[doghouse]

Zia soon fell asleep, curled up in Ardis's nest. She'd nearly forgotten that she and Ardis weren't the only ones in the den.

Ardis looked at Slash. Stupid furball! she thought, sighing and resting her head on her paws, thinking of the days when she could run. She knew sooner or later she'd be killed if she stayed in the Dusk Syndicate any longer, but first, she wanted to know if Zia would leave with her. They could mark out their own lives! She looked at the young cat sleeping beside her and purred happily. She knew that she would be asking a lot of Zia, to leave everything behind for the unknown.