Challenge: 20 Love Stories
Word Count: 748
Rating: K, safe for all readers
Butterflies
A growl echoed in Talltail's ears. A dog!
The black and white tom stalked away from the direction of the growl, cautiously. He didn't know these streets at all. The dog could very well have snuck up behind him.
He quickly looked behind himself. He let out a relieved sigh when he didn't see a slobbering tongue or its beady black eyes.
He listened out again but couldn't hear anything else. Suddenly, an ear-splitting yowl pierced the silence. It was a cry for help!
Talltail turned around and bolted towards the sound. He had to help! He was a warrior, after all.
He darted through streets and around monsters, looking for the source of the yowl. Where could the cat possible be?
Suddenly, the strong scent of dog and fear became clearer and he followed his nose. A large, menacing dog stood, with its back turned to him, snarling at a plump ginger tom. A kittypet, he inwardly growled dismissively. The dog had him cornered and Talltail could tell that the kittypet would be killed soon.
The kittypet snarled back at the dog and swiped at its muzzle, his back arched and his soft ginger fur on end.
He's an unusual kittypet... Talltail tipped his head to one side, not understanding why the tom had not fled despite the fact that he was clearly trapped. Most kittypets would flee— most warriors would flee. Talltail decided that he liked the ginger tom's spirit.
The black and white tom gave his paw a quick lick and sprung towards the dog. He grabbed hold of its back with his claws and it let out a yelp.
The kittypet, now having the upper paw, swiped at the dog's face, leaving three bright red marks on its cheek. The brown beast snapped at Talltail and he clawed at its face. It let out another yelp of pain and tried to shake him off.
Talltail leapt off the dog's back to avoid possible crushing. His fur stood up on end and he and the kittypet hissed at it, causing it to run off like a scared rabbit.
Panting hard, the ginger kittypet gazed at him with admiration. After a while, he glanced up at Talltail's face and purred, "Thanks!"
"No problem kittypet," Talltail replied.
The tom's eyes lit up. "Are you a Clan cat?" he asked excitedly. "Are you from ThunderClan? I've always wanted to go to the forest! What's it like living in a big Clan? Is it fun?"
Talltail purred at his enthusiasm. "Yes, I'm Talltail. But I'm not from ThunderClan, I'm from WindClan."
"There's more than one Clan?"
The perplexed look on the kittypet's face made Talltail purr. "Anyway," the tom purred. "I'm Jake and it's nice to meet you Talltail."
Jake... What a nice name... for such a nice kittypet...
Silently thanking StarClan that cats couldn't read his thoughts, Talltail cleared his throat. "Um... You should be more careful next time," he tried to growl. "You should be more wary. Dogs can kill cats like you."
"I'll be fine," Jake bragged. "I'm stronger and smarted than those mangy beasts anyway." He let out a purr. Talltail was surprised to hear himself purr along with the kittypet— no, Jake.
"I-I have to go," he stammered, not knowing how to control his feelings around the ginger tom. "Good bye Jake."
Jake swished his tail twice, "Good bye Talltail," he purred. "I hope to see you again."
So do I...
Talltail dipped his head and swiftly padded away, but not before stealing one last glance at Jake.
Questions circled around his mind like hungry cats circling prey. What were these emotions he felt when he was around Jake? There was such a nice feeling he got in his stomach every time Jake spoke to him, like butterfly fluttering around in a field.
He stopped. His mother had always described the feeling she felt when she first met his father.
Did he... love Jake?
Unable to deny it, he let out a purr and thoughts about the ginger tom circled in his mind.
I wonder if Jake feels the same way...
Talltail shook his head. No. Now is not the time to be acting like a kit. I have a job to do.
He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind and continued to walk.
But he couldn't help but look back at the tom who had started to walk in the opposite direction.
I'll see you again soon Jake. I promise.