I leapt down from the tree. My skills and instinct let me know how to adjust my body to land without making a sound. It was the middle of the night. I had dozed off but, fully falling asleep a couple of times and almost fallen out of the tree once, but I had made it.

Taking the time to stretch and wake up my body fully. I carefully listened. I had listened after waking up in the tree, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. I didn’t risk calling Mes. I already knew what I needed to do. That building and watchtower at the top of the hill and looped back road.

There were five creatures and possibly others out there. I sniffed the air, but I didn’t pick up anything. Looking around carefully, I didn’t see the heat of any creature. While cats didn’t have night vision, we could kind of see heat of other creatures in the dark. Another innate talent I hadn’t really thought about until now. I carefully set my pack at the base of the tree. I would come back for it. I needed my full range of movement right now.

Once my body was limbered up, I flexed my claws in and out with no issues. Alright, that was enough hesitating. I checked the approach one more time and then acted quickly. The sky was overcast, so no light from the stars or the moons.

I raced across the road and leapt up onto the next portion up a past a stone wall onto the next section of road that cut back and forth. I kept my speed up, heading directly for the building. Hesitating or trying something complicated would likely get me caught out in the open. I stopped at the last switchback and checked behind me while listening.

The hardest part was keeping my breathing under control and silent. I didn’t see any creatures down the slope. I could kind of smell the scent of other creatures in the air. They had nested for a while. All their scents overlapping and intermingling.

The stone against my back was cool. I did a last scan and listen and heard movement high above me. I tilted my head and twitched my ear. There were creatures walking around in the watchtower and they hadn’t spotted me.

That was going to be my first target since they were awake. If they looked downwards from the watchtower, they could spot me. I was also exposed to the windows from the building. The sound of movement was headed away. I could almost imagine where the two creatures were in the watchtower based on the sound of their steps.

I flipped over the stone wall, up to the same level as the building and the base of the watchtower. I rushed to the base of the watchtower while keeping a look out for any movement or other creatures. There was nothing. I stopped at the base of the watchtower and took a moment to check the ascent. It was very exposed.

There was also a wire across the bottom of the staircase that led away into the building through a cracked open window. An alarm of some kind. I carefully stepped over the wire while checking for others. I made my way up, checking each step while listening to the movement above me. There was no change, so they most likely hadn’t heard me.

There were four switchbacks and then just one more slight climb to get to the top of the watchtower. I waited just before the final bit. There were two creatures moving around up there, circling around clockwise. Their movements were slow and lethargic. I took a quick peek, once I heard one move by and confirmed their were two creatures, that looked like stoats. They had rifles as well.

I ducked back and checked my surroundings. I didn’t see anyone, but I felt very open on this tower. A creature went by and I went up the stairs. After what had happened on the road and while I had rested on the tree, I had been thinking how to take creatures out quietly.

Stepping behind the creature, I was careful to avoid their short tail. I wrapped both paws around their neck and only yanked one to the side. They died without a sound as blood rushed out. I quickly lowered them to the ground and moved towards the other creature, quietly and silently. I repeated the move while making sure to avoid their tail. They went down as well.

Searching their bodies, I found their blue pendants. That was number four and five. There should be three other creatures in the building. I checked the surroundings from the top of the watch tower and saw two figures climb up over from the lake side.

That was Sharpfang and Grizzle. Checking in other directions, there was no one else approaching. They were headed for the watchtower. They probably had the same idea I had, but only acted a bit later than me.

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I couldn’t get down without them spotting me and there was nowhere to hide up here. I then glanced upwards. The watchtower had a roof on it. I quickly moved to the West side of the watchtower away from Sharpfang and Grizzle. I leapt off the railing and my claws dug into the roof. I pulled myself up and over.

Listening, I heard them reach the bottom of the tower. Then there was a bang. I heard glass shatter and Grizzle screaming. They hadn’t spotted the wire trap and activated it. It was probably rigged up to a gun hidden behind the window.

I heard shouting from inside the building and heard Sharpfang rush in. There was shouting and screaming. I could leave now, but I decided to wait. No one would think to check up here. I could place where the creatures were below me. If Sharpfang won, then there was nothing I needed to do. If he lost, then I could finish off the remaining creatures.

