DAWN SEEMED TO COME RIGHT AFTER FEIYA found herself falling asleep. Waking up, she looked around but did not see Taiyou or Surai. Their scents were still fresh, which meant they had only left a few moments ago. She yawned and stretched her limbs to get rid of the sleep that was still trying to lure her away, and padded out of the den. The tall trees blocked the rising sun, and above her the sky was a faint red-orange.

Feiya sniffed around for her brother’s scent trail, but she had barely walked one pace when the familiar orange-furred tabby strode her way. “Good morning, Feiya,” Taiyou meowed with a smile.

Feiya returned the greeting by giving him a quick lick on the ear. She looked down and saw a batch of berries lying by his paws. “Is this our breakfast?” she asked sadly, although the answer was evident. I’ll never get used to eating berries, she thought, the tip of her tail giving an irritated flick.

Taiyou gave no sign of noticing. “Yes,” he mewed simply. “It’s all Surai and I managed to find—we didn’t dare go too far. Anyway, I’m going to eat inside.” He broke off a portion of the berries, and carrying it in his mouth, he padded toward the den.

“I’ll stay out here.” When her brother did not reply again, Feiya sat down and nibbled at her breakfast. The forest food didn’t taste any better than it had last night. Even so, her belly ached with hunger, and she gulped down the berries one by one. Her ears twitched as she noticed Surai come by.

“Nice day, isn’t it, Lady Feiya?” the silver tabby purred. “I hope you slept well.”

“Yes, thank you,” Feiya replied between bites. “Last night I was so captivated by your story that I forgot to ask what you were planning to do about Taiyou and I.”

Surai seemed unwilling to answer, his face hardening. But under Feiya’s suddenly intense gaze, he took a deep breath. “One of my acquaintances announced the news of some event that will take place tonight at a special lake,” he explained. “I speak the truth when I say that I have no idea of the details. But it concerns Transcenders in some way. Perhaps we will learn something that can help you and your brother if you decide to come with me. Unfortunately, my friends will not take your presences lightly. You’ll have to hide.”

“Yes,” Feiya nodded. “We will. Thank you.”

Surai shuffled his paws uneasily. “Eh, you’re welcome, Lady Feiya.”

He dipped his head and left for the den. Feiya watched as he ducked his head into the small opening under the leaves and disappeared inside, tail lowered casually. She closed her eyes and drew in a long breath of the crisp yet unfamiliar forest air. It felt refreshing and sent a wave of energy through her body.

Yet she still sat there, the berries untouched at her paws. Taiyou came by and plopped down beside her. “I heard Surai,” he meowed, washing a paw with his tongue. “Sounds like we can’t afford to pass what’s going to happen tonight.”

Feiya twitched her tail in agreement. “Maybe we’ll find out how to get home.”

Taiyou’s chest rumbled a little with an amused purr. “Perhaps.”

“You don’t think we will, right?” Feiya asked, looking hard at the side of Taiyou’s face.

“We might,” he replied bluntly. “Or at least we might find a way to live in this world.”

“On berries?” Feiya’s voice was a little accusing, and her brother’s ears twitched.

“It’s better than living on nothing. And there will be other food. Surai just said these parts are a little scarce in good things.”

Feiya did not reply. A soft breeze blew across her face, and she suddenly felt unbearable hunger claw at her belly. She had hardly eaten anything for two days, and her head felt dizzy even with the pitiful berries in her stomach. Standing up, she meowed to her brother, “I’m going to find something else to eat.”

The orange-furred tom stared at her. “What? That’s crazy! We won’t find any food we used to eat. We don’t even know how to hunt mice.”

Feiya shivered at the thought of the small, gray-furred rodents. “Ugh, I would never eat another living thing, Taiyou,” she growled. “I’m sure I will find something. You can stay here—I won’t go far.”

“You might run into danger,” Taiyou pointed out. “Surai warned us that these woods aren’t safe.”

Feiya’s hunger shortened her temper. “I said I won’t go far!” she hissed, and trekked away, fur bristling in annoyance.

