Sitting on one of the low boulders, Glory's tail swished over the long grass, elbows propped on her knees, chin cupped in her paws

Sitting on one of the low boulders, Glory's tail swished over the long grass, elbows propped on her knees, chin cupped in her paws. The light breeze ruffled her fur, her nostrils flaring as she took in the scent of autumn.

A movement behind her caught her attetion. lancing over her shoulder, she found Reajin's ginger face barely feet from her. Flashing a tired smile, she patted the surface of the rock beside her. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay." The tom prowled over and squatted down on his haunches beside her. "The kittens are sleeping." He jerked a thumb in the direction of the small group. Jinx, Dodger, Mercedes and Misty had fallen into a kitty-pile.

Glory chuckled, flexing her arms with a yawn. "That's not such a bad idea." She remarked, stretching each leg slowly. "Its been a long day."

"Strange day too." He agreed. "How often can you say that you went online to chat and came off with fur and whiskers?"

She turned her paw over, flexed. Claws sprang from harmless-looking paws. "Or have things like these." She added, running a finger of her other hand along them. "I always wondered what they felt like."

Reajin chuckled. "I did actually come up here for a reason though, Glory." Turning serious, he gestured down to some of the elder members of the group. "They wanted to talk to you about food. We've got water, but food is...well, pretty damn important."

Shaking her fur back into place, the queen nodded, getting to her hind paws. "I'm not about to disagree there. There's only so many berries that I can eat without feeling like I wanna heave all over the nearest person's tail."

"Thanks for the warning." The ginger tom grabbed his tail between his paws, flashed a small grin at her and clambered back down the rocks to where the rest of the pack were waiting. The queen smothered a grin and followed him down.

Tiddles looked up from stoking the fire, nodded to her. The flames danced lightly, engulfing the small pile of firewood quickly.

"Nice trick." She murmured, moving to sit beside the fire, the incoming night bringing the threat of the chill with it. Callista settled beside the gold queen, close enough for reassurance and warmth. Glory smiled gently down at her, ran a paw over the younger queen's head.

"Did Reajin tell you why we wanted you to come down?"

"Something about food?"

Wolfgang nodded. "There's bound to be something out there. Something meaty and...well, huntable." He flicked his claws out. "We haven't been given things like these for no reason, have we?" There were nods from around the circle. "We haven't just been brought here to die of starvation, so I say that tomorrow, some of us go out on a scouting party, but don't go too far from those caves." He gestured to the caves they had arrived in. "We don't want to lose our shelter unless we have to."

"Who died and made you king of the world?" Reajin snorted.

Siah shot a reproving look at the young tom. "He knows what he's talking about, Reajin." She said coolly, her ear twitching. "Winter's coming and if we don't have shelter – like those caves – we could die of exposure...unless we get out of here some time soon, which really isn't looking too likely."

Scratching at the dirt at his feet with his toe claws, Reajin growled softly, narrowed his eyes at the ground. "Right." He muttered petulantly.

The black queen and tuxedo exchanged wry glances. "You can lead the hunt party if you would like to, Reajin." Wolfgang suggested. "We'll need two leaders for the group. Would you be able to do that?"

"You think I couldn't?" The ginger tom raised his eyes slowly, accusingly. "You think I wouldn't be good enough."

"He didn't say that." Glory reached over, ran a hand down the young tom's arm gently. "He's asking if you want to do it. It would help the group and we need to know that you feel confident in it, okay?"

His features impassive in the dancing glow of the fire, the ginger tom nodded. "I'll do that, then." He said, leaning forward on his knees.

Wolfgang flashed a grateful smile at the golden queen. Estariolle was lying alongside him, his hand moving in light circles at the base of her back. "So, we need two parties. Preferably the biggest members of the group, until we know what we're against. Tiddles, you can lead the second group, if that's all right?"

The black and ginger tom nodded. "Five to a group sound good to you, Wolf? Then the others can stay here, see what else they can find closer to home."

"Sounds good." The black and white tom agreed, his mate's cheek rubbing against his thigh in a soft yawn. "I don't think the three girls should be pulled into the hunt. They're all too small to fight anything at the moment."

