Rose scrambled through the hole into daylight, a relief. She looked behind just in time to see half the tower topple. Thankfully, Rose’s spirit had grown solid again. That was seriously freaky, she told the shadow as they ventured into a forest. Call me Shadow, the shadow swooped like taking a bow. Seriously? Rose couldn’t help saying. Now tell me what’s going on here. Private information, Shadow said. Tell me! NO! I need you to! Never! Why!? NO! I won’t tell anyone! I would never disobey my master! WHO IS YOUR MASTER!? Rose had little patience left for the stubborn shadow. If you tell me, I will be your friend, Rose tried. Shadow had to be lonely. Friend? Shadow asked. Yes, Okay! I am ready! Now, who is your master, A fluffy red cat like you, but a boy, Shadow said. Oh! And his tail tip is white! Rose sucked in a breath. “Fox,” she muttered out loud. “Is something wrong?” Shadow asked. Rose glanced at him in surprise. She didn’t know he could talk. “No,” she said. “I need the exact details of how you met him.” “Okay,” Shadow said. “I was sitting, bored, in that tower when I heard the clang of the gate. The only time it opens is when a new cat comes, so I peeked outside. I could just only see a sliver of red-orange fur. Grey was asking him the riddle, and I heard annoyance in this Fox’s voice as he answered- “ Here Shadow chuckled. “- and Grey led him here. I tried to warn him, though Shadowspin is quite rare. It was a real pain to see the shadows devour him, but he got out all right. Smart guy. Then, temporarily out of danger, he and I had a little talk. I spoke aloud, and after a while he calmed down enough for me to get some answers. Told me he was heading west to Dedra to defeat some foxes. He asked me if I’d seen you. I hadn’t then, but he knew you would come eventually. He said to tell you this, and I quote: ‘Find me in Blackpart’. Then the cat left.” Rose’s brain was whirling and whirring. “He really said that?” she asked. “Yes,” Shadow said, morphing himself into a cat shape. Rose took her map from her leaf satchel and unrolled it. “By the place of the dead, he could mean a grave. That is…in this forest.” “Yes!” Shadow said. “Let’s go, then,” she said dryly. Shadow paused. One problem, he said, using the Shadowspin language. What? Rose asked. I can’t go, Shadow admitted. It’s the rule. We can’t travel with others. We are meant to be alone. Why do you think I didn’t go with Fox? “Really?” Rose asked. “Really,” Shadow whispered. “Goodbye.” Rose couldn’t describe the empty feeling in her chest as she watched Shadow float away. Was it sadness? Anger at herself? Guilt. It was Guilt. But every negative feeling disappeared, replaced by strong positive ones, when a familiar red tom stepped in. “I thought you would find me,” Fox said, flashing a grin.
