans might be persuaded to share their food with him.

But for now, not even nine months old, sticking to the human lands was better than braving the wilderness beyond, especially alone.

“Keep up,” his mother called, and he blinked as he perked up and bounded to catch up to her.

“Sorry,” he murmured, glancing around.

“It’s fine, but this is important.” She glanced away. “I won’t be around for you forever, you know. And when that happens, you have to be able to survive on your own.”

His ear flicked.

He’d heard whispers. He knew what happened to kits who overstayed their welcome on the streets. How mothers would vanish in the night.

He’d overheard more than one tom, more than one molly with young kits, breathe out some comment of surprise that his own mother was indulgent enough to let him still follow her around.

Her tail flicked and he blinked back into focus.

“Roof hopping is a good way to avoid a lot of things. Now, tell me, how would you get up there?”

He frowned, staring up at the roof high above him.

Far, far too high to jump.

But…

There was a dumpster with the right half of its lid closed. They could make it onto that… And from there, they could probably make it to the fire ladder. Ladders were a pain, but they could climb it the rest of the way.

He nodded, satisfied with his plan as he bounded over to show her. One leap and he’d gotten onto the dumpster, the plastic making a solid thump under his weight.

His jump to the ladder was far less graceful, his back legs kicking the air almost frantically for several long seconds before they caught on one of the rungs and he was able to get a grip and scuttle up onto the roof.

But… he did it!

He turned, beaming as he prepared to call down to his mother.

Except… he didn’t see her.

“Mom?!” he yowled, jumping back down and stumbling as he hit the ground. He looked around, but she didn’t appear. “Mom!”

He paced back to where he’d last seen her, her scent lingering and leading away.

Oh…

He frowned, climbing back to the roof and curling up in one of the corners.

He guessed he was on his own now, he mused a little bitterly.

When he blinked, the cityscape was still dark, the shadows exaggerated.

“You are not alone, Creek, far from it.” He lifted his head, blinking up at the shadowy figure as she lowered her head to lick at his ears. “So long as you walk with a paw in both the waking and dream world, you will never be truly alone.”

He let himself smile a little, bobtail twitching. “Promise?”

“You will see. One day, you will find cats as loyal as your own heart. The Tribe protects its own, no cat left behind.” She nuzzled the top of his head. “Now, rest. It will be a long few seasons ahead of you until you meet your Tribe.”

Rest…

He could do that, he decided as he settled once more, her shadowy presence lingering around him as a silent sentry.