Chapter 2 (Rock)
The black and white cat's eyes narrowed. "what do you want?" Her meow was creaking with old age.
Rock was sheltered behind Sand. Her eyes were wide and she held her breath. Why did she do that? She thought bewildered. I just wanted to help her, not scare her! She looked at the yellow she-cat who gazed back with an challenging look in her ice-blue eyes. Does she want me to speak to the she-cat? She's the one who woke her!
The black and white she-cat's growl sounded again, this time angrier. "What is going on? Do you want a fight?" Rock realized that her words weren't meant as a threat. It was more of an confused question.
Rock took a breath. Sand had still not spoken, and probably wasn't planning on. She stepped out from behind the yellow she-cat, but she didn't dare move closer to the angry old cat.
"Hey," Rock's meow shacked slightly, but she managed to stop her paws from trembling. "I smelled your wound. I thought you might want help."
The old she-cat looked confused. "So, you wake an old flea-pelt like me, to help her?" She looked unconvinced. She turned her gaze on Sand. "Do you do everything your kit tells you to do?"
Sand's neck fur rose. She drew her lips back into a snarl, her ears flattened against her head and her tail was lashing from side to side.
Rock stepped back, she'd seen Sand angry before, but she'd never seen her this angry.
Sand let out a furious growl. "This is not my kit." She took a step closer to the old she-cat, who took a step back, looking alarmed. Sand seemed ready to leap at the poor she-cat. "And of course I don't do everything a kit tells me to do, I just figured she'd had to see for herself how ungrateful rogues are when they are offered help."
The black and white cat seemed to have found her confidence back. She raised her head and scowled at Sand. "A rogue, really? That's what you call me now?"
Sand's tail lashed. "It doesn't matter what I call you. All that matters is that this stubborn-head," She pointed her tail at Rock, who narrowed her eyes at the yellow she-cat. "learns that she shouldn't try and help every cat."
The black and white she-cat's neck fur rose. "And you need to bother me to teach the kit a lesson?"
"It seemed like that perfect-" Sand began, but Rock cut her of.
"I'm still here, you know. And I don't need to learn a lesson. It would have been a perfectly fine lesson to wait for her to wake up, then she can tell me that she's not interested in my help." She flicked her tail. "Sand, why did you do that?"
Sand seemed taken a back and she didn't reply. Does she even know why she did it? Rock wondered.
Suddenly Rock heard a wheezing sound and she snapped her gaze back to the old she-cat, she quickly ran over. "Are you alright?" Rock wasn't sure what to do, she looked helplessly as the black and white cat's paws buckled beneath her and she fell to the ground. Rock crouched down next to her.
The old she-cat was still wheezing, but Rock suddenly saw amusement in her eyes. It took the she-cat a while to get her breath back, but once she did she sat back up with a mrrow of laughter. "You know, kit. You sound way older then you look." Her whiskers twitched as she seemed to hold back another laugh.
Rock was confused, but relieved. "I thought you were dying." She muttered.
The old she-cat still looked amused. "What's your name?"
"Rock." She dipped her head politely. "And that's Sand. She saved me from a hawk." Rock looked at Sand, but she was looking up at the star filled sky that was visible through the thin blanked of leaves.
The old she-cat spoke again. "Rock…" She meowed thoughtfully.
Rock looked back at her, and tipped her head. She seems to recognize my name. She was about to ask the she-cat what was up, when she realized that she looked sad.
The black and white she-cat looked at her, it looked like she was going to say something, but then she looked away.
Rock wasn't sure what to do. "Is everything okay?" She meowed hesitantly, trying to make eye contact.
The old she-cat was still looking away. "Yes. I'm Kite by the way."
An awkward silence fell, it was broken by Sand. "Come on, Rock. Lets leave the old mange-pelt alone."
Rock ruffled. "Stop insulting her!" She snapped. She wanted to say more when she felt a nudge from behind, she looked around and saw Kite looking at her fondly.
"I'll come with you, but you don't have to treat my wound, I can do that myself." She paused, trowing a angry look at Sand. "But it looks like you can use some more company. Some more pleasant company."
Rock looked at her happily, and she couldn't help but trow a smug look at Sand.
Sand's ears twitched. "I wanted to teach you that all rogues reject help, and she did exactly that, so don't look at me like you've won." She snapped.
Rock rolled her eyes. She ignored the sensitive she-cat and turned back to Kite. "Yes, I'd like you to join us."
Sand padded of. "Lets find shelter. Rock needs rest."
