The Battle to Confession, Page 2

  “If we were both younger I would bring you to task for that,” Joshua countered jokingly with a smile.

  “Speaking of youth, how is Cheshire?” Joshua changed the subject subtly.

  “Same as he has always been, except now he has war hero added to his list of credits,” Gabriel answered.

  “ I wonder?” Joshua mused after pondering Gabriel’s words.

  “What?”

  “If we had those honors under our claws at his age, do you wonder if we would have married sooner?” Joshua continued in a reminiscent tone.

  “You know yourself that this honor is more than a field promotion or other ornament…but I suppose it would not have hurt,” Gabriel answered thoughtfully after a moment's reflection.

  “I hear tell that the nurse that tended to Cheshire is fond of him. From what I heard about the feast he held, I would say that the feelings are mutual,” Joshua continued.

  “Leana? He has known her all of his life. They are good friends, but beyond that only time will tell,” Gabriel shrugged.

  Joshua had hoped that he could have brought the Council news without being blunt. Seeing that Gabriel had brought his line of questioning to a sudden end, he felt he had no choice but to be straight forward. Joshua had to think and act quickly before his friend noted his troubled silence.

  “I am not going to dress up what I have to ask with fancy words or round about questioning. The fact that Cheshire does not have an heir or assistant to step in if he should get hurt makes the Council uneasy," he exhaled.

  “I see…” Gabriel remarked in a distant tone.

  “I am sorry to bring such cold conversation,” Joshua apologized.

  “Tell me, was this decision unanimous?” Gabriel asked.

  “No. Both the Duke of Shepherds and I feel that our neighbors have jumped to a wrong conclusion. It is a hard thing to have to tell you.”

  “But duty requires it…..I’ll talk with him,” Gabriel responded.

  While Joshua’s words had not broken the older cougar, the slow twitch of his tail and the preoccupied expression on his face made it easy to see that Gabriel was not amused. Yet he realized that there was both sincerity and wisdom in the words of his friend. The only way to settle this was head-on. He needed to speak with Cheshire.

  ****

  Elizabeth Cougar had been organizing her pantry when Gabriel entered the den. Elizabeth turned to greet her mate but she stopped when she saw the worried expression that Gabriel wore.

  “What’s wrong?” she inquired.

  “Let’s take a stroll. You remember, like we used to,” Gabriel replied. Elizabeth agreed and hoped that she would reach the bottom of her husband’s anxiety. Gabriel guided his wife to a secluded spot where he was sure that they would have privacy. He then stopped and turned to face his wife.

  “Joshua brought me a message today. It concerned Cheshire,” he began. Hearing this Elizabeth became alarmed. She had not yet gotten over Cheshire’s condition after Eastern Pass.

  “What about our son? Is he okay?” she demanded, wide-eyed with fright.

  “He’s fine,” Gabriel calmed his wife. “The Council is nervous because Cheshire has no heir,” he continued.

  “What do they want us to do? Force our son to marry? Have they gone mad?” she snorted.

  “No. They fear uncertainty,” he explained.

  “I don’t care what they fear. I will not stand by and let the council force our son to marry. If I have to I will speak to them myself,” she continued.

  “Dearest, I will not force our son into a political marriage--not ever,” he consoled.

  “What are we going to do?” Liz asked after drawing close to her husband.

  “What else can we do? Talk to Cheshire, and pray.”

  CHAPTER 3

  The trunk den of Gabriel Cougar was located in a grove of ancient sycamore trees that were surrounded by the cougar gardens. The den had been made by leaning logs and thick branches against one of the sycamore trees, tying them together with vine, and covering the roof and walls with straw and branches. Cheshire Cougar had spent the morning going about his normal routine. After glancing around the grove, Cheshire paused at the clay marker that bore the cougar family symbol. This informed visitors that they were approaching the home of Gabriel Cougar. When Gabriel had built the den in preparation for his marriage, the Bruins and Beavers had presented a set of thick sturdy oak branches to be used as the den’s door frame. When they had been put in place, the Duke of Bruins had carved the Cougar family name into the right entrance branch for all to see.

