When the Oracle finished her speech, she disintegrated into a pile of dust. Immediately, chaos erupted.
“Who are these younglings?”
“We’ll get fur!”
“Our lives are at stake!”
“We’ll embark on this quest!”
At this, the crowd fell silent. Thunder gaped, shocked that his sister had spoken up. “Lyra!” he hissed. She ignored him. “We are littermates,” she mewed, addressing her queen. “What we’ve never told anyone, it that we are telepathic. We can read each other’s minds.” This drew gasps from the crowd. “‘Our minds are connected,’” she quoted. “And our souls are just about the same, since we are twins.”
“It’s true,” Star stepped up, her voice only quavering a bit. “My kits are the right ones to embark on this quest. They are quick and nimble, smart and adventurous. They can defeat the dog king.”
Rakira looked at them thoughtfully. “Ok,” she agreed. “Let these young cats embark on this quest.” Lyra and Thunder purred a bit nervously. “Well?” meowed Queen Rakira. “What are you waiting for? Pack all the things you need, and you may start!”
“Yes, Queen Rakira,” Lyra and Thunder chorused, and they scampered off. The crowd began to thin out, but nobody saw a dark cloaked figure run off towards the Doglands...
Star hurried home to find her kittens packed and ready. “We have food, water, and cloaks,” Thunder informed her. “And money.”
“We’re ready to go,” added Lyra. Star purred lovingly, and gave them a goodbye lick. “You know where to go,” she meowed. “Good luck with your quest, and make sure you feed yourself properly!”
Thunder and Lyra meowed their goodbye’s and left their safe, warm house. As soon as they got outside, Lyra shivered. <Let’s travel quickly,> she thought. <The night will be cold, and I want to find a warm place to stay.> So they hurried on their way and reached an inn right next to the River of Separation, a river dividing the territories of the cats and dogs.
Lyra and Thunder entered the inn. There were all cats, except for one heavily cloaked figure that sat in a corner, and reeked of dog. Thunder noticed that the corner was fairly empty of cats.
Ignoring the scorching glare of the cloaked dog, Lyra padded up to the counter and asked for a room. “Room Thirteen is open,” grunted the inn manager. “Go right on up.” Thunder threw two coins onto the counter, and followed Lyra up the stairs.
They found that a note was taped to the door: “I know who you are, and I am not your enemy. Meet me at the horse stables at midnight. I will help you on your quest.” Lyra stared at the note. “Well, there’s not much we can do,” she mewed. “I guess we’ll have to meet this stranger.”
<Yes,> Thunder agreed, thinking. <But we’d better get some rest. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.>
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