Haven't posted one of these in a while due to laptop issues! Errr!
But the show must go on! I have big plans for this fan fiction, so I must begin! Welcome to Chapter 3!
Mars paced the sandy floor of his cave, ears flattened against the slight drizzle of rain that had started in the middle of the trek back to his cave den.
Across the far edge of the cavern sat two cats, a snowy white she and a tom with gray fur.
Mars had stopped pacing to glare at the small gray tom, narrowing his dark blue eyes.
Rabbit noticed and quickly looked away, letting out a barely audible squeak of surprise. Mars stood still watching Snow; she suddenly started to stand up and cover Mars' sight of Rabbit. She padded calmly over to Mars, but Mars only shouldered her away, heading back over to Rabbit again.
Mars could feel Snow's hardening gaze behind him but Mars never turned. Instead, he looked down at Rabbit, who by now had heard Mars' paw steps and was huddled into a small gray lump of fur.
Mars cleared his throat, "So let's make this simple. Remember you have to pay me back all of the prey that you have stolen. I don't care if you have to go out in this rain, but you will pay me back what hadn't belonged to you." He sneered.
Mars had barely noticed Snow until she tried shoving him away.
"Leave him alone, Mars! Can't you see he's already so cold and scared?" Snow tried edging her way closer to Rabbit but Mars put a heavy paw down in front of her.
"Maybe he deserves it! After all, he's got a full stomach!" Mars looked away and growled at Rabbit again. "Get up."
"No! He's staying here." Snow shoved Mars farther back and before Mars could push her away, she stood directly in front of Rabbit, looking up with a defiant glare in her green eyes.
Mars flattened his ears and forced himself to keep his claws sheathed. After a few moments of silence, Mars had had enough.
"Fine! He can stay for a while, but it won't always be so easy! He will end up hunting out there and soon!" Mars turned away for a moment, glancing back at Snow who tilted her head in a way that unnerved him.
Snow opened her mouth, but thought better of it; shutting it, but uttering some words under her breath. "Of course it won't be easy…"
Mars moved farther away, sitting down in a position in which he could watch Snow and Rabbit. Snow had watched Mars for a few moments, then had turned to Rabbit. The words she said to the gray tom made Mars shudder.
"It's OK Rabbit. My name is Snow. C'mon you must be cold. I can help you." Snow proceeded to sit close to Rabbit, warming him up.
The face of comfort and protection Rabbit had on was almost enough for Mars to get up and shove the two apart.
Mars had closed his eyes for a moment, sick of the two cuddling together. Then he heard a few soft words coming from them. 'Mars' was one of the words spoken.
Are you kidding me?
Mars suddenly opened his eyes, staring at the two cats. They hadn't noticed and continued to talk more until Rabbit noticed and stood up, frightened.
Mars flattened his ears, "You know if you don't like it here with me you can always leave." Mars unsheathed his claws and inspected them intimidatingly. Then he stood up and padded closer to Rabbit and Snow.
"Oh wait, you can't. Because we made a deal, and I expect you to keep it whether you like it or not, so why don't you two stop chattering about me in my own den and get started making up for that prey!"
That's when Snow stood up. Mars rolled his eyes. Not again.
"He can't, he only just got here!" Snow tried pushing Mars away again. Quickly Mars turned and tossed Snow across the floor of the den, not hard but enough to make her land in the sand with a thud.
"Hey!" She meowed in a shrilly voice, getting up and dusting her pelt off.
"Hey, what?! You're treating this kitty as if he were a nice visitor! Have you forgotten that he's a thief?" Mars growled. Snow stayed silent for a second before Mars spoke again.
"I'd think not. You seem to actually care about this kitty. Think I can't see you two huddled together? Why don't you two lovebirds start acting as if this isn't your cave? It's mine."
From behind, Mars could hear Rabbit shrink at the word kitty. Snow had hung her head as if she were ashamed or embarrassed.
Mars furiously glanced between the two before whipping around to his perch and climbing the stone steps up to his nest.
The rain had finally stopped and the sun had only just begun to climb up into the sky; its beams reached through the vines sheltering the cave and cast their light inside.
I can't stand listening to those two anyway. It'd do me good to get some rest.
Mars curled up into his nest of moss and feathers, his back facing the entrance to the cave. He closed his eyes, as if hoping that everything weren't reality, just some dream. Just as he had long ago.
Mars awoke to something poking him in the side sharply. He heard faint voices as well.
Rabbit.
"Snow….I don't think it would be wise to-"
Mars suddenly shot upright in his nest, getting a loud shriek out of Rabbit and a jump scare to Snow; she bounced backwards a little ways, no longer reaching out with her paw to poke him.
"What?" Mars said, backing off a little with a tiny smirk on his face. He suddenly caught a glimpse outside; the moon was casting its beams into the cave, drowning everything in silver.
Snow had recovered, letting out a huff in annoyance. She sat down and pulled out an object. Mars couldn't see what it was until it hit one of the beam's that had entered the cave from outside where the moon shone brightly in the sky.
