Jagged Peak crouched at the entrance to his sleeping hollow, blue eyes scanning the moonlit cave. The light shone through the thin wall of water, casting rippling silver patterns across the cavern walls. The sound of the water rushing past the cave opening was the only sound that flooded the small tom's ears as he swiveled them in an attempt to detect any movement from his tribemates. The camp felt oddly quiet to Jagged Peak, and he remembered with a wistful twinge in his belly that his brother, Clear Sky, along with many of his other tribemates, had left on a great journey to follow the sun trail to a new home. He wanted so desperately to travel with his tribemates and had placed his stone beside the waterfall. He begged his mother to leave, but it was no use. So, he decided to leave on his own.
The small tabby kit glanced behind him at his mother's sleeping form and watched as her speckled flanks rose and fell in the dim light that crept around his form into the hollow. He knew this would be the last time he would see her, but he was certain that he would be better off in the new home Stoneteller had seen. He crept over to his mother and gently pressed his nose into her fur, taking in her scent for the last time. Good-bye, Quiet Rain.
Jagged Peak then stood and turned, tail waving as he crept out of the den. He circled the camp, keeping hidden within the shadows so he wouldn't be caught. He held his breath as he approached the camp entrance. The tom peered around one last time before he bolted out of the entrance and into the night. The cold night breeze cut through his pelt and sent a chill down his spine, but he trotted on.
He did his best to remember the path his brother had taken, and shoved his nose awkwardly into the ground, taking a large sniff at the stones beneath his paws. He picked up the familiar scent of his traveling tribemates and scampered along the scent trail, tail held high. He was going to show his tribemates that he was just as capable as any other cat. But as he scrambled over the lip of the plateau, he paused, his stomach flipping at the sight of the pile of stones covering his sister's body. She had died of starvation a day or so prior, and his heart grew heavy at the sight. His tail drooped and he lowered his head sadly as he slunk over to her pelt of stones.
With a small, pitiful whimper he sat down beside the pile, his shoulders heavy. "I'm sorry that I'm leaving you, Fluttering Bird.." he mewed meekly. "But I'm going to find a new home for everyone back in the tribe, I promise. I hope you understand... I won't let this happen again," he muttered, growing quiet. He sat in silence, the only sound floating through the air being the roar of the waterfall behind him.
After a long silence, he dragged himself to his paws, knowing he needed to get moving or he'd never catch up to the traveling cats. Sadly, he pressed his nose to the cold stones. "Good-bye, Fluttering Bird. I'll miss you," he murmured before forcing himself to turn away and continue on the sun trail. With heavy paws, he clambered back down beside the waterfall. He had to do this, not only for himself but for his sister. A newfound determination sparked within him and even though his chest ached at the prospect of leaving everything behind, he persisted on towards a clump of boulders.
He glared up at the large obstacles and let out a determined huff as he crouched, wriggling his haunches. Then, with a grunt of effort, the small tom sprung, claws scrabbling at the stone as he clambered up the boulder. He let out a squeak of alarm as his hind paw slipped, but he managed to find his footing and claw his way over the boulder. He panted at the top and surveyed his surroundings, his pelt fluffed out after his scare. He caught sight of the path that hugged the mountainside just across the clump of boulders, and his hopes raised. He would be able to follow the trail until he came across shelter for a quick nap.
He quickly began scrambling over the boulders, excitement buzzing in his belly. Once he made it to the path, he dashed across the snow-covered landscape, blue eyes reflecting the fading stars above. Dawn was approaching, and a pale yellow light peeked over the horizon. Jagged Peak let out an excited squeak as he pelted towards it. This was the sun trail that led to their new home, and he was going to follow it until he was there.
Dawn had already passed and the sun was approaching its highest point when Jagged Peak awoke. He had taken shelter in a crack that was just wide enough to fit a cat of his small stature to sleep and gain back some of his energy. The small tom sprang to his paws in alarm at the sight of the sun cutting through the dark clouds above and scrambled out of the crevice in the stone wall, shaking his pelt haphazardly. He stumbled as he turned to begin his trek along the path, his paws still heavy with sleep.
He began padding clumsily across the snow-covered land and soon felt cold pricks on his fur. He looked up to see that the clouds had blocked the sun and were now beginning to drop snow across the landscape. He shivered as a cold wind buffeted his fur, almost knocking him off of his paws. He stumbled and regained his balance, quickening his pace as the snow gradually fell heavier. Soon, the flakes created a thick white sheet in front of him, and he could hardly see a tail-length before him. The wind battered his small form and shoved him in different directions. His pelt had been turned white by the clinging snow, and he grunted as he was bowled over by a particularly strong gust.