  After glancing inside the den and finding that nobody appeared to be home, Cheshire walked around back and stretched out in the shade of the branch canopy that shielded the courtyard. He had just gotten comfortable when the sound of familiar voices alerted him that his parents had just arrived. Seconds later Gabriel and Elizabeth Cougar joined him in the courtyard and greeted him lovingly.

  “How are things?” Cheshire asked with a smile.

  “Good. Joshua came by,” Gabriel answered.

  “Oh? Is he looking for a cat-scratch rematch or trying to convince himself to retire?” Cheshire inquired, visibly surprised.

  “Does he seem that old?” Gabriel asked, intrigued by Cheshire’s comment.

  “No, but he occasionally looks like he is daydreaming of the freedom that retirement would bring.”

  “When have you seen him like that?”

  “Usually when he is presiding over a hot debate.”

  Hearing his son’s comment caused Gabriel to break into a smile that seemed to momentarily lift away the years. Unfortunately the smile faded away just as quickly when he looked toward the task ahead of him.

  “Actually, Joshua stopped by for a friendly visit. He inquired as to your health,” Gabriel explained in a tone that betrayed the emotional strain that he was going through.

  “Is that so?” Cheshire asked in a cautious tone. Lately the idea of anybody asking about his health immediately put him on the edge of his claws.

  Gabriel cleared his throat and glanced around at the surrounding area. Stalling always had worked to give him time to organize his thoughts. This pause was no exception.

  “Such a fine day as this should not be wasted lounging. Would you accompany me to the pond?” Gabriel asked.

  Cheshire could see from his father’s uneasy movements and the injured expression in his eyes that something had hurt him to the core. Obviously he wanted to speak privately with him; so he followed his father without question. Not a word passed between them as they padded down the path and into the woods with heavy footsteps.

  CHAPTER 4

  Being a duke was a big responsibility. Unlike other titles and duties, it was inherited. A duke could be voted out of his clan if he was either cruel or corrupt. A duke could step down too. Either way there would be a power struggle among those who would desire the title of duke in the future. Before he had assumed his father’s responsibilities, Gabriel’s father had told him that he could choose another path, but the consequences of his doing so could lead to grave consequences. Gabriel had chosen to lead, and when the time came he had given his son Cheshire the same option.

  To Gabriel’s relief Cheshire had willingly chosen to be the judge and leader of the Cougar Clan. The day Cheshire sat down on the seat of judgment had been one of the proudest days in Gabriel’s life. Both Gabriel and Elizabeth Cougar praised the Divine Master when they saw that He had given Cheshire the talents to be a fair and just leader.

  Cheshire now sat beside Gabriel on a secluded section of the shore. Chesh sat and carefully examined his claws. He had recently made a habit out of digging down into the soil with his claws and stretching his paws. Cheshire limped on occasion too. All of these things had manifested after Cheshire returned from Eastern Pass. Chesh did not talk about his experiences much and he appeared to get edgy when cats spoke of him as a hero. Gabriel and Elizabeth prayed that Cheshire would not let himself fall victi
m to self-pity.

  “I was not much older than you when my father retired and I was voted onto the Council. It was a great honor to represent our clan, but when I saw that you were ready then I knew that I could retire in peace. Now a new fear has surfaced, Son.”

  “What fear, Dad?” Cheshire asked, visibly awed by his father’s words. In all their years of relationship, he had never seen his dad so apprehensive when dealing with him. They had always had a close, honest, and open relationship. Why should he be so nervous?

  “The fact that you have neither heir nor assistant makes the Council nervous,” Gabriel managed to force the words out. It was all too difficult and painful to tell his son that the Council’s confidence in him was wavering since his injury.

  As Cheshire stood before his father, the words echoed through his memory loud and clear. “I will take you off your lofty perch and make it so that you can never reach it again.” With great resolve Cheshire looked to the ground with a growl. Never would he allow the traitor Nicholas’s prediction to come to pass. Nor was Cheshire ready to be married. He had spent all of his time recovering from his injuries--not courting.

