Fire
Burning
Blistering
Fire
Fire was all around the clan territory. Leiko could smell the vegetation burning, the smell of charred fur from those unfortunate who were unable to clear the area in time. Leiko peered from the safety of the cavern were clan mates in training were taken by their sensei. Destruction, why is there destruction? Jiji-sama, what is going on? Who are you fighting that would cause all this destruction? Her eyes scan the clearing again, taking in everything as it was burning.
"Leiko, come deeper into the cavern. You heard the orders. Respect the orders of the clan leader." Enola called from the group of young kits huddled in the back of the cave.
Does she not see all this? Something is wrong... Jiji-sama should have been able to finish this by now. Why is no one helping him? Do they not see this is wrong?! This threat should have been taken care of by now. "Sensei, the orders are wrong," She replied smoothly, despite the rising feeling of panic.
The huddle in the back stiffened as one. Enola stood straight, her blue ears flattened at the young kits disrespect of their leader. "Kit, you will come here as ordered. You will not disrespect your clan leader no matter your relation!"
"Sensei, the orders are wrong," Leiko repeated a second time. "Jiji-sama should have taken care of this threat before the damage was this great. Jiji-sama must have made a mistake when he gave the order. Something is wrong."
"Kit, you are nothing but five green seasons old. You will respect your clan leaders orders without question," Enola growled. "You will come back here with the other young kits."
"Something is wrong, Sensei!" Leiko cried. She ran out of the mouth of the cavern towards her grandfather's looming figure. His tail tips were still easily seen over the treetop and his battle cries were heard throughout the forest. She began coughing from running through the smoke covered clearing, the smoke seeking out and stinging her eyes. Leiko reached up to wipe the tears forming, registering she tripped only when she made contact with the well worn ground of the clearing.
What was that? She thought as she turned over to see what obstacle that had impeded her path. She froze as she recognized the lump of fur in front of her. His coloring was hard to see covered in soot as he was, but she could still make out the patches of white and gray. There was no mistaking the broken body of Yoshito, his eyes looking beyond her in fear. He...He's... He is...
Dead.
"No!" Leiko screamed to no one. It shouldn't be like this. Something is wrong. Jiji-sama, what is wrong!?
She hurriedly returned to her feet; continuing her run to her grandfather. The forest was reached shortly, her legs moving faster due to the adrenaline caused by seeing another kit dead and broken. She began beating through underbrush taller than her, struggling to find her target. She was closing in on her grandfather seeing his hind legs in front of her blocked by a few more trees. She struggled to get closer, to reach her grandfather and suddenly...
Nothing.
There was nothing in front of her any longer. Her grandfather's large form had suddenly disappeared out of view. Leiko rushed through the last barricade of trees to the battle scarred clearing caused by his full fox form and looked around lost. A sense of never before felt hopelessness creeping in on the edge of her senses.
Jiji-sama, what happened? What will happen?