The Tests: Wait 7

The Tests: Wait 7

### Characters Present

Ami, Loki, Merri, Harnor, Dune, Wren, Natrix, Bonita, Nol, Ambi, Newt, Rosica, Zed, Fang, Nest, Robin, Luana, Eclipse, Frostsong, Quintessa, Wildflower, Sunflower, Tess, Aquanetta, Kaz, Palm, Diamond, Kinkaroy, Arc, Ash, Frost, Flame, Storm, Yin, Shard, Ollie, Orchid, Kousuke, Ollie, Yedda, Dottie, Lantern, Maya, Yue Rabbit, Newt, Fini, Artemi, Storm Eyes, Dark Fang, Clover

### Important Events

Ami and Loki take over the Tests, Harnor is put into the Tests, Wren is revived, Kinkaroy and Diamond are revived

**Wait 7** is an episode in *The Tests.*

## **The Tests: Wait 7 (The Savannah)**

The cats were in the middle of the savannah. The downpour of water seemed to not have made a dent in the dry landscape. They looked around, searching for Harnor. They knew he was coming. He was going to taunt them on the losses.

But instead, two cats walked forwards.

A few cats recognized the scents.

“It’s Ami!” one voice cried out.

“And Loki.” Another voice seemed to be wistful and quiet. “He’s a god.”

Cries of relief came from all the cats. Finally, they were safe.

The shattered remains of Harnor’s necklace rested in Ami’s front paw. Her paw was made of ice. A large gem rested on her forehead.

Loki’s large black wings spread out beside him. A silver star seemed to glow.

The cats took a step back when they saw how they were looking at them. Amused. The look predators give their prey when it all seems too easy.

“Cats of the Tests. We come here to talk to you about some new rules we’ll be setting in place,” Ami growled, their voice low.

Loki chuckled behind them.

“Every Test, one of you is going to die,” Ami said.

Anger and worry pulsed through the cat’s pelts. The Tests had caused death before, but it was never certain!

“Of course, we’ll let you off if some die in the Wait. Harnor was always too gentle on you. Never preening the numbers. Never working out who was the strongest.” Ami padded closer to the cats.

Loki followed.

Ami lifted up Merri’s head.

Merri seemed to puff up with anticipation and pride. Every cat could tell she wanted the power. Like a flash, a bolt of ice shot up through her, cutting right through her chest. She fell to the ground. Dead.

“Too weak,” Ami muttered, before turning back to the cats. “And one more thing. Harnor is no longer in charge, so there’s no need for him up in our land.”

Loki moved to the side, revealing a golden tom.

“Oh, and if he doesn’t look familiar, that’s because this is the real Harnor, the one who’s hidden himself from you,” Ami said.

Harnor slowly padded forwards as if in a trance. His tail was long and feathery, his eyes the same vivid green.

Cats hissed and spat at him. Claws began to unsheath.

One last laugh came from the two gods before they vanished.

Dune stalked up to Harnor. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

Harnor looked at him, green eyes wide. “I’m sorry, I think you've got the wrong cat. I’ve never seen you before.”

Dune hissed back at him, “Liar.”

Harnor stared back, shuffling slowly away from Dune. “I swear, if this is because of my power, I can’t control it.”

“Power?” Thanya questioned, also approaching him with claws out. “What power? Tell us now!”

Harnor gulped. “I can read minds, I can walk in dreams, and I . . . I . . . can bring back spirits after their second death.”

Dune laughed, pushing Harnor onto his back. “No one can do that.”

Harnor slammed his paw down on Dune’s leg.

Suddenly, Dune stepped back and sheathed his claws. His eyes were blank.

Harnor’s eyes turned white, and suddenly three cats appeared around him.

Dune snapped out of the spell and he met the gaze of a white she-cat. Her pelt was covered with brown tabby stripes and her eyes were blue and yellow. “Wren,” he choked out, his voice hoarse.

Wren smiled before lifting out her paw. A small fire started and her eyes became red, firey slits. “I can control it now.” She smiled, but her eyes scanned the crowd for one face. Luana.

“Who are they?” Natrix asked, pointing at Ami and Loki.

Bonita glared at Ami and Loki. She hadn’t interacted with them, but still, she knew they were in the Tests. They had to go through everything they went through. So why were they making it harder?! “Filthy traitors!” she growled, her jaw clenched.

“Great,” Natrix grumbled. “More cats who support this death trap.”

Bonita snorted before flashing a toothy smirk at the cat. “Finally someone gets it.” She growled at Harnor and snarled, stalking up to the tom. “¡Rata inmunda! ¿¡Explica cómo diablos crees que hacerte el tonto te vuelve inocente?!” She nearly struck the tom.

Nol nudged her. “Bonita! Don’t do something you’ll regret!”

Bonita glared at Nol. “I would regret *nothing*. Nothing!”

“Calm down! You’re acting like a barbarian!” Kousuke shoved Bonita to the side, facing Harnor with ice-cold eyes. “You have more to explain.”

Ambi stalked over to Harnor. “You killed her!” he seethed. “You made her die!” he growled, pointing at Rosica’s lifeless body.

Newt padded up to a tom who was leaning over a dead body. He thought he had heard his name mentioned before. Ambi, was it? He rested his tail on the tom’s back. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I didn’t know her . . . but you obviously loved her.”

Ambi nodded and sniffed. “Thanks,” he muttered. “It was his fault,” he spat, looking with fury at Harnor, who was looking innocent and confused.

Ambi seemed to be vibrating with anger at Harnor, and Newt stepped in front of him. “Come on. Deep breaths. Just think . . . Rosica, was it? She wouldn’t want you to get hurt. Harnor seems pretty powerful.” He tried to smooth Ambi’s fur.

Ambi snorted, but he calmed down. “Thanks. Who are you?” He yawned. “I’d better go sleep,” he told him. “Maybe I’ll see you around.” He curled up as far away as possible from Harnor and let sleep consume him.

Newt smiled as he watched Ambi sleep. It was great to see the tom getting some rest after all he went through.

*Hmm. This was different. Rosica didn’t really expect leaving Ambi to be so . . . hard? She didn’t know.* I mean, everyone is here, but they take no notice of me. It’s as if I’m not here. . .? *“Ambi?” But it was Ambi she had come to find, not anyone else. She needed to apologize for leaving him.* Oh. *He was sleeping. Maybe she shouldn’t wake him. He might not be happy to see her. Oh well. She needed to say sorry. “Ambi! Wake up!” She shook him the way you shouldn’t shake a sleeping cat. “Ambi. Wake up, silly. I’m sorry I left you.” She could feel her eyes brightening. “But now I’m here! And I’m sorry. Can we play?” Ambi was back.*

Ambi’s mind floated while he slept. He saw darkness, then light. And . . . Rosica. “Rosica!” he exclaimed, and leaned forward to greet her. “Has Harnor revived you?”

Rosica laughed. *“No, silly! I’ve come back! I’m going to play.”*

Ambi didn’t stir. *“Rosica?”* he called in his mind.

*“I said play! I came back! I want to play with you again. Or speak with you, at least,”* Rosica said.

*“But . . . Rosica, you’re dead! You were limping, and you collapsed, and you. . .”* Ambi choked. *“Rosica? What have you become?”*

*Rosica stopped. What was he saying? He must have gotten confused. She giggled. “No I didn’t, silly! I just went away for a bit. I wanted to come back to see you.”*

Zed was walking around. He didn’t recognize this “Wren” cat, so he went to sit and wash himself.

Fang stared in horror at the spot where Loki had disappeared. That wasn’t the tom she remembered.

What on earth was going on? Death glares cut into Harnor’s pelt from every angle. Not one face seemed friendly. He growled under his breath. This was why he hated cats. They all judged him because of his gifts. He wandered around, seeking out some cat who seemed friendly. Everyone’s thoughts were muffled. He couldn’t pick anyone up! Finally, he took a deep breath and just walked towards a cat. “I’m Harnor,” he meowed.

Nol swished Bonita away with a flick of his tail and trotted to catch up to Harnor. “Um, hey.” He looked back at Bonita.

Bonita was fuming, ranting about how stupid Harnor was to Kousuke.

Nol gave her a cheeky smile and turned back to Harnor. “So you’re the god who kind of tortured everyone?” Yeah. That was smart to say. “Er, um . . . so apparently, everyone thinks you’re awful. But apparently, I’m friends with a lot of awful cats! So. . .” *Bonita is definitely right about me being stupid.*

“Harnor,” Fang growled. “What do you want? You’ve already taken everything from me!” She launched herself at the now-golden tom, slashing at him with her claws.