Her brother opened his mouth to stop her, but knew his efforts would be futile in the rare moments Feiya was angry. Instead, he sniffed the air but didn’t smell any dangerous scents. Laying his head down on his paws, he thought with irritation that Feiya better return soon. “It’s not like she’s going to find anything anyways,” he muttered to himself.

A bright sun shone in the noon sky, and the chirping of birds rang in Feiya’s ears. She was strolling around beneath the trees, sniffing for a trace of food, but there was only the earthy smell of the forest. Dispirited and tired, she collapsed by a clump of fern. She had been away for half a morning, and she was positive that her brother and Surai were both worried. I should go back now, she thought. Who knows? Maybe those berries will taste better now that I’m half dead with starvation!

Her body felt heavy as she struggled up again. She turned back and inhaled the air to follow her own scent back to the den. She found it almost immediately, and padded back the winding forest trail she had taken when she left.

Feiya lost the scent when she came to a great oak tree. The trail ended there as well. The she-cat glanced around in confusion, searching for the rest of the path. To her annoyance, she found none. But it didn’t make any sense! Her own scent came this way, she had been walking on the dirt path the entire time, and she remembered having passed the oak tree. Growling in mild frustration, Feiya was about to double back when new scents filled the air. They smelled similar to the forest, but underneath the earth and leaves was the unmistakable scent of cat, yet somewhat different than her own.

Merely a moment later Feiya found herself completely surrounded. The prosecutors were a group of large, brown-furred cats with strange forest-colored markings on their faces, tail, and ears. Their emerald eyes were glazed with hostility, and their claws were unsheathed to lengths Feiya didn’t know was even possible.

One cat, standing tall and erect, wore a necklace of brambles around his neck. His right eye was a bloody red, glittering with violence. There was no doubt he was the lead cat. Feiya, despite her fear, fluffed out her fur and growled a warning at her attackers. “Who are you?” she hissed.

“We are a part of this forest,” replied the leader. “And you, you are a foreign cat who is trespassing on our territory!”

Feiya stopped herself from flinching under his powerful voice. She crouched low, ears flat in a defensive position, and tried to tell them she meant no harm. “I was simply looking for food, but I found none and took nothing,” she meowed in what she hoped was a sincere tone. “I will leave your territory immediately. Please, there is no need to attack.”

None of the forest cats seemed to believe her. Instead, they took a step forward and hissed, bearing their jagged teeth that looked like they’d been sharpened by chewing rocks.

“Liar!” one of them rasped. “There is a smell of berry on you! You have stolen from our territory, and you will face the consequences! Your blood will be shed!”

“No! I haven’t stolen anything!” Feiya was beginning to panic now, her voice shaking with obvious fear. She didn’t like these cats, and she had never had any experience in fighting or defending herself against enemies. “Let me leave and I will never come here again,” she begged.

To her surprise, one of the cats chuckled. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a friendly chuckle. “You’re so weak it’s amusing,” the male cat purred. “You’re just like a little bunny or baby bird. Maybe we should eat you right on the spot, and create necklaces from your skinny bones.”

His words sent a ripple of laughter through the ambushers.

“Oh, come on, Thorn, just look at her!” another cat meowed. “You’re terrifying the poor little she-kitty!” Then to Feiya he squeaked sarcastically, “If you want to leave you’ll have to give up a limb or two as payment!”

The laughter and purring of amusement increased.

“Yes, let’s tear that silky tail off!”

“How about those soft pink ears?”

“I want that paw with the ginger dot!”

“Or maybe we can tear off her whole pelt and use it for den bedding!”

Feiya felt hurt and scared as she watched the forest cats hoot and snicker at their jokes. She had never wanted Taiyou more at her side than at that moment. She noticed that only the leader’s face was still expressionless and firm.

“Silence!” he yowled.

The cats quieted immediately, ears perked and alert at what their master had to say.

“Enough of this,” he growled. “We will take the intruder to our camp and kill her at sunset. We will offer her dead body to the forest. Then we will be able to receive an award from the forest’s spirit. Thorn, knock her out as you seem most willing.”

