“ As soon as I jumped out of that window I ran as fast as my pregnant belly would let me. I soon scented two of The Pack behind me. I raced for the nearest thing I thought was safe which was not in Quendlinel. It was here. “ Aspen gestured with her tail to the old upright’s place and the canopy of ivy above and around her. Then turned back to her two kits, Quince and Cinder. They were both wide eyed.

“ Then what happened? “ Cinder’s dark grey tabby pelt sparkled in the bright sunshine.

“ Well Secret helped me of course. “ Aspen blinked gratefully at the black female. Secret dipped her head respectfully. “ Together we killed the two packmates. Almost right after that I started kitting. I have stayed here ever since. “

“ What happened to Valor, mama? “ Quince looked a lot like Aspen but she had grey tabby striped legs like Valor. Cinder looked almost exactly like Valor.

“ He died. Saving me, and you, and you. He gave his life to protect us. One of the last things he said to me was ‘ I love you, and our kits, tell them about me. ‘ Then he told me to run for my life, and I did, for your sake. I thought that you were ready to be told this since you have reached the age of twelve moons. “ Aspen paused, searching for words. ” Bane is still searching for that stone. His mind can’t stop thinking about it.“

Cinder puzzled over this. The Banarr Stone that her mother told her about, Bane himself. He killed her father. She wanted to do something. She wanted to stand up to him. “ Mama, I want to find the Banarr stone and destroy it. “ Cinder knew it would be dangerous, but she wanted to do it.

“ Me too. “ Quince chimed in.

Aspen just glanced from one to the other. “ No. No. You can’t, you could die. I am not letting you. “ Cinder and Quince glanced at one another. Quince looked determined.

“ We can’t promise you anything mama, but for now we will stay here. “ Quince spoke. Aspen relaxed a little.

“ Good. I am going out to hunt. Want to come? “ Aspen asked lightly.

“ Yes! “ Cinder and Quince said at the same time.

Later that night, Cinder lay on her back, thinking about the father she never knew. Thinking about Bane. Cinder turned over so that she could see Quince. Her breathing was long and deep, she was asleep. Cinder flicked her ears. She heard voices outside of the den. It was her mother and Secret, quietly talking. Cinder got up and stalked over to a window so that she could hear them better. She jumped up and crouched in the shadows of an aged, crumbling wall. Secret was talking.

“ Bane is still looking for that stone… I hear he is getting closer to us. I heard it from Yew. You know how trusting she is. “ Secret spoke softly but urgently. “ I almost wonder if we should leave. “

“ No.. we will be safe here. Bane will not find us. “ But even as Aspen spoke her voice quavered with deep fear. “ One day Bane will be stopped and Kismetarlind will be free from his horrible wrath. “

“ Hopefully that day is soon. “ Secret whispered. Aspen nodded. Cinder watched the two friends watch the stars overhead. Cinder got up and slowly creeped back to her nest with Quince. She curled up close to her sister and drifted slowly into sleep, thinking about what she had just heard.

The next few days passed comfortably, with plenty of prey to go around. It was the fourth evening after Aspen’s story that The Pack’s scent hung heavy in the air. Secret smelled it first. Her head flew up, her ears pricked. Aspen smelled it next. Her eyes scanning the rolling hills and woods behind them. Secret and Aspen quickly nudged Cinder and Quince into their hidden den.

Inside Secret nodded to Aspen. Aspen nodded back, she turned to Cinder and Quince. “ I want you two to run as fast as you can to the Enchanted Wood. Find somewhere to hide deep inside of it. We will meet you there. “ Aspen’s voice was full of command but behind that was sadness.

“ But.. What about you and Secret? “ Quince mew was unrecognizable, like a piece of rock had lodged in her throat.

“ Me and Aspen will fight the good-for-nothing rogues while you two escape. We will meet again. “ Secret rasped. She touched her forehead lightly with her white front paw. Aspen did the same. Cinder and Quince did the gesture back to the two females who had raised them. Aspen licked their heads and shoved them out of the hidden exit.

Cinder ran and so did Quince. Neck to neck they darted as fast as they could to the Enchanted Wood. After running awhile they looked back once, only to see their mother and Secret fighting hard against the vicious pack. Even as far away as the two were they could here the distant cries of their mother caterwauling as she slashed pack cats with her claws. “ Valor! Valor! Valor! “