Claws headed towards Harnor’s face. He tried to duck under them, but still, he was struck on the side of his muzzle. “What did I do? I swear I can control my powers,” he cried out.

Fang twisted and leapt again, bringing her claws down on Harnor’s face, hoping to strike a blow. “You monster! You ruined everything!”

Claws raked Harnor’s face and he fell back. Quickly he slammed his paw down on top of the she-cat’s. *Get away from me,* he thought. *Walk away and apologize to me and any cat you’ve ever hurt.* He pushed that thought towards her mind, hoping it would work.

Fang felt Harnor trying to push a thought into her head. To leave him alone, forget about hating him. “Not gonna happen,” she hissed quietly. “I’ll make you pay.” She lashed out again, hoping to strike him on the flank.

Nol jumped back from the two fighting cats. “Woah. Hey, guys. Wait!”

Nest was baffled. Did he really think that she didn’t know who he was?  “Um . . . hi?” she meowed, confused. “You don’t really need to introduce yourself, you know. You’re the reason we’re all here.” She tipped her head to one side. “I’m Nest. You probably don’t remember me. Actually, you might not remember anything,” she guessed. “Robin?” she called out to her friend.

*Black. All Robin could see was a pure black abyss. It was like this for many hours until light. . .*

 Robin awoke in a tiny cave. *This must be the next Wait. Wait, what did I miss?* She sat up and realized. *Nest.* She ran, scouting cats until she found her, meanwhile asking questions like, *What happened? Why is no one angry? How long was I out?* until she saw her. “Nest!” She ran like she had never run before, and then . . . she fell. She had completely forgotten what happened to her leg. She looked down. It was worse than before. Now it was starting to look infected and deeper than before. *Did I do more damage to my leg in the Test?* she thought. She looked up, only to see Nest right in front of her. . .

Nest backed away from Harnor. He was a mystery for another day, and she still hadn’t found Robin. She walked around nervously. Was her friend dead? She hadn’t seen her since the last Wait . . . she frantically pushed the thought away. Finally, she spotted Robin running to her and all of her worries faded away. Just as they were about to reach each other, Robin crumbled to the ground. She came closer and bent down to help her up. “Are you okay? Where were you? I thought you were dead! That Ami and Loki had killed you too!” She crouched down to prop her up. “But they didn’t. I’m so glad you’re safe!”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I’m glad you’re safe! I think I must’ve fallen over and bashed my head, because when I woke up, it was the end of the Test.” Robin’s mind was racing. “Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you? I’m so sorry. I said we would stay together but we didn’t, and, and. . .” She quickly looked around and then saw. “And why is Harnor over there? What did I miss while I was out?” She looked back at Nest. “I’m sorry. I’m just really glad you’re okay.”

Nest recalled what had happened several moments before, trying to decide where to begin. “Well . . . near the end of the Test, the arena flooded with water and brought us here.” She indicated the surrounding area with her tail as she spoke. “Everyone was waiting anxiously for Harnor to arrive and tell us who had died, but he never did. Instead, Loki and Ami appeared. They both had wings, and the gem that Harnor wore was in Ami’s paw. They killed a cat, then they. . .” Nest winced as she remembered the dreadful message that had followed. “And then they told us that unless some cats died in each Wait or Test that they would. . .” She struggled to get the words out. “They would kill one. After every Test.” Her voice was hardly a whisper and she would have fallen to the ground if she wasn’t already on it.

Robin was shocked. “I — I — I had no idea, Nest. I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” she said as she rubbed her head against Nest’s shoulder. “But then where’s Harnor?” she said with a slight quiver in her voice.

Nest felt Robin’s head on her shoulder, and some of the danger melted away. “Harnor is fighting that cat. He’s the golden tom.” She pointed to him with her tail. “He has a different power set. He can bring cats back from their second death and he says he can read minds.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he remembers anything about his past, and he thinks we’re trying to hurt him because of his powers.” She gently rubbed her head on Robin’s. “But we don’t need to worry about that right now. If we do, then they’ve already won.”

All Robin’s fears floated away. Her leg had stopped hurting . . . and she felt safe. Safer than she had ever felt in years. “Nest . . . thank you for everything,” she said quietly as her head nuzzled into Nest’s neck.

Nest licked Robin’s ear and whispered, “I’ll never walk away from you again.”

Luana’s drooping head snapped up as she took in the pretty she-cat. “Wren!” she shrieked, dashing over to the she-cat. She nuzzled against her. “Oh, God, you’re back. You’re back. Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you.” She mumbled thanks and whispers of joy, and purred so loud she was sure the ground was shaking. And then she noticed the excruciating pain in her shoulder.

Wren’s breath nearly stopped as Luana barred into her. It felt like her heart was bursting out of her chest. “Luana!” She nuzzled the she-cat back. “I’ve missed you so much. Are you okay? Everyone looks so hurt.”

“Uh, well, what I understand is that everyone was trying to attack everyone else.” Luana looked around until she spotted Dune, and let her head drop in shame. “I was trying to attack Dune, and I got this.” She shrugged her shoulder, though the motion caused her wound to gush. She winced and turned away from it. “But I’m basically fine. Other cats had it worse. . .”

Wren was shocked. Harnor had done that to these poor cats! “It’s okay. Harnor is a monster. I believe you.” She rested her head on Luana’s uninjured shoulder. As she and Luana sat next to each other, Wren spotted a fire licking up at her paws. Immediately, she stamped it down. No. She wasn’t going to start a fire.

Luana noticed the flames on Wren’s paws. Suppressing her fear, she smiled and let frost coat her legs.

Wren saw the frost coat Luana’s legs and smiled. *Frost and fire.* She shrunk the little flame until it was just a spark. *Wait.* She had mastered her fire. No need to shrink it! She grew the flame again, forming a heart of fire, resting on the ground in front of Luana. As soon as she had made it, noticing Luana’s slight fear, she made it turn to a tiny spark, then wink out.

Eclipse gasped as her eyes rested on Wren. Tears filled her eyes, though she knew she couldn’t let herself get close to her. If she did, she would probably end up killing her. It was what was happening. Anyone she got close to with, she lost her temper and hurt them in an unforgivable way. So she had made herself promise she would only love her kits. They were the only cats in the world. She protectively wrapped her tail around them as she laid down to wait.

Wren walked up to one face she recognized. “Eclipse, isn't it?” She smiled. “Aww, you’ve got kits! Who’s the father?”

Despite not knowing the cat, Natrix said, “Not the best time to talk about him.”

“M . . . Mieginck,” Eclipse forced herself to say. She may not allow herself to be close to her, but that was no reason to be rude. “He . . . *died* . . . last Test. . .” She bit back the memory of him collapsed on the floor, blinking tears out of her eyes.

Wren saw Eclipse’s face. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I’m sure he was a great cat.” She rested her paw on Eclipse’s and licked her forehead before turning back to Luana.

Frostsong stood in shock, staring at “Harnor.” This was Harnor? He looked weak. She could probably beat him single-pawed! But she took a deep breath and walked to Wren. She had never really gotten the chance to know her. “Hey, Wren. You probably don’t know me. I’m Frostsong.”

Quintessa hissed, backing away from Yedda. She started stomping over to the golden tom filled with built-up fury . . . until she saw it. Wren. Dune’s sister. A few others she didn’t know. He was doing as he said. But why? Had he really forgotten everything? She padded up closer, near where Dune was. She wasn’t sure yet . . . if she trusted the former god . . . so it would be best to stay near somebody she knew. Someone she could trust.

Dune smiled as he saw Wren and Luana greet each other. He would give them some time to catch up. After . . . what he did to Luana, he didn’t know if she could ever forgive him. He saw Quintessa next to him. “Oh my gosh, Quintessa, you’re okay.”

Quintessa smiled at Dune weakly. “Yeah, barely. . .” She glanced at the former god, then at Wren. She felt a lump in her throat. “I’m so happy for you. Your sister is back. I wonder how that must feel to have a sibling.” She couldn’t stop staring. Luana and Wren, so together. They were so happy. She knew Dune was happy too. She took her gaze to the ground awkwardly.

Dune looked over at Wren and Luana. “It’s strange seeing her again. Only the moment I saw her I realized how much I wanted her to come back. To be honest, I’ve not really talked to her yet, but you have to admit her and Luana are sweet.” Quintessa looked to the ground and he dipped his head towards her. “Are you okay?”

