2

Fate at a Dogs Jaws

About a moon later, me and my sister weren't racing each other to Dad's den. Our tails dragged against the ground, and tears streamed down our face. We had just seen Mom and Dad fight. Dad had held a dead kit by its scruff in his jaws. Not just any kit; it was Scratch.

This is what had happened just minutes earlier.

Mom was out hunting. The rest of us were with Dad. We sat on top of the dumpster as cats from all over lined up for his advice! Sometimes I can't wait until I grow old enough to be so important!

Suddenly, a guard skidded into the den. His blue eyes were wide and frantic, and he was breathing hard.

"Scourge, we need you at the Gathering Place now!" the black and white cat exclaimed.

"What is it, Ice?" Dad asked.

"Huge dog!"

"What's your point? My kits can beat up a dog, and you can't?"

"Let me finish! It's grabbed Fang, and if we get close it bites down harder."

"How could you let this happen?!" I cowered as Dad screamed at the guard. Then he leapt down from the dumpster and ran off, the rest of us chasing after him.

When we finally caught up with him, his fur was fluffed until he looked twice as big as normal. That's when I realized that when he looked twice the size as normal, he was only the same size as any other cat.

"Let her go, and I won't hurt you too badly." Dad hissed. The dog just growled.

"What are you gonna do, Daddy?" Ivy asked.

"I'm gonna hope that I can get in close enough without Fang getting hurt." Then, in a black streak, he ran forward and clawed the dog's muzzle. Howling in pain, the black and brown dog let go of Mom, who fell to the ground in a bloody heap. "Fang!"

"C'mon, Mrs. Fang, try to get up and I'll help you get to the Caretakers." Ice's smarter brother, Snake, said. Mom slowly got up and hobbled to the rest of BloodClan. Dad turned around with a cold fury in his eyes. I saw them harden just a bit, until they looked like chips of ice.

"This is the last straw, Dog!" Dad hissed, circling around it. The dog gave an ear-rattling bark and lunged right at him. Dad ducked, and it landed in front of us. I squeaked in terror as it grabbed Scratch, who had been right next to me. Then, I screwed my eyes shut before I heard a sickening crunch of bone. Scratch screamed before he was cut off.

"No!" my father exclaimed. He ran toward us and stopped in front of the dead kit. "Scratch!"

Everyone wailed in grief for the lost kit. The dog unknowingly crept up behind Dad. Suddenly, Dad whirled around and hissed curses at the dog.

"Die already!" he screamed at it. Then he leapt up until he was above the dog's head. The beast growled and reared up on his hind legs to try and reach him. Dad ran his long claws down from the dog's throat to his tail. The dog's eyes widened before it crumpled through the floor. Dad kicked some sand onto it before picking up Scratch's body and walked over to Caretaking. I followed him, with Ivy next to me.

"Fang…" Dad murmured. Mom looked up and gave a squeak.

"No! My kit!" she screamed, running over "How did this happen?!"

"It's all my fault…the dog had lunged at me, and I ducked. The kits were behind me, and before I could react the dog picked him up and…and…" Scourge then began to cry "He broke his neck and his back! There was one last scream before…I'm sorry."

"How could you let him do it?!" Mom swiped her claws over Dad's muzzle. Blood spurted out, and he whimpered before running away. At the exit, he turned around with near hatred in his eyes.

"You…why couldn't you do that to the dog?! If you had, you wouldn't be here right now and Scratch would still be ALIVE!"

The next morning, Dad didn't even get out of his den. The news about Scratch had spread around the clan. Cats came to offer us gifts. Since Dad didn't want to leave, Ivy and I had to take his place.

Apparently, some cats either hadn't heard or didn't care, and they asked about their problems.

"Uh, well, this cat tried to take my mouse, even though it was obviously my mouse. And I'm trying to feed a family of five and he's single…"

"Well, why don't you try taking the mice too your family as soon as you catch it like our mom does." Ivy suggested. "Now, our brother just died yesterday, so if you're asking for advice, can you please go? We'll answer your questions tomorrow." Some cats slunk out of the alley, and others padded up with mice and other foods. I would take them and give them to Dad, who was in the Dumpster. We had set up in the entrance to the den. Eventually, Dad got up and took the gifts himself. But the family wasn't ever the same without Scratch trying to tell another joke.

Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter.

I'm thinking the dog was maybe a Doberman or a Rottweiler.

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