Feiya could feel her heart thumping roughly against her chest as Thorn quickly advanced toward her. “Stay back!” she hissed, although it sounded more like a feeble mew.

Thorn only snickered, and slashed out with his claws. Feiya felt a sharp pain on her shoulder as though she’d been struck by lightning, and collapsed. Barely able to move from the pain, she tried to drag herself away, but she had hardly lifted her head when another stinging attack tore at her side. The world around her began to spin, and dizzily she watched her blood form a puddle on the dirt ground.

“Weakling,” Thorn purred into her ear.

“I’m…. not,” she croaked, and tasted blood on her tongue, salty and metallic.

Eyes half closed in turmoil, Feiya caught a glimpse of Thorn raising his giant paw to strike again.

“That’s enough!” the leader’s voice yowled.

No new shot of pain came, but Feiya’s body gave one jerk and the blood that gushed out from her wounds was enough to send her into unconsciousness.

“Did you find her yet?” Surai asked worriedly.

Taiyou didn’t reply, yet the answer was obvious. He was panting from his long search, and his tail and ears drooped in a defeated state.

“Why don’t you take a rest and I’ll go look for her,” Surai meowed, nudging Taiyou on the shoulder.

“No,” the flame-colored cat growled, although the anger was directed at himself, not his friend. “I caught her scent, but I kept losing it until it was gone completely. I searched all afternoon, but I found nothing. You will have no better luck.”

Surai watched Taiyou stroll into the den with pity in his blue eyes. “I definitely won’t have any luck, if her own brother has given up on finding her.”

Feiya opened her eyes and saw brown-furred cats like the ones who’d attacked her swarming around her. Frantic, she scrambled up from her laying position and called for Taiyou. But she already knew her brother was not there. Maybe he’ll come to rescue me, she thought. He’ll find me. I know it.

With a sickening feeling, she noticed the sharp pain that was coursing through her body. She remembered Thorn’s claws and the amount of blood she had seen on the ground—her blood. She turned to lick at her injuries—gashes on her left foreleg, numerous cuts, and a bleeding right ear she couldn’t reach.

“Awake now, I see,” rasped a gruff voice. It was Thorn, and he was walking across a large clearing, evil glazed over his red eyes.

Feiya tried to ignore him and looked around. The clearing was home to a whole camp of forest-colored cats like the group who’d ambushed her earlier. Dens similar to Surai’s lined the clearing, and cats walked around, talking to each other and sometimes glancing her way. She was upset yet unsurprised to see that none of their looks directed at her were very friendly.

“Like our home?” Thorn asked, grinning. “This will be the last place you see before we execute you.”

Feiya, despite her pounding heart, managed to flash a glare at the other cat. “We’ll see,” she spat, although her voice was weak.

Thorn smirked and padded away. Feiya wanted to spit at him, but knew she was not good at violent actions and would end up making a fool of herself. Instead she sat and looked for a way to escape. It might become too late to wait for Taiyou, and besides, she didn’t want him to be put in danger, too.

She noticed there were no cats around that could be assumed as guards, but all the cats in the camp looked fierce. They weren’t looking her way anymore, which might give her a better chance to escape unnoticed. Thorn was sitting beside a bush, his tail curled around a female cat. Even from a distance Feiya could tell they were mates. Why would any cat like him? she thought bitterly.

The female cat cocked her head her way arrogantly, a sneering smile on her thin face. Her unusually large gold eyes narrowed with pleasure at Feiya’s injured condition.

Actually, I don’t think she’s any better than that lowlife Thorn! Feiya thought in disgust. She turned her head away.

The sun was still near the center of the sky, which told it was probably about early afternoon. They had said they would kill her at sunset. It meant she still had a chance to save her life, if Taiyou and Surai didn’t make it in time. But with a heavy feeling in her throat, Feiya knew her brother and friend would likely be unable to defeat this strange tribe of forest cats. Perhaps it would be better if she tried to get away by herself—maybe by making a run for it. But was she fast enough? Having lived in a comfortable human home, she wasn’t as strong as these strange cats that seemed as though they ruled the forest with power.