“Oh . . . yeah, I’m fine.” Quintessa wished she still had invisibility as she searched for something relevant to say. “Do you think that they’ll become mates? Or are they already? Maybe I just missed it because of my denseness.” She was surprised by her own words.

Where was Sunflower? Where was Sunflower? “Sunflower?!” Wildflower said.

“I’m here, Wildflower!” Sunflower rushed to Wildflower on the far side of the ravine. “So how do you feel about this Harnor?” he asked once they were close enough.

“I don’t know! I don’t know! I don’t know! He’s a cat now? We have to listen to two other cats now? I hate it. What’s happening next?” Wildflower paced around.

“I don’t know either!” Sunflower said, trying to calm them down a bit. But not really.

“Okay. How about we go find Yedda and Quintessa and Frostsong? And Marina?” Wildflower asked.

*Uh, no.* Sunflower didn’t really want to go find Wildflower’s friends. Although feeling really guilty, he didn’t really like how they pushed him and Wildflower apart a little. “How about we go find someone else?” he suggested.

“Like who?” Wildflower asked.

Scanning around, Sunflower found someone he recognized. “Uh, Tess?”

Wildflower and Sunflower went over to the brown tabby she-cat.

Tess lifted her head. “Who are you guys again? And why are you talking to me?” she growled to Sunflower and Wildflower.

“Oof.” Sunflower winced. *Wrong cat.* “Sorry we bothered you. Uh, we’ll leave now. Bye.”

Wildflower shot him the glariest glare he had ever received.

“Sunflower and Wildflower, if you were wondering, though,” Sunflower said quietly behind his shoulder to Tess as they walked away.

Tess flicked her tail in acknowledgment, too worried to be angry. “See you around,” she called.

Aquanetta cautiously watched the reunions. *I don’t know these cats . . . I never will.*

Sunflower looked around for some cat to talk to and spotted Aquanetta. “Let’s go to that she-cat over there,” he told Wildflower. “I was about to savage the guts out of her the last Test, and I kind of want to go see if she’s okay.”

Wildflower just nodded, still wistfully looking for their other friends.

“Hello,” Sunflower called when they were close enough to Aquanetta. “I was just checking if you were okay.”

Aquanetta put on an awkward smile. *WhatamIdoing whatamIdoing? I shouldn’t be getting close to anybody!*

Sunflower glanced at Wildflower in an amused way. *She’s not going to say anything?* “Uh, hi. You remember me from a little while ago? This is my sibling, Wildflower.”

Wildflower’s tail flicked along his side away from Aquanetta.

Sunflower felt it. *They want to check on their friends. Well, let them wait a bit.*

Wildflower didn’t want to wait for Sunflower. They wanted to find Frostsong. So with a flick of their tail on Sunflower’s leg, they left, heading straight for Frostsong. “Hi! I’ve missed you!”

Frostsong saw Wildflower padding over. “Hi, Wildflower! How are you doing?”

Aquanetta opened her mouth. *Say something!* “Hey. You’re Sunflower? Sorry that your sibling left you to talk with another cat. If you don’t want to talk with me, that’s fine.” She wanted to slap herself with her tail. *That wasn’t exactly a good friend-sentence. . .*

Sunflower shrugged, but inside he was really annoyed at Wildflower for running off. “They haven't checked up on their friends yet after the last Test. I want to talk to you! You can turn into a lizard? Are you a Forgotten as well?”

*Merri. Oh my gosh. Merri was gone.* Thanya’s sister was dead. Gone without a single goodbye. Neither cat had apologized. But she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. She would apologize for what she had done. There was one cat she knew she had attacked. She ran over to him. “Look, I’m so sorry. I’ve just lost my sister, so I’m not in the best frame of mind right now, but hopefully you can forgive me for hurting you. I don’t give out apologies lightly.” She held out her paw.

Kaz breathed heavily, the rage in his eyes fading to a dark, glazed look. “Fine,” he breathed after a moment, tail lashing. *So you lost your sister, did you? I lost it all.* He flinched, eyes sliding to the ground. *Just walk away.*

Thanya looked at the tom as he walked away. *A bit of conversation would have been nice,* she thought to herself.

Palm ran forward past Wren and towards the other cats. “Diamond. Kinkaroy!” Tears rolled down his cheeks as he cried out in joy. *Diamond. Kinkaroy.* He stared at the spiky blue-gray tom and tabby she-cat. Smiling, he nuzzled each of them. “You’re back. Is this real?”

Diamond nodded and smiled. “I always dreamt I would see you again. Have you made any friends?”

Palm looked up at his foster father before running off towards Tess. “Tess! This is Diamond. He acted like my father in the desert! And Kinkaroy, Mei’s best friend.” He hung his head as he remembered Mei.

Kinkaroy looked around, trying to take it all in. There were so many cats! Even some kits! She saw a she-cat curled around them, talking to some other cats. “Aww. Whose kits are they?” she asked Palm.

Palm sadly smiled at her, flicking his ears nervously. “That’s Eclipse and her kits. Their father . . . their father was Mieginck. Our Mei. He died in the last Test. Kinkaroy, I’m so sorry.”

Kinkaroy felt tears come to her eyes. She had been hoping to see Mei for so long, and now they were in different places, separated by life and death. “I’m just going to go and talk to her,” she mewed quietly, swishing her long tabby tail. As she walked closer to Eclipse, every step felt slow. Taking a deep breath, she laid down next to her. “Uh, hey. Eclipse, isn’t it? I’m Kinkaroy. I don’t know whether Mie talked about me, but we were best friends in the desert.”

“Yeah. He did, actually. Kinkaroy . . . he named this one after you.” Eclipse pointed to her kit. “He was a great cat. . .” She shook the thoughts out of her head. “But there’s no point in staying with him, am I right?”

Thanya paced around, her tail swishing. She caught sight of a she-cat curled around some kits and recognized her as the cat who had lost her mate. Slowly, she walked over, sitting down next to her with a huff. “I’m Thanya. I’m sorry about your mate. That cat who died — she was my sister.” She flexed her toes, sweeping her tail across the dirt. “I loved her.”

Still next to Eclipse, Kinkaroy watched the kits. In some of them, she could see Mei. It was nice to know that he had found a mate and been happy after all that had happened to him. Again, she turned to Eclipse. “Thank you. Thank you for making Mei happy.” She laid her head on Eclipse and licked her ear. “He would have loved to watch his kits grow up.”

“Thank you. . .” Eclipse muttered, her voice a little raspy. “But . . . I can’t let you get close to me. I’m sorry.” She shook her head, not wanting to turn down such a kind she-cat, but not wanting to get close to anyone ever again. Ever.

Shuffling slightly away from Eclipse, Kinkaroy mewed gently, “Oh, don’t worry. I understand better than most.” Scanning around for Palm, she began his story. “Palm! Over here!” she called out. Eclispe was still close next to her. In the tiny tom's ear, she whispered to him.

Palm replied.

With every tale he told Kinkaroy, her eyes widened and his eyes began to well up.

Palm backed away.

Kinkaroy nodded. He had to find his new friends to stop anything happening to them. “In this world, there are two types of cats. The ones, like you, that when loss hits them, it hits them harder than any bullet. And they separate themself from everyone else. Or you have cats like Palm. I’m not sure whether you’ve met him. He lost more than any cat could ever imagine, and now he fights even stronger to protect everyone.” Respecting Eclipse’s wishes, Kinkaroy kept at a distance. “Palm lost his first friend before his sixth moon was reached, followed by the only father figure he ever had. That’s Diamond, I think — the one who’s returned. Harminbal was next, a close friend of me and Mei. That’s how I died. We helped him in the desert, which was against our group’s rules, and I was killed. Mei only just escaped.” Hanging her head, she closed her eyes. “Cobra was next. He was a kit, as close to a son Palm ever had. He was murdered by the same tom who threw his first friend off a cliff. That was the day Palm first took a life. Mirage was next, and by this point, Palm was broken. Too broken to ever care about any cat ever again. He would tear cobwebs off of his wounds, for he felt he didn’t deserve her herbs. In the end, that herb wastage meant that she died, and he learned from that day on that he had cared for her, and however much he tried to shut cats out, they would die. Just the same as his friends. They died, and now Palm fights beside any cat, because you never know until the moment they die whether you care for them.” Placing her paw briefly on Eclipse’s, she mewed, “You may want to shut cats out, but in the end, to heal from great loss, you must let the past move on.” Slightly whispering, she finished her speech. “It’s what he would have wanted.”

