The crisp, early spring air felt nice on the queen's golden fur as she padded through a meadow that contained a few rocks. It would soon be sun high she realized, and the sun would warm the rocks just enough for it to be easy to curl up and take a nap. No, there is no time for that. She continued on, toward the treeline. The perfect place to start her family was near.
There was a loud snap behind her, and the queen whirled around, ready to attack. There was a three-legged tom with brown fur and darker brown spots standing behind her. His green eyes were filled with concern.
"It's okay Sunny, it's just me." He mewed as he ambled up to her. He licked her on the shoulder and she instantly relaxed and began to purr.
"Sorry Weasel." she meowed. "I guess I was too deep in thought to notice you."
"It's alright, just be more careful."
Sunny rolled her eyes at Weasel. Even though he was usually the one to get into danger, ever since Sunny told him she was going to have kits, he's been a worrywart since.
"Let's get going now, we're almost there!" She said with a skip.
"Shouldn't we take a break? I don't want you-"
"Weasel, I'm fine!" She interrupted. "At this rate we'll get there before sunset, but if we keep stopping we won't"
"Where is this 'perfect place' at again?" He asked with a confused tilt of his head as they continued their trek.
"You know, that group of cats that call themselves Mountainclan."
"Are you even sure they'd accept cats like us?" Weasel mumbled, looking down at where his left foreleg should be.
"How could you even say that Weasel?" she gasped "You're one of the fastest cat's I've ever met! And on top of that, I've never seen a cat so good at hunting rabbits either."
Weasel looked at the ground and blushed. He did emit that he was okay at hunting rabbits, being able fit into a rabbit's burrow and send them all flying out was a good advantage. Still, he felt that he would never get used to other cats complimenting him.
The two cats walked on in silence, taking in the scenery and all the spring smells. Every once in a while there was an opening in the evergreen tree forest. They could see the sky in between the trees, and the large mountains looming in the distance. It almost seemed as if the range of mountains went on forever, surely it was was impossible that they did? What lay beyond those mountains? Were there crazy creatures beyond imagination that resided there, or was it similar as to here?
Sunny shook her head in annoyance as if there was a fly. She couldn't believe she was thinking this deeply into things, about mountains at that. She usually never did. She looked over to Weasel who was deep in thought. He was more worried and paranoid nowadays, she was too. If they were already worried even without the kits, what would it be like with them?
They had stopped for a rest and were sprawled across the newly sprouted grass. It was now a little past sun high, and they were doing good in terms of time. After this rest they should make it there before sunset. She looked over to Weasel, who was staring thoughtfully at the sky.
"Does this remind you of when we first met? Weasel whispered, seemingly saying it as if it were a secret. Sunny chuckled at the good memory.
"When I bravely swooped in and battled that fierce dog that was attacking you?" he added.
"The way I remember it, I was the one who saved you." She smiled, as she booped his nose.
"Stop, I don't like it when you do that." He grumbled and rubbed his nose.
"Aww, but it's fun to boop your cute, widdle nose." Sunny purred. Sunny flopped on top of Weasel and started licking his smaller ears lovingly.
"Stop!" He squealed. "You're squishing me!"
After a couple of more agonizing licks, Sunny leapt off and began to groom her paw as if nothing had happened. Weasel got up with a huff and was now twitching his tail tip in mock aggravation. He sat next to Sunny with an obviously fake, stern expression on his face.
"Hey, wanna race?" Sunny mewed and nudged Weasel with her shoulder.
Weasel cocked his head and looked at Sunny with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. Sunny smiled and tapped him on the shoulder with her tail.
"I promise to go easy on you this time." She added, now wearing a mischievous smirk across her face.
Before Weasel could react, Sunny bolted forward towards what sounded like running water, kicking up fallen pine needles. Weasel was instantly on her tail, and Sunny couldn't help but laugh at their shenanigans. Weasel jumped up onto a low branch, most likely so he could be able to pounce onto Sunny, but to his surprise his momentum kept him skidding forward and made him tumble into a hollow within the tree. Sunny looked back over her shoulder and laughed at him. As she turned back around, she tripped over a large root which sent her tumbling.
She fell into a fairly deep ditch, that looked like it once was a stream but it had dried up. She sat there for a moment catching her breath. She finally moved to get up, but quickly flopped back down when she felt a searing pain. She couldn't identify exactly where it was coming from, if it was her leg, back, or something else.
"Weasel? Are you there?" she called out, only to be replied by silence
"Weasel?" she hollered again, now starting to get worried.
The forest was now quiet and she could her the gurgling of a nearby river. It was soothing, yet eerie at the same time. Sunny yowled in pain as another surge of pain ran through her. No. This couldn't be happening now, not now of all times. She screamed for Weasel a third time with all she could muster, but still no reply.
Her heart stopped when she heard crack of a twig in the distance. Was it Weasel? There was now a shadowy figure that was peering over the edge of the ditch. Sunny could feel a lump in her throat rise as she realized this wasn't Weasel. This was some other cat.