Suddenly Rock realized that she was indeed exhausted. The search for her mother had worn her out. My mother! With a jolt she realized that she had forgotten about her. She turned towards the place Sand had just stood, but it was empty. Her neck fur rose, frightened she looked at Kite.
Kite looked back at her, and blinked slowly. "Sand's not far. Lets follow her."
Rock shook her head. "I'm not worried about sand." She couldn't stop herself from whimpering. She looked up into the old cat's dark green eyes. "Have you seen my mother? She has white fur, and bright green eyes." She quickly looked away, feeling slightly ashamed of her pathetic display.
But Kite didn't seem bothered by her whimpering. The old she-cat looked down at Rock with love in her eyes. She placed her black tail over the she-kit's back. "I know your mother." She meowed softly.
Rock quickly turned her had back so she was looking into Kite's eyes again. Her heart thumped in her chest. She knows my mother! "Do you know where she is?" She stumbled over her own words.
Kite nuzzled Rock's cheek. "You'll have to find out some day." She muttered, it seemed to be more to herself then to Rock.
Rock's heart skipped a beat. What is that supposed to mean?
Kite pulled her head back and looked Rock in her eyes. "Moon is dead."
Rock's vision blurred. Moon is dead. The words echoed in her head. Moon was her mothers name, she never used it, and she had almost forgotten it, but now that she heard her mother's name but used she wished she had used it more often herself. She felt herself sway on her paws. She's dead. She let herself wail, and she crouched down. She felt Kite's tail on her back.
"Come on. We're going to find a place to sleep." Kite's words seemed to come from afar, but she obeyed and shakily got to her paws.
She felt Kite guide her through the forest, she wasn't sure where they were going, she wasn't sure how long they would walk or were walking. She noticed that another cat was walking beside her. Sand. She wailed again. Sand knew! Sand knew and she didn't tell me! That's why she tried to stop and delay the search! She wanted to claw at the yellow she-cat, but she couldn't. It was like some other cat was in control of her body.
Kite was mumbling soft words to Rock, but Rock barely processed what the she-cat was saying. Kite let her into a sheltered place, a roof of ferns blocked out the night sky. The old she-cat softly pressed on Rock's back. "Go to sleep." She heard the Kite meow.
Rock wanted to protest, she wanted to stay up, she didn't want to stop thinking about her mother. But she also felt that she was to tired to stay awake. She curled up into a tight ball, her tail wrapped over her nose. She felt Kite curl around her. She let out a whimper. That's how I used to snuggle up with mother.
She heard Kite and Sand talk in hushed meows. She pricked her ears, wondering or they were talking about Moon.
"Why did you tell her?" Sand sounded annoyed.
"She had to know, better now then giving her more hope and shatter it later."
"How do you even know she's dead?"
It stayed quiet for a moment, then Rock heard Kite's soft meow, tight with sadness. "Because I was there when it happened."
Rock flattened her ears, she didn't want to hear any more. She felt sadness overwhelmed her. Kite pressed closer against her, but she didn't feel any comfort in it. She let herself be taken by sleep. I can't believe she's dead.
Light was seeping through the dense ferns. Rock placed her paw over her face to block out the sun shine. She'd had dreams about her mother all night long. The dream would start with fog, Rock would walk around but couldn't even see her own whiskers. The fog would clear, revealing her mother. But every time Rock ran towards the beautiful white she-cat, Moon would disappear, leaving Rock alone. Then the fog would take her over, and the dream would repeat.
Rock curled up tighter, she wanted the dream again, she wanted to try and reach her mother this time. But she knew that that would probably not happen, but it was worth another try, as long as she didn't have to face the reality that her mother was really gone.
She let out a soft whimper, she knew Moon was gone, Kite had told her. But still, deep down, she held on to the hop that her mother was still out there and that Kite had mistaken some other cat for her mother.
Rock felt a tail rest on her back and the soft voice of Kite in her ear. "Rock. I know you're awake. I have a mouse here." She paused, as if waiting for a reply, but Rock stayed curled up.
Rock blamed Kite for her mother's dead. Even tough she didn't know what had happened, she felt like it had been Kite's fault. If she saw my mother die, then she could have done something about it for sure! She flattened her ears as Kite spoke again.
"I know it's hard." The old she-cat stroked Rock's back gently with her tail. "But you have to eat. Perhaps a tasty mouse could make you feel a bit better."