Arc smiled as he recalled the events of the second Test. “It was the second Test, where we had to run ten miles. The ground was unstable, and large splits in the earth would appear out of nowhere. I fell into one of them, and I would have died if Palm hadn’t spotted me.” He shifted his gaze to the small tom. “He didn’t want to lose another cat.”

Diamond laughed as Arc told his story. “That’s exactly the sort of thing Palm would do. He tries to save everyone and risks his own life in the process.”

Arc smiled. “Yeah, he’s one of the few cats here with that motive.” His expression turned serious. “But he can’t save everyone, especially here. He’ll have to realize that sometime.” He studied the cats around the clearing and noticed how happy most of them were, as if Ami and Loki had never come. “Or maybe . . . all of us. . .”

Eclipse squeezed tears out of her eyes, looking to Kinkaroy. “You understand, just not as much as I’d like you to. I’m shutting you out for a reason. I don't want anyone else to get hurt.” For once, she let herself tell someone why she was this way. “The Tests have made me a murderer. But only the cats who are close to me have been killed. I killed my brother. . .” She looked away sharply. “And when my mind was clouded by anger . . . I killed Miegnick.”

Eclipse had killed Mei. Eclipse had killed Mei. The truth was almost too hard to stomach. But . . . Kinkaroy thought back to her own life, the things that she had done, and realized that the two of them were similar in more ways than they thought. “Eclipse, it’s a completely different thing to kill a cat with reason than be a murderer. From what I’ve heard about that Test, though, no one seems willing to talk about it. You were all forced to fight.” Getting up and standing in front of Eclipse so they could see each other clearly, she began again. “For Harnor’s sake, even Palm attacked cats! You aren’t a monster, and I forgive you. If you hurt me, well, it can’t be the same as all the hurt I’ve ever felt. I’ve seen death twice.” Turning to face Eclipse, she let out her secret. “In the Test, I jumped in the way of Mei when he attacked you. Mei killed me, not realizing what he had done. You weren’t the only one who killed in that fight.”

Eclipse looked to Kinkaroy, her eyes full of tears. “I. . .” She looked down, tears rolling out of her eyes. “It would have been better if he killed me in that fight. I don't deserve surviving that. But. . .” She looked up and let herself look up, letting a smile overtake her. Ever since Ash’s death, she hadn’t smiled. It had been that long. She didn’t believe it. “Mei still loves me. I just know it.” Smiling felt nice. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, where her dreams were haunted by those she had no choice but to kill. She shifted uncomfortably as the thoughts surrounded her head like a swarm of bees.

Ash meowed uncomfortably, noticing some kind of *change* in his mother. But not a bad change. A good change. Also, he was hungry.

Arc was left speechless after Loki and Ami disappeared, leaving one cat dead and putting in a few new ones. He stalked toward Palm and the two cats Harnor had brought back, casting a wary glance at the golden tom as he went by. “Hello. My name is Arc,” he meowed.

As Chao approached, Palm turned his head. “Oh, hey, Chao! Or Arc. . . I’m not really sure what’s going on here,” he laughed, bouncing up and down, little sparks dancing with him. “This is Diamond! And over there is Kinkaroy!”

Arc smiled. “Nice to meet you!” he meowed to Diamond. Then he spoke to Palm. “It’s kind of a long story, but my real name is Arc. I went by Chao for a long time because I didn’t want to give away the only thing I had left. Then I accidentally told Tawny and no longer saw a point in lying about it.” He glanced around, comparing what was happening now to the time when he had joined. “So much has changed in no time at all. . .” he meowed, worried about what would happen next.

Frost and Flame walked out of the way of the cats that wanted to talk to Wren and Harnor.

Flame went to look for Storm.

Frost went to look for Pebble.

Storm glanced around. Tears sprang up into the black she-cat’s eyes. Finally, life could be a little bit back to normal . . . except. Death. And new cats. She sighed. She wanted to talk to Palm and Wren and everyone else . . . She slowly padded to Palm and two other strange cats.

Flame walked around, trying to find a cat he knew. Maybe he could talk to Storm. He saw her hanging around a group of other cats he didn’t recognize, and went over to go talk to them.

Yin padded around, tired after the exhausting fight. She curled up and slept.

“Hey, Ollie?” Shard called out, hoping to find his new friend.

*Ollie floated on the sea of unconsciousness, his mind drifting farther and farther away. Why had no one come for him? He was completely and utterly alone. He had pushed everyone away. He deserved what was coming. His pelt prickled and he still felt the sensation of the lightning along his spine. Snarls. Growls. Fighting cats. And he had been in the middle of it all. So he lay, his eyes half open and misted over, between the boundary of life and death.*

Orchid padded around the savannah looking for Yin. *“Ah!”* she yelped, accidentally stumbling on the tail of an unconscious orange cat. She prodded his shoulder. “Hey, are you alright?”

“Wha. . .?” Ollie mumbled, feeling a prodding in his side. “What happened?”

Hearing the tom speak, Orchid replied, “Um, you were passed out on the ground. What happened?”

Ollie rubbed his head with a paw, confused. All he could remember was a fog of battle and hatred and . . . *evil*. And the shock of being struck by . . . something. “I have no idea what happened,” he muttered to Orchid. “Was there another Test or something? And why don’t I remember it? Did I get hit in the head?” He shook out his pelt, getting up. He still felt disoriented, but at least he was steady on his paws. He turned his head, looking for Orchid. Something felt strange about her. As if they had . . . met before.

Orchid saw the tom looking at her strangely. “Hey, you okay?”

Ollie shook out his pelt. “Um . . . yeah. Hey, have you seen a gray-brown tabby she-cat anywhere? Super rude? Super attractive — I mean, er . . . super . . . shadowy?”

Orchid suppressed a smile. “I don’t think I know who you’re talking about. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. Why don’t we look for her together?”

Ollie smiled at Orchid. “Sure! We can look for Tess together. You know, it’s been a while since I’ve made any new friends.”

Palm was walking around, his head hung low, when he suddenly bumped into a familiar cat. “Ollie!” he cried out, barrelling into the tom.

“Palm!” Ollie exclaimed. “How you been, buddy?”

“Ollie, I’m so sorry. There was lightning and then, and then . . . I don’t know where you went, but I hurt you. I’m sorry,” Palm sobbed into the tom’s fur. “Mieginck is dead!”

Ollie flattened his ears. “What?” he meowed softly. “I don’t remember much of what happened . . . it’s all a blur.”

Ollie had left to who-knew-where, so Orchid padded to another cat who looked kind of lonely. “Hi! I’m Orchid! I haven’t seen you around! Or maybe it’s just because I barely pay attention . . . well, anyway, nice to meet you!”

Kousuke padded away from Bonita and bumped into a bouncing she-cat. “My apologies.”

Ivy was hungry. There was nothing to do now but wait until the next Test started, so she decided to hunt. It was nice to be alone after being around so many other cats. Soon she picked up the scent of a squirrel, and quickly creeped up and pounced, killing it with a swift bite. Taking her prey back to the rest of the cats, she sat down in a shady spot to eat a ways away from the other cats.

“Watch it!” Tess hissed. She had been sitting in that same spot, and Ivy was just about right on top of her.

A cat padded past Dune. He hadn’t seen her around before. Her tail whipped around his face. It was an accident, but she would pay. He rose to his paws and padded in front of her. “Hey! Watch it,” he hissed, unsheathing his claws. *If only I could just get rid of her!* he thought. He lashed a paw towards her face. He didn’t care if it missed.

Letting out a hiss of annoyance, Ivy searched for another place to sit. Why wouldn’t these stupid cats just leave her alone? She sat under the shade of an oak tree. She had finished her mouse and was now waiting impatiently for the next Test to start.

Dune started padding towards some shade, only to find the stupid she-cat already sitting there. Why the hell was she here? “Get out,” he hissed under his breath. “Move.” Unsheathing his claws, he lifted up his paw, ready to strike.

*Oh, great.* Dune was getting violent again. Sighing, Wren turned to Luana. “We probably should go and stop him.” Huffing, she walked over.

Luana let out a chirp of agreement. As she padded over, she was reminded of her injury. Her walk slowed slightly as she felt ashamed at attacking her friend.

Quintessa was a bit annoyed Dune had left her, but what was she to do? He was a full-grown tom. He could take care of himself. She padded away, hoping to get something to eat.

