The night was quiet. However, everyone was on edge even though they have been practicing defensive fighting in their POD training. They knew the Shadow Cat Warriors were coming soon. Shadow lay awake with guilt. She hated that people were going to lose their life over having to protect her. The Shadow Cat Warriors wanted to see that Shadow was killed. They viewed her as a threat to their species. Shadow has special powers that the SCW’s don’t have. They are concerned these mutations will end their species. Not all Catmmoonians are afraid of Shadow and it is that faction that protects her now. Did I mention tonight was Christmas on Catmoon?

As Shadow lay in her bed trying to sleep, she noted it was midnight. She spotted in a corner a mouse barely stirring. The night was eerily quiet and stung with the fear of the upcoming battle. It did not feel like Christmas. Shadow got word earlier in the morning that her owner back on Earth was sick in the hospital with the Omicron COVID variant. His chances to survive COVID were slim. Shadow began to cry. She hadn’t seen her owner in over a year and a half. At first, her crying was soft then she began to sob. her heart was breaking. Her owner had raised her as a kitten to be a fine example of how a cat can behave. The thought of losing him broke her heart…