Warning: It's WAY too long but... here ya go! {I hope you guys enjoy 3}
7 sunrises later...(a week)
The forest sparkled, leaves rustled, mice scurried around, and birds sang their enchanting songs. That morning was perfect for the hunting Cedar Fur and Birch Tail had decided to do. Birch Tail had caught a squirrel and Cedar Fur had caught two plump mice so far.
As they both padded through the gleaming forest alert for prey, Cedar Fur pricked his ears and pointed to a squirrel in a low branch with his tail-tip. Birch Tail nodded and they placed themselves in the correct position. The plan would be for Birch Tail to scare it at the right moment, causing the squirrel to jump off the tree right into Cedar Fur's waiting paws.
As Birch Tail scrambled up the tree, she was surprised to see that the squirrel hadn't heard her racket. Birch Tail slowly crouched closer to it. She quickly looked down to see if Cedar Fur was in position, but that heartbeat had been enough for her to misplace her paw, causing her to slip and fall down.
Cedar Fur quickly jumped to the spot where she would land, she tumbled on top of him. he had broken her fall, but it wasn't enough to stop the momentum. The both rolled and rolled entangled in each other's legs.
When they crashed into a bush. Leaves showered down on top of them as they both looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Cedar Fur POV
Cedar Fur looked at Birch Tail as the leaves rained down on them. He couldn't help but burst out laughing at her leaf-covered face. As the both tried to get back up, they stumbled back down, noticing how their legs were all tangled up. Cedar Fur chuckled. After many attempts to get untangled, Cedar Fur finally managed to stand up. He then helped Birch Tail to get up as well.
Cedar Fur then looked around to try and figure out where they were. The bush looked kind of familiar. He parted his jaws to taste the air for any recognizable scents only to notice a stale scent of him and Birch Tail. "This must have been the bush we stayed at a few sunrises ago." He meowed. He felt Birch Tail's pelt burn at the mention of that night.
However there was another scent there as well. He scented something familiar, but what? It was as if it lived with him but was a stranger. It wasn't the damp scent of the forest, it wasn't the sweet scent of Birch tail, it wasn't the tempting smell of prey or fresh-kill, badger maybe? Fox? neither, He could recognize their stench anywhere.
Cedar Fur was brought back to reality by Birch Tail poking him lightly on the side "are you alright?" She meowed, a seriously concerned expression on her face. "Y-yeah I'm fine. We better get back to camp." Birch Tail nodded and they both went to dig up the prey they had caught earlier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birch Tail POV
As they both padded into camp, their pelts brushing, Birch Tail was greeted by the usual threatening glare from Clover Shine. She shivered at the cold look she received.
Cedar Fur POV
Cedar Fur could feel Birch Tail tense and shiver beside him. He curiously followed her gaze until it landed on Clover Shine. He dropped the mice he was carrying and pressed closer to Birch Tail to comfort her, then he leaned in until his nose touched her ear and murmured soothingly "She'll get over it, don't let her bother you." "I-I hope so..." Birch Tail sighed as she buried her muzzle into his chest fur.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(After Cedar Fur and Birch Tail ate together)
Cedar Fur POV
During the whole morning Cedar Fur just couldn't seem to get the unreadable scent out of his head. It just kept on nagging at him from the back of his mind like a burr that was stuck in his pelt. He shook his head as if to clear it and decided it wouldn't hurt to inform Dew Star of this discovery.
As he climbed up the high ledge, he took a break at the entrance to catch his breath. After a few heart beats he meowed firmly "Dew Star?" He was soon answered by a voice deeper inside "Come in." As Cedar Fur padded into the dimly lit den he found Dew Star sitting on her nest, her green eyes expectant. "Very well, what has happened." She questioned.
"Well when I was out hunting earlier this morning, I came across this suspicious scent near the sky oak." He stopped before continuing "I think we have to do something about it" he finished
Dew Star rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently before meowing "Surely you have just mistaken something else... try to get more rest Cedar Fur." She spoke in a dismissive tone.
Though Cedar Fur wanted to keep insisting he dipped his head "thank you for your time." He tried to make his voice sound as convincing as possible to hide his anger. As Cedar Fur descended the high ledge, his mind was whirling with dissatisfaction. 'How could she not believe him! He wasn't a kit he could tell different scents apart!' "Well if she isn't going to do anything about it I'll just have to investigate myself. He thought determinedly.
Birch Tail POV
After Birch Tail had shared that pheasant with Cedar Fur it had occured to her to bring something to Cloud Leaf. She inspected the pile and chose a mouse. She then made her way towards the medicine den. Once inside she was welcomed by a warm meow from Cloud Leaf. "I hope that's for me!" He purred. Birch Tail smiled and laid the mouse down. Soon Cloud Leaf had finished it in a few hungry bites. He thanked her afterwards.
"Fallen recently? He chuckled you know you're my most common visitor. You're the clumsiest cat I know!" He joked. Birch Tail couldn't help smiling at his light-hearted teasing. "Well I did fall off a tree earlier this morning, but I'm fine really." She remarked. "Well it wouldn't hurt for me to check ya' now would it." He mowed before he began his usual inspection.
After a few heartbeats Birch Tail heard a gasp. She turned her head in his direction worriedly, but she was surprised to find excitement instead of worry or concern sparkling in his eyes. "W-what is it?!" She mewed in concern. "Birch Tail I have great news... you're you're expecting kits!" He purred happily.