He let out a pitiful wail and stumbled around blindly, desperately searching for somewhere to shelter. His paws sunk in the snow, and he trembled from the cold that numbed his legs. The small tabby tom scrambled in the snow until he came across a dip in the ground sheltered by a scrawny bush. Without hesitation, he dove under it and trembled violently. He could hardly feel his stiff legs as he crouched in the shelter of the branches. Snow clung to his pelt and his eyes were round with fear.
Eventually, the kit calmed down and curled up, suddenly aware of how tired and hungry he was. He hadn't eaten since he caught the snow-hare, and that was a whole day prior. His stomach growled loudly and he whimpered quietly. He would need to find something to eat soon. Until then, he couldn't do anything but wait for the storm to pass. He lay watching the snow swirl in the air until he drifted to sleep.
Jagged Peak awoke as the sun fell behind the mountains. His jaws parted in a yawn and he stood, grimacing at his stiff legs. He did his best to stretch them before forcing himself out of the shelter of the bush and onto the snow-covered ground. He grunted at the cold that stung his paws, but pushed forward nonetheless. Hunger gnawed at his belly and he paused to scent the air for any traces of prey. After sniffing around bushes and small holes, he eventually spotted a small mouse peeking out from the roots of a thin tree.
Despite his muscles yowling in protest, he dropped into an awkward version of the hunting crouch Gray Wing had taught him and crept forward. He prayed the creature couldn't hear his paws or the growling of his belly as he approached. Once he was close enough, he pounced. The mouse let out a surprised squeak and darted back for the hole it had exited, but Jagged Peak just barely snagged his claws on its tail. He sloppily dislodged it with a bite to the neck and began gulping it down in famished bites. Hunger still panged in his belly after he ate, but he knew he wasn't going to find anything else.
His best bet was to try and catch up with the others as soon as he could. So, with that thought in mind, he trudged on, padding in the opposite direction of the sun, which had fully set by then.
His travels were a blur, and he hardly remembered stumbling across the river coated in a thin layer of ice. His pelt prickled with fear at the prospect of crossing the slippery white sheet, and he quickly looked around for another route. He soon spotted a valley and decided it would be safer if he went down there to find a better way across. He peered down at the stones that led down and realized that it would be much safer if he went across that way, even if it was slower.
Slowly, he picked his way down the boulders, being careful not to slip. After what felt like a moon of leaping from boulder to boulder down the slope, he reached the valley. He managed to stumble across the landscape, his paws dragging as he looked around. He blinked as he took in his surroundings, noticing the deep-set streams, and the boulders, bushes, and trees scattered across the snow-covered area.
He took a moment to gather himself and look for the path his tribemates took. His legs trembled with tiredness, but he did his best to ignore it and focus on tracking where the traveling cats had gone. He shut his eyes, trying to remember the direction in which the sun rose. With a frustrated huff, he realized he did not know where to go and simply hoped he was going in the right direction as he climbed up the opposite slope, winding around large boulders until he felt he couldn't move his legs anymore.
He knew he needed to rest, and looked around until he found a narrow crevice. He stumbled into it, falling asleep almost as soon as he curled up in the dry space.
A loud screeching awoke the young tom and he bolted to his paws, eyes wide with bewilderment and fear. He scrambled out of the crevice but quickly ducked back into it with a terrified shriek at the sight of an eagle diving straight towards him. It reached its cruel talons into his hiding space, and he let out a petrified yowl. I'm trapped! His eyes wide with terror, the small tom tried to hide further back in the crevice. Someone help me! he thought desperately as the eagle retreated for mere heartbeats before swooping again. As its talons reached for him once more, he cried out.
"Leave me alone! Help!" Jagged Peak trembled, his heart in his throat as his blood pounded in his ears. I'm going to die! he wailed internally as he desperately tried to bat the eagle away with his claws. Just when he thought he was going to be scooped up, he heard a familiar yowl.
"I'm coming! Hold on!" His eyes widened as he realized who had come to save him. Gray Wing!
Thank you for reading this challenge! This one-shot was quite a ride, might I say. It was a bit rough, but a nice way to come back to writing actual stories. This was fun, and I hope to take on more challenges in the future. Until then, Au Revoir!
Word count: 1,948