Grizzle had stopped screaming in pain. I didn’t really like the Warrior, but I said a prayer for him in my mind anyways. Hoping he would find peace and strength in his next life. There was gunfire and shouting from inside the building and it was still going on. I carefully peeked over the edges of the roof of the watchtower.

A tremor of fear passed through me as I saw a creature in white with a white mask on looking directly up at me from near the base of the tower. I didn’t see anyone else approaching. But the figure made no move. They were incredibly visible in the night with their all white clothing.

The sounds of gunfire and shouting had stopped from the building. There was a creature screaming in pain and it wasn’t Sharpfang. I flipped back onto the top platform of the watchtower, careful to avoid the blood pools and made my way down.

I saw Grizzle at the very bottom, completely shredded. A shotgun blast most likely. The creature in white had a completely blank mask. I looked at them intently, but they made no move or said anything. I carefully checked Grizzle while keeping an eye on the figure. Grizzle was dead. I took his red pendant. It had some of his blood on it, but I could clean it off later.

I leapt over his body and moved towards the building while the creature in white kept watching me. They were small, smaller than me. Maybe a mouse or a shrew. But there was something dangerous about them. I noticed they had a sword at their side. Perhaps a creature from the Covenant Church or a Master Assassin? My danger sense was letting me know they were incredibly dangerous.

Looking through a window, the inside of the building was a mess. The scent of blood and powder was thick. I went through the window and almost stepped on a dead creature. I landed to the side silently and carefully removed their blue pendant.’

There was still a creature groaning in pain. I made my way over to them staying in the darkness. He had a long gash down his side and was bleeding out. He had a gun in his lap and was crying. I hesitated for a moment, but no one on this island was an innocent. They all knew what they were getting into. Just like cultists.

They were all creatures, but I couldn’t afford to hold back or show sympathy. I raced over, placing one paw on top of the gun, while the other went across their neck, slitting it. They died. I pulled off their bloody blue pendant, number seven.

Checking around I found the last creature, a knife stuck deep in their eye. That was number eight and all creatures accounted for. But no Sharpfang. I found a blood trail out a pushed open window. I didn’t go out that window, there was a sense of danger.

I made my way back out the door and around the building. Sharpfang was sitting directly under the window silently, with a knife in his paw. His other paw had a bandage pushed up against a bleeding wound on his side.

“Sharpfang, its Mittens,” I said quietly. His head jerked in my direction.

“Ah. Grizzle?” he asked. I was a bit impressed he asked about his companion first.

“Dead,” I replied. I felt danger approaching and quickly moved away from the building, keeping Sharpfang in sight as the figure in white came over and looked at both of us. “You need something?” I asked and they didn’t respond. I turned back towards Sharpfang.

“Here,” I pulled off two blue pendants. He had killed the creatures. So, he could have them. I tossed them over to him.

“Why?” he asked surprised.

“You got them. And I already have quite a few. Consider it a thank you for doing the hard work,” I replied.

“The tower?” he asked.

“I got them just as you showed up,” I replied, and he let out a long sigh.

“Of course, of course. One step behind like always. You going to wait the rest out?” I was tempted to say no and keep looking for creatures. But the creature in white was creeping me out and putting me on edge.

“I have enough blue pendants. Want to team up?” I asked.

“Can’t refuse. Need to patch this up. Left my pack at the base of the cliff, you have yours?” Sharpfang asked.

“I will have to get it, but we should probably go together,” I said with a look at the creature in white just watching us. Sharpfang gave them a look as well.

“That is probably a good idea,” he replied and put away his dagger. He slowly got to his feet, using the side of the building as support. I didn’t offer to help him, and he didn’t ask as he slowly followed me down the hill, past the roads, to the forest. The figure in white remained behind. I was grateful for that. What was their purpose? Just to watch things? Once there, I got my back and he leaned against a tree out of site of the watchtower and the building.

Dawn was coming. “The bullet needs to come out, but I am no vet,” I said.

“Just something to bandage it. I should be able to get treatment later. I owe you one Mittens. Thanks,” Sharpfang said.

“Well, we have to look out for each other, right?” I said with a smile.

“Yeah. Shame about Grizzle. But he was confident in his sneaking skills. Didn’t think to check for a trap,” Sharpfang said while bandaging up his wound.