SPLASH'S CAMP

MOON 1

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They'd picked a wonderful spot to build a camp: During their searches, Flame happened upon a rocky outcrop near the water. It was warm and dry, and would protect him and his sister from the elements. They got to work building nests, patching holes, and claiming the surrounding territory as their own. They'd spent their first moon on their own alone together, but they were slowly learning to be okay with it.

Splash followed Flame out into the territory. At first, he'd said it was alright for her to stay in camp. He was merely hunting, after all. "You're always volunteering to do the hard stuff." Splash meowed, padding after him. "When we were building the nests, you wanted to gather all of the materials. When we should be sleeping, you're awake and watching over me."

Flame looked back at her. "You don't sound very grateful." Flame said, his tail twitching. He pushed past a thorny bush, wincing as it scratched beneath his pelt, but pausing to hold it aside so Splash could walk past.

"That's not what I mean! I really am grateful! But I also don't want you to work yourself too hard." Splash replied.

"Don't worry. If I was working too hard, you'd know it." Flame purred as he and Splash continued their walk. It wasn't long before they reached the area they'd start their hunt at. "Meet back here, and we'll walk home together." He said. Splash nodded, and the two split up.

Flame crouched down and tasted the air, hoping to scent from prey. However, what he got was much sharper. Much more cat-like. It wasn't Splash. He rose to his paws and puffed his tail, growling. "Come out, whoever you are." Flame hissed. A trio of cats padded from the undergrowth, their fur equally as raised as Flame's. "What are you doing on our territory?"

"Your territory?" The largest cat spit. He was the color of soot, with a large scar running across his face. His amber eyes shone.

"Yes! You're on my territory; me and my sister's." Flame sized up the three cats. Beside the leader of the rogue trio, there was a small, white-and-gray cat off to his right, and another large, black tabby to his left. The black tabby was scarred just as badly as their leader. The smaller cat didn't seem to have a single scratch on him, but there was still that same, cold look in his eyes.

"I thought I smelled something soft and squishy in the area. Look, kitten, me and my gang? We're not leaving. We were here first, and if you think you can drive us out then you're sorely mistaken." The ash-colored cat flexed his claws. "Run back to your camp and tell your sister that Vetch and his gang are here to stay. Unless you want to get physical over it. What do you say, Fizzle?" The small cat snorted. "Storm?" The tabby cat flicked their ears.

For a brief second, Flame thought about lashing out and swiping that smug look off of Vetch's face. But then they might go after Splash... He backed away, letting his fur flatten before turning and running. He'd get to use his claws another day.

He almost tripped over Splash, who was carrying prey. "Woah!" She meowed, stumbling back. She set her kills onto the leafy floor and helped her brother to his paws. "Flame, what happened? You're a mess!"

"We aren't as alone as we thought, Splash. There's a group of rogues living that way." He waved his paw in the direction he came, still panting. "We have to get back to camp. Grab your prey, and I'll tell you everything on the way back." He helped Splash gather her prey, and they began to make their way back to the rocky outcrop. "So, they call themselves 'Vetch's gang'..."

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