Cats don't Dance Alone

As the moon rose, a solitary shape stepped from the shadows. They seemed reluctant to release their hold on him as a single, silvery shaft of moonlight broke through to the center of the clearing. Shadowed-Hunter strode into the light with bowed head and steady step. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his arms and began to sway and shuffle in a rough circle. Faster and faster, in and out of the light with small growls and chiruffs escaping his lips. Suddenly the fatigue pants and jacket fade from sight as he grows larger and sprouts hair, a tail and claws.

"ONE CALLS"

The moonlight seems to swirl and flow, now clinging to his mane, now flowing down and off the tip of his tail. The growls grow closer and louder, building on one theme: JOYOUS TRIUMPH!!! He gives voice and the woods shake with the power, the wind stops to listen and the light seems to pulse in counterpoint. Slowly, carefully, he draws a design in the dirt, swirls and curves that capture the moonlight and concentrate it. Once again Shadowed-Hunter roars, and this time there is a faint, far-off reply.

"ONE CALLS, WE COME. WE COME!"

Standing once again, he begins to dance and chant, in ever widening circles. At the first tree ringing the clearing his claws flash and gouge the bark in a twin marking to the one glowing softly in the center. Again and again, tree after tree, the symbol appears pulsing in time to the chant, dance and moonlight. All glow and with the last tree marked, a wall of light springs up between them. Strangely, there are more figures inside the clearing. Some larger, some smaller, but all face the caller and wait.

"WE ARE HERE! WHAT DO YOU WISH OF US?"

"Welcome. Let me tell you a story. A story of a life and death, friendship and enmity, loss and discovery." With that the figures made themselves comfortable and began to groom as a fire sprang up from the center symbol.

When the grooming started to wind down and the tension in the air began to rise, Shadowed-Hunter stood. Without moving or staring, all attention was focused on him.

"With a smile and a greeting, the stranger walked into Rosie’s Diner…"

When I awoke, there was no sign of the gathering. No sign of the fire or of the wall of moonlight. There was only Shadowed-Hunter, asleep in the center of the ring of trees. A last flicker of moonlight ran down his arms, legs and over his face. I stood up and walked, a little unsteadily, towards him and he sprang up with a shout and a smile. "They came, they saw, I conquered. Oh sweet Celine, what a night." He looked bigger somehow, stronger. Or maybe it was the eyes, eyes that had seen the unseen, stepped into the maelstrom and returned transformed. "Shad, so did they like your story?" "Van, they liked it. And I liked their stories even more. Such knowledge, such wisdom, if only I can unravel it all."

"Come on," I said, "it is almost dawn and I am kinda starved." He turned and smiled.

"First rule: take care of the Kin. Is Denny’s ok?"

With that we walked out of the woods. Not quite touching, but I knew that he was there. Strange, it was like leaving my home of years. Funny, huh?