Again lost in her thoughts, Feiya failed to notice Thorn stalking toward her again. No, on second thought, it wasn’t Thorn. It was his partner, the large-eyed female cat who had sneered at her. Feiya noticed that her body was so thin her ribcages could be clearly seen.

“What are you looking at, you stupid furball of a rat?” she rasped, baring her teeth at Feiya.

Feiya’s muscles tensed. “Furball of a rat” was one of the meanest and dirtiest things a cat could be called. She had only heard it once, used by an old neighboring cat that had gotten mad at Taiyou because he thought Taiyou had been trespassing in his territory.

The thin cat seemed to enjoy Feiya’s offended and wordless look. “Yes, my dear, that is exactly what you vermin are,” she purred. “And mighty deserved it too, don’t you think? Staring like that at a cat as beautiful as I, the Princess Sylvika, is rather rude.”

“Rude?” Feiya worded, for her voice felt clogged in her throat.

Sylvika sniffed in clear distaste. “You dull thing!” she hissed. “You should be honored to be in the presence of I, the daughter of Brutenn, who is the leader of this Earth tribe—the best Earth tribe in all of Celestine!”

Feiya remained silent, staring at Sylvika. She will stare and stare, no matter how rude it was. Stare down the scrawny “princess” cat! Make her stop bragging!

It had the effect Feiya wanted. Sylvika’s eyes narrowed in annoyance. However, her throat did not burst. Instead, she turned her head away and scoffed, “Whatever. I didn’t expect you to have any charm. Psh!”

Feiya watched Sylvika’s thin figure pad away back to Thorn’s side, and the two cats gave her one last look of bitterness before turning away again.

It’s fine; don’t mind them, Feiya thought to herself. Concentrate on escape. Her eyes flickering, she noticed a small opening under one of the bushes that surrounded the camp. It looked just big enough for her to fit through. The wider exits that had been purposefully created by the forest cats were too dangerous to aim for. A cat was walking through one of them with a bright ruby fish in his mouth. At the sight of him, several other cats padded over to see the large fish.

No one was paying attention to her now.

With a slight hesitation at fear of being caught, Feiya shot toward the opening under the bush. It was barely a few second before a voice shouted, “The prisoner! The prisoner is escaping!”

Too late for other decisions now. Feiya ran so fast she felt as if her paws would lift off the ground and take her into the air. The bush was full of thorns, and they pierced through her fur as she hurled through under it, but she didn’t have time to wince as she plunged through the trees of the unfamiliar forest.

She didn’t dare look back, but hearing the shouts behind her, she knew the forest cats were following. Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves in quick beams as she passed through under them, as if they were trying to urge her on. The metallic scent of blood filled her nose.

If I keep going, I’ll lose too much blood and eventually collapse, she thought with despair. I can’t outrun them.

A fallen tree blocked her path shortly ahead. Feiya clawed herself up the thick trunk and leaped off the other side. She lost her balance midway and landed hard on her right paw. A searing arrow of pain blazed through her foreleg, and she strained to right herself and move on. A group of birds cried up ahead, and there was a flutter of wings. Sounds behind her told her the forest cats were climbing their way up the trunk.

Her body feeling heavy and pain blurring her mind, Feiya scrambled up and launched into another run—this time much slower.

“You can’t outrun us, you stupid thing!” a voice hissed from close behind.

Thorn, Feiya thought as a sudden ball of fear exploded within her chest. She dared herself to glance quickly behind her.

It was all she needed to see. Thorn’s face was barely a hair’s breadth from her tail tip. There was something different about his face: the blazing red eyes, the long saber fangs… What is he? Feiya thought in panic.

Her fear gave her a rush of strength, but it would only be temporary.

Suddenly, half of her vision flickered and faded.

What?!

Her ability to measure distance thwarted and the pain from her injuries overwhelming her at last, Feiya ran off course to the side and crashed into a thorny bush. She looked up to see Thorn towering over her, a dark silhouette.

It was over.

“Forget about sunset,” Thorn hissed. “You’re going to die here, right now, by my claws!”

He raised a claw and Feiya shut her eyes as it came slicing down on her.

