Chapter 2 - Danger, Danger

Penchance was restless this morning, as she patrolled the perimeter of the colony with her guards and advisors. New memories were surfacing in her mind every day, and had been since the Princes' arrival 6 weeks ago. Every breeze in the air, every blade of grass, every raindrop that fell, whispered to her, Danger is coming, be ready. Today there was a frighening, metallic, smell in the air which triggered an nearly uncontrollable sence of urgency. Whatever was going to happen was almost upon them. Would she be ready? Would the colony be ready? Would Whiteflower Field still be here after she was gone?

Whiteflower Field Colony wasn't easy to find. In fact, even one with the Memories was unlikely to find it easily. The colony made its dens beside a long forgotten cemetary, that every spring was carpeted with tiny white lilies of the valley. The flowers peeked out from under overgrown bushes and trees near the edge of the cemetary in early spring and left a beautiful frangrance everywhere. In the summer, the lilies gave way to dense clumps of white clover that grew up between the headstones. And in late fall, early mornings would find heavy white frost lingering in the shadows cast by the ruins of the church in the center of the field.

The broken down stone fence surrounding the cemetary provided ample nooks and crannies where the cats built safe, cozy dens to raise their kits. The grass was full of plump tasty fieldmice, moles and other delicious creatures to eat. There were even find wild honeysuckle bushes growing along the fence in the far corner, which some of the adult cats nibbled once in a while.

Yes, it was certainly a beautiful place and the community of cats living there when Lukas and Leopold arrived had called it home for more than 20 generations.
Penchance, of course, knew Whiteflower Field was the envy of many. Her Memories reminded her of many battles her colony had fought to defend their home. She remembered all those who crossed the bridge before she was born and all the struggles the colony underwent through the generations. As a newborn kit she survived the most terrible raid in the colony's history. It took the lives of her father, the King, and many other cats and kits. Penchance knew, and this was a memory which she had never disclosed to anyone, until that morning six weeks ago, when she entrusted it to Lukas, that terrible times were coming again for her colony, and that every kit of the royal family would be directly affected by it.

You see, Penchance was born on the eve of that Great Raid, and her father the King had crossed the bridge before he could entrust her with his memories. Penchance had only her mother's memories... So while she knew everything about her colony, she knew nothing of her father's lineage and had no memories of how he, or those of his colony, protected their families and homes. Ever since she could remember, she knew she would be called to battle some undescribable enemy, and ever since she could remember, she feared she would be unable to protect her family when that day arrived.

These were her thoughts..as she made her away from guard post to guard post. Suddenly, over in the corner by the honeysuckle bushes, she saw George, the kindly old ginger tomcat who carried Leopold to them. He was hunkered down close to the ground, ears close to his head, eyes staring straight ahead, not moving, barely breathing. What was he looking at? Could he see the danger she felt all around her? A scout came swiftly back to them, purring rapidly, tail twitching. There are humans on the old lane, 5 of them that we can see. They are on the way to the ruins of the church. They don't appear dangerous, but we must be on guard. Penchance nodded. She must get to the ruins before them. This was the day that Bella was going to bring the kits out of her den in the steeple of the old church. The kits would be playing there and would be in grave danger any minute now.

Penchance called out to George. "Go. Now. Find Lavender and tell him he must return today." "I fear an unknown danger has befallen our colony and I seek his guidance." Without asking a single question, George turned and together with 3 of the scouts, trotted out of the cemetary, heading north down a pathway know only to a few, towards the City, where Lavender had gone less than 10 days earlier.

Penchance virtually flew across the cemetary towards the ruins in the centre of Whiteflower Field. She could hear the humans, talking and laughing as they made their way to their destination. One of them, a female, had stopped and picked some of the Lilies of the Valley and they were entwined in her hair. In her arms she carried a bouquet of dozens more of these tiny flowers. The other female carried a smaller bundle and one of the males had a tiny sprig tucked into the lapel of his jacket.

As the humans approached the ruins, they stopped laughing and talking, and one of them, the oldest male, brought a tattered book out of his pocket. He spoke quietly to the younger humans pointing and gesturing towards the ruins. All nodded soberly and the males headed towards the raised area near the front of the ruin. One of them took an instrument out of his pocket and raised it to his lips. A female opened her mouth and filled the cemetary with song. Penchance stopped in her tracks. What was this? It was such a beautiful, sad sound the two humans were making together and it echoed off the walls of church and seemed to bring it to life. How could anyone who could make such a glorious sound be dangerous. Or was this part of the danger?

Bella and the kits heard the flute song too. The kits had been jumping around, attacking each other and playfighting with their shadows since dawn. Luke and Leo knew this was the day they were going to leave the den's safety for the first time and go outside. They just couldn't wait another second. Both of them scrambled out of the den, and down the stairs, towards the sound. Stop boys, take cover, cried Bella, but it was too late. Just as Penchance stepped over the threshold, Luke and Leo tumbled into the main body of the ruin and landed at the feet of one of the human males.

What's this, he called out...Look Fred, look, two kittens...It seems like there will be a couple more witnesses to your wedding to Margo today. Fred smiled, This was a definitely a very good omen. He reached down, and before either could move, scooped them both up and popped them inside his uniform jacket. Luke and Leo almost stopped breathing they were so frozen with fear. They had never even heard tell of humans before and didn't like being inside that pocket, not one bit. It was very dark in there, and it smelled of...peppermint. While it didn't feel dangerous exactly, it definitely didn't feel right.

Fred stepped towards the altar, with the kittens still motionless inside his jacket. He smiled tenderly at Margo as she walked towards him. At that moment Fred didn't care if he was in a strange country, training to fly an airplane full of bombs into battle with a terrible enemy. That was tomorrow. Today he was going to be blessed and bound forever to the woman he loved. Margo and Fred knew this ceremony was foolish. They knew that Fred was leaving tonight on a very dangerous mission across the English channel. They knew he might never come back. Many had gone before and few came back safely. They knew this was the only chance they'd have to be married for a long time to come. Making a decision Fred took both kittens from his jacket, handed them to the minister and said, "We didn't have enough time or money to purchase rings. Please bless these kittens and they will be what binds us to each other until we are together again".

The minister thought for a moment, then nodded his head in agreement. These were terrible times, there might not be a future for anyone after today. Why not let these two young lovers bind themselves together in whatever manner was available to them. He silently blessed the two kittens, then taking Leo, handed him to Fred, saying...this kitten serves as a living token of your love for Margo. Do you entrust him to Margo this day, to care for and love, just as she loves you? Yes, I do. I love Margo with all my heart and know she will watch over this kitten and me always. Frank responded happily and handed the kitten gently to Margo.

Then taking Lukas, the minster turned to Margo and said Will you entrust this kitten to Fred, as a token of your love for him, knowing he will nurture it and care for it just as he plans to do for you. O yes, I will love him always as I love him today whispered Margo and handed Lukas carefully to Fred. The minister then declared "Although you begin your lives together at a dangerous time, you have promised in God's house, and in the presence of his creatures, to love each other and have agreed to care for these helpless creatures as proof of your love for one another." I now declare to all those present and to all England, that you two are now one in the eyes of God. So it was done.

Penchance and Bella remained motionless and horrified in one dark corner of the ruin. What were these humans going to do with the colony's young princes. Surely they would put them down as soon as the ceremony was over. But no, they did not. The humans kissed each other, the female tossed her bundle of flowers towards the other female and then they all ran down the aisle of the ruin, outside and across the cemetary. What was going on? Where were they taking the princes?