Taut trees blurred on both sides, only caught in glimpses of the sprinter's peripheral vision. Tiny paws thundered against the stiffened soil littered with dead leaves and shriveled twigs. The air was thick with adrenaline, pulsing with energy despite its lack of flourishing life. The rush of heat neutralized the midday chill, secondly overpowered by the stench of fear.
A single calico pushed her muscles to the absolute limit, breath hot and heavy with exhaustion as it was absorbed by the scruff fur of the tiny bundle she clutched in her jaws. Her patchwork of ginger, black and white mimicked dapple patterns of the leaves plastered aimlessly on the earth, each strand of hair bristled in a feeling of dread. The feline's feathery tail streamed behind her like a flag, swatting a dying bush with fury as her paws steered momentum toward the far right in a desperate maneuver. She skidded on a slip of her own feet, stumbling furiously to regain solid footing before taking off again at a fear-induced sprint.
Loping hungrily at her legs with broad paws was the slobbering hulk of fangs and claws. Humid and revolting was its breath, reeking of something foreign and faintly fish-like. Its cry was deep, resonating much like thunder through the shriveled forest. It wasn't so much of a cry as it was a roar. A roar embodied of passion and need.
Kill kill kill
The calico's whines of dismay were cleanly muffled, muscles aching from such a long run. Familiar landmarks settled in her vision; the clumping of undergrowth, the path of thorns liable to slice some wounds past a cat's fur, and eventually the gradual spacing of trees to signify the oncoming river. The unfrosted water seeped into the edges, gaining slickness near the reed bed. Muddied paws skipped over the unfamiliar terrain as the female hastily tossed her young in the hidden depths of the waterside plants.
The kitten pathetically wailed, startled upon its sudden disappearance from their mother's firm and safe grasp.
"Mama?" it whined in distress, blue eyes wide.
"You must stay here, sweet," she meowed back in response, voice dry and wavering from shock. "Mama has to take care of something quickly. She'll be back. Promise." She loomed closer in a fluid motion, leaning down to rasp her tongue on her daughter's kitten-soft crest of black fur. Just as quick as the embrace, the calico mother had veered away from the flora, pulling her sleek figure into the open with an announcing yowl.
Enraged, the mother cat bared her teeth and stood her ground as the beast lumbered into view with a series of quick succession barking. With superior speed and agility, the hound charged its prey, making contact with its paw as the calico patterned shape tried to unsuccessfully flee.
"Flea-face!" she screeched, regaining her footing as she was thrown a few tail lengths to the left side of the creature. "Fight me!" She lunged to swipe at its muzzle, steering it away from the reed bed.
The hound, however, intent on thrashing around imitating injured prey, hobbled around on his clunky paws and floundered in a haze of rage. It snarled, stumbling off to one side or another with every attack the calico sent its way. Furious, the brown furred beast snapped its maw, a flash of yellowed fangs slicing the air centimeters in front the feline's muzzle, in turn, earning a yelp. The cat pulled back sharply, tripping up her hind legs in an attempt to get away. In the process, her claws flashed up again, catching the creature's nose. The actions repeated and the dog lunged, superior size winning against skill as it brought its heavy pad crashing into her skull and shoving her into the frozen earth. The dog began to bite at her neck, as if displeased that the cat was on the ground, still. It needed to see the blood spill. The slow creep of crimson staining the dirt and leaves.
It would have continued its massacre if it weren't for the caterwaul echoing from the behind trees. Bursting from the withering undergrowth emerged a flurry of thick and thinner furred warriors, pelting forward with another barrage of avenging yowls. Claws flew outstretched from their tinier paws, lashing outwards with ferocity of lions and launching their much smaller bodies upon the savage beast.
"Maplecloud!" shrieked a black tabby tomcat, staring horrified upon noticing the calico stilled in her motions - her refusal to move and acknowledge the call as blood continued to seep from the fatal wounds.
"Twigtail!" shouted another white cat from afar, warning the tabby a bit too late. He was thrown on the ground with a roar, landing sprawled and hurting beside his fallen mate. Before the dog could lunge again, a dark ginger female threw herself at its throat, burying petite, yet dangerous fangs past the fur into lethal territory. Finally, the dog seemed to take the hint he wasn't supposed to be here and stumbled back, avoiding blows with an obscene amount of whimpering. Its bloodied brown pelt faded through the woods, wailing as the adrenaline faded and pain from the injuries rooted deep.
"And don't come back you flea-pelt!" the white cat spat, spittle flying from her open maw. She whirled around and raced with the others to the side of Maplecloud and Twigtail.
The black tabby had recovered, pulling himself feebly to his shaky paws. He took one sidelong glance to his mate and fell down again in depression. "Maplecloud..." he mewled, vocal chords strained. He suddenly looked up with wide and fearful eyes. "Where's Softkit? Softkit?" Weakly, he crawled to a standing position, calling out for his daughter.
A series of frantic mewling reverberated from the reed bed, giving away her location. Twigtail was upon her in seconds, wailing in surprise that his daughter was relatively unharmed. He rasped his tongue over the crest of her head, swallowing up her whines of despair of being left alone with the cries of the battle still echoing in her mind. Around them, the remaining warriors were gathering up the corpse of their fallen queen, preparing to carry her back to the campgrounds.
"Where's Mama?" Softkit had the curiosity to ask the unasked question. Twigtail kept her sheltered from seeing the bloodied calico pelt of her mother.
"She had to go somewhere," he answered simply. "You'll see her someday."
"Why?" the kitten sniffled, unsure of her situation. "Why, Mama? Why would you leave?"
"To protect you," her father forced a smile. "Come along, sweet. We'll get you home - dried off and warm with some food." He gingerly picked her up by her scruff - just like Maplecloud had - and they took the far rear of the patrol, still keeping Maplecloud hidden from view.
Softkit couldn't help but feel silently abandoned. Protection was always important. But why would her Mama leave her all alone without even saying good-bye?
Perhaps Twigtail was right. Perhaps she would see her mother again.
Someday.
Challenge for TorrentClan.
- Thornkit