Why is she mad at me?

"I don't understand, I don't understand..."

"Mother, why are we running away? Why didn't we take Nityri with us?"

"Didn't you see Nityri, they did something to her. She was protecting them, the way she looked at us... like we were strangers to her. Not a clue in sight regarding us, she's sick!"

"Then we can help her, we have to! I didn't come all the way over just to lose my sister ag-"

"Girls!"

Both kitties snapped shut, standing still with shivering tails and heads full of uncertainty. Momma kitty breathed in before digesting the events of tonight, her mind still fogged with lingering questioning and doubt.

"I cannot lie to my babies, I've no clue what's going on. That man... did you see him? What did he look like to you?"

"Like a hyu-mane!" Chirped the youngest one, Syri, with a bright smile.

Mother facepalmed as the other sister pushed her lightheaded sibling aside before scolding at her. "You dummy, she means what was off about him! And I know what."

"Thank you Dimyri."

"He looks cute, and hoo-mans never look cute!"

"No! That's..." She sighed, shaking her head while both Syri and Dimyri bickered and argued. Stepping lightly among the grass, she felt the cool night breeze drape across her fur. Looking past the shivering trees she could make out another Nekomata, perched on the field plucking away at strands of grass lost in thought. The feeling of melancholia surrounded the poor cat, and it looked to be catching soon.

"Girls, with me."

"Yes mother!" Both answered, quick to follow their mom towards the field before sitting alongside their sorrowful catgirl.

Sitting comfortably around their friend, the girls had no clue how to approach her or how to ease her pain. It was the mother who started to talk first.

"Na'Vi, something wounds you deeply. Speak to us, let us help ease your suffering."

Na'Vi closed her eyes, plucking another strand of grass away.

"She doesn't remember me anymore, Emyri. The look in her eyes, when mine met hers I was rewarded with blank nothingness. She held no affection, no sense of memory or second thought. She... she doesn't know who I am..."

"There there-"

"No! Can you not see? Her memory of you and I, of all of us are absent. We mean nothing to her now, they-they hurt her, they changed her, they stole her from us, from me! And now... now I am lost, and alone, and forgotten... and she doesn't think to weep for me."

"We remember you, Na'vi." Chirped Syri.

"That's right, we made it this far we cannot let her go, not when we are so close!" Added Dimiryi, sitting at Na'Vi's side. "And we will help her remember, right?" She glanced over at her sister who nodded in return.

"That's right! All is not lost, we can still help her, we can save her! If we can just find her alone and away from that hyu-"

"That won't be happening." All eyes looked up as Emyri climbed a high tree branch on all fours, her claws embedded firmly into the bark before settling into a comfortable laying position. "Because you are young, I do not think either of you noticed the human she is with. He shares more in common than you perceive, her eyes, her scent, her mark."

"Mark?"

She nodded, her tail waving beneath her as she looked on into the deep blue above. "That's right, he bares my daughters mark. That is no ordinary human, that is her claim, her territory, her mate."

Na'Vi's eyes grew wide before lowering ber head in defeat, Syri held nothing back and gasped while Dimiryi hugged Na'Vi tightly.

"I'm sorry Na'Vi. Know that nothing is certain yet, we've yet to learn what has happened to our Nityri while under his care. He-"

"She chose him then." Spoke Na'Vi, "You can't be forced a mate without consent, is it not? So she chose him, over me."

Emyri dropped down with a soft landing, blowing away the few leaves that followed with her. "I warned you about this, did I not? I never kept secret my feelings regarding your love for her, but it was clear to me she loved you back. You had my permission, with it came my advice. What did I say then, do you remember it? Girls?"

Syri nodded, clearing her throat. "Love each other as deeply as you love yourselves, but know that nature will head its call in the end."

"Yes, and nature has chosen. You loved her, but you can not bare children with her nor her with you."

"It's my fault," sighed Na'Vi with tears rolling down her face. "That fight, that night. If I remained in control none of this-"

"None of it matters. Like Syri mentioned, we found her. She just has not found us yet. We've dealt with worse before, have we not? Every mother does all she can in her life to protect her children, and protect them I shall. The wolf she is with has our scent, they will be expecting us now. We need her alone, and we need her unafraid. Her mate is a stranger to us, but not to her. If she chose him, it is only fair we give him a chance as well."

"I need her alone."

"Na'Vi, please-"

"Please, Emyri. I-If I could just speak to her alone, no interruptions, I can make her understand. I can help her remember, I promise."

Emyri sighed, looking back and forth between her daughters. "I imagine you two are in agreement with her?" They stayed silent. "Very well, when daylight returns we shall plan our next move. First, the wolf needs to go. Distract the wolf, divert our lover boy, and leave Nityri to Na'Vi. But Na'Vi?"

She rubbed her eyes and looked up at mother.

"Remember my hearing is as acute as a hounds. One cry, and I will be there. Protect her at all costs, she is still my daughter."

"And our sister!" Nodded the other two.

Na'Vi smiled and closed her eyes. "Thank you." She sighed, sitting upright as the moon beamed down upon them.

"I promise you Nityri, I will help you remember."