Tess snorted, flicking her tail. She was bored. She wished she had Ollie nearby to annoy her. She turned tail, realizing it wasn’t like her to walk away from a fight. She had to put this cat in her place. “Ivy, isn’t it?” she hissed.

Ivy held Tess’s stare. “Uh, yeah,” she snapped. “Is there a problem?”

“Aren’t you the cat that tried to *kill* me last Test?” Tess hissed, her claws silently sliding out.

Palm sprinted in front of Ivy, electricity crackling at his paws. “Please! Don’t hurt her!” He placed his paw on Ivy’s shoulder and sent a tiny bit of prickling pain into her pelt. Turning to Tess, he mewed, “How are we all going to get out alive if all you do is fight?”

Tess shrugged. “We’re all going to die anyway. I didn’t think I’d be saying this, but Loki and what’s-her-name are worse than Harnor was.”

Ivy turned to Palm. “You didn’t have to do that,” she meowed.

Shaking his head, Palm mewed, “I won’t let any cat get hurt ever again. I’m already a failure to that goal, but one more try . . . I’m giving myself one more chance to save everyone.”

Storm smiled. Ollie was better, and she ought to let his close friends catch up with him. Marina was probably busy. With a deep sigh, she padded over to Palm. *Maybe he’ll talk to me? But he probably wants to talk with Tess or Ollie . . . well, it’s worth a shot. He’s my semi-friend, I think.* “Hey, Palm. You excited Ollie’s better?”

Ivy blinked at him before nodding slowly and turning away. She thought about what Palm had said. Her brother, Dusk, was the only cat she had ever let herself become close to. She had decided that she would win the Tests at any cost to get him back. But what about these other cats? Didn’t thier lives matter? What was she prepared to do to win? She didn’t know the answer. . .

Nol trotted over to the she-cat, his tail fluffing in greeting. “Hi! I’m Nol. I’ve seen you around, so I thought I should introduce myself!”

Ivy stared at Nol suspiciously. “What do you want?” she asked bluntly.

Nol’s grin brightened. *She’s just like Bonita!* “Oh, well, I just thought we should introduce ourselves! It’s good to make allies!”

Ivy’s green gaze narrowed in suspicion. “I can take care of myself,” she hissed. “I don’t need ‘allies.’ Now leave me alone!” She stomped off, her tail twitching irritability. Why couldn’t these stupid cats just leave her alone? She wasn’t here to make friends. In her annoyance, she realized too late that she’d bumped into another cat.

Some cat went crashing into Harnor. Learning from his previous experience, he immediately turned to her. “Whatever I did to you, I can’t remember and I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me!”

Ivy stared back at him, confusion shining in her green gaze. *What?* “I’m not going to hurt you,” she meowed, tipping her head to one side.

Nol fluffed out his coat as the she-cat crashed into . . . was that Harnor? “Hey! You guys all right?”

Ivy whipped her head around to glare at Nol. “You again!” she snarled. “Yes, I’m fine. Why don’t you leave me alone?” She turned back to Harnor. “What do you mean ‘please don’t hurt me’?” she repeated.

Shrugging his shoulders, Harnor calmed down slightly, but his body was still tense. “I don’t know. Everyone just seems to hate me for some reason! I don’t know who I’ve hurt anymore!”

Dune huffed and walked towards Quintessa. “Hey, are you okay?”

Quintessa sprang up, about to catch the mouse the old-fashioned way when she noticed Dune walking by. This simple fact threw her off, causing her to skid *right next* to the mouse, scaring it away. Grumbling and getting up, she used her powers to catch the stupid prey and kill it, then walked over to Dune, all while cursing him silently. *Ha, I remember when this was all too simple. He hated me and I hated him.* “Yeah. I’m fine,” she said when she heard his query. “I’m trying to hunt the old-fashioned way. I don’t want to forget what I learned before I had gotten my powers.”

Yedda moved up to a slightly elevated rock, then started to sing. For no reason. It was kind of her thing. Plus, the atmosphere was *way* too depressing for her.

*“Looking up at a sunny sky. So shiny and blue, and there’s a butterfly.*

 *Well, isn’t that a super fantastic sign*

 *it’s gonna be a fantastic day?*

 *Such marvelousness*

 *it’s gonna bring. Got a pocket full of songs that I’m going to sing*

 *and I’m ready to take on anything.*

 *Hooray!*

 *Some super-fun surprise around each corner.*

 *Just riding on a rainbow, I’m going to be okay.*

 *Hey!*

 *I’m not giving up today.*

 *There’s nothing getting in my way.*

 *And if you knock, knock me over*

 *I’ll get back up again, oh.*

 *If something goes a little wrong*

 *well, you can go ahead and bring it on*

 *’cause if you knock, knock me over, I’ll get back up again.*

 *Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, get back up again, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.*

 *I’m marching along, I got confidence.*

 *I’m cooler than a pack of peppermints*

 *and I haven’t been this excited since*

 *I can’t remember when!*

 *I’m off on this remarkable adventure*

 *just riding on a rainbow.*

 *What if it’s all a big mistake?*

 *What if it’s more than I can take?*

 *No, I can’t think that way, ’cause I know that*

 *I’m really, really, really gonna be okay.*

 *Hey!*

 *I’m not giving up today.*

 *There’s nothing getting in my way*

 *and if you knock, knock me over*

 *I’ll get back up again, oh.*

 *If something goes a little wrong*

 *well, you can go ahead and bring it on*

 *’cause if you knock, knock me over, I’ll get back up again.*

 *Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh. Get back up again. Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh — I’m okay.*

 *Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh.*

 *And if you knock, knock me over, you knock, knock me over*

 *I’ll get back up again!”*

  Yedda bowed.

And then Dottie was there. Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar faces. She saw a blue-gray she-cat and decided she would talk to her. There was no harm in talking, right?

Yedda saw another cat come to her — a friendly she-cat. How nice! “Hello,” she said cheerfully. “I’m Yedda, and you?”

Dottie smiled. So the cat *was* friendly. “I’m Dot, but most cats call me Dottie. A forgettable name, I know. It grew on me.”

“I don’t think it’s forgettable. I’ve never known a Dottie before, and personally, I think it’s unique. I mean, there may be other Dotties, but there’s still only you,” Yedda said.

“My siblings had better names. My littermates were Lotus and Amber. Very pretty names. None anything like Yedda, though. It’s so unique. I like it,” Dottie complemented.

Marina bounced with joy, light in her eyes. Maybe she could make new friends? Or just reconnect with the old. If they even remembered her. It had stung when Frostsong hadn’t. *Please, please, please, please, please . . . Quintessa, Yedda, or someone . . . come up to me and talk?*

Yedda smiled. “Why thank you,” she said. Looking around she saw Marina looking lonely. Maybe Marina could talk to Dottie too! “Be right back,” she told her new friend before bouncing away to Marina. “Marina! There’s someone I’d like you to meet!” Smiling widely, the blueish-gray she-cat nodded to Dottie. “Want to come talk with us?”

Marina shuffled her paws awkwardly. “Oh, uh . . . no thanks. You can go if you’d like.”

“Are you sure? I’m not a mind reader, but you seemed kind of . . . I don’t  know . . . lonely. If you really don’t want to, then you can stay here. I won’t bother you. But I’ll be around for you if you need me,” Yedda said.

Marina smiled at Yedda. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’m not really in the mood for a new friend.” *Of course, of course, of course no one cares. No one cares; they just want me to hang out with their new friends. No one even remembers me. I have no friends. I’ll bet that Yedda is going to leave me now, and Quintessa, the first friend that I actually had, doesn’t even bother with me. Frostsong even forgot me!*

Yedda padded away unsuredly, wondering if she was doing the right thing. She shook off the feeling, then went back to Dottie. “Sorry about that, Dottie. I’m a spread-the-love-around kinda she-cat.” She blushed a little. “Hope you don’t mind.”

“I really don’t.” Dottie smiled. “Where are you from? Do you know?”

“I came from a Twolegplace. Me, my father, mother, and . . . sister,” Yedda said.

Dottie smiled. “I came from a forest. Simple as that. A clearing in the forest too small to accommodate however many kits my parents had. I constantly went to the lake to be alone.” She smiled at the thought of what she considered her lake.

“Cool! I’ve never seen a lake before!” Yedda wished Quintessa was here to tell her what a lake was.

“Oh, they’re really calming, especially when leaves start falling. You can just sit, and watch the leaves fall and ripple the water.” Dottie sighed, smiling. “Did you have any siblings?”