"Agreed." Plato nodded, thoughtfully swiping at his ear with his forepaw. "Who'll stay with them while the rest of us are hunting?"

"Glory?"

The gold queen shrugged. "I could do that."

"Then all we need to decide is on an equal balance of strength in the two hunting parties." The black quee on the opposite side of the fire shook long strands of fur out of her eyes. "There's seven guys and three girls for hunting and I'm betting a lot of us are outta shape."

Tiddles raised a paw. "I could just fall on the things we hunt, if that helps." He suggested, a faint flicker of a smile creeping onto his lips.

Siah reached over and squeezed his paw. "See." She grinned, winking at him. "Size does matter." The gargantuan feline chuckled, a deep rumbling sound. "Anyways, what were we all before we came here? It might help us. I used to dance."

"I was a gymnast...I think that's what we were called." Shadow volunteered.

Callista frowned. "I...I danced. I remember dancing..."

"Me too." Plato nodded.

"I don't remember." Admetus stared pensively at the flames. "I'm trying to remember, but I can't think of the word. I used to sit at a box....press little squares....but I can't remember what we used to call it..."

A new face joined the circle. Yawning, Dodger looked around. "So is this closed discussion or free-for-all?"

"We're just planning hunting groups, according to strength." Reajin replied cagily. "I used to do a lot of exercise." The tall, ginger tom flexed his arms, pointed at the muscle. "See. I'm big and strong."

Arms around his knees, balancing on his toes, the multicoloured tabby frowned thoughtfully. "I used to do stuff. I'm kind of not able to remember what it was, but I know it was fun and it made me really tired. We used to throw a ball...had to hit something..."

"That would help with hunting." Wolfgang put in with a tired smile. "Okay. Our group leaders are Tiddles and Reajin." He gestured to the two largest toms in the group. "Now listen very carefully. I shall say zis only wance." Estariolle giggled sleepily, smacked his leg. "In Tiddles' group, we'll have Dodger, Callista, Estariolle and Admetus. Got that?"

The four felines nodded.

"And the rest," Wolfgang gestured to himself, Plato, Siah and Shadow. "Will be in Reajin's group. Any arguments?"

"I've got one!" Tiddles' paw rose again. "Why do I have to be stuck with your wife, Wolfie? I know you hate me, but I didn't know you hated me that much!" A pebble sailed from a red-furred paw and smacked the ginger and black tom right between the eyes. "Hoi!"

Sleepy green eyes glanced at him. "Serves you right, you cheeky bugger."

"Good shot, Star." Dodger applauded with a grin. "Betcha couldn't do it again." A small pebble promptly plopped him square on the nose. "Um..." Wiggling his nose, he squinted at her. "I take it back."

Pulling his wife up into his arms, Wolfgang smirked. "Don't you be a-messin' with my baby, boyo. She's had way too much practise throwing sharp and pointy implements." He bent to brush his forehead against hers. "Usually with me as the target."

"Gotta give credit to a violent family environment." Reajin said, staring at the fire, his toe claws working into the dirt at his feet. He shook himself, looked around. "So when do we start tomorrow? Dawn?"

"Dawn?" Callista and Tiddles wailed.

"I think that means they think its a bit early." Wolfgang translated with a small grin. "But as soon as everyone is up, I say we get started." Several voices rose in agreement. "That's settled then. But, for now..." Getting to his feet, he pulled Estariolle up into his arms. "We're going to get some sleep."

"Hopefully, that'll be all." Siah winked, receiving a stuck-out-tongue from the tux. "Its not such a bad idea though. I wanna find a nice, decent patch of cave to sleep in. Anyone who wants to catpile with me, feel free."

"So its bedtime?" Tiddles' jaws widened in an immense yawn. "Good."

One by one, the little group around the fire dispersed, filing into the cave. Glory shook the three kittens awake, led them into the caves. As the moon rose, heavy in the sky, Reajin was the only one remaining outside.

