Singing softly to herself, her slim fingers deftly stitching the seam of a small papoose up, Blaze shifted her weight from one hip to the other, leaning up on her elbow, the warmth of the small fire heating her chilly feet.
The cool night air drifted in the window on the light breeze, the sounds of the rest of the tribe sleeping rising from the lower story of the tower. Blaze and Grumbuskin had been moved to the warmer and more private room in the upper level of the tower, in preparation for the birth of their kitten.
A hand slid over her hip, stroking her rounded belly lightly, a sleepy, deep, male voice joining in with the familiar words of the familiar song.
"I thought you were sleeping." She murmured, her mate's chin rising to rest on her shoulder, as she knotted the thin strips of hide together and laid the fur-lined papoose down beside her.
"When you were singing so beautifully?" He enquired, kissing her shoulder softly, his whiskers tickling her neck. "How could I sleep?"
"You mean I woke you up with my horrible noise." She corrected, drawing his silvery arms around her, folding the black-furred hands over her enlarged abdomen, so he – too – could feel the light kicking of the little paws within.
He smiled, his legs entwining with hers. "I didn't say that, lover." He purred in her ear. "I like you to sing. I woke up because it was so beautiful."
"Sappy git." She sniffed, snuggling against him, her eyes half-closed. Her tail tangled around his and he chuckled as she ran her toes up the back of his leg.
Nipping on her shoulder, he growled. "I won't get to sleep at this rate…if you're not singing, you're tickling me…if you're not tickling me…well…I don't think I need to spell it out to you, my darlin' girl."
"You, my love," She rolled over slightly to gaze up at him. "Are the craziest little tomcat I know!"
"Little?" He licked across her cheek and nose with his rough tongue, his breath warm on the damp fur. "You're calling me little? I think you might need to have your eyes…and other important faculties checked, sweetheart." Pushing his pelvis against the small of her back as emphasis, he thickly whispered. "See?"
Swallowing hard, Blaze kissed him lightly. "I think feel is more appropriate here." She replied, her voice sultry as she pulled his lips down on hers.
*
Squatting on the large rock, Genghis suspiciously watched the lizard, his blue eyes narrowed in a feigned challenge, his teeth glinting in the twilight.
Oblivious to the bored tom watching it, the lizard curled its clawed toes around the branches of a small bush and started climbing, blinking stupidly as Genghis leaned over and flicked at the twigs naughtily.
Swinging along upside down, the little creature seemed unperturbed. The Siamese tom chuckled, scooping it gently up in his silky, chocolate-coloured paw, his fingers carefully touching the tiny spines on its back.
"Whatcha got there?" A soft voice behind him made him jump. Little Dragon grinned impishly, peeking over his shoulder at the tiny reptile he held in his hands.
"I think I'll call it Dragon." He thrust it towards her face, grinning mischievously as she leapt back with a shout of dismay. "It won't bite, Little Dragon…it is just a baby after OW!"
Dropping it, he stuck one finger hastily in his mouth, a pained expression on his face. A grin lit up Little Dragon's face.
"Lemme guess…" She snatched his hand, turning it towards the light. "A-ha! It bit you! I thought you said it couldn't bite!"
With an injured expression, he pulled his hand back, staring at the drip of blood that was forming where the little beast had nipped him.
"I didn't think it could." He mumbled, licking the blood away. "It looked so small and pathetic…"
"Lemme see it." Sitting down beside him, Little Dragon gently took his furry hand in hers, touching the torn finger. It was a surprisingly deep wound, considering the size of his assailant. She gently pressed the wound and Genghis gave an involuntary girlish shriek of pain.
"Well…uh…my hand's better now, so I'll let you go...back to sleep…or whatever you were doing…" He pulled his hand back, glaring at her as he cradled it against his chest.
Raising her pale blue eyes to him, she shivered. "Could I stay out here with you tonight?" She asked shyly. "It's so stuffy inside and I want to stay out here in the fresh air."
"Is that the only reason you want to stay out here with me?" He pulled her over beside him, wrapping her up with his body. "You really want to catch a cold so we all have to look after you, don't you?"
"Drat!" She giggled, poking him playfully in the belly. "You can read my mind!"
Leaning around her, he rested his weight on his forearms, gazing up at the cheeky little queen. She was the same breed as he and he felt almost a sort of elder-brother affection for her.
Also, similar to him, she was single, but she didn't feel the intense loneliness that the Siamese tom did. She had Bill Bailey as a close and adoring friend and they were clearly besotted – albeit unknowingly – with one another.
"So," Quirking his eyebrow, he cheerfully enquired. "What's the problem? What can I do you for?"
Shrugging, she hugged her legs, rocking on her heels. "I dunno…" Sheepishly grinning at him, she cleared her throat. "Its silly really, ya know…" Pausing, she twisted her slender hands together. "Grum and Blaze will have a kitten soon." She finally murmured. "It…it kinda scares me…"
"Why so?" He enquired, taking her hands in his own. "What is it about them and their kitten that scares you?"
