The first thing I remembered was the cold, damp, chilling, straight-to-the-bone cold. Then, something warm, soft and pliable. And then, when I first opened my eyes, seeing my mother, Bramble for the first time. She had dark amber eyes and her fur and was sleek. She was lean, not like some kittypets with great, soft bellies hanging down, or like a rogue with a scruffy pelt and hungry desperation gleaming in their eyes. She was a mix of both lives, to say. She had muscled hindquarters and the sharpest claws I'd ever seen. But, when around her owners, she became a tame pet, purring and putting her claws away for the moment. I was in awe, her double personalities a mystery to my brother and I. Oak, Bramble's rogue mate, was a father to my brother and I, playing with us and hunting fresh prey for us to eat. I took to it immediately, but Rush hated it. He preferred the hard pellets that came out of a bowl instead of the fresh prey out of the woods. Anyways, on to my current life, as a rogue.
"C'mon, Rush!" I called, bounding into the stream and ignoring the fact that Bramble would kill me, verbally, of course, later for the wet fur. Trees stretched up above me, swaying the very topmost limbs in a rhythmic dance to music they could only hear. I peered at them, my eyes straining to see the tops. Nope. I turned to see Rush, his brown-and-black striped face only inches from mine. He grinned and then pounced, rolling me over in the stream. I yelped, batting at him with my paws. We scrambled to our paws an draced onward, traversing the flowery meadow that we came regularly to frolic in. I sneezed, sending dandelion fluffs up. It was spring and every thing was good, Oak brought us prey almost every day and I enjoyed forays such as this. I tumbled over and over with Rush, his amber eyes laughing at my squeals of joy. I pushed off of him, my much lighter body springing away and landing with only a small sound on the grassy ground. He rolled once more and then scrambled to his paws before bounding over and sitting down, wrapping his tail around his paws. He nuzzled me and I swatted him playfully. I fell back, rolling onto my back and staring lazily up at the sky.
"This is the good life, Rush. Food, water, play."
"Yeah, Petal. It is. Oak and Bramble are saying we're to big to stay for much longer." his melodious baritone took on a whining sound. "It's not true, is it?" I stared at the bright blue sky, thinking long.
"Rush, I long for something more. A place in the forest, but also in the openlands, up there." I had gotten to my paws and was gazing with such longing that Rush pressed himself to my side. His amber eyes were wide with fright.
"You're not going to leave me, are you?" he whispered, burying his muzzle in my side. I laughed and gave his ear a lick, shaking off the yearning that had over come me a moment ago.
"Of course not, silly. I would never leave you. Now, come on. Bramble will be worrying by now." we set off at a slow wlk, enjoying the tiny breeze that stirred our whiskers. I stretched my head up, inhaling deeply. A scent of something earthy, but with trees, rivers and fresh caught prey. I sniffed deeper, savoring the scent.
"Come on, Petal! Gigi wants to see you!" Rush yowled from somewhere ahead. I sighed, thinking of the chatty light orange she up ahead. I turned away from the enticing smell and loped forward, my gait smooth and rolling. I skidded to a stop, giving Gigi a nod and then sped forward, ignoring her calls. I loped for a few more moments and the settled down on a steep slope overlooking the city. I heard Rush apologize and then his pawsteps behind me. I rolled my eyes, waiting for the lecture.
"You aren't very nice to her, you know." his word sent a pang of discomfort straight to my heart. He shifted and I looked over. A small blush heating his face and my eyebrows shot straight up.
"You like her!" I meowed, a small niggling of jealousy working it's way into my heart. I cut it off and burned it, stamping it down.
"No, you just . . ." his explanation died off lamely, ending with him bowing his head and breathing quietly, as if he hoped I would forget he was there. Then he moved closer, pressing into my pelt.
"I saw you back there. I know you're going to leave sooner or later." he murmured quietly. I jerked, surprise lighting my eyes. I settled down again and licked the top of his head. I was slightly taller and made good use of it at times like this.
"Oh, Rush. I've always known I'd leave. Sometime." I felt his body stiffen and he looked up at me, his amber eyes desperate.
"Yes, I do like Gigi. I need you to make me a promise. Don't leave until I have my first litter. Please, Petal, I need you!" he whispered, his voice ragged. I choked back a cry of objection and then leaned back into my brother.
"I . . . I promise."
And there you go! The prophecy I made sucks. I know. It's terrible. But, let's see you guess who the storm is! Buahahaha- cough, cough! Ack, this beep, beep, beeped, beep cold it beep, beep, beep! Sorry, the sensors are for young kits. Don't need to emotionally scar them till their older. Teeheehee. See ya guys later!