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Notes From Atlas’ Journal
Morning 1: Estella reported her findings, and I have begun to undergo the plan. Sol’s arrival tonight will be a deciding factor, but I cannot cross out the possibility that the Dark Forest will delay him. I must prepare somebody else, but who?
Night 1: I am growing ever fearful Sol will not make it. In his absence, I have chosen Pumpkin as the alternative. Estella will also be waiting to make sure the Dark Forest’s plans don’t change. Together, when the moon is highest tomorrow night, they will expose their crimes to the rest of the Tribe and I will use my authority to promptly banish the group to the Isles. At least, thats the plan.
Morning 2: Sol did not arrive. Prepare for Plan B.
Huff, huff “They’re gaining on us!! Come on, Pumpkin. We have to get them away from the camp!!” I call out as a pack of dogs grows nearer. The moonlight does little to reveal their location, other than barely behind me. Yet the only thing in my mind remains the safety of my tribemates and the protection of the new kittens I now watch over. Pumpkin is close by, too, trying to lead them away.
Pumpkin calls out, “This is it! You know what to do, Estella!” I jump high off the ground and cling to a low hanging branch. Below me, rushing water. The waterfall. Now poking through the trees, the moon shines down and reveals the now fallen dogs. But that isn’t the current concern.
“Come on, we’ve got to hurry and get back before the rebellion begins.” I am, truthfully, grateful the plan worked thusfar. It was only a few hours prior that I overheard the Dark Forest had prepared a ‘dockpack surprise’. Without my spywork, Pumpkin and I would’ve been toast.
Suddenly, a panicked voice called out from afar. Actually, scratch that, several panicked voices. “Sol!” Pumpkin called out. Stars knows how she was able to identify him from that, but she was right. Sol came rushing up, a small patrol behind him. They looked exhausted and worn down from their travels, but still ready to fight.
“Come on, no time for words. Who knows if its already begun! Let’s get moving.” I lead the cats through the now broken branches, back into camp. But for a camp that was almost attacked by dogs, its awfully quiet. Too quiet. They’ve already started.
Oh, what to do what to do. Think Estella, think! No matter how hard I tried, I just could not think of a solid plan. Thankfully, none other than the tribe’s strategist was here. As I surveyed the area and confirmed that the rest of the tribe was missing, Sol was able to think of a proper plan. One that would be foolproof, one that would save the fate of their tribe.
“Alright, everybody gather ‘round.” He finally called us in. “I know you’ve been waiting for a plan, but thats exactly what those rebels want us to do. They want a plan, they know who I am. Yet they still though I’d fall into a trap… see, what all of us need to do is just go in and take ‘em. They won’t expect it, they expect us to silently wait and follow them or ambush when the light from the moon fades. Do you get it? The best plan is no plan. Trust your gut, I believe in all of you.” Looking around, Sol locked his eyes with mine and nodded.
“Alright! Team on three, one, two, three… team!” I called. For the past months, I’ve slowly been earning a position that may seem completely irrelevant to some. But it truly did wonders. What is it, you ask? To put it simply, I am a sort of ‘cheerleader’ for the Tribe. When the group needs a major morale boost, I’m there.
What we need now is a little bit of luck and a little faith that this will hitch off smoothly. One hiccup and we run the risk of losing, right there and then. We can’t afford for that to happen.
Soon, now, the cats begin to disperse. As they do so, Sol comes up to me. “Athena told me I have two daughters now… I really can’t thank you enough for being there when I wasn’t able to. Puddle couldn’t have chosen a better godmother, Estelle. Truthfully. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.” His eyes began welling up, but before they could form a tear Sol walked off. They had a battle to win, emotions had to be left behind.
“For the gods, and for our futures!!” Sol cried. Cheering erupted from the small group. They, too, had families captured now by the Dark Forest. Nobody knew their goals or intentions with them, but assurance they’d be ok would only be found when they’ve been reunited. Anything less was not enough.
Sol, the genius strategist that he had become, organized a small group to go ahead and sniff out the Dark Forest, see where they were and how well-gaurded the tribe cats were. The rest would follow from a distance, in case they got caught up in trouble or needed back up.
The party was sent out, and we began our pursuit as well. Athena was left behind guarding Puddle, who had been in a seperate location due to her birth, and the cats I was closest too were now gone. Because of this, I decided to talk a bit more with Sol.
“Sol! Sol, if you have time, I’ve got a couple things to ask you. What exactly are your intentions with the Dark Forest after they’re caught?” I ask. Afterall, those cats have committed a number of crimes against the tribe at this point. Death wasn’t out of the question.
Sol replied, his voice cold. “They will all be sent to the Isle of Banishment, where they may never escape. Whoever is in charge of this whole operation, however, will not make it out alive. I can guarantee that.”
“What’s the Isle of Bani-” My voice is cut off. Already, the patrol has found them. They weren’t to far ahead, after all. Thankfully, they report that all cats remain unharmed. Those that sided with the Dark Forest were very few but the ringleader, Augustus, managed to blackmail a few of them for whatever reason.
“Ahead we go, then. The final act.” Sol led the group to the site of the Dark Forest, and called a mighty battle cry. Fierce and determined to reunite the true cats of the Fallen Light. “Onward, my fellow tribemates!!”
The Dark Forest was caught off gaurd, and upon meeting eyes with Augustus I felt a chill run through my veins. He thought for sure I had been taken care of, and I knew from that stare he knew I was a spy. Whether it was a mistake to feed me the information he had or intentional I couldn’t guess, but I knew he had planned for this. Yet, an individual plan. The other rebels had no clue.
Time felt like it had frozen when I finally moved my paws. Fury took over, and I saw red. How dare he! How dare he inflict such pain on these innocent cats! The cycle of life is a beautiful thing, and he makes it look like a joke. I ran into the fight. Most importantly, I ran at him. Augustus was still unsurprised, but I didn’t care. As long as I had the honor.
Suddenly, a bright light stopped the world around me. Except, this time it was real. A dark brown and green cat stepped from that light, staring at me. Her voice was soft. “Estella, you have done this Tribe wonders. You’re duties are over, and if you wish for your memories and your godhood to return, you may have it. Just remember not to make the same mistake again, I won’t be so understanding the second time around.”
Go back? Now? But if I didn’t go back now, I never would. To give up my past memories in favor of new experiences was a bold choice; was it worth it? I don’t have long to decide…
“Ma’am. If I leave now, will this Tribe still be able to defeat the rebellion?” Maybe, if they could win without my help… I could return.
“There is no way of seeing the future, Estelle. We must look at our past to determine the rest of our lives, not fate.”
I’d say fate sent me here. It didn’t feel like my choice, but now the choice of century’s was upon me. What to do? To give up now just felt wasteful. “I appreciate the offer, but I have built up quite a life here. Whatever it is you needed me for, I hope it can be replaced.”
That was the answer the cat needed. She disappeared just like that and the bright light faded with her. Slowly, time sped up again. Suddenly I was back to fighting Augustus, as if nothing had changed. Except now, I knew who I was. Who I was fighting for.
I am Estella, cat of the Fallen Light. I give up no battles and I defend my tribe till’ my last breath. Whatever the outcome, I know this is the choice I was made to make.
I Am Estella