Yedda looked down at the ground, eyes turning cold. She didn’t want to make her new friend feel bad for asking what was to her a personal question. “. . . Yeah, I had a sister,” she said rather flatly. “Her name was Amiya.”

Dottie licked her shoulder in embarrassment. “I’m sorry . . . was that the wrong question to ask? I’m not exactly good with other cats. . .”

Yedda looked up again, what could be seen as fear flashing in her eyes before being replaced by concern. “No, no,” she said calmly. “I just . . . don’t really talk about her with others. It’s a bit . . . complicated.”

Harnor? As a cat? Lantern wouldn’t believe it. And now Loki and Ami were back? *Sure. But didn’t they die? Now . . . they get to be gods? That’s not right. Not right at all. No. Only the winner. . .* He would let it slide. He had to. No way he could win against two gods. Now he only had to become stronger so that he wouldn’t be eliminated. But there was something else that was nagging him. He needed to speak to Maya. Padding up to her, he bent his head down slightly — something they did in the Community. Hopefully the she-cat would recognize the gesture as respect. “I’m sorry about what I did. I think I can help you heal those wounds that I caused.” He waited for the white and ginger she-cat’s approval first.

Maya had to keep herself from flinging herself at Harnor. This defeated, confused-looking tom had ruined her life? Impossible. But it was true. It had to be. She scootched closer to Lantern, somehow finding comfort in his presence even though he had tried to kill her mere moments ago. What had happened? She recognized Ami and Loki from earlier Tests, but how had they become gods like Harnor? *What happened?* “I . . . I forgive you,” she murmured. “I went a little crazy for a moment too.” She looked at the scratches along her flank. *They hurt like heck.* “And I would be pretty grateful if you healed me too.”

Lantern put his paw on hers and sent healing magic from his body into Maya’s, closing the bleeding cuts and healing torn claws. But why was he being so soft? He was here to win, was he not? But this Maya, he had to help her. He had done this to her. *Wait, no.* Harnor had made him do it to her. But . . . technically, he still did it. And now Harnor was some cat who “lost his memory.” *Sure.* “Do you think Loki and Ami would attack us if we attacked Harnor?” he asked Maya.

“They obviously don’t care about the state of him, since they basically killed him — er, his godliness . . . or something. . .” Maya murmured, her muscles beginning to relax from the healing magic pulsing through her veins. “This whole thing is just confusing.”

Lantern continued to send his magic through her sore muscles. He sighed. “Too confusing. I couldn’t agree more. Even since the beginning, it’s been kind of confusing.”

Maya chuckled. “At least you still have your *memories*.”

Lantern’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you don’t have any memories? Of before the Tests?”

Maya lifted her head. “Harnor took all my memories. All I remember is waking up here and a couple of memories from before that make no sense.”

Lantern lifted his paw from hers, suddenly realizing that he had finished healing her ages ago. “Maybe I can help you?” he asked thoughtfully. “I can look into other cats’ pasts. Um, if you want me too.”

Maya shuddered. “You can try, but every time I try to . . . I don’t know, *dig* into my mind, I get a horrible headache. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you.”

“Hmm. I don’t think a headache could affect me much with my healing powers,” Lantern answered.

Maya narrowed her eyes. “Alright. . .” she meowed warily to Lantern. Truthfully, she was scared of what he would find. What kind of cat *was* she?

Lantern took a deep breath. Did he really want to do this? But he did. He placed his paw over Maya’s again and looked into her past.

*Maya’s mind was a labyrinth of twists, turns, darkness, and was clouded by a fog of confusion. Snippets of memory began to surface, only to be snatched away by a sudden wind.*

 *There was just one memory that seemed most prominent, and it burst through the wall that Harnor had created in Maya’s memory, the bottled up pain and anger springing outward. . .*

 *“Coward!” The cat’s words were like venom, directed at the scared, shivering orange-and-white she-cat standing just a few tail-lengths away.*

 *Maya lifted pleading eyes to the lithe light brown she-cat standing across from her, her sister’s once gentle orange eyes now filled with rage. “Please don’t leave  me. . .” she sobbed.*

 *The brown she-cat lashed her tail. “Then come with me.” She tilted her head mockingly as if she knew what her sister’s answer would be.*

 *“I. . . I can’t,” the orange-and-white cat spluttered. “You know I can’t.”*

 *“Why not?” the brown she-cat asked.*

 *“Because I’ll die, Alexa!” Maya burst out, the tears that she had been holding back beginning to stream from her cheeks. “And so will you.”*

 *Alexa’s eyes became cold and she took a step back. “I’m disappointed in you, Maya. You could finally become more than the pathetic lump of fur you are now, and you won’t take the chance.”*

 *Maya lifted her chin. “What happened to you, Alexa? Why won’t you stay here with me where it’s safe?”*

 *“I won’t die a coward’s death like you will,” Alexa hissed, turning tail and running out of sight.*

 *That was the last time Maya would see her sister.*

Lantern stopped the vision. He lay down for a moment, chasing away the headache that clogged his head with his healing powers. Once he recovered, he started to explain what he had seen. “It was . . . confusing,” he started. “I couldn’t tell what most of it was. But there was this memory that showed itself to me.” He told Maya about her sister Alexa, how she had left Maya. “I’m sorry. I don’t know if I should have done that.”

Maya lay down next to Lantern, saying nothing. Thoughts were violently swirling around her head. She had hoped that Lantern may have . . . *unlocked* her memories or something. But she still felt as foggy and confused as she had the moment she had showed up in the Tests. Alexa. The name didn’t bring up any particular feelings, emotions, memories . . . she was just as lost as she had started out. Except this time, she had Lantern. Now she knew that he had the ability to unlock her memories, though she didn’t know how long he could keep it up. He looked awfully tired just after that one attempt. “Are you okay?” she whispered quietly.

“Yeah.” Lantern nodded. But even as he said it, he knew that he had exhausted almost all of his magic. He yawned. When was the last time he had slept? “I think I might sleep. I can try again . . . later. . .” And he dozed off.

Maya purred. She didn’t want to be that weird cat that watched someone while they slept, but who knew what would happen if she left Lantern exposed like that? There were plenty of cats that would take the opportunity to get rid of him while he was sleeping. She sat down next to him, her thoughts spinning wildly. A sister. She had a sister. And they hadn’t parted on the best of terms. Maybe that was what drew her to Harnor? *No.* She was here because she had rejected his offer. She still felt as lost as she had started. She had the pieces; she just couldn’t put them together. What was missing?

Slowly backing further away from her sister’s body, Thanya banged into someone. “Who are you?” she hissed.

“Who are *you*?” Maya hissed. “You’re the one that ran into me.”

Lantern awoke suddenly at the sound of laughter. Instantly, he sprang into a crouched position beside Maya. “Who are you?” he hissed at the stranger.

Rabbit glanced around this new setting. She had woken up here only moments before. This wasn’t the bamboo forest on the mountain. Where were Mother and Father? Where were Rice and Ripple? Where were Wintersweet, Dragon, Fairy, and Peony? There were so many, many cats. Who were they? This didn’t look like the group she lived with. But was that Rice talking to Dragon in the distance? A cream she-cat and a black-and-white tom . . . Though unsure and wary of these strangers, she decided to investigate, slowly skirting around the group of cats, hoping no one would notice her.

Kousuke padded around the edges of the group, trying to see all the cats. He noticed a white she-cat and walked up to her. It might be useful to gain a few allies, and she looked harmless. “Hello. I’m Kousuke. And you are?”

Rabbit had tried to steer away, but this Kousuke had come to her anyway. *He seems nice. But Mother said to never talk to strangers. But Mother’s not here. And Dragon and Rice are right there. But. But.* “H-hi, Kousuke,” she mumbled. “My name’s Yue Rabbit. Uh, call me Rabbit.” She tried to hold her chin higher as she said her family’s name, but it didn’t help much seeing how much shorter she was. “Um, do you know where this is?”

Kousuke’s ears perked up as he heard her question. “Well, I’m not sure where this is — I’m just sure that tom over there—” he paused, motioning to Harnor “—is the one that brought us all here. He’s a god — or, well, was.”

Rabbit tilted her head, forgetting all about the suspected Rice and Dragon. “What do you mean used to?”

“Well, these two cats — what were their names . . . Ami and Loki, I think — they had stripped him of his power somehow, and they’re the gods now.” Kousuke paused, deciding if he should tell her their message. “They plan to kill cats every Test.”

