Syrup darted down the streets, a kit swinging from her mouth. Three cats followed in close pursuit, their fur rugged. Syrup turned a corner, fear gleaming in her eyes. She stopped to put her kit down.
"It'll be alright, Honey, my precious kit," she said. "Now hide, quickly."
Honey whimpered, refusing to leave her mother's side, pressing herself against her mother's calico and white fur.
"Please, Honey, I'll be all right; I just need you to stay safe."
Pawsteps thudded nearby, and a panicked look appeared on Daffodil's face. "Honey, please, you need to run. To run and keep on running. Please!"
The pawsteps sounded closer, and Honey wavered before turning and running.
Just a few seconds later, the three cats raced around the corner. "Well, well," one hissed. "Looks like we've got you cornered."
Syrup barred her teeth in a snarl.
"So you thought you could get away with stealing prey, did you?" Another gray one hissed, turning on the emaciated she-cat. "Well, we'll teach you a lesson."
He lunged at Syrup, claws extended. The others quickly followed suit, and Syrup screeched in pain as they clawed her.
Honey ran on, her mother's screeches echoing in her ears.
She didn't know where to go. All she knew was that the street wasn't safe.
Honey was wandering near a forested area, the wind pushing against her so that every step forward was a struggle, when a mouse scuttered right in front of her. She was tired and hungry and weak, but she leaped forward, tiny claws extended, at the mouse. But she wasn't fast enough, and it scampered away.
She stared into the forest. Her mother had told her never to go into the forest, that it wasn't safe. But now, she figured that anywhere was more safe than the street, and she walked into it. She let her senses reach out, looking for mice, but there were none.
Hunger pierced her. The encounter with the mouse had made her mouth water, and she kept scenting for food. Her once-beautiful honey-colored fur was matted and dirty, clinging to her skinny frame.
She took another tentative step forward, and listened to the soft chirping echoing through the trees. She had never birdsong before, and the sound intrigued her.
Suddenly she heard pawsteps, and she knew that they were coming for her, coming to kill her like they had her mother. She ran, ran as fast as she could. She had to get away. Her mother had told her that she had to keep safe, no matter what.
Then she stumbled on a rock and crashed against the hard earth floor. She tried to stand and keep going, to keep on running like her mother had told her, but she felt dizzy; the whole forest was spinning, everything blurry. The pawsteps sounded closer, right next to her, and Honey closed her eyes.
I'm sorry, Mama. I've failed you.
Then a paw stroked her head and a soothing voice whispered in her ear:
"It's alright, little one, you're safe now. Welcome to Bunnyclan."
