On the Run (Honeyrose34)

By: Honeyrose34

Note: Expect weird spacing possibly. Sorry!

==1 ==

           I curled up next