But Thorn was only a second too slow—the temperature rose to an incredible degree, and Feiya reopened her eyes to see flames licking their way through the group of forest cats gathered around her. Each of them cried out in alarm and sprang away. However, the fire, as if with a will of its own, chased after them.

It swallowed the cats.

It burned them.

They howled in pain as they died.

“NO!” Thorn yowled, but he, too, was soon engulfed in the blue-hot fire.

It was almost too much to bear. Feiya watched his form burning down inside the flames. She watched with her half-vision as the fire finally died down, leaving nothing left of the forest cats but ashes.

Mind evaporating and cruel memories of the first night coming back, she fell into unconsciousness for the second time that day.

Taiyou and Surai watched the smoke rise into the skies and then suddenly disappear.

“What… what was that?” Taiyou wondered aloud. “Fires don’t work like that.”

Surai nodded in agreement. “Yes, and I don’t smell the smoke, either. It’s as if the fire burned and then erased itself, if that makes sense.”

A pang shot through Taiyou’s heart. “Wait, do you think Feiya might be there somewhere? What if she was in that fire?!”

His muscled tightened, and Taiyou resisted the urge to leap into action before waiting for his friend’s reply.

Surai understood, and meowed, “Let’s go see.”

Half dark… half light… and a world shrouded in mist. Whatever is beyond the mist cannot be seen.

Feiya slowly opened her eyes and immediately forgot a short dream, as well as Thorn’s frightening transformation earlier. Again she wished she would see her brother. But she didn’t. Instead, she saw herself surrounded by a group of cats with flaming tails and fire flickering around their paws, necks, and the tips of their ears. Their pelts were a pale orange-brown, their eyes bright as rubies.

They’re a group of some sort, like those forest cats, Feiya thought.

There was one cat in the group that particularly stood out. It was a dainty female with golden rings attached to her ears and rows of dangling jewels upon her chest and legs. Her eyes glittered with authority—she was obviously the leader.

Feiya’s first instinct was to run, but her body was limp and weak. A small anger blazed within her. Why were all these cats after her?

To her surprise, the fancy-furred female dipped her head. “We are pleased to meet you,” she mewed in a soft voice that lacked everything the forest cats had used on her.

Feiya didn’t know what to say. Were they playing with her? Did they have evil intentions behind those kind looks? Whatever it was, she couldn’t risk being rude if they were indeed good cats. Carefully, she dipped her head as well, even though her neck ached with pain. “Pleased to meet you, too,” she mewed.

“We’re sorry for our violent entry,” the leader apologized. “But the easiest way to attack the Earth tribe was through surprise. And that one cat, Thorn, I believe, would’ve killed you have we not arrived in that way.”

Feiya blinked, speechless.

“I am known as Hien, of the Fire tribe,” she continued.

“My name is um, Feiya,” Feiya replied.

“We know who you are.”

Feiya looked up into the ruby eyes in wonder. “You do? Oh, you must’ve—”

“Why are you here?” Hien interrupted.

“I—I was just looking around for food, and those cats attacked me,” Feiya admitted.

“I see. That was unwise, to come into the dangerous parts of the forest without a companion.”

Feiya guiltily thought of Taiyou, and how she had ditched him that morning because of her pickiness over food. “Right, I’m sorry,” she mewed.

Hien turned to the other Fire cats. “Back down a little and sit,” she ordered crossly. “You cats always intimidate and tower over our guests like you want to eat them or something.”

The rest of the Fire tribe group seemed to turn redder, and backed down. Feiya was glad—they were making the atmosphere around her pretty intense.

Hien opened her mouth to say something more, but at that moment, a familiar voice echoed through the trees.

“FEIYA!” it shouted.

Feiya’s ears jerked and her heart soared with joy. “TAIYOU!” she cried back. “Taiyou, I’m here!”

In seconds a familiar orange-furred cat leapt into the midst of the Fire tribe group, closely followed by his silver tabby friend.

The Fire cats stayed out of the way as brother and sister nudged each other affectionately, their purrs resonating through the leaves. Surai gave Feiya a friendly lick on the ear and watched in satisfaction.