Rock's neck fur rose and she squeezed her eyes tight shut. She placed her paws over her ears. Just shut up! She thought. Nothing will make me feel better. And I don't want a mouse. I want my mother's milk! She wanted to growl the words in the old cat's face, but she didn't have the energy.
Kite didn't talk again, she just sat next to Rock, softly stroking the she-kit's back.
Go away! Just leave me alone! She curled herself tighter, as tight as she could.
Kite didn't leave her side, but Rock soon felt the fog take her again. She relaxed, she wanted to see her mother, even if it meant that she'd leave Rock again. She didn't want to let go. Not now, not ever.
It was night when Rock woke again. It was quiet, apart from the cricket's chirping. Rock kept her eyes closed. Why did I wake? She tried to hold on to her dream, but she wasn't tired. She puffed out a soft sigh and rolled onto her side.
She felt fur brush her own and she opened her eyes. She saw the white patch on Kite's chest and realized that the she-cat still hadn't left her side.
Rock felt irritated. Why is she staying so close to me? She stood up, she had to make dirt.
Rock slipped out from under the ferns. The night air was chilly and she fluffed out her fur, not that that did much, her thin kit-fur was easily penetrated by the cold wind.
She looked up at the stars, blinking slowly at their brightness. She was amazed at how beautiful the clear night sky was, but that amazement soon faded and was replaced with sadness. Mother will never see this again. With a hanging had and drooping tail she found a place to make dirt.
When she was done she slipped back under the covers of the ferns.
Kite was still asleep inside, slightly snoring.
Rock sniffed and found a place to lay down, far from Kite. She still blamed the old she-cat for her mother's death. She curled up again and closed her eyes.
Rock listened to the calming sounds of the soft breeze rustling the leaves, the chirping of the crickets, the gently snoring of kite. All the noises made her feel a bit more at ease.
But the calm of the night didn't last long. A loud rustling noise was made at the entrance of the fern cover, and Rock's eyes shot open. She stretched them wide, her tired eyes quickly getting used to the dim moonlight. In the entrance Sand was standing, her blue eyes stretched wide and her fur was sticking out in fear.
Kite, who had been woken by the yellow she-cat's loud entrance, jumped to her paws, looking around bewildered. "What's going on?" Her meow was weary with sleep.
"There are…" Sand paused, then she shook her head. " I don't know how many, but there are some rogues close by." Sand's meow was panicked, her eyes glittering with panic.
Rock's ears twitched, she was still curled up, not bothering to join in or stand up. So? She thought. Let rogues wonder around, that's what they do.
It was as if Kite had read the she-kit's mind. "It's normal to find rogues in this part of the forest. As long as you leave them alone there's nothing to worry about." There was a hint of a tease in Kite's voice, and Rock figured she was probably referring to how Sand had woken her in their first interaction.
Sand didn't seem to pick the tease up, or she choose to ignore it. "No," Her meow was tight. "I'm not just talking about a normal group of rogues." Sand shuddered. "You should have seen them." The she-cat's meow dropped to a whisper.
Rock's belly tightened. Rock had only known Sand for one day, but she hadn't seen the yellow she-cat be scared of anything yet. Not the hawk, not Kite. Rock's neck fur rose. Why these rogues?
Kite seemed interested and she narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean, Sand."
Sand looked the old she-cat in her eyes. "I saw them, they were training."
Kite opened her jaws to speak but Sand continued before she had a chance to say something.
"It wasn't normal training, they were training with claws." The yellow she-cat squared her shoulders, looking a lot less frightened now. "I've seen cats like this before." Her gaze darkened.
A long silence fell and Rock decided to sit up. Neither she-cat payed attention to her which Rock very much liked.
The silence was broken by kite, the old she-cat still looked thoughtfully. "I've seen rogues train with claws before, but that doesn't immediately make them dangerous,"
"Of course it does!" Sand interrupted.
Kite turned her neck and licked her wound, which had closed over night. In between licks she spoke. Her meow calm. "Perhaps you've had a bad experience with rogues."
Sand huffed. "More then one."
Kite ignored her. "I've lived in a lot of different groups of cats. Rogues, travelers who needed shelter for a day or two, kittypets who'd been abandoned. All sorts of different cats. All sorts of different norms."
"So, what you're saying is that this is their 'norm'?" Sand gave a dry chuckle.
Kite nodded. "Yes" She narrowed her eyes intently at Sand. "I think this is their norm. If they want to train with claws unsheathed, then who are we to stop them?"
