A Shadow Across the Sea, Part 1

    I suppose I should’ve known she’d do this next, but she immediately tugged my ear with her rather sharp teeth, hauling me up. “Stop sleeping the day away! C’mon! Let’s go!” she demanded, her voice muffled by my ear.

     So I followed her (after rescuing my now sore ear from her teeth), wondering where she was taking me. Aoife led me to what I later learned was the harbor—Mom told us about it but this was my first time actually coming here. Moored to the dock was a giant ship with huge white sails billowing in the wind. And pacing restlessly on the deck was…him? I don’t believe it!

     Dad?

     “What’s dad doing on there?” I asked Aoife curiously.

     “Today a human dressed in armor visited our home,” she said, her tone slightly more serious now. “He wants to take Dad with him back to his home. To someplace called Massilia, I think.”

     “What?” I looked at Dad; he seemed happy that he was leaving Athens. Then I looked back at my sister. “Why?”

    “I dunno really…I think Dad mentioned something about a new fighting career. But listen, he isn’t the only one leaving. Mom’s also going with him.”

    Mom’s going too? Then another important question came up in my mind. “But what about you?” Unlike me, Aoife hadn’t been sold to anyone. She still had been living in the gazebo. But if both our parents were leaving, then what’ll happen to my sister?

    Before the dark brown cub could answer, we heard Mom approaching us from behind. “Ah, there you are, Aoife.” Behind her waddled a portly man—her master. “Have you finished saying goodbye to your brother yet? We’ll be casting off soon.”

    “Goodbye?” we both echoed.

    “You mean…I’m going too?” a stunned Aoife said.

    Mom blinked in surprise. “Your father didn’t tell you?”

    “Nobody told me; nobody told me anything at all. I thought I was staying here in Athens.”

    “And do what? If you stayed here without an owner, the humans would immediately take you to the Amphitheatre, and you’re not old enough to even begin your training, dear.”

    Aoife looked at me. “I was thinking of staying with Seidon…”

    The discussion went back and forth for what seemed like a while. Finally, I inputted my opinion. “Aoife…you go on ahead,” I said as evenly as I could.

    “What? But brother, I don’t—”

     “Come on, it won’t be that bad, will it? It’ll be an adventure; a voyage on a ship, a new city to explore…and you always said you wanted to see the world outside of Athens, didn’t you?”

     “Not without you…”

     “It’s not like this is goodbye forever,” I smirked. “I’m a currier, remember? When I’m bigger I might start going around the world to complete my tasks, and we might see each other again. Plus, there are plenty of sailor cats who can deliver messages for us.”

     “Well…” Her frown gradually faded, and in its place was the enthusiastic smile I always knew and loved. “I suppose it’ll be fun…”

     “There you go.” I smiled softly and hugged my sibling. “I love you, Aoife.”

     “And I love you, Seidon.”

    Within several minutes, I was on the rooftop staring at the ship disappearing from view. This would be the last time for a long time I’d see my family.

    Something’s wrong. I notice it when I returned from the silk merchant’s home; the lion that lived there wanted to give me advice when he noticed my mane—a silver hair tuft—was beginning to grow.

    But all the tips I learned were forgotten when I saw my master slumped in a chair with a tormented look on his face. I padded up to him and placed my paws on his arm, nuzzling his hand.

    “Are you all right?” I mew. “Is something troubling you that you want to tell me about?’

    My master looked at me and patted my head. My ears went flat; why can’t humans understand cats? Nevertheless, I plopped myself down next to my master’s chair, determined to keep in company.

     This was the last night I’d be at his side. And the last night I’d be in Athens.

     The following morning, I received a rather unusual task. I was to deliver a rather large package. And my destination was outside the city.

     After explaining my purpose to the guard cats at the gate, I set out north into the forest. As I walked through the woods, I admired the crisp scent of the leaves and the feel of the warm earth and dewy grass underneath my feet. I hope I came out here more often.

    Three hours later, I noticed something was wrong. I know I walked past that bush…and that hole in the ground was too familiar. I know my master said for me to keep going north. Or did he say west?

    Maybe I should go back.

     But it was already hopeless. It was one thing traveling in the city, but traversing through this place where every blade of grass and broken twig looked the same was…impossible.

    By the time it was sunset, I flopped down in an abandoned (I think it was, at least) den, physically and mentally exhausted. I curled into a tight ball, trying to muffle the distress that consumed me. I was lost. I was helpless.

    I was alone.