SPLASH'S CAMP
MOON 2
It has snowed overnight, and a thin dusting of snow covered the territory. Flame wanted nothing more than to curl up with Splash in their shared nest, sharing warmth with each other and dreaming of prey and chasing butterflies. He didn't stay in the nest for long, though. Flame rose to his paws and padded out camp, crossing the now-frozen stream and shivering at the way it chilled his toes. It never snows this late into newleaf... His tail twitched. He gave one last look back before disappearing into the trees.
Flame found that he preferred to hunt in the morning; it gave him a chance to stretch his legs and warm up for the day ahead. By the time he shook the chill from his fur, he'd caught two mice and a squirrel. Flame licked the blood from his jaws, buried his catches, and continued on.
The light red-and-white tabby came to stop at the wide creek that separated the thickest parts of the woods from the fields of grass beyond. The light covering of snow had melted by now, and the sun hung brightly in the sky. Flame was pleased to find that the water had thawed. Dipping his head down, he took a long drink. I better catch some more prey before I go back home. He stood, stretching, and took a running leap across the creek onto the other side.
On this side of the creek, there were less trees. Grass waved in the wind; if Flame padded further in, the grass would come up to his ears. He stayed near the edge, occasionally stopping to look for signs of prey. That's when he noticed the grass ahead was parted in an odd fashion. He crouched and padded forward silently. There was a distinct lack of prey-scent as he crept closer, and for a moment Flame worried that he would run into another rogue.
A little ball of fur flew from the grass, landing in front of Flame and causing him to back up a couple steps. A little cat stood in front of Flame, tail sticking straight in the air. Flame blinked. It's just a kit! Flame could see his ribs straining against his sides, and a hungry, scared look in his eyes. Just a hungry kit... He looked around, expecting to see a queen or another cat following behind the kitten, but he saw no one else. "It's dangerous for a kit alone in these woods. You should go back to your home."
He was feisty, despite his appearance. "Nothing I can't handle! I can take you!" He launched himself at Flame's leg. Flame responded by grabbing the kit by the scruff and hauling him up.
"Put me down! Put me down!" The little black tabby started to thrash, legs flailing, before he finally went limp in Flame's grasp with a huff.
"You calm, now?" Flame mumbled through fur. The kit nodded, and Flame put him down. "Good. Now, why don't you go back home? Your parents must be worried about you." Flame thought back to his own mother; a beautiful, small torbie with deep green eyes and a warm, comforting meow.
The tabby kitten looked at the ground, his tail twitching in annoyance. "My momma said I can't move from this spot, no matter what.
Flame tilted his head. "How long ago was that?" There was no response this time. "I don't think she's coming back." He said, gently.
"But..." He sniffled out, finally, before going quiet again. "I'm so hungry, mister. I've been waiting for a long time..."
Flame wrapped his tail around the kit, bringing him close. "I caught something just a little while ago. We can go dig it up, and you can have a bite back at our camp. Do you have a name?"
"Twig." Twig replied.
Flame smiled as he stood up, beckoning the kit to follow him. "That's a nice name, Twig. I'm Flame. Now let's get you something to eat and warm nest to sleep in."
2025
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