THE FADING FLAMES

. . . . . .

"Sting wants to leave as soon as possible."

Flame and Cole had only spoken a few humorous words with each other since they left camp, before they became content with only the silent fall of leaves and the wisp of wind that tugged at their fur.

"Why does she want to leave so bad?" Cole questioned.

"I dunno. I don't think she likes us being here… maybe she's just worried. I don't know why she would be, though."

"Well, you know us." Flame looked at Cole in confusion.

"Us wild cats are always looking for fresh meat." The brown tabby tom made a face meant to be threatening, but came out scrunched up and too funny to be taken seriously.

"Oh, I'm sure." She nudged his side playfully. In return, he nudged her harder, sending her into a pile of leaves. She blew off the foliage, and looked sharply at Cole, who had the same dumb look on his face.

"You did that on purpose!" she couldn't help laughing.

"You're right, I did. We have a smart one here, don't we!"

Flame was finally able to take her chance to catch him off balance. Using her muscles, she rammed into his side, which sent him skidding the same way he had bumped her. Getting up, he blew some of the chips of leaves that had fallen on his head.

"Alright, I give you credit." He said, making Flame grin. "But—" she stopped. "-Maybe we can try something harder. If… you're truly a wild cat, that is."

The comment brought a smile back to Flame's face, and she dipped her head. "As you wish." She said, her voice deeper and more regal-like. "What did you have in mind?" she giggled.

"Well, I know a cat that lives around here. Old, grumpy. Kinda ugly." Cole said. "He hangs out around the edge of our territory. I guess he holds a grudge against us or something."

"And we are…?"

"Going to find him." Cole confirmed, nodding his head quickly. He started walking once more, his head held high as if he was about to go tackle a mountain lion.

"How come we're lookin' for him?" Flame asked.

"He's crazy as any cat can get. I think it'd be pretty fun to see what kinda stuff he does when he's not scoping around our territory."

"I guess that makes sense, but… why does he hang around?"

"I dunno. 'Think he's related to someone who lives with us or somethin'." Cole shrugged his shoulders, meaning that the subject was dropped on this tom's relations.

"He sounds… mean. Have you actually seen him before?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah. He's got gray fur, and really creepy gray eyes." Cole fake shivered. "Mint told me about him too. I guess Red got into a fight with him when he was younger. I guess his stupidity trait skipped my generation."

Of course, Cole tripping on a rabbit hole at the same moment made it all the more funny.

"Nice one." Flame laughed.

"Shhh!"

"You shush!"

"No, really, shhhh!"

The serious tone in his voice made Flame's laughter end. She looked at him, trying to figure out what had gotten his attention. Following his eyes, she spotted a heap of matted gray fur, rising and falling with quiet snores. Only hearing about this tom recently, she had so many questions she wanted to ask. But now that she saw him, she didn't think of anything.

She looked over at Cole, where a grin had been plastered on his face.

"'Found him."

. . . . . .