The grey spotted- striped she-cat flopped down into the dirt, the pitiful prey she had in her mouth collapsed next to her with a thud.
Storm smiled next to her, "It has been another busy day hasn't it?"
"Yeah you can say that again."
There has been no prey lately or the prey they have managed to scrape by has been all fur, even the Subordinates have actually gone out and hunted. Then on top of that with the cold winds promising rain the other`s have complained about cold nights, so they have ordered us to rebuild their den. While they have to deal with hole filled den because they have no time to fill them up.
It was past sundown by now and finally we were allowed a night's rest.
But she doesn't really complain about all the work cause it gets her mind off of Smoke and his offer to her. He wanted his answer in a few days time but she still didn't know what to tell him. If she says no there is no question on her mind that he will hurt Storm or somebody else…. There is this nagging feeling that she has to protect something from him, it has bugged her so much that sometimes she wakes up in a fit before dawn not able to sleep.
But if she does say yes then she knows Smoke will twist her to something unspeakable, something not herself, in the process.
"Are you thinking about Smoke again?"
Jumping from her thoughts she glanced up to see Storm`s worryful face.
"Yeah, sorry. I still don't know what to tell him…."
"I imagine you won't. I still can't believe he would want you as his mate" She shook her head. "Um I mean not that you're not pretty or nothing, cause you are. Trust me you are the most beautiful she-cat here."
Storm`s eyes grew wide, her face flushed.
Leopard chuckled softly, she was so cute when she burst into affection like that even though didnt feel that way back.
"What I mean to say is umm.." Taking a deep breath she continued again, "Smoke actually already has a mate."
"What?! Why does he want me then if he already has a mate?"
"I have no idea. Her name is Venom, and trust me she has earned that name. But anywho they have even had kits together!"
"Really?" Why did he wanted her then?
Leopard was about to speak again when she heard pawsteps coming from behind her, great another cat coming to tell them what to do, she thought. But the cat certainly didn't look like some snappy Subordinate the she-cat was solid black, as black as the night sky without the stars, with bright dull yellow eyes. As the she-cat was walking up Leopard could tell one of her legs are limp.
The cat walked up commiseration across her face, "I just wanted to say don't worry about that kit we are going to change teachers soon and I will be one of them. I will keep an eye out for her, make sure she will be alright."
With that she turned and without a backward glanced walked away.
"Who the stars was that?"
"That was Dusk, one of Smoke's subordinates."
She sounded as shocked as Leopard felt. Who was Dusk talking about? Why does everyone keep mentioning a kit? She has even noticed a lot of the other`s giving her pity looks lately, as if she has lost somebody and they are grieving for her.