Sand's tail lashed and she took a step closer. "I'm not saying we should stop them, I'm worried that they'll bring trouble."
Rock had listened with interest, but she was loosing it by now. So what if the rogues bring trouble with them? It wouldn't bother them. They'd be leaving soon anyway.
Rock stiffened. Are we leaving soon? She wondered.Where would we go? Where would I go? She settled down on her belly, her paws tugged underneath her. She wasn't tired, so she wouldn't try and sleep, but she didn't feel like listening to Sand and Kite either. She wanted to think.
Where should I go? Now that my mother is gone… Her belly tightened and she shut her eyes. It was still hard thinking about that. She took a breath and let her thoughts continue. Do I even have a place I belong now? She thought back at the abandoned twoleg den that had been her home for her whole life, however short it was she still felt attached to it. Should I go back there? But the thought of living in the place she'd shared with her mother made her heart ache. I can't. I'll never be able to let my mother go, but I don't want to live my whole life in a place where the only thing I can think about is her. She let out a sigh.
Suddenly she fur brush her own she looked up in Kite's dark-green eyes. Rock tor herself out of her thoughts. "What?" She looked away angrily.
Kite sounded a bit confused when she spoke. "You looked like you were deep in thought." She paused.
Is she expecting me to share my thoughts with her? She growled inwardly. You wish.
"Have you heard what Sand and I were talking about." Kite continued, her meow soft.
Changing the subject. Rock huffed, annoyed with the black and white she-cat. "I've heard what you said. Some rogues that are training. Nothing to worry about." She still refused to meet the old she-cat's gaze.
Kite pressed herself closed to Rock. "I understand that you're upset. It's hard loosing a loved one, but that doesn't mean that you should stop caring about the other things in life."
Rock snapped her head around and bared her small teeth at Kite. "Don't act like you understand!" She snarled. "I need my mother!" Her voice creaked but she kept going. "I need her here with me, not you. You're trying to act like her, trying to comfort me, but all you do is make things worse." She let the words tumble out of her, not caring about the she-cat's feelings. "You were there when she died! I heard you tell that to Sand. You could have saved her!" Rock dropped her muzzle on her frond paws and started whimpering. "It's all your fault."
Kite stayed quiet, she had stiffened as Rock was talking. After a long silence Kite finally spoke. "Is that what you think?" Her voice was filled with hurt. "That I could have saved her?" She shook her head, looking away from Rock. "You haven't even asked what happened."
Rock didn't feel anything towards the she-cat, she didn't care that she was hurt by her words. "I don't need to know what happened. It's already enough that you were there." She snapped.
Kite stood up, her fur twitching uncomfortably. "I know how you feel." She turned her back to Rock. "I know how much it hurts to lose your mother. I understand that you need some cat to blame, but it hurts me to know that that cat is me." She paused, and Rock felt a sting of guild at the sadness in Kite's voice. Kite continued. "I am not trying to act like your mother, I would never take the place of such valuable cat in a young kit's life. I'm trying to help you, to help you with your grief." She turned back towards Rock, her green eyes boring into the she-kit's. "You need a cat to help you. If you don't want it to be me, then I'll except that. But you are only a kit, you can't do this alone." Kite closed her eyes. "I'm sorry about Moon, but I promise it wasn't my fault." With that the old she-cat turned around and stalked out of the fern covers.
Rock's heart was pumping. She felt resentment and anger, but she also felt respect and guild. She had hurt Kite, she intended on, but now she regretted it. Is it true that I need some cat to blame? She hadn't thought about it, she didn't want to. Do I really need a cat to help me? She knew she was a kit, and she knew she couldn't hunt or take good care of herself jet, but she didn't want to replace her mother with another cat that took care of her. I want mother, or no cat at all. Rock thought about the sadness and hurt in Kite's eyes, she felt a bit of shame. She tried to help me. I could have been a bit kinder.
Rock wondered where Kite had gone. Perhaps I should follow her? She looked around, Sand had apparently left after she had told Kite about the rogues, so Rock was now alone. She closed her eyes for a moment, she wasn't tired, but her head was still spinning with thoughts. She shook her head to clear it, opened her eyes, and made her way out from underneath the fern cover.
Rock shuddered as she felt the night air again, it was way colder then when she went out to make dirt. Her eyes had already adjusted to the dimly lit forest, but she couldn't see Kite's black and white pelt anywhere. Rock lifted her muzzle and slightly opened her jaws, she felt a pang of sadness as she thought back at the search for her mother, she'd done the exact same. She shook her head, clearing her mind. Of course I was doing the same. I can't just stop smelling the air! But that didn't help her sadness.
