Chapter 2

Song padded confidently through the forest. The sun was shining brightly through the trees, the birds were singing merrily, and the weather was warm. It was a perfect day. Song was sure that Ice would listen to her and soon the two of them would be good friends.

It didn't take long for Song to locate her target. Ice was pacing furiously along the bank of a narrow creek, muttering to herself.

"I hate it here. This dumb forest isn't home. I wish I had never come here," Ice hissed quietly.

Song bounded up to the white cat, who greeted her with a cold glare. The dark gray she-cat was undeterred, mewing brightly, "Hey! Ice! Can you stop for a moment?"

Ice flicked her tail in annoyance. "What do you want?"

Song was taken aback by Ice's temper. Suddenly, she felt nervous and was unsure if she really wanted to talk to the unfriendly cat at all. Mustering all of her courage, Song meowed, "I thought that maybe you could use some kindness. I know you haven't been here long."

"I don't need kindness. I am just fine," Ice replied darkly.

The dark gray cat pressed the white cat harder. "You and I both know that's not true."

Ice narrowed her deep blue eyes, "Yes it is. Now leave me alone." The white cat turned to leave, whacking her long tail in Song's face.

With a burst of exasperation, Song's patience withered away and she ran in front of Ice, blocking the cat from leaving. "I'm not done talking to you. Please, just tell me why you took our toms from us. You knew all three of them had mates. Why did you take Tiger? Squirrel misses him so much. What about my Stone? How do you think I feel? How do you think Bird feels about Claw now that he's missing?" she hissed.

Ice didn't answer immediately, sitting down to wash her shiny white pelt. In a quiet voice, she mewed, "I do not care how you feel. What I do is none of your concern."

"Yes it is. My Stone is missing. I loved him. I still love him. His kittens should have been mine!" Song wailed, digging her claws into the moist soil.

The white cat tipped her head to one side, thinking. "One kitten from that litter survived. The one you stole from me, yes?"

Song nodded. "I stole her because I was afraid she would die, along with the rest of her litter."

"She should have died," Ice whispered, avoiding Song's questioning gaze.

Confusion swelled within Song. "What do you mean 'she should have died'?"

"I would have killed her if you hadn't taken her," Ice answered calmly.

"You killed them! Your own kittens! Oh, Ice, how could you?" Song cried in disbelief.

Ice stared at Song, hesitating before she answered. "Yes, it is true I killed them. I did not love them," she meowed slowly, as if she was unwilling to admit to her act.

Song sat down on the bank of the creek, her thoughts running blindly in her mind. "So if I hadn't taken Sasha…"

"Then she would have died along with her littermates," Ice finished.

Song felt anger beginning to boil inside her. Forgetting that she ever wanted to befriend the white cat, her voice hardened. "Then I'm glad I was able to rescue her."

"Whatever," Ice mewed dismissively.

A thought struck Song suddenly. If Ice had murdered her kits, what had happen to the toms? "But what about Stone and Tiger? What happened to them?" she asked cautiously.

Ice stared at Song with glittering blue eyes. "I did not need them anymore."

"What do you mean?" Song asked, bewildered.

The white cat was no more informative in her next answer. "I was finished with them."

A wave of horror struck Song. Fearing the worst, she questioned Ice again, "What did you do?"

"You must find out the answers yourself if you want to know. I cannot and will not tell you," Ice growled, rising to her paws. It was clear that she was done talking.

Song stood up, ready to follow the white cat. "Why not? Why can't you tell me?"

"You will soon see," Ice mewed ominously, leaving Song standing on the bank, alone and more confused than before.