Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Rage

At last, they head over to where they started to face the smartest cats.  There are very few waiting there, 12 at the most.  Stone looks at Crow, who thinks of the hardest question he knows.  Suddenly he gets an idea.
"First two cats to whisper the answer in my ear win.  Here is the question:
Dandelion can see a rare type of moss from the great oak.  She wants to get the moss, but deadly bees are in the oak and she can not climb the tree.  How can she get the moss?"  Crow asks.  The cats stare at him with confused expressions.  One tom walks over and whispers into Crow's ear.  Crow rolls his eyes.
"Flying is not possible." Crow mutters.  The tom huffs out in frustration.
"What is it?" Stone asks Crow.  One look at Stone and Crow knows the old cat really is confused!  After a few seconds, a skinny calico cat about Crow's age, young, not quite full grown, with a shimmering pelt walks up to Crow.  Her jade green eyes shine in the sunlight.  Crow stares at her.  Please get this right, calico.  The calico looks into the tom's eyes and whispers into his ear.  Crow smiles at her.
"We have a winner.  Any other answers?"  Crow looks into the crowd.  No cat says anything.
"Then I guess only one cat will win this then.  What's your name?" Crow asks the calico.  She smiles and lifts her head as she replies.
"I am Maple."
"Congratulations, Maple.  Follow us to the finals." Crow walks slowly so the calico can catch up and walk beside the black tom.  He smiles at her.
"How did you know the answer?" Crow asks her.  He takes in her scent.  Like fresh herbs.  Maybe that's where she got her name.  Maple.
Maple shrugs.  "It was a lucky guess," she says, and smiles at Crow shyly.  Crow smiles back.  Soon Stone stops so abruptly Crow runs into him.
"Sorry," Crow says.  Maple laughs.  Crow grows red with embarrassment again.
"What should the final challenge be?" Stone asks Crow.  Hmm.  Maybe another riddle?  No, that would be unfair.  The other cats may not be as smart as Maple.  But what will be fair to all these cats?  Stone can see right into Crow.
"Tricky to make it fair?" He asks.  Crow nods.  "It's your decision."  But what should it be?
"Um, lets sit in circle." Crow says.  The cats assemble into a circle.  "We will go around listing prey and, er, if you can't name one in 5 seconds you're out.  Last 5 cats in win..."  Crow says awkwardly.  The cats shrug.
"I can accept that," Rock mutters.
"I'll start," Crow says.  "Mouse."
"Rabbit." Maple says.
"Fish," Rock says.
"Frog," Grass says.
"Snake," Mouse says.
"Worm," Rabbit says.
"Bugs." A cat says.
"Voles." a tom says.
"Rats." the other tom says.
"Thrush." The other fisher says.
"Crows." Maple says, a mischievous glance in her eyes. Crow smiles at her.
"Hawks." Rock says.
"Umm..." Grass looks uneasy.  She sighs after five seconds and exits the circle.
"Well done," Crow whispers to her.  She nods sadly.
"Minnows," Mouse says.  Rabbit says nothing.  Crow gives her an apologetic smile as she joins Grass.
The next cat, a fisher, is speechless too.  She walks over beside the two cats out.
"Only one more cat to get out!" Crow announces.
"Leeches!"
"Magpie."
"Foxes."
Crow looks at Maple.  She looks at the ground, her tail swaying.  Crow's heart begins to sink.
4.  Maple looks at the sky, her eyes closed.
3. Crow looks at Stone, who is looking at Maple.
2. Maple digs her claws into the ground, then sheathes them.
1. Maple shakes her head sadly.
0. 
"We have our winners." Crow says dryly.  The 5 cats cheer.
"In honor of the cats that lost, they shall lead the next 2 meetings with me." Stone says to the four cats out.  All eleven cats walk back to the boulders.  Crow looks at Maple.  She is looking at her paws.
"You'd think I'd have won," she says sadly, "being the winner of the smartest cats and all."  Crow smiles and nods.
"I guess I'll see you later, Maple." Crow says.
"Same," she replies.  As Stone and Crow hop onto the boulder, Crow can't help but think of the journey.
Even though I just met the cat, I can't help but think of the journey without Maple.

Interested in the answer to the riddle?  Leave your guess in a comment!  First to get it wins some sort of prize.  I don't know what yet though... I'll figure it out.