Finally getting to his paws, he climbed the small incline, entering the warm cave. Nearest the entrance, Callista, Tiddles and Siah were huddled together. Dodger had joined Glory and the three kittens again. Estariolle and Wolfgang had crept into a smaller cave that opened off the main one, leaving Plato, Admetus and Shadow in a large pile of rainbow fur.

Making his way passed them, Reajin found a bare spot of floor at the back of the cave, curled up, his head pillowed on his arms, and fell asleep.

*

Squatting beside the stream, Dodger plunged his paws into the cold water, giving a yelp at the bitter chill.

"Cold?" A voice inquired from alongside him. He cocked his head, found Callista grinning at him, her eyes dancing merrily. He blinked, then yelled as she splashed some more water onto his fur.

"Hey!"

Gold eyes blinked at him innocently. "What? You'd missed a spot."

"Still," He dabbled his paw in the water. "It wasn't very nice. Now, I'm going to have to..." He threw a handful of water in her face. "Reciprocate." The queen's shriek only grew louder as he tackled her, practically throwing her into the stream.

Unfortunately for the tom, she caught his arm, held tight and pulled him under with her.

Surfacing with squeals and giggles, the pair struggled with one another, Callista succeeding in ducking the young tom two more times before managing to clamber out of the water, shaking the chilly liquid out of her tangled fur.

"Well," She ran a paw over her head, smirked. "That was...bracing..."

Dodger blinked, pushing soaked strands of over-long fur out of his eyes. "That was cold, you mean." He corrected, twitching his whiskers. Wringing his paws, he shook a fine spray over the black and gold queen, sniggering at her shriek of annoyance.

"Let me guess." She glared at him in a fine display of feigned anger. "The water just happened to slip from your fur and jump onto me?"

"Got it in one." He winked. Offering her a hand, they grinned at one another, then walked back to the main 'camp, where most of the other felines were starting to awaken. Glory had succeeded in pulling the three sleepily-protesting kittens out into the sun.

Not that it had done any good.

The trio had found a sunny spot, promptly bunched together and fell asleep once again. The gold queen threw her paws in the air, exclaimed that she gave up, dropped down on the grassy verge beside them and fell asleep too.

"Now don't you just hate that?" Callista gestured to the four queens in annoyance. "We're about to go out and put our asses on the line and they get to sleep in the sun all day." She pouted. "I wanna stay and sleep in the sun."

Dodger chuckled, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead. "On the plus side, Call," He gave her a wide grin. "You get the pleasure of my company on the hunt, this wonderful afternoon."

Staring at him, she blinked. "And that's meant to be better how?"

"Because," He stuck a pose, flexing his upper body. "I'm too sexy for my fur." She couldn't stifle a giggle. "See! You're gonna be stuck with, my gorgeous self and I all day. How could you not have a good time?" Blue eyes twinkled with self-depreciating laughter.

Callista smacked him across the head. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a conceited, self-centred ape?"

"Plenty of times!" He paused, barely smothering a grin. "Why?"

"Don't you think they're trying to tell you something?"

The broad white stripe down the centre of the tom's forehead rippled as he frowned, clearly deep in some kind of thought. "A-ha!" He held up a paw. "I know what they're trying to tell me! They're jealous! That's what they are!"

"Are you two ready to go?" Reajin was pacing impatiently back and forth. The rest of the hunt-squad were standing around, talking quietly too.

"Heil Hitler." The tabby muttered under his breath, looping Callista's arm through his. "Yes, Reajin." Raising his voice, he replied politely. "We're ready to go when you are. Just remember which team you're the leader of."

The ginger tom shot a venemous look in the tabby's direction, prowling to the lead of the little group of felines.

"Don't annoy him." Wolfgang cautioned the tabby softly, pulling back with Estariolle. "Things are going to be hard enough around here. Just let him do what he likes. It'll keep him quiet and stop arguments."

Dodger nodded reluctantly. "Doesn't sound fair." He muttered. Callista nodded. "I guess we'll have to stick with it, huh?"

"Looks like it." The gold and black queen agreed. "But first," She rubbed her paws together gleefully. "Lets go find us some food."