  “I am being judged by the fact that I do not have a family? Claws and whiskers! How can they do that, Dad? I haven’t even looked into my prospects,” Cheshire fumed. His tail thrashed as he tried to discern what the future would bring.

  “What about Leana?” Gabriel inquired.

  “I am not up to marriage. I do not know when I will be,” Chesh countered.

  “None of us would ever dream of forcing you into marriage. When the time for marriage comes you will know it. For now you will need to select an assistant,” Gabriel responded calmly. Gabriel spoke quietly and appeared to be deep in thought.

  “So this is the way it is? One day they treat you like a hero. The next day you are some bumbling oddity that cannot be relied upon. Don’t they know I am still me?” Chesh sputtered.

  Cheshire had always been respectful to those who were handicapped. It was different now that he was one of them. Cheshire had lost part of his sense of smell. His nose had been blinded, not the rest of him. He was not like Nicholas. The Council and his neighbors needed to give him a chance to show that he had not changed.

  “I am still me,” he whispered, ears drooped and eyes downcast. Cheshire looked like he felt.

  “Son, they know that you are a good cat. They just fear uncertainty.”

  “There is Jeremiah, but I doubt that he is up to claw for this,” speculated Cheshire. As expected, Gabriel’s only response to this suggestion was to make a sour face.

  “It should be someone that you can trust when things are at their bleakest,” Gabriel suggested.

  Cheshire had been drawing a blank as he thought of candidates for this job. However, his father’s words brought fond childhood memories of his friend Leana Longclaw. Leana had been his friend since childhood and had helped to nurse him back to health after he was wounded. She had even volunteered for field duty with the nurses at the Battle of Eastern Pass. Fortunately for Cheshire, when he was injured , she had been a reassuring and efficient presence for him as he began treatment and recovery. Leana was neither flighty nor arrogant and was very intelligent too. Of all the cougars that Cheshire knew, Leana was the best choice by far. With this decision made, he returned his attention to his father.

  “I know that look! I used to get it! The motivation behind it usually always caused a stir!” Gabriel reacted to the glimmer that had appeared in his son’s eye.

  “Leana.” Cheshire spoke her name confidently as he made his choice and suggested her to his father.

  “Then you are considering marriage?” Gabriel asked, unsure of exactly what his son meant.

  “No. I want her to be my assistant,” Cheshire answered, putting his father into a state of shock. Never before had anyone even dared to suggest a female in any role on the Council. This was almost completely unimaginable. A female had never held any position in the Council besides the Duchess, and her role was not a powerful one.

  “That is unheard of!” Gabriel stammered.

  Gabriel stood silent for a moment waiting for his shock to subside. Then he reflected on what he knew of Leana’s character.

  “There is no shadow on her character, and she has proven herself through many late night vigils,” he mused aloud. “If this is your choice, I see no reason to not accept her.”

  “Dad, what do you do now to make this decision official?”

  “Son, what we do now is show the Council that Leana’s capabilities are more than just that of a nurse.”

  “How?” Cheshire asked, looking toward his father.

  Gabriel turned to look out over the water, turning his head to the side. Looking at him from this angle, he posed an impressive figure. From the dark patches that accented his muzzle to the muscular build and tan fur, it was easy to see where Cheshire had inherited his birthright.

  “I believe that your friend Michael may be able to help us,” Gabriel suggested, returning his attention to Cheshire. Now it was Cheshire’s turn to gawk. Looking to one of the Council’s most outspoken members was not what he had expected his father to suggest.

  “Diplomacy is not Michael’s biggest strength,” Cheshire protested.

  “No, but he knows about the ceremony of Trial by Fire. That may be the only way to validate your faith in Leana, and it is one of the oldest tests of character. This method has been used by other clans for years. The Shepherds are the last to employ this test, and then only rarely. If this test is good enough to validate the worth of a Duke, it should more than appease the Council.”

  “When do we start, Dad?”