Rabbit recoiled slightly. *I’m going to die?* She started to tear up a little. *I’m scared. Where am I?* Swaying on the spot slightly, she turned back to Kousuke. “How do I get back home?” she asked quietly.

Kousuke’s face betrayed no emotion at her question. He stayed silent, thinking about the right words. “You survive long enough to possibly become a god. Or not.”

“Oh,” Rabbit replied simply. She blanked, sinking into a spiral of anxiety. *So I can either become a god . . . or die. And then I’ll never see my family again? Chrysanthemum, Sparrow, Ripple, Rice — wait, Rice. I should go find that she-cat that looked like her talking to that tom that looked like Dragon.* And she set her mind on finding the two cats — but before she could do that, she fainted.

Kousuke stepped back in alarm before prodding the she-cat. *Come on! What even happened? Was it shock?* “Uh, someone help!”

Rabbit blinked her eyes open. Was Kousuke still here? She groaned internally. Death. No escape. “I’m going to go find my friend,” she muttered, half to herself and still dazed. *Dragon . . . Rice . . . who’s that cat with you?*

Kousuke let out a breath he hadn’t known he had been holding. “Are you alright? Who are your friends?” He crouched next to Rabbit, offering support. “You’re in no condition to walk by yourself. I can go with you until you meet other cats.”

Rabbit leaned onto Kousuke as she got up so she wouldn’t stumble. “Thank you,” she said, trying not to stumble over her words. She started walking towards who she thought were Dragon and Rice who were joined by another mysterious figure. “Over there . . . the black-and-white tom and the cream-and-white she-cat. . .”

Kousuke nodded, and started walking over toward the group with Rabbit leaning against him.

As they got closer, Rabbit realized that the she-cat couldn’t possibly be Rice — her fur was too long. The tom that had just jumped up, however, looked so, so much like Dragon. “Hey, thanks,” she meowed to Kousuke. “I can take it from here. You can leave if you want to.” *He probably has better things to do than hang around an emotionally unstable kit.*

Kousuke stood awkwardly next to the she-cat, thinking over his options. *Leave and be done with this. Or stay and . . . make sure these cats aren’t dangerous?* “Allow me to stay just for a minute. Some of these cats can be dangerous, and you may still be weak.”

“Oh, thank you,” Rabbit meowed. She padded up to the three cats. “Dragon?” she asked, gently poking the black-and-white tom.

Lantern spun around, ready to strike— *. . . Chrysanthemum? No, it can't be. No, no, no, no, no.* “Chrysanthemum?” he breathed. Another thorough look, though, and he realized that the she-cat was still a kitten and she had a single black foot, and didn’t nearly hold as much confidence as Chrysanthemum. But it looked so much like — her. So much he wanted to strike out, to kill her. Could it be — Chrysanthemum and Swallow’s daughter? Did that want him to kill her more?

“My name is Rabbit.” This definitely wasn’t Dragon — he was so much bigger. And he had an ugly spot on his forehead that Dragon didn’t have. “Do you . . . do you know Chrysanthemum?” Rabbit asked.

“Why yes.” Lantern produced his words carefully, silkily and sweet. “We were friends. You don’t happen to be her . . . daughter?”

“Yeah,” Rabbit responded quietly, almost scared. This tom seemed so chilling and safe at the same time. Or was that only because he looked so much like Dragon?

“Would you by any chance—” Lantern inhaled “—be Swallow’s daughter?”

“Yeah,” Rabbit answered again, getting more and more frightening vibes from this cat. She edged closer to Kousuke.

“Right.” Lantern had to restrain himself from lashing out. “Do you know of a Magnolia? Magnolia Rain?”

*How does he know all of this? How does he know about Dragon’s mother?* “I do. She’s my friend’s mother.” Was Rabbit imagining it, or did a layer of ice melt away from the tom’s eyes?

“She was my sister. Your friends — their father is Plum?” Lantern asked.

“Yes,” Rabbit said.

“Well, you’ll need help if you’re to survive. I see you’ve found a friend. I can assist you as well,” Lantern said.

Kousuke glared at the tom — Lantern, was it? He had been so hostile, and yet . . . now he appeared kind. It could be a trick, though at the same time, he could be genuine. What did he do. . .? . . . *He’ll stay with the she-cat. It’s not worth it to risk it.* “So I believe we’re all frien— *allies* now. I’m Kousuke. Lantern, was it?”

“That’s right.” Lantern flicked his tail towards Maya, who was talking to another cat. “This is Maya.” He turned to Chrysanthemum’s daughter. “First things first. We’ll need to find out your powers.”

With Thanya’s incredibly slim form, she found the she-cat seemed to impose her a bit. But she wouldn’t let that happen. Lifting up her head and flicking her collar over her shoulder, she mewed, “My name is Thanya. And yes, I ran into you, but any respectful cat would immediately apologize for that,” she hissed. Sitting down and licking her paw, beginning to clean herself, she spoke again. “But I’ll let it by just this once. What’s your name?”

“Maya,” Maya grunted. *I’ve barely spoken to this cat, but I can already tell how stuck-up she is.* “You don’t look like the ‘Tests’ type. What are you doing here?”

*Great.* This she-cat thought Thanya was a stuck-up poshy. *Just like Merri is.* No, just like Merri *was*. Merri was past tense now, and there was nothing she could do to change that. Her voice surrounded her, though, whispering at her. As she spoke again, her face was portrayed in the fakest smile she had ever put on. Fiddling with her massive scorched and ripped collar, her voice was harsher, more normal to her then before. “Oh, you think I’m poshy. Well, I’ll tell you this, Maya. Do you think a kittypet would be so skinny that it’s now impossible to stop the bones appearing under her pelt? Or that a kittypet would have a collar that’s ripped and burned because of this?” She started a tiny fire at Maya’s paws, but got rid of it immediately before she could see her fear. “Look, I’m sorry if I come off rude. I only joined this stupid thing because my sister wanted to. She was exactly the sort of cat you think I am.” Her fake smile slipped as she thought of Merri’s dead body, ice striking right through her stomach. “Now she’s dead and it’s all my fault for letting her come here. We didn’t even get to apologize before she was gone.” Shaking her head, she let it drop, her collar almost slipping from her neck. “Now I’ve learned that there’s no point doing anything to help anyone, for they’ll die in the end and they won’t be able to thank you, and you’ll never get to apologize for the mistake you made.”

“I’m . . . I’m sorry,” Maya stammered. She raised her head. “But we’ve all lost cats.” *At least, I’m pretty sure I have.* Her heart stilled at the thought that Harnor had taken away the knowledge of whether or not she had lost cats close to her. If they weren’t alive in her memory, was there any cat left to remember them? She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind. This wasn’t the time. “You do know how to hunt, right?” She knew she was being harsh, but it hurt too much to be kind. She didn’t know why, but she just couldn’t handle it. She couldn’t handle putting trust in cats. Not anymore. Not when they all could be lying to her.

Maya asked whether Thanya knew how to hunt. This was almost too much. She tried to press her paw to her mouth to hold in the laughter, but failed. Bursting out in fits of hysterics, she managed to calm herself down and mew, “Of course I can hunt! I lived stray for most of my life, protecting my sister from threats she didn’t even know existed!”

“Sorry,” Maya meowed, flustered. “It’s just that you don’t look like you can feed *yourself*, much less a sister.” She didn’t know why she was acting so rude. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that this cat seemed to have a good relationship with her sister. All she remembered of Alexa was the fight that they’d had. Something was missing.

At least Maya wasn’t being rude anymore. Thanya rarely trusted cats, but Maya seemed okay. “Oh, no. I’m only skinny because however much I eat, I can’t put the weight back on without throwing up. I’m used to it now, though. I’m as strong as any well-fed cat is.” Reaching to touch her collar, she mewed, “I only got thin the first few weeks I became a loner.” Maya seemed . . . nice enough. “So . . . were you hurt in the Test?”

“Just a few scratches.” Maya shrugged. “And they were healed by Lantern here.” She gestured with her tail to the tom, who was awake and talking to some other cat by now. “Which he also coincidentally *gave* me. . .”

“Oh . . . well, at least he was sorry! I didn’t get very hurt . . . I ran before Merri could do me much damage,” Thanya said.

“Merri?” Maya pricked her ears. “Who’s that?”

*Oh, shoot.* Newt didn’t know whether he wanted to be here anymore. Everything was just death and doom.

