As the Sky Turns Red

~Chapter 2: Stories~

The sun slowly started to set, ending the long day once more. Slickpelt sniffed the air, knowing there wasn't much food.

"Slickpelt?" The tom twitched his ears, hearing his favorite kit, Shadowkit. "May I hear a story?"

"A story, eh?" The kit nodded, making the blind tom chuckle. The elder already knew the kit's actions and responses to everything. "Okay, then. What story do you have in mind?"

"Um... do you remember ever being friends with other animals, like rabbits or ferrets?" he asked. Slickpelt cocked his head.

"What do you mean, Shadowkit?" he asked. The kit tensed slightly.

"Like, have you ever spoke to any other animal who was our pray, but let them go because you became friends?" Slickpelt laughed at his.

"What? You became friends with food?"

"No!" Though Slickpelt could hear through Shadowkit's lie, he decided to stop. He knew the young tom was peaceful, and knowing this made the elder feel happiness.

"Well, there was once I came in contact with a ferret... yes, I do believe it was a ferret..." Slickpelt thought back to the day he met the weird animal. Though it wasn't... normal to talk to prey, Slickpelt actually enjoyed the little creature's company for the short amount of time. "Well, come here, Shadowkit! I'll tell you the story!"

"Yay~!" The midnight kit hopped over, laying in front of Slickpelt, a large smile on his face.

"Now, if I remember, it was a few nights before I went blind..."

~Slickpelt padded through the woods, his red eyes scanning the forest. He gave a small sigh as he didn't see any prey.

"Snowclan has a lot," he mewed softly to himself, remembering the large pile of food back at camp. "But soon, it will all be eaten, and we'll starve... I can't let that happen!"

"Hold still, stupid rat!" Slickpelt froze. That voice. It didn't belong to any other cat, and it was a bit squeaky. He smiled, following the voice, being completely silent. As he got closer, he saw it was a black and white ferret with red eyes, his teeth clamped down on a large rat. Slickpelt licked his lips. A ferret and a rat! What a beautiful way to return to camp with! Before he could attack, the ferret raised his head, sniffing the air as his kept his paw on the dead rodent.

"I can smell you!" the ferret spoke, a German accent coating his voice. "Come on out!"

Slickpelt lunged forward, but landed a few inches away from the ferret.

"Hello," he mewed, smiling at the smaller creature in front of him, curing his lips back to show off his sharp teeth. The ferret looked at the tom, unfazed.

"Hallo, cat. How are you this night?" he asked, tilting his head a bit, paw remaining on the rat who had passed on long ago.

"Hmm... fine, I suppose. And you, ferret?" he replied, now sitting up straight. Why was this ferret acting so friendly towards him? Shouldn't he be scared.

"Vell, it's a beautiful night out, and I vas just returning home. Unfortunately, this dumm Krieg decided to try and steal the food I vas saving for my son!" he growled, glaring at the dead rat. As Slickpelt looked closer, he could see that the rat held a small handkerchief in its jaws. He could now smell the scent of bread, grapes, and... was that some apple?

"Really?" The ferret nodded, removing his paw.

"Sadly, ja. If you vant the rat, you can have it! I just vant vat's mine," he spoke, taking the folded up handkerchief from the dead rat. Slickpelt smiled, picking the rat up in his jaws. "By zee vay, I am Saxony."

"Slickpelt, at your service!" he mewed in response, his voice a bit muffled by the mouse. The ferret smiled, nodding his head.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Slickpelt," Getting a better grip on the handkerchief, Saxony got on his hind legs and motioned his right paw, as if to wave. "Auf Wiedersehen, Mr. Slickpelt! Have a nice night!"

Slickpelt watched Saxony scamper off. The tom smiled, walking back to cat, the rat clenched tightly in his jaws. Now, Snowclan had a bit more food.~

"Wow!" Shadowkit smiled, his gray eyes fixed on the elder. "Did you ever see Saxony again?"

"Actually, I did. And I met his son, too!" he replied happily, a smile forming on his face. "His name is Tilsit. Haha. Do you know what Saxony and Tilsit are?"

"Um... ferrets?" the kit answered, a bit unsure. The elder shook his head.

"Though that's what they are, their names mean something different!" he explained, making Shadowkit tilt his head. "Saxony is actually this city in Germany. And Tilsit was also a city in Prussia!"

"Germany? Prussia? What's that?" Shadowkit asked. He had never heard of these places before.

"Germany and Prussia are these places called countries!" he paused, thinking for a moment. "Well, except for Prussia. Saxony said it doesn't exist anymore..."

"What?! Why?!" Why wouldn't a country exist? It was there for a reason, so why did it go away?

"Well, Saxony said something about other countries taking pieces of it... I'm not too sure. Sorry, Shadowkit," The kit sighed quietly. He wished he could learn more about these countries, and how Prussia disappeared... or was ripped apart by other countries. It sounded all so interesting!... and a bit scary. "But, I do think I caught the sent of Tilsit one day!"

"Really?! Where?"

"On the boarder of Snowclan territory. I was taking a walk one day, and smelled his sent. I spoke to him, too. He said he lived by the old fallen tree, in a cabin with a twoleg, who is very nice. Maybe when you're older, I'll take you there."

"Why not now?"

"Because it's past your bedtime!"

"Aw, but Slickpelt!"

"No excuses! Now, go to sleep, kit. If you want, I can tell you a story about a rabbit I met. She also had a son, who lives with Tilsit!"

"Wow! Really?!"

"Yep! Now, off to your nest! Come back tomorrow after you've eaten!" Shadowkit nodded, saying goodbye to Slickpelt and padding off. Though, he didn't go to sleep. Instead, once he was sure no cat was awake, he left camp. He wanted to meet Tilsit, and learn more about these 'countries'. He also wanted to see if he could meet that rabbit Slickpelt was talking about.