Sky couldn't remember her past, and she knew she never wanted to go back to it. It could've been an easy life, caring parents and littermates, a warm nest and a full belly. Or, it could of been hard. Fighting for each day, abandoned or abused, and not knowing what it felt to not be hungry.
Either way, she didn't want to return, not when she had everything she ever wanted right by her side, in paws reach.
"Come on, Sky!" Shouted a stormy gray tabby, yanking the calico out of her thoughts. "Birds on the northbound and you're the only one who can catch them in the sky!"
With a quick nod, Sky couldn't help but break out in a smile as she raced to the other cat. Twister, one of her best friends in the whole world, one third of a certain trio that couldn't be stopped. Much like her name, Twister could pull up anything and destroy it without trying. Sky was always glad she never was on the she-cat's bad side, something that many cats haven't survived from.
Laying low next to the tabby, each cat scanned the horizon before locating their target. A small flock of birds that had landed in a clearing. They would have to move fast and each element of the plan raced through each of the she-cats' mind.
Sky could feel Twisters' excitement course through her pelt, and a small twitch of her paw gave her everything she needed to know. Because of the group they joined, they had signs to speak without speaking. The sign was loud and clear, sneak attack.
Sky broke away from her friend, tail tip brushing against each others briefly. Each pawstep was calculated to a point, one wrong move and the whole trio would be punished for it.
The grass was wet under her paws from the morning dew, this would make landing harder but she would make it work, she always did. A few bushes were loosely scattered near the meadow, the perfect place to wait and jump. Clinging to the ground, the grass tickling her white underbelly as Sky slowly moved into the bush. As her striped pelt disappeared into the leafy cover, her tail twitched, a barely visible movement, but clear to the other two.
Alright, I'm ready.
Sky made sure her ears weren't sticking out of the bush as she shifted slightly, trying not to make much movement. Eyes glancing across the tree line, searching for her fellow hunters. Twister's grey form was slithering between rocks, trees, and any other cover the tabby could hide behind. A few birds had flew away but six stayed, still searching the ground, pecking it clean of worms and bugs. A pair of feathered, brown and white ears poked out from behind a tree. Yellow eyes glittered in the light and a nervous grin appeared before they all disappeared. Grace, the last part of their trio. A feisty, long haired, himalayan she-cat and self proclaimed leader of the trio. Neither of the other two minded the fluffy cat taking over, Grace had a sister in the group, Fairly, and Song was basically a new mother to her. With the fluffy she-cat in charge, they could move up in the ranks faster and get respect from their older group mates.
Grace moved closer, across from Twister, barely seeable to the birds. Twister was upwind, which could be very bad, but they needed her to be upfront. Twister had the unusual ability to tell when a piece of prey was most vulnerable, with her in front everyone could hit at the perfect time.
Which is now, thought Sky as both Twister and Grace bolted forward. Counting to three, Sky waited as the other two pinned and killed as many as they could. The robins squawked and started to fly away as Sky bolted out of her hiding spot, teeth bared and claws out. The birds took to the air, wings flapping to get to the safety of the trees.
Bunching up her legs, Sky leaped into the air. With practiced movements, she aimed at the flight feathers and wings of the birds. The next moments were a mix of adrenaline clouding her brain with instinct controlling her paws. Feathers clouded her eyes and fear scents her nose as she wrapped her jaws around a bird's neck. With a crack and a final slash of her paw, Sky fell to the ground. Landing carefully on the wet ground, the calico took in the scene around. Puffing out her white chest at seeing all the birds on the ground. Grace jumped happily into the air, grinning like a mouse-brain.
"Wow! Look at us!" Grace purred motioning with her tail behind her. Twister smiled and bumped playfully into Grace. Sky purred and trotted over to them.
"They'll have to be impressed!" She added, taking a robin into her mouth. It tasted great, like all prey she ate these days. Prey she hunted with cat as close as kin, prey she caught and worked for. Not daring to take a bite, the three took two birds into their mouths and walked side by side, pelts brushing and tails high in the air.
What a sight they were. Each walking different, each holding the birds different, each different. The calico, holding the robins by their tail feathers, walking in jumps, skips, and random sports. The himalayan, holding her birds by the wings, taking long strides and walking half a step in front of the others. The tabby, holding the birds neatly by their necks and walking in easy, perfect steps.
Different past. Different breeds. Different skills.
The very best of friends.
In moments like this, Sky threw everything to the wind. The past, the future, only the present stay rooted in her mind. This is where she belonged, and this is where she would stay.