Only when a Fire cat gave a rasping cough did Taiyou and Surai look around. Taiyou immediately put himself in front of his sister and gave a low, warning growl.

Surai, however, wasn’t cautious at all. Instead, he and Hien nudged each other in a friendly greeting.

“It’s been a while, Master Surai,” Hien purred.

“Indeed it has, dear Lady of Flames,” Surai purred back.

Hien gave a small laugh. “Ah, still with the nicknames, I see.”

Taiyou stopped growling. “You know these cats?” he asked Surai.

“Why yes, we’re old friends,” the silver tabby replied.

Feiya gave Taiyou a lick on the cheek. “And they rescued me from the Earth tribe,” she added, giving a grateful glance at Hien.

“Earth tribe?” Taiyou sounded confused. Then he noticed his sister’s wounds. “Feiya! You’re hurt—are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” the younger sibling replied with a soft purr.

Taiyou nodded and turned to the surrounding cats. “I want to know who everyone is, and what’s going on.”

“Yes Taiyou, of course,” Surai meowed. “This world, Celestine, is inhabited by many different kinds of cats, including the Elementals. These are the Elemental Fire cats, and Feiya must’ve met the Earth cats earlier. There are also cats of other elements such as Air, Water, and the rare ones such as Light and Dark. Cats of different elements have power over their element.” Surai winked at Hien. “Ah, why didn’t I see it earlier! That fire was started by your group!”

Hien gave a short flick of her tail. “Yes, that’s correct.”

“But,” Feiya asked, “if you rescued me, then does that mean the Earth tribe is bad?”

“No, that’s not true,” Hien meowed with a shake of her head, the jewels on her fur flashing under the sun. “There are many tribes of different Elemental cats. That tribe earlier was apparently up to no good. Just because they do evil does not mean every other Earth cat should be seen as a villain. There are evil Fire cats as well.”

“I see. They were talking about offering me to the forest or something.”

Hien thought for a moment. She seemed hesitant to speak. “A ritual, I suppose,” she murmured.

“Anyways,” Surai cut in. “I thank you, Hien, for helping dear Lady Feiya, but I believe we should be going on our way.”

A spark of amusement glowed in the Fire leader’s eyes. “Why, Master Surai, you are with these young cats? Circle business, I suppose?”

Surai gave a small cough. “Um, yes, just Circle business, nothing more… nothing more…"

It was late afternoon. Feiya and Taiyou had rested after exchanging good-byes with the Fire cats and sat outside Surai’s den. They were having a moment of peace and quietness before leaving at sunset for the lake event.

Feiya glanced around. “Where’s Surai?” she asked.

“Oh, I think he’s out looking for something,” Taiyou replied. “Was just in his den a moment ago.”

“I see,” Feiya mewed. “Hey um, Taiyou?”

Her brother could sense the hesitation in her voice. “What is it?” he asked.

“You know how those Fire cats saved me from the Earth tribe that attacked me? They… they burnt the entire tribe, not just chase them off,” Feiya explained quietly. “I didn’t want to bring it up to Lady Hien that it was cruel.”

Taiyou was silent. Finally, he meowed, “Ah, I noticed the ashes on the ground. Didn’t think much of it, though.”

“Still, if she hadn’t burned them, then I wouldn’t have lived.” Feiya looked into her brother’s eyes square on. “Was I, was I worth all those lives she took? They were cruel to me, but I could see they were close family to each other.”

Again, Taiyou didn’t reply till a moment later. “Don’t worry too much, Feiya. You weren’t the murderer. Whatever the price is that now rests on the Fire cats’ shoulders for taking those lives, we do not know, but for now, we can’t afford to be thinking too much of anyone else.”

“That’s so selfish, though.”

“Yes. But think about it. Do you think that Earth tribe was the first they ever killed? Did you see any regret or remorse in Hien’s eyes? If it were her first kill, she would feel some pain and regret no matter what.”

“That’s right, Taiyou.”

Taiyou gave Feiya a lick. “Don’t worry your heart over it right now,” he mewed softly. “We still have a major event to attend as soon as Surai shows up.”