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Weird hesitated, thinking. I am strong. I am brave. I’m unnatural. Ah, yes! I know what my name’s going to be.
With a smile, he held his head high and said, “My name is Pinwheel. I no longer carry the stupid, foolish name of Weird,” he said, and they all started to cheer. Invincible bowed to him, surprisingly. “Give Pinwheel respect,” he ordered.
Everyone immediately copied their leader’s bow, and Pinwheel’s heart swelled with emotion. “I am honored,” he said.
Invincible rested the tip of his tail on Pinwheel’s shoulder. “Are you and Rapier ready for your journey? I will be on my way to finding more Great Cats. I cannot fully go with you on your journey. But, if you ever get in a situation where . . . I don’t know, if Sleek gets her paws stuck in your path, just say 'I summon the Black-and-White Tiger', and I will come before you know it. You also have Mist to help you, as you said. I know you want to find your mother. You have no need to hang around with me on my own mission. Soon, Pinwheel, when I destroy No-Furs for good and take over every Great Cat and its species, I will give you and each other cat a whole world of their own, with all your favorite things. Do you dream of tearing Sleek apart every day? I will make that happen. An army of your own? No problem. The future is bright for us and dark for our enemies. Anyway, I am sending you off to find your mother. Remember, say the sentence, and I’ll come to your rescue whenever you need me.”
Pinwheel’s fur bushed up with excitement at the thought. A forest just for me. Invincible then turned into an enormous creature with wings, a mane, and a stinging tail. Rapier backed to Pinwheel’s flank, while he just stared up in amazement. “Cheetahs! Caracals! Come on!” The group of Cats climbed on Invincible’s back, and they took off.
“Well, that’s something you don’t see every day,” Rapier murmured.
“I guess someday it will become normal. Come on, let’s go find Uraza. With Invincible’s protection, Sleek is no match for us. I still don’t know about the . . . evil that Mist talks about. I hope it isn’t too bad. He said we will probably encounter it on our journey. We should be careful. At least Invincible came when he did, otherwise, we would probably be back in the Sleek with extra guards,” Pinwheel said, and Rapier nodded.
“You wouldn’t believe how close Sleek was when you were… away when Mist controlled you. She literally was jumping over the entire river when Invincible crashed into her. It was really satisfying at the same time as we were scared. You should have seen the terrified look on her face!” He broke into laughter.
Pinwheel smiled at that. “That does sound really satisfying. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. Mist hasn’t been talking since we met Invincible. I hope something isn’t wrong. We need to get going.”
The two brothers stalked away into the forest, searching for signs of Uraza. Pinwheel didn’t have a strong feeling that they would find their mother today. He felt powerful, with the Mark and Mask gear covering his body. He bet he could make anything nearby crouch in submission. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BhLMijGet
They were making their way through the land when they caught a rustle in the bush next to Pinwheel. He and Rapier leaped to action, unsheathing their little claws and raising their spiked fur. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JcKwz9EBR
“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Pinwheel hissed. Rapier growled in threat and nervousness.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG3Nxpnyt5
The bush kept shaking, a thin twig snapped, and a cat carrying a rabbit stalked out into their sight. Pinwheel tensed, extending his claws. “Who are you? Are you one of the Sleek? I summon the-”
“Wait! I’m no harm, I promise. I’m just passing through.” The stranger dropped the rabbit. Pinwheel’s stomach rumbled when he caught sight of it, but he would worry about that when he could.
“That’s not the question. Who are you? I will summon my leader if you put a paw wrong. What’s your name?" The cat hesitated, his gaze flicking from Pinwheel to Rapier and back again. Then he gave a sigh and said, “My name is Wendigo. I swear, I’m just passing through. I’m sorry to disturb you.”
It took Pinwheel a moment to realize how unusual Wendigo was. He had bright pink eyes and a strap around his neck.
“What is that around your throat? Do you want me to tug it off?” Pinwheel sniffed at it in curiosity. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDFcZNBES1
The newcomer smiled. “No, I don’t. It’s my collar. I have decided to keep it on. It hardly bothers me anyway,” Wendigo said. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpoPT2k7yZ
“That’s odd. Don’t you want the breeze to ruffle your neck fur? It feels amazing.” Rapier squinted his eyes.
“Ha! Is that so? I’m sorry, but I guess I’ve just gotten used to this collar. But, uh . . . I really should be going on my way.” He dipped his head, turning to leave, when Pinwheel caught him back.
“Would you like to stay with us? We could use you. You look really cool, like us! I think you would belong with me and my brother,” Pinwheel said hurriedly. Wendigo paused and pricked his ears, looking back at them.
“Really . . . ? Who even are you two?” he asked.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnels41Uxq4
Pinwheel dipped his head. “My name is Pinwheel, and he is Rapier, my brother. I am making a good deal. You follow me, you earn my trust. And you want my trust. And you will get a lot more. If you go back on this offer, you cannot get it back. I will give you whatever you want in a matter of time, when my leader, Invincible, gets settled. What do you say?” Pinwheel searched the cat’s gaze.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyBjudCvQj
Wendigo paused again, in thought. Then he gave in eventually. “If the future will be as good as you say, I will come with you, I suppose. What is your mission anyway? Why aren’t you with . . . Invincible?”
Pinwheel unsheathed his prolonged claws and extended them. “Me and Rapier are trying to find Uraza, our mother. She has been banished by the rotten brute, Sleek. She is an evil cat, I must say. She destroyed my kithood. And she will pay when I get older. Just you wait. Just everyone wait! As one of Invincible’s Streak, I will rule my own land one day, when my King is finished with his own journey. And while he does that, I will not rest until Uraza is found. I hope I will make you proud, Mother! I am doing all of this to find you!" 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1Kowql0CL
Pinwheel looked at the darkened sky. "It’s time for the Night Howl! Wendigo, join me in this new tradition, and call to your ancestors.” Pinwheel bounded to a cliff, followed by the other two, and howled to the dimming sky. It was like a new energy was passing through his veins, a tickling sensation as he connected with the Spirits above.
Mist! Are you there? You have not been talking. I want to know if you’re okay. Tell me if you are! he thought. His Howl was mainly to his Spirit Guard, to try to get him back. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca1ONqXrsT
There was no answer.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8btYa5cpa
Say something if you’re still here. Pinwheel had a bad feeling. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpLN3IE5gE
Talk! 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBngYmAmbK8
No answer. 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ0KSOQfEO
Just please, give me some sort of sign. What’s happening up there?
There was a rumble of crumbling rock, and he sprang out of thought to see that the ground under his front paws was about to give way. The trees shook and big chunks of rock kept falling. Pinwheel quickly scrambled away, along with Rapier and Wendigo. They bounded back to safety, and the land behind them where they once stood gave way and fell into the depths below. They looked in horror at the broken ground and then were greeted by more loud rumbling. It’s an earthquake! Maybe Mist was giving a sign! Evil in every turn.
“Go, go, go! Make for safety! Away from rocks and trees!” They raced away, but it was like the earthquake was following them, opening a path to their deaths. Terror gripped Pinwheel like a claw, and with one screech he said, “I summon the Black-and-White Tiger!”
In a blink of magic, Invincible appeared before them. He looked around, his eyes wide. “This is not good. Get on!”
He turned bigger, and they leaped onto his flank and they ran away from the earthquake. It still followed them. Are we ever going to outrun it? What if it won’t stop until we’re dead? What if I will never be able to find Uraza? What if Sleek finds my body, and she will have won? This can’t happen! 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JAgbYFrn2
Invincible then transformed into the huge creature that carried the big cats and flew up into the clouds.
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