  “This madness needs to end immediately; now cannot be soon enough. Therefore let us begin.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Sitting in his flame-lit cavern, surrounded by his pitiful slaves, Griffin had been tracking events as they happened on his viewing table. Griffin had always viewed the disgustingly decent residents of Evermore as nothing more than potential slaves, but that was before the Battle of Eastern Pass. After failing to capture the humans, he was brought before his vile master, the Dragon, for punishment. The Dragon, thoroughly enraged by Griffin’s failure, had hung his puppet by his wings and had ordered him to be whipped while he was forced to watch Cheshire being nursed back to health. Such punishments were commonplace with Griffin’s dark master, reminding his underlings of their failures and inadequacies. Writhing in agony from the hell forged torture he was enduring, Griffin had watched that pathetic cat, Cheshire Cougar, be nursed back to health. Cheshire had slowly regained his health with the aid and support of friends and family. Griffin’s only support had been the shackles that bound his wings and the constant pain that accompanied each blow.

  The dim silver light radiating from the viewing table highlighted Griffin’s sharp beak and eagle-like face as he stood viewing Cheshire and Gabriel’s conversation with a twisted grin. He had spent all of his free time peering into the viewing table watching Cheshire and waiting for a chance at revenge. Now he had found the time to strike.

  “Well, Nicholas. It seems that your failed attempt at destroying that cougar may yield a dark harvest yet.” Griffin spoke to a dingy-looking leopard who was standing at his feet with his red-eyed soulless gaze set on him waiting for instructions.

  “How so, Oh Great Master?” Nicholas hissed sarcastically, giving his master a belligerent glare. If Griffin had not been so preoccupied with revenge, he would have taken the time to teach his lieutenant about the painful consequences of disrespect.

  “With the proper handling of his fears and insecurities, we will make that cougar pay dearly for the punishment we received from the Dragon. This is so promising that the least we can do is fracture the Cougar Clan.” Griffin finished his remarks, choosing to ignore Nicholas for now.

  “What is your bidding?” Nicholas asked in a tone that betrayed his own hunger for revenge.

  “For you? Nothing. This requires a s
pecialist,” Griffin said, “Be gone” he dismissed his lieutenant. Griffin wanted to be alone as he planned the symphony of deception that he would use against the cougars and the Council.

  CHAPTER 6

  As the Duke of Shepherds, Michael Shepherd was a credit to the clan that he served. He was a fierce warrior, fair judge, and at the same time he was honest, loyal, and blunt. Of all the animals in Evermore, he was the least likely to flatter or praise without merit. Michael’s frankness was well respected throughout the forest valley. While he spoke with kindness , Michael was not going to sugar coat his words and risk having their meaning missed. Michael’s footsteps were firm, sure, and moved to an unheard cadence. Michael’s heavy footed, stiff legged stride offered a stark contrast to Cheshire’s light-footed steps and fluid movement across the forest floor.

  “Did the Duke say why he wanted to see me?” Michael asked.

  “He mentioned several things, but since I cannot put my claws into his logic I am not going to even try to figure out what he is working on,” Cheshire answered.

  “Michael, I am glad to see that you were able to meet with me,” Gabriel greeted Michael when he and Cheshire stepped into the clearing beside the pond. The brush shrouded enclave was a favorite meeting spot for Gabriel, and a place where the surrounding foliage provided shelter and also some measure of privacy.

  “You wanted to see me, sir?” Michael asked, standing at attention before the Duke of Cougars. Although in Evermore all of its residents were considered equal in the Master’s sight, the title of Duke was given as a reminder that the Duke is in service to the King, and as such he is worthy of respect.

  “We need your help,” Gabriel answered. He then paused and turned his attention toward Cheshire, who was preparing to sit down.

  “Cheshire, we are going to need Joshua also. Can you go and ask him to join us?” Without a word Cheshire nodded and left to retrieve the head of the Council.

  ****

  Duchess Elizabeth Cougar had been on her way to the archive when the sound of an argument caught her attention. As she continued down the path, the voices grew louder. When she got within a half a pounce of the cats involved, she was able to discern the voices of Leana Longclaw and Head Nurse Thistle.