To find Moonbeam! (Hopefully)

The winds howled their fury as snow was stamped beneath the spacecat’s paws. Long and sharp claws digging into the permafrost. 

Dionysus looked over his shoulder at the rest of the group, careful to make sure Masquerade remained alright and couldn’t fall. It seemed the cave was further than they had imagined, but finally, they had made it there.

Dionysus could feel a wave of relief wash over his fur and through his limbs. But it all became short lived.

As the black cat peeked his head over the last snowbank he quickly dove back down. Glaring at the others to follow his lead. 

“What’s going on?” Seyren whispered, Dionysus looked at her, “someone is in the cave already, there’s a flame and all.”

Selene’s face scrunched, “well why don’t we go talk to them!” She hissed under her breath, “it’s better than freezing to death out here.”

Before Dionysus could retort, a commanding voice rose above them, “your friend is correct.”

Dionysus snapped his head upwards to see who had been at the fire just moments before. A guppymander who seemed much bigger than what he was used to being around. He couldn’t even process how they had been seen. 

“Right now I don’t mind sharing the flame's warmth, afterall I’m not heartless.” The guppymander stated, before turning their back and stalking to the cave. 

Following behind him Dionysus kept his guard up, now even more mixed with paranoia of this stranger.

The group of cats seemed to brighten at being met with the warm graces of the fire. Slowly and carefully Dionysus layed Masquerade down onto the slightly heated stone. He then turned his head to their apparent savior. “Forgive me for being blunt, but who the hell are you? Why are you here?” 

As the guppymander tended to the fire he spoke, “I am Volans, I am-“

“Wait Volans? Like the Sentinel Commander Volans?” Seyren blurted, not caring for any sort of courtesy. “I’ve only heard of him.. rarely ever seen.. and, it’s you?”

Dionysus sent a death glare at the other cat, “be quiet Seyren.” He snapped, before immediately regretting it. Something was getting to him out here, he hoped it was just the threat of the unknown. 

“Yes, I am him, and he is me.” Tapping his claws on the stone in rhythmic clicks. “I’m not entirely surprised that you didn’t recognize who I was, afterall I don’t show my face to many, aside from her majesty of course.” He seemed to straighten at the mention of Queen Andromeda, a habit perhaps. 

“I’m not on this planet by choice exactly, I was heading to port borealis as a diplomat of sorts, as her majesty never leaves Xirres. She asked me to meet with Miss Moonbeam.” He trailed off for a moment. “Before some pod ravaged the hull of my ship and I had to make a landing. Unfortunately my entire fuel supply is gone because of it.” Volans pupils seemed to grow smaller and thinner at the mention of events. 

“Well.. haha that's quite a predicament, Commander,” Selene murmured, nervous. Helios smacked her on the shoulder with his wing, “What my sister meant to say was that we are sorry that happened to you.” He said with a deeply unbelievable grin to lighten the situation. Volans narrowed his eyes, his tail curling around his paws. He sighed, shaking his head, “I’m aware it was your pod, honestly it’s difficult for me to believe it wasn’t you all, but I'm not the kind to hold grudges like that.” He then looked at a still unconscious Masquerade, “besides, the ringmaster needs help, he shouldn’t be unconscious this long.”

Seyren’s gape could almost be felt by all, “you know us..?”

Volans nodded, “Yes I do; Dionysus and Seyren, the Ringmaster Mortelle’s closest confidants.” He turned to the twins, “Selene and Helios, champion acrobats and skilled stunt artists. Yes I know you all well, I’ve been to a few of your shows. I quite enjoyed them actually..” He commented, recalling the memory. Dionysus slowly nodded his head, “I see, but cant you just call for backup to get off this planet? You are a sentinel commander afterall.” Volans let out another long breath, “Yes I could, but before landing I received a message that Miss Moonbeam and Goldie had gone MIA.” He gripped another slab of wood, tossing it into the flames to stoke it. “And it’s my belief that they are on this planet, coming from their last known trajectory and intentions to check on multiple planets within the system.” 

He then turned, pointing a claw down into an opening, which looked like it led to an entire cave system. “I also believe they went into the caves, I was about to track them before you all showed yourselves.”

Taking Volans’ words in, he looked at the guppymander, “..Do you think they will be able to help him?” His voice was uncharacteristically worried. Volans nodded curtly, “I think so, and besides, I’ll take your assistance as payback for ripping up my ship.” He growled, even so letting a small smile slide across his lips. 

The group sat at the fire for a half an hour, before deciding to descend into the caves. Volans snapped a smaller chunk of wood and lit it ablaze, holding it up before turning to the group of cats. Dionysus once more carefully slung Masquerade over his shoulders. 

Volans headed the group, his tail swaying silently behind him as the darkness of the caves began to swallow them. With the only light being the swimming flicker of the torch the area became claustrophobic quickly. With darkness on all sides, every noise amplified ten fold. From droplets of water, to the scurrying of small creatures that found the caves home. Hours seemed to slip by without notice, down here, time had little meaning. And soon Volans stopped in his tracks, the spines along his back twitching slightly. 

Annoyed at the sudden stop, Seyren leapt forward before a gasp left their mouth. Volans lowered his torch, allowing for the rest of them to step forward. As the cave opened up, its walls expanded into a massive cavern. Dripping stalactites hung from the ceiling, with water slowly dripping from its edges. 

Beneath it though, was a civilization frozen in time. High rising buildings with empty rooms, windows shattered, lights and livelihood dead and gone. “Woah..” Selene gaped aloud, “who could have even known..” 

In addition light filled the cavern, its roof stretched close enough to the surface for dimmed pearl white streaks to shine through. Volans extinguished the torch, letting it fall to the stone below. 

“Moonbeam and Goldie are here somewhere.. I can feel it,” he whispered. “We have to find them, before something else does.” He seemed to need to take a breath before continuing, as if the world he now saw shouldn’t be intruded upon. “I may not like Moonbeam much, but I can’t let her die out here either. Let’s go.”