*How are Loki and Ami alive?* Fini then shook her head in disbelief, and felt a tingle in her paws. She didn’t trust Harnor anymore, and once again unsheathed her claws and was ready to use her powers. She clawed the ground, only leaving small marks. She then said to herself, “Maybe I should just go. Away from this world and die.” She kept that echoing in her head until she changed her mind. *I have to avenge Fir!* She lay there starving and thirsty. *I need some prey!* So the she-cat rose to her paws and tried to pick up the scent of her next piece of fresh-kill.

Artemi wiped a scar clean, casting heavy glances at Leaf. He wasn’t worth it.

*Artemi’s eyes flashed as the terrain around her changed. It was as if she were having another vision. And she was. She saw Leaf, and his parents, and all those too close to him.*

 *Artemi saw him leaving them.*

 *Artemi saw him finding her.*

 *And Artemi couldn’t help but forgive.*

“Wait! D-don’t go. . .” Tawny blinked. “I don’t want to be. . .” she sighed. “Alone. . .”

A stranger stood above Moon — a black cat who looked oddly familiar. “What do you want?” she hissed.

“I’m . . . well, who are you?” Panther shot back, glaring at this black-and-white she-cat.

Dark Fang gazed at the horizon. Cats flooded the landscape, and the heavy scent of them made him shudder. It had been a while since he had talked to cats besides his brother Storm Eyes, at least.

Storm Eyes kneaded the ground from both excitement and tension. He finally decided to walk towards the cat-filled hollow.

Dark Fang stayed glued to the spot for a few heartbeats before following.

Storm Eyes was a little excited and nervous to meet new cats. He wanted to make a few allies to help in the Tests, but didn’t know who to trust.

Dark Fang wasn’t so sure about this idea and tried to change the topic whenever he asked.

Storm Eyes sighed. This was going to be a difficult decision to make.

Dark Fang and Storm Eyes walked over towards a tall cedar and sat down.

Dark Fang was trying to remember faces and add how many cats there were, but gave up after a while.

Storm Eyes, meanwhile, was watching certain cats and how they acted. He hoped to be able to estimate that cat’s personality in this way.

Bonita padded after Nol, but accidentally ended up in front of two toms. “Move,” she demanded, her face void of expression.

Dark Fang hissed and unsheathed his claws.

Storm Eyes nudged him and whispered, “Come on. We don’t want to start a fight.”

Dark Fang rolled his icy-blue eyes and sat down beside Storm Eyes, his black tail flicking in annoyance.

Storm Eyes hoped that this she-cat would want to join alliances.

Dark Fang was hoping for the opposite.

Bonita narrowed her eyes at the toms, her large ears flattening against her head. She could tell that one had something on his mind, and having nothing better to do, she decided to bite. “Do you want something?”

Where was — *ah!* “Bonita!” Clover realized that there were some cats annoying her. She flicked her tail and decided to join her.

“No, we’re—” Dark Fang began.

Storm Eyes cut him off as he shoved him with a shoulder, the expression on his face reading, *Dude, don’t you dare mess this up!*

 Dark Fang glared at Storm Eyes. “First of all, what’s your name?” he asked, a little more bitterly than intended. Soon another she-cat sat beside her. He kept from rolling his eyes.

“Hey,” Storm Eyes greeted.

Bonita turned and nodded to greet Clover. “Hey, Clover.” Turning back to face the toms, she sat up straighter, hoping her size would be intimidating. “I’m Bonita. Let me guess your names . . . Arrogant Mouse-brain, and . . . Probably the Smart One.” A cheeky smirk had formed on her face and she lazily watched the pair.

“Hi.” Clover nodded, but narrowed her eyes. “I’m Clover. And *don’t* mess with Bonita.”

Dark Fang growled, unsheathed his claws, and leapt at Bonita.

Storm Eyes jumped and collided with Dark Fang. “Don’t,” he hissed under his breath.

Dark Fang curled his lip but stood up, his tail flicking in annoyance.

“I’m Storm Eyes,” Storm Eyes meowed once he sat down.

Dark Fang kept silent.

“Nice name. What’s with the two words, though?” Clover sat down too. “Come on, Bonita. This one doesn’t look too bad.”

“I would just love to swipe that smirk from your pretty little face,” Dark Fang jeered at Bonita.

Storm Eyes kept from yelling at his brother. *Why does he have to be so hostile all the time?* he thought.

Clover rolled her pretty green eyes. “Sibling problems? *Tell* me about it. My brother was always favored. I guess he was nice, but — ugh.” As she shook her head, the pink flower with four leaves fell from behind her ear. She groaned and felt herself burning up. “Where I’m from, everyone has to wear something to represent themselves. The she-cats wear flowers, the toms wear leaves. It’s a tradition, I guess,” she said to Storm Eyes. She shoved the flower back on. “It does get really annoying sometimes — I often wish to be free of that. Free of the home that kept me, made me kill, the home that took the life of my best friend! And when I was free, I found a new best friend. But — but . . . they were just a ghost. Not even alive. They just wanted to play . . . but it killed me and started my depression. I tried to kill myself once, you know. So when I got offered the Tests, I couldn’t refuse. . .” She just realized that she had blurted all of that out. The worst part — she had started crying. “I-I’m sorry. I get emotional easily,” she lied. She stopped the tears from coming and blinked her shimmering eyes. “Just proves that I can trust you.”

Storm Eyes darted towards Clover as she started crying. “Are you alright?” he asked as she finished.

Dark Fang fidgeted with the black fang that hung from a white cord. He couldn’t wait for the two she-cats to leave. He hated meeting new cats, and was especially bad with she-cats.

“Yeah.” Clover moved away, not liking being so close to toms.

Bonita looked towards Clover and shuffled her paws. She was terrible with crying cats. She cleared her throat as she looked at the two brothers. “Um, so what was it you wanted?”

“Ask yourself that question. You ran into us,” Dark Fang replied to Bonita, still fidgeting with the black fang necklace around his neck.

Storm Eyes sat down beside Clover. “If you want, my brother Dark Fang and I could become allies,” he offered.

Bonita rolled her eyes at the offer. *Of course it’s always good to have allies. But. . .* Dark Fang did remind her of Kousuke in some ways. And Storm Eyes seemed to have no ill intentions. “Alright. But on one condition. You can’t hurt a single hair on their pelts.” She gestured towards Luana, Wren, Nol, and Kousuke. “Even If they deserve it.” She chuckled, thinking that Dark Fang wouldn’t take Nol’s bouncy and nosy attitude.

“Um, about that,” Clover said, moving closer to Bonita and further away from Storm Eyes — again. “You never really . . . actually . . . we were never officially allies. So, could we. . .? Whatever. I guess I’ll join you too.” She flicked her tail. “Just . . . I don’t . . . no!” She got up and ran away.

Storm Eyes chased after Clover. “Are you okay?” he tried to ask. He hoped he hadn’t upset Clover too much.

“G-get away!” Clover yelled, turning around. She blinked angrily. Then she sat down in the sand. “Just go. There’s no point,” she said quietly without turning to face Storm Eyes.

“No point in what?” Storm Eyes asked once he caught up with Clover. *I hope asking to be allies doesn’t offend her,* he thought.

“No point in — in. . .” Clover sat down in the sand, resting her forehead against the trunk of a palm tree. “Just go. You’ll die if you get too close to me. That’s what happens to everyone.”

“How would I die from getting close to you?” Storm Eyes asked. He hoped he wasn’t being too pushy.

“Doesn’t matter. . .” Clover said.

Storm Eyes sat down. “It matters to me,” he mumbled.

Dark Fang rolled his eyes. “Great. Now I’m stuck with talking,” he muttered as he glanced up at Bonita and sat down. He finally looked up. “Who are these cats’ names that you said were on your side?” he asked.

“Nol, the bright orange tom over there, Kousuke, the black one with the little she-cat.” *Wonder what that’s about?* “The two she-cats over there, Luana and Wren, and Clover.” Bonita shuffled slightly, feeling embarrassed. She had never had cats she wanted to protect. *Never!* And yet here she was, *listing* them.

Dark Fang nodded and tried to memorize the names and faces of these cats. *There are a lot of cats on Bonita’s side. If they ever attack Storm Eyes and I, we need to be prepared,* he thought. He took a step away from where he was. *Storm Eyes can come find me. I’m not going to sit here and talk all night,* he thought as he glanced around, hoping to find a rabbit or fox tunnel. He hissed in annoyance as he didn’t spot any. *I guess I’ll have to find somewhere else,* he thought.