With a soft laugh, she replied. "I'm not scared of them…but I'm scared I'll never be like them…they're so happy and I keep thinking I might never have a mate or kitten…I'm scared I'll never be happy like them…that's what scares me."
"Oh Dragon," Half-sighing with exasperation, half rolling his eyes, Genghis hugged the younger queen fondly. "That's the story of my life!" He bumped his head lightly against hers with a smile. "Look at you, for goodness sake! You're bright, pretty, young, friendly! You've got plenty of time and plenty of appeal for any mate…"
"But…"
"But? But?" He echoed incredulously. "Trust me when I say you'll have a mate, Little D. You'll just have to wait until you find each other…then you'll be as happy and Blaze and Grum…it just takes a little time, sometimes."
Little Dragon giggled sheepishly. "Thanks, Genghis." She murmured, nestling closer to the warm tom, her face resting against his chest.
"Feeling better?" He asked, kissing her fondly on the top of her head, his arms around her thin shoulders.
Nodding, she yawned sleepily, her voice faltering off mid-sentence, as she fell asleep against his chest. "Much better...Gen…ghi…"
"That's my kitt." He smiled sadly, stroking her fur gently, the furry mass of Griddlebone's body visible through the doorway, from his position. Sighing in aggravation, he shook his head. "You'll just have to wait til you find each other…what a load of crap…"
*
In the early light, Grumbuskin cast a sidelong glance at his younger hunting partner for the day. Bill Bailey grinned back at him, his eyes glinting dangerously.
The small brown and white tom thrived on the thrill of the chase, proving himself to but much stronger and fiercer than he appeared to be.
"Ready?" Grumbuskin whispered, his eyes locked on the massive trison that was to be their prey.
"You betcha." The other tom slid his claws out slowly.
Silently running forward, both leapt in unison. Grumbuskin landed astride the beast's wide back, his hands tightening around the curled horns on its head, while Bill Bailey's arms and legs wrapped around its neck. His teeth latching onto the wiry throat, tearing through the coarse hair that protected the area.
Pulling the huge, shaggy head back with the horns, Grumbuskin's legs hooked around Bill's, holding him onto the animal more firmly, the blood blinding him, splashing all over his face and chest.
Slightly larger than anything the duo had attacked before, the beast tossed and bucked without warning, Bill Bailey's claws digging into the hide for a better grip, which made the huge creature squeal with outrage and pain.
Grumbuskin wasn't so lucky, as the trison jerked his four hind legs into the air, hurling the silver tom violently through the air, his body smashing against a thick tree trunk with a sickening crunch.
"Grum?" Hanging back, Bill could see the crumpled figure of his friend sprawled on the ground, motionless and bloody. "Grum? Buddy? Come on! Get up?"
The little tom suddenly realised the savage animal hadn't finished with his assailants yet, as he wheeled round, carving up the loamy soil with his jagged hooves, preparing to charge, seemingly oblivious to the smaller attacker that was still latched onto its thick neck. The thick hide there seemed like a blessing in disguise to the slight tom.
"I don't think so!" He breathed, pulling himself painfully in a sharp swing up onto the top of the bull's head, the horns pressing against his stomach as he wrapped his arms across the eyes tightly.
Blinded, the trison swung round, trying to dislodge the tom, his attention drawn from his silver victim, who sprawled – unconsciousness – under the wide trees, his blood staining the mossy ground dark red.
"Show me what ya got, big guy." Hissing in the bucking animal's ear, Bill Bailey sank his claws into its massive eyes, gritting his teeth.
It was going to be a wild ride, but he knew he could beat it. He was tough enough to take on anything.
*
"Blaze?" Griddlebone raced after the queen, her white tail streaming out behind her. "Blaze? Where are you going?"
Catching up with the sobbing queen, Griddlebone grasped her black shoulders, halting her flight. "Let me go! Let me go, Grid!"
"Whats wrong, Blaze?
"Grumbuskin" She practically screamed, panic-stricken tears pouring down her face. "I can't feel him…I felt a pain and now he's gone…" Breaking into a run, she kept crying. "The hunt went wrong…something happened…"
Taking charge, Griddlebone spun round and bellowed McDuff's name, thanking her stars for her operatic, voice-projection training, as the other two toms both appeared within seconds.
"The guys are in trouble."
*
Panting, leaning heavily on his thighs, Bill Bailey stared down at the motionless corpse. He was stained with thick, almost black blood, his long fur plastered down, sticky against his body.
"Bill? Are you okay?" Genghis materialised on the far side of the clearing, staring at the devastation around him in amazement. "Where's Grum?"
"Grum…" Stumbling around the body of the trison, he collapsed down beside the still body of the silver tom, rolling him over carefully, brushing the blood-crusted knots of fur back from his face. "C'mon Grum…mate…talk to me…"
Pressing his ear against his friend's chest, Bill Bailey felt a burning in his eyes, as he hugged the silver body to his chest.
"Grumbuskin?" Toiling into the clearing, Blaze stopped short in horror. "Bill…please… say he's okay…please…please…"
Raising his tear-filled eyes to the beautiful black queen, Bill Bailey shook his head slowly, lowering his face. "I'm sorry, Blaze…I'm so sorry…"