Amsterdam (Night Visions songfic)

Song six of Night Visions.

'''I'm sorry, mother I'm sorry I let you down'''

The fog was so thick that Mosspaw thought he could see cat-like shapes dancing within it.

“Larknose?” he asked, tasting the air. He retched, but at least he managed to catch his mother’s scent.

Larknose emerged from the fog in front of him, her eyes clouded with grief. “Why did you choose this?” she asked him.

Mosspaw looked at her with eyes of steel. “I thought it was the best choice to make.”

“For what?” Larknose spat, “For a cold-blooded killer for your mate?”

Mosspaw took a step back. “N-No,” he stammered. “I just wanted a change.”

Larknose snarled at him. “You disgust me, Mosspaw.”

She lunged at him and Mosspaw was knocked to the ground, unconscious.

'''Well, these days I'm fine No these days I tend to lie'''

“Are you okay?” asked a soft voice nervously. Mosspaw rolled over, wincing at the pain in his side. “You got some nasty scratches,” it spoke again. A she-cat. “If Martha hadn’t found you you’d be food for the dogs.”

“Who’s Martha?” Mosspaw grumbled. Then he remembered: Falling down onto stone, dogs coming closer, a she-cat fending them off and carrying him inside a twoleg nest. ''Martha. ''Martha saved him.

Mosspaw heard another cat come into the room. “I’m Martha,” she stated. She had a twinkly, soft voice as smooth as honey. “And the other cat here is my mother, Suzanne.”

'''I'll take the West train Just by the side of Amsterdam'''

Mosspaw tried to get up, despite the pain. “I think I’ll go now,” he said casually.

He opened his eyes and looked around him, scolding himself for the fact that he should have done that before. He was in a small room surrounded by the sort of unmelting ice that he had heard about in elders’ tales. Sunlight streamed through the walls and spilled out onto the den floor. The room was plainly decorated, with a few pieces of furniture.

Suzanne pushed him down onto his nest. “No,” she growled sternly. “You have to stay here.”

“But I’m on a mission!” protested Mosspaw.

Suzanne purred with laughter. “Mission or not, it’s my responsibility to get you well.” She groomed her immaculate white pelt.

“Should I get some mint tea for our guest, mother?” Martha asked, her head tilted to one side.

Suzanne nodded. “Certainly dear. Perhaps get out the biscuits as well?”

Martha widened her eyes, then sped out of the room in a white blur.

“We only get out the special cat biscuits for special occasions when our housefolk are out,” explained Suzanne quietly.

“Where are they now?” Mosspaw asked, his spirits lifted.

“Work,” chirped Suzanne. “Abigail’s teaching at her school, David is working at his office as always, and Jo and Alice are both at school.”

Mosspaw didn’t understand a word she said. But thankfully, Martha entered the room balancing a tray of sandy-coloured squares and a white hollow stone with a golden-brown liquid inside of it.

“Drink dear,” coaxed Martha. “Mint tea always helps injuries heal quicker.”

Mosspaw lapped up a bit of the tea. The taste was sharp as well as mellow. “Amazing,” he said.

“Told you you’d like it,” purred Martha. She pushed her head through a small white flap. “May I visit friends, mother?” she called out, her voice muffled.

“Sure! Just be back before Abigail and the girls arrive. You know Abigail hates stray cats coming in here. We have to say farewell to our guest.”

“Of course, mother,” meowed Martha loyally. She disappeared out of the flap and into the outside world.

'''Just by my left brain Just by the side of the tin man'''

“Go!” hissed Suzanne. “I hear Abigail’s car.”

Martha nudged Mosspaw to his feet and hastily guided him to the flap.

“Can’t you come with me?” he asked.

“I cannot leave my housefolk and especially my mother for no longer than an hour,” replied Martha. “Your ‘mission’ might take days! Mother will be worried sick. But maybe you can visit us on your way back? I’ll post lookouts every day!” she yowled as he exited the room.

His journey had been delayed. He would not attract any more disruptions until he was on his way home.

'''I'm sorry, brother I'm sorry I let you down Well, these days you're fine No these days you tend to lie You'll take the West train Just by the side of Amsterdam Just by your left brain Just by the side of the tin man'''

'''Your time will come If you wait for it, if you wait for it It's hard Believe me I've tried But I keep coming up short'''

'''I'm sorry, lover I'm sorry I bring you down Well, these days I try And these days I tend to lie Kinda thought it was a mystery And then I thought I wasn’t meant to be You said yourself fantastically "Congratulations, you are all alone"'''

'''Your time will come If you wait for it, if you wait for it It's hard Believe me I've tried'''

'''Your time will come If you wait for it, if you wait for it It's hard Believe me I've tried'''

'''But the rain won't fall for the both of us The sun won't shine on the both of us Believe me when I say That I wouldn't have it any other way'''

'''Your time will come If you wait for it, if you wait for it It's hard Believe me I've tried But I won't wait much longer Cause these walls they're crashing down And I won't wait much longer Cause these walls they're crashing down And I keep coming up short'''