The Broken Cat
Chapter 6
Snowy trotted around the alley, trying to stretch out her hind leg. She figured she must have slept on it funny, there was no other reason she could think of why it would be sore.
"Good morning, Snowy!" Boulder yawned as he pushed his way out of his box into the alley.
"You're up early today."
"My leg is bothering me," Snowy grumbled. Boulder snorted.
"That would be unfortunate if you couldn't use that leg anymore too."
"Oh ha ha," Snowy snapped. Boulder smiled at her sarcasm. "Make sure you come in if you get cold," he said, teeth chattering in the cold air. Then he pushed himself back into the warmth of his box, which looked like it had seen better days. The cardboard was sagging in the roof, and the walls were wet and dirty from the times it had fallen over. Suddenly Snowy heard her name being called. She looked around, searching for the source of the voice. A golden tabby was looking in her direction. Snowy figured he must have been the one who called her. As she walked lopsidedly over to him, she desperately tried to remember his name so she wouldn't have to ask. At the very last second she remembered - Nero.
"Hello," Snowy said. Nero narrowed his eyes at her kind tone.
"Hi," he said gruffly, not used to being polite. "I'm going out with Aristol to see if we can find some food."
Snowy looked at the skinny grey she cat sitting beside Nero, and figured she must be Aristol.
"I'd like to come!" Snowy said, excitedly. "I've never been hunting before."
"We're hunting. You're the bait," Aristol sneered. Snowy decided she must have been joking.
What the heck would they need bait for?
To Snowys dismay, Aristol was being completely serious.
"It's not that difficult," Nero hissed as Snowy looked skeptically at the door. "Just sit there and meow."
"But what if they throw stuff at me?" Snowy cried.
"I told you she'd be useless," Aristol said rudely. Snowy bristled at Aristols open display of hostility. She stalked up with her tail held high, making her best effort not to wobble on her hind leg. Nero and Aristol watched in silence. Snowy opened her mouth and began to pitifully cry.
This is dumb, Snowy thought as she let out another mew. But then the door opened, and the biggest twoleg Snowy had ever seen stared down at her. His face broke out into a smile, and he reached down to pet her on the head. A flash of fur distracted Snowy, Nero and Aristol had streaked past her into the house. The mouth-watering smell of meat tickled Snowys nose. She desperately hoped they would be able to get some of it. The twoleg continued to pet her, making funny cooing noises as he talked to her. As fast as they'd come, they were gone. Snowy saw in the corner of her eye the golden pelt of Nero charging past her again. Snowy opened her mouth again and let out another whine. The twoleg stopped petting her and walked back into his house. Snowy started to walk back towards Nero, but stopped when he raised his paw. She looked confused at him. Then she heard footsteps behind her and turned around. The twoleg was leaning down, putting a piece of meat on the ground. He gave Snowy on last pat on the head and then walked inside, shutting the door. Snowy picked it up, and carried it back over to Nero and Aristol. Aristols mouth was open in astonishment as she looked at what Snowy had managed to get.
"Good job," Nero said, impressed. "I've never seen him react like that before."
Snowy puffed out her chest, humbled by his praise. She noticed Aristol scuffling her paws in the dirt, and Snowy saw why. She had gotten a bigger piece of meat than her.
"Not so useless after all, huh," Snowy said.
They did that for nearly half the day, and each time they were successful. When they walked back to the alley, Snowy had never felt better in her entire life. Nero and Aristol walked behind her, with Snowy in the lead. She held the biggest piece of their findings, and it made Snowy swell with pride as she looked at the impressed faces looking at her. They each dropped the meat into a pile in the center of the clearing. Snowy saw Bone talking with Mink a little farther off. He must of sensed her looking at him, because he turned and their eyes met. When he saw her next to the pile of food, he bounded over proudly.
"Look at what we caught," Snowy said.
"Wow," Bone said. There was more food in the pile there than he had ever seen at once in his whole life.
"Snowy was great," Nero said, looking over at Bone. "She got nearly half of that herself."
"She did a good job," Aristol said warily, shooting a glance at Snowy. Snowy felt like she was going to burst with happiness.
"Thanks for all the compliments!" Snowy cried, leaping into the air because she was so excited.
Cats had started to join them, some taking their share of the food.
"Snowy gets the biggest piece," Nero decided. Snowy grinned even harder. She looked around the clearing, wondering where Boulder was. As her eyes passed the cracked brick wall, Snowy stopped. Scourge sat there, hunched over his front paws. His green eyes glared out at them, but he made no effort to get up and join them.
"Should I go bring something to Scourge?" Snowy asked Nero. Nero looked over at him, then snorted. "He can get his own," he said. "He didn't do one thing to help get this."
Snowy looked back at him. "But he looks so sad," she said quietly.
"Personally, I think he deserves it."
Snowy sighed and took a bite of her meal. It was delicious, after eating nothing but crowfood for the past few weeks, it tasted like it was a gift sent from Starclan. Her excitement had faded, though. She kept glancing back at Scourge, but that wasn't the problem.
The problem was, he kept glancing back at her.
Snowy choked down the rest of her meal as fast as she could then charged back into her box. Her head was spinning, and she didn't understand why. But her comprehending thoughts were crushed almost instantly. Boulder was lying on his side, facing away from her.
"Hey," Snowy said. She peered over him, hoping to catch his eye. His eyes were closed.
"Boulder?" her voice quivered. She reached out a paw to touch him.
He was ice cold.
Numb with shock and confusion, Snowy stumbled out of the box towards the cats crowding around the meat.
"Hey! Come and join us," Bone called over to her. He was sharing his meal with Mink. Snowy just looked at him, her eyes blank. All her happiness from before was drained.
"Boulders dead," she whispered.
Bone pricked his ears. "What did you say?" he asked.
"Boulders dead," Snowy repeated. She felt like her insides were crumbling. Bones ears flattened.
"No he's not," he said.
"Yes, he is!" Snowy cried.
"That's nonsense I was just talking to him half an hour ago!" Bone was getting tired of Snowys silliness. Snowy stopped arguing and stood there, trembling.
"He was so cold," she whispered. Something in her tone made Bone scared.
"Is he really..." his voice trailed off as he walked towards the box. By this time, other cats had begun to watch, murmuring uneasily among one another. Bone walked out of the box several minutes later, eyes wide and glazed.
"He's dead," he said dumbly. Snowy miserably nodded her head.
"HE'S DEAD!" Bone yelled, then collapsed onto his side.
Snowy slowly walked through the crack in the brick wall that led to Scourges den. He opened his eyes as she stood before him.
"Did I say you could come in?" he growled. But it was obvious he was tired, and his voice sounded wary, not threatening. Snowy dropped the last bit of meat to the ground.
"It's for you," she said, her voice monotone. Then she turned and started to walk out.
"I'm sorry," Scourge said. Snowy, who's thoughts were all focused on Boulder, didn't hear him properly.
"What?"
"I said, I'm sorry," Scourge growled. Snowy stood still for a moment.
"For what?" she said at last.
"I didn't mean to make you bleed," he said, not looking at her. Snowy realized he was talking about the other day, when he had her pinned down.
"Oh, that," Snowy said. "Don't worry about it. I'll heal."
Scourge turned away from her, voice wary again. "Good. Now leave."
Snowy hesitated, wanting to say something but didn't know how.
"What are you doing?" Scourge snapped, still turned away.
"Remember when you asked me if I thought anyone would ever love me?"
No reply.
"Maybe you should try and ask yourself that too," Snowy said.
"Get out," Scourge sighed. Snowy turned and stalked out. She didn't look back.
Scourge, however, did.