A reddish tabby she-cat let out a huff, her breath misting in the cold air. Paws thumped beside her, fur brushing against her pelt. Thankful for the warmth radiating from her company, she flicked her tail at the cat beside her and continued to stare at a thick bramble bush, her gaze unwavering.
A loud screech echoed through the trees, the sharp ears of the she-cat picking it up instantly. "Come on," she hissed at her partner, dashing out of the cover of the snow. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure that the silver tom behind her was keeping up. Swerving through a thick tunnel of snow, she ducked down and slid underneath a hole in a wall of stone, yowls of battling cats filling her ears. Fur flew in the air, claws flashing and teeth bared in the light of the rising sun.
The silver tom at her side leaped forward and tackled a tall, orange-pelted she-cat. Following her partner, she raked her claws over the she-cat's muzzle, blood spraying over her paw. The silver tom twisted and rolled underneath the taller cat, unbalancing the other and sending fur flying. Crouching down, the tabby she-cat prepared to deliver a killing blow – until a heavy weight dropped on her back.
Claws raked over her back as she whipped around and slammed against the rock wall behind her, throwing her opponent off. Just a few more moments! the tabby thought to herself as she leaped forward, sending the other cat flying. She bared her teeth at a group of cats surrounding her, their pelts slicked with blood. Suddenly, the world turned furry and red, pain bolting through her body as all her instincts screamed to run. She flailed wildly at her attackers, feeling herself weaken as blood loss and exhaustion caught up with her.
NO! She shook off a snow-white tom and kicked a brown tabby aside, only to have more cats come at her, claws raking through her pelt and tearing skin. She collapsed, blood pooling from her wounds as the others backed off, thinking she was dead.
Paws thundered near her, battle cries erupting in her ears. The reddish tabby made no attempt to get up, her vision darkening.
A familiar voice screeching her name was the last thing she heard.