Panther awoke, breathing in the aromas of the forest. She stretched luxuriously, almost forgetting her mother and brother were gone. Suddenly, she realized that Grass and Adder weren't there, and her memories of the day before flooded her mind. Root was sleeping peacefully and Panther almost left her to hunt. What if she got taken by Notails? How would I live with myself? How would I survive? She thought, and decided to stay to watch Root. After she woke up she would hunt.
Even though she was willing herself not to she dozed off, only to wake and find Root gone! Worry flooded her body and she began to tremble.
"Ro…" At that moment Root appeared from behind a holly bush, her mouth filled with fresh-kill. "Fox dung, Root! I thought I had lost you like mom and Adder!" Panther mewed sharply, but as soon as she saw how much her sister had been shaken about up what she said she apologized. "Sorry Root, I was just so worried when I didn't see you, I freaked out! I didn't mean to scare you; I just thought that you were taken like mom and Adder, and that I wouldn't see you again." Panther said quietly.
"It's okay," Root mewed forgivingly, "You were right to worry, I should have told you I was going out before I left."
"Well, you're back and fine now! That's what counts!" Panther replied cheerfully, "So, what did you manage to catch?"
"Oh, I got a squirrel, two mice, a robin and a rabbit!"
"Wow! That's great! I guess new-leaf is on it's way!"
"I suppose so!" Root placed her catches on the ground "Want to share?"
"Sure!" Panther mewed eagerly. Panther grabbed the squirrel from the pile and carried it to Root.
"Squirrel good?" she asked.
"Perfect!" Root replied gleefully. Panther gratefully took a bite from the squirrel.
"Mmm, really good squirrel, thanks" Panther mewed, though it came out more like, "Mmm, reewy gud skurl, tanks", with her stuffed mouth. The squirrel, although tasty, didn't satisfy her hunger so she took a mouse when it had been devoured. Drowsy with a full stomach, both kits fell asleep together.
Panther woke with a yawn and blinked. She arched her back in a stretch sat down. After a good washing she prodded Root with her paw.
"Wha…what! Oh, Panther it's you! What time is it?" Root mewed, still a bit drowsy.
"Time to get a move on, Root! It's almost sunhigh and we've not moved at all!" Panther replied sharply, and Root jumped up, all drowsiness gone. She gave herself a quick grooming and stood up. Panther padded away, towards a holly bush.
"Wait, Panther! Aren't we going to eat first?" Root called as she padded quickly towards Panther.
"We can hunt on the way, as long as you stop yowling like that! Keep that up and the whole of this forest's prey will be gone quicker than you can say…Adder?" A brown and black tabby kit with green eyes padded towards them, as if in a daze. A twig cracked under his paws and he looked up, eyes wide.
"Who's there?" he mewed nervously, and locked eyes with Panther for a second, then looked disbelievingly at Root. "Panther, Root? Is that you?"
Oh yeah! Never saw that coming did you!?!? What a cliff-hanger, right? 3 reviews(that includes adding the story to faves and adding me to fav authors) and you get your next chapter! Yes, flames count, just don't be too harsh! And some constructive criticism not just, Your story stinks! Okay, Thanks!