She picked up Kite's scent with ease and followed it deeper into the forest. Her ears were pricked and the fur along her spine was twitching anxiously. The forest looked a lot more scary in the night.
A owl hooted above Rock's head and the tabby and white she-kit jumped in the air. She huffed, slightly embarrassed that she got frightened by an owl, but after what she'd learned about hawks she'd been more careful about birds. Are owls dangerous? She didn't want to known.
Rock quickened her pace as she followed Kite's scent. Why did she go so deep in the forest? Her gaze was flickering from side to side to make sure nothing was following her.
After what felt like moons Rock finally noticed that Kite's scent was becoming stronger. She slowed her pace and followed Kite's old cat scent to a small river that was running through the forest. There was a strip of land beside the river that was newly grown new-leaf grass. Rock padded onto it, letting her paw pads rest on the soft grass, for a moment she'd forgotten what she was doing there, but then she felt a tail touch her on her back. She jumped up, back arched, ready to face the danger.
But it was only Kite.
Kite's eyes were fixed on Rock. "Why did you follow me? It's dangerous out here." Kite's meow was soft and filled with worry, but gratitude showed in the old she-cat's eyes. "You're shaking."
Rock shook out her fur. "It's cold." She looked away to avoid Kite's gaze.
Kite seemed to hesitate. She doesn't want to come closer, she doesn't want to warm me. Rock thought sadly. I shouldn't have growled at her. Rock, still looking away, shuffled closer to Kite. She pressed herself closely against the she-cat, trying to warm up a bit.
Kite's muscles relaxed and she wrapped her tail protectively around Rock.
They fell into a comfortable silence.
Rock wanted to apologize, but she wasn't sure or she was ready to admit that she was wrong. I'm not even sure or I am wrong. She thought stubbornly.
After a few more moments she turned her gaze on Kite. "What happened?" Rock wasn't sure or she wanted to know, but she felt like she had to. If she wanted to be friends with Kite, then she'd have to be able to stop blaming her, and the only way to do that was by hearing the old she-cat's story.
Kite looked out onto the softly flowing water of the river. "I'd known your mother for five moons." She began. Rock snuggled closer, she wanted to hear all about her mother, not just how she died, so she didn't mind Kite telling her about their first meeting. "It was leaf-fall, a cold one, and I was walking towards twolegplace. I used to always search for food there, everywhere twolegs are is food. Anyway, I went there and that's when I met your mother, the most beautiful she-cat I'd ever seen." Rock pictured her mother, and she agreed that the white she-cat was the most pretty of them all. "But she was skinny, tired and cold. So I offered her my help. I gave her food and shelter, I had made my nest in a hollowed out tree, that's where I brought her. She told me how grateful she was." Kite paused for a moment, her gaze seemed to be far away. "I told her we could stay in contact, and she agreed." Kite let her head hang.
Rock pressed closer. "What happened then? Why have I never seen you if mother and you were friends?"
Kite shook her head. "It wasn't as easy as that. Moon had a mate."
Rock's heart leaped. My father! She's never really thought about her father before. Her mother had never talked about him and Rock had never been interested. She had her mother. Why would she want a father as well? But now she thought about it differently. Is my father still alive? Perhaps he can be the one to take care of me now!
Kite continued. "Moon left and I didn't see her in two and a half moons. When I saw her again she was expecting." Kite turned a fond gaze on Rock. But then her gaze darkened. "She told me that her mate had left her." Kite shook her head and Rock's hope shattered. Why? It was as if Kite knew what Rock was thinking. "Moon told me that Stump, that is your father's name, didn't want to take care of a kit." Kite unsheathed her claws. "Moon told me how the conversation went. That tom is heartless."
Rock shrank beneath her pelt. She wasn't sure what to think. Am I superposed to hate my father? I've never known him! Her pelt itched. He did leave my mother, and I love her. So I do think I should hate Stump. Still Rock felt uncomfortable thinking about that.
Kite continued, seemingly unaware of Rock's discomfort. "Moon and I lived with each other for one and a half moon. Her kitting went well, I helped her and she had one healthy kit." Rock didn't feel the warmth in the she-cat's words, her thoughts were still spinning. "But then I got taken by some twolegs. I had tried to steal some food out of a wooden box, but it turned out to be a trap. But it didn't take me long to escape." She let out a mrrow of laughter. "I have sharp claws, they didn't know what was coming." She once again fell silent.
