Dew Drops in the Sun
DISCLAIMER-- All I own is my cute little Garfield.
And all his fluffiness, of course.
I would like to thank xx-Starfall-xx and Liza Taylor for their reviews. I will do my best. Thanks for the advice!
I hope you enjoy chapter one!
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"No fair!" a kitten voice whined. "Yes it is!" another shot back. Socks sighed. These three were her first litter and she'd hoped they would be less.. loud. "Don't climb on your sister." she told them. "Be happy with each other while you can. The up-walkers will send you all away soon." this caught the attention of oldest, a tom named DeSoto. "What? They can't take Bobo or Stiletto. I won't let them!" he gave a tiny kitten hiss as his brother, Bobo, looked up. "Really? I don't want to leave you!" he leaned against his mother, distressed. "They did the same with my own siblings. First Zeus, then Rat. Then my mother disappeared. After that, my last sister, Rocky. Fuzzbucket looks a lot like her." she sighed, her voice sad. "At least Garfield won't be sent away. They like him." her voice sounded brighter, but not by much. She was silent for a few seconds, thinking of the father of her kits fondly. "I don't care!" DeSoto proclaimed, interrupting her thoughts as he placed his little tail square on the floor, and stuck his little pink nose into the air.
Then, the ever silent Stiletto half-crawled over. Stiletto was the only she-cat of the litter, and had more differences than that. The little blue-eyed kit was completely blind. "Why do we have to be separated?" she asked, cocking her black and white head. Socks felt a shiver go from nose to tail tip. Looking into her kits empty eyes always did that. "The only up-walkers who like us are the kits. At least the leader likes Garfield. His mate hates us. She even forced you three outside." Socks spat angrily at the thought of the woman. She shook her head. "Well, I need to get food so you three can get fed." She stood and trotted around the house to the food dish.
When their mother was out of sight, DeSoto looked at his siblings. "I bet mom's mom went to the forest!" Bobo looked confused. "Why would she do that?" he asked, confused. DeSoto sighed impatiently. "That's obvious! She hated seeing her kits taken!" DeSoto was silent for a few seconds. Then he looked hopeful. "I know! Let's go and be forest cats! Like mom's mom!" DeSoto cheered, glancing at his brother. Bobo looked nervous. "But I don't wanna leave mom.." he said slowly, looking at his paws. "Don't worry. We can visit mom. Once we're settled, she can come with us!" DeSoto promised. Bobo looked nervous, but nodded. 'Okay. I don't want to leave any of you, either." Then, the two looked to Stiletto. She had been sitting quietly as they spoke, but upon feeling their gaze, she stood on unsteady legs. "Okay. I'll go." she told them calmly. "Okay! We're off to the forest!" DeSoto cheered.
Soon, the kits were tentatively crawling down the large steps. Their first hurdle was trying to get Stiletto down. Her legs were weak, so she did not walk as well as her brothers. "It's okay. Dangle your paw over the edge." DeSoto told her, trying to push her on. "If Mom shows up, she won't let us go." Stiletto opened her mouth slightly, reaching in vain for solid ground. About that time, a very large, very fluffy ginger cat walked up. "Hey, kits. You trying to reach the ground?" his hazel eyes twinkled. "No, dad. We want to follow mom." DeSoto said quickly. Garfield sat on the step in front of his daughter. She was now looking at him. "Can you help me down, please?" she squeaked, nervous. "Of course.' he told her gently, picking her up by the scruff of her neck. He carried her down, where he gently placed her on a patch of grass. "Now, your mom's out front. I'm going to see if I can get inside. You kits be good!" he told them before bounding up the stairs. "Hopefully, he won't tell mom." DeSoto muttered, Bobo only half agreeing. He hated the thought of leaving his mother almost as much as he would miss his siblings. But, on the other paw, he'd be separated from all three. And so, with a heavy heart, he followed his brother and sister.
After what seemed to be hours, the kits were deep in the forest. DeSoto tried to find different smells, but there were too many, and were too muddled. Bobo stepped forward. "Let me try." he half-asked, sniffing high and low. "I smell cats! A lot of 'em!" he said frightfully. "Stiletto, you smell." Bobo ordered nervously, his soft kitten fur fluffing in fear. Stiletto nodded, too scared to speak. "C'mon! Let's hide." DeSoto told them, looking for some sort of shelter. However, they were too late. The cats were there.
There were four. One had a mottled gray and brown pelt, with scars that attested to a long, hard life. Two others were identical, with soft ginger fur and green eyes. Though their eyes were kind, the scars on their pelts told of the many fights they had fought. Cats they may have even killed. The fourth had no scars, but his presence was far more intimidating than any other. He was the purest white with penetrating amber eyes. Even Stiletto found herself staring into them. "What are you kits doing here?" the oldest cat demanded. Its voice was rough and cracked with age. "We are going to be forest cats!" DeSoto said boldly, puffing his tiny chest out. The old cat made a thin, rasping sound. "Let us deal with them, Leafpelt." one of the ginger "
cats stepped forward. "Hello, little kits. I am Redtail. This is my brother, Flamepelt. The old one is Leafpelt. Don't worry. She is just cranky that she is joining the Elders tonight. And this is our Medicine Cat, Icestorm" Redtail pointed to each in turn. Flamepelt, the cat identical to Redtail, nodded. "My sister will help. She has a big heart." he told them curtly, but gently. Then, the big white tom spoke.
"Why are you here?" he asked them, looking down. Bobo shrank back. Even DeSoto could not speak. Stiletto, however, could. "Our mother told us that the up-walkers would take us away. So, we decided to leave them, rather than be separated." She spoke lightly and quickly. "Well.. Come with us to our camp. We'll let Silverstar decide what to do with you three. Can you follow?" Bobo and DeSoto nodded. Stiletto started, but DeSoto interrupted. "Stiletto can't!" he said quickly. They looked at them. "Which one is Stiletto?" DeSoto pushed her forward. She stood shakily for a few seconds, but fell onto her thin chest. "Very good. I will carry her." Icestorm bent to pick Stiletto up, but she she hissed feebly. "I can walk!" she demanded, taking a few shaky steps. "If you get tired, tell me." he told her, knowing better than to argue with small kit's pride. "Okay. If any of you kits fall behind, I'm carrying you. If you all get tired, Redtail and Flamepelt will help." he told them, before starting off. The other three followed. But before Leafpelt left, she looked at them. "You go hunting for herbs, and you find a bunch kits. I should have stayed at camp." she spat angrily. Bobo shrank back, but DeSoto licked his ear reassuringly. "It'll be okay." he promised, whispering. Bobo stood and followed his brother as they hurried. Stiletto was wobbly, but going strong. Their new life had begun.
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I hope it was good. Please review. No flames. Constructive criticism please. Of course, compliments would be loved the most.
-Original.ThunderKat