It was a big white feather with sharp black stripes and gray spots. Mars was caught off guard by it, staring at the feather with semi-wide eyes.
Once he had gotten past the feather's beauty he shook his head, "What's this for?" He asked in a mild tone.
"It's a parting gift." Snow mewed simply. She pushed the feather towards Mars.
"Y-you're leaving?" Mars didn't know how he felt about that. Did he want her to leave? It was what he wanted…
"Well, yes." She tilted her head, looking away. "But I need to have a talk with you." She mewed quietly enough for only Mars to hear. Mars shifted his head, looking at Rabbit. He was still huddled in the corner of the cave, glancing back and forth from Snow to the entrance.
"Not outside." Mars growled. Snow shook her head, mumbling something in frustration.
"Not while he can hear, I'd rather get outside the cave."
Mars looked back to Snow. "Are you crazy? That kitty- thief will just leave!" Snow turned her head to look at Rabbit for a moment.
"No he won't. I promise."
"You can't promise that!" Mars spat and stood up, pushing past Snow and making his way down the stony steps, getting closer to Rabbit.
He swiveled his ears backwards, hearing Snow follow quickly after.
"You can trust him, he won't move from that spot!" Snow came up next to him, letting out a smile at Rabbit. "I know he won't."
"Trust him? You must have a terrible memory. This kitty stole prey from my territory." Mars saw Rabbit flatten his ears at the word kitty.
Was Rabbit capable of gathering the courage to turn angry at Mars' insults?
He's always so scared. There's no way he would ever have the guts to stand and defend his dignity!
Suddenly Rabbit spoke, his voice quavering at first. "I-I will stay here! I-I s-swear on my honor!" Rabbit lifted his ears, shuffling his paws.
"Honor? Yeah, sure. Honor."
"A thief has no honor!" Mars suddenly lurched forward, getting up in Rabbit's face. "But you will stay here."
Rabbit nodded, mumbling a bunch of garbage. Mars moved backwards, getting close to Snow.
"Alright let's make this quick. We don't need this prisoner escaping!" Mars sneered. Snow suddenly moved away, as if she seemed offended. She padded towards the entrance. Mars followed, unsure.
After shooting a few intimidating glances over to Rabbit, Mars followed Snow out of the cave, past the vines and up the hill to where they had first encountered Mars' gray-furred captive.
Mars sat down, while Snow still hadn't turned her back, gazing into the trees beyond. "He's not our prisoner." She mewed out loud, back still turned to Mars.
"Hmph, you're right. He's my prisoner." Mars retorted, glancing around. Snow turned, looking about to fire some comment back at Mars but she only shook her head.
"This isn't about Rabbit."
"Alright, what is this about then?" Mars held up a paw and started to groom it, getting more and more annoyed by the minute.
"It's cold out here, hurry up."
Snow finally turned giving Mars a look full of sympathy. "Mars...I've wanted to speak with you ever since I was given the opportunity to stay in your cave."
Mars ignored most of what she said, cutting in, "Not really given." He snorted.
Snow continued.
"It's about…who you are." Mars flattened his ears, but stayed silent.
"I know something has troubled you before in your life. I think it's why you are like this, but if you tell me maybe I can help you and just maybe I can-" Snow stopped abruptly as Mars stood up, teeth bared and fur bristling.
"No, you listen to me! Why do you care how I act? Why does any of this matter to you!?" Mars stood still, frustrated at how Snow was trying to make him feel.
"Because, I know that you are in trouble. Whatever it is, it's haunted you!" Snow stood up, gathering momentum. "You don't like living like this, and you know it!"
A sharp wind cut through their conversation, blowing the leaves and branches around them.
"I've lived this way my whole life; alone! I don't need you coming along telling me how to fix it!" Mars shouted, almost losing his voice above the wind.
"But if you just-" Snow cried, the wind gathering up around them. Soon enough, rain began to fall, dropping down from the trees onto their pelts.
"No!" Mars took a step closer, his pelt drenched with water.
"Just listen, to me! I can help-" Snow pleaded. Mars only growled, unsheathing his claws.
"No!" The two cats stood silent, staring at each other with anger in their eyes. "Go Snow." Mars said, rain dripping off of his whiskers as he shook his head. "Leave."
Snow looked up at Mars, one final plead shining in her green eyes.
I won't fall for it this time!
Mars said nothing, as Snow turned around, taking a paw step forward. She paused, glancing back at Mars again.
"Don't come back." Mars growled. Mars wasn't sure that Snow had heard over the rain. She only twitched her ears, a confusing smile of sadness on her face.
"Thank you Mars." This was what Mars thought was the last of her; better than when she had arrived with her pelt ruffled and her stomach thin with her ribs visible through her pelt. Now she looked sleek and well fed. She didn't need Mars anymore or his shelter.
And I don't need you. Mars thought bitterly.
Then she turned, her white pelt disappearing into the dark shadows of the night.