Rock knew what was coming now. This is when my mother dies. She held her breath as Kite continued.
"When I had made my way back to Moon, more then a moon had passed. I searched for her, and I quickly found her hunting a mouse." Kite's gaze was sad, but her whiskers twitched in slight amazement. "I accidentally scared away your mother's mouse. But that didn't seem to matter to her, she was just happy to see me again. She told me that you were healthy and she told me your name." She blinked at Rock. "That's how I figured out who you were." She took a breath. "Moon wanted to show me where she was sheltering you, I agreed to take a look. But on the way there,"
Rock pressed herself against Kite.
Kite hesitated, but then she continued. "On the way there, a dog attacked us. I fought and fought, and so did your mother. We couldn't outrun the beast, it had taken us by surprise. I ripped open an old wound I had gotten on the way back to here, and Moon noticed the blood. She told me to stay back, but of course I wouldn't." Her voice was barely more then a whisper. "I would never leave a friend alone in a dangerous situation."
Rock once again felt a pang of guild, but that was soon overwhelmed by sadness.
"The dog killed her." Kite turned her head away, obviously she didn't want to go into detail, and Rock was glad for that. Kite found her voice again and finished her story. "I didn't get the chance to save her. But I tried, I really did. The dog must have thought it had finished us both, it turned and ran of. I buried your mother, and I searched for you." She shook her head. "I've found you." She whispered, as if she couldn't believe it.
Rock let out a whimper and pressed herself against Kite.
The old she-cat lowered her muzzle and licked Rock's ears, offering silent comfort.
"I'm sorry!" Rock blurted out as she looked back up at Kite. "I shouldn't have told you that it was your fault my mother died."
Kite purred sympathetically. "Don't worry, kit. I understand."
Rock shook her head. "It was mean." She meowed, her voice small.
"That it was, but I'm glad you see the truth now. And I'm only more glad that you admitted that you were wrong." She gave Rock a gentle nudge. "That's exactly what your mother would have done."
Rock felt comforted by the she-cat's words. She purred softly as she nestled closer into kite's belly.
They sat in comfortable silence, listening to the soft splashing on the river. But the silence was soon interrupted with a yowl that chilled Rock's bones.
Kite and Rock both turned as fast as they could, both she-cat's fur had lifted along their spines.
"What was that?" Rock asked shakily.
Kite moved her body protectively over her. "I don't know, but I will not let it hurt you."
Rock's breath caught in her throat as the yowl sounded again, this time way closer. She wondered or it was a dog. The same dog that killed mother? But as the yowl rang once more she realized that it was a cat.
She looked around wildly, but there was no place she could go to to hide. The river was behind her, but it curved around, creating a half circle around Kite and Rock.
Rock was about to ask Kite what they should do when a shadow jumped out of the bush. The yowl rang again and Rock realized that it was this cat who'd been yowling.
Kite hissed at the stranger. "What are you doing?"
The stranger cat didn't react.
It was hard to see the stranger in the dark, its pelt had a dark color, but its bright green eyes reflected in the starlight. Rock shuddered as she saw menace in the cat's gaze. What does it want?
Kite hissed again. "Are you deaf or something? I asked you what-"
She didn't get to finish her sentence as more cats jumped out of the bush.
Rock pressed herself against the ground. She looked around and saw that there were five cats in total, all of them had the same menacing look in their eyes.
Kite had stiffened. The old she-cat pressed herself closer to Rock, who was trembling with fear.
A sixth cat appeared out of the shadows of a bush. The cat slowly stalked closer to Rock and Kite. Its taunting snarl broke the silence. "Seems like you found yourselves in a bit of a tricky situation." Its yellow eyes glimmered in the moonlight.
This is bad. Rock's tail was puffed out to twice its size. This is really bad. What do they want? Rock didn't take her eyes of the strangers.
Kite flexed her claws. Rock couldn't see her face from underneath the she-cat's belly, but she was sure that it was twisted into a fierce snarl.
The stranger spoke again. "How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself." The cat stepped into the moonlight, and now Rock could see it better. It was a dark brown tabby tom, with patches of fur missing here and there. The tom had a scar running from his ear to muzzle, Rock swallowed back a yelp of surprise as she saw the tom's split lip at the end of the scar. The tom continued. "My name is Viper, and you are trespassing on my territory." Viper's taunting tone turned into a threatening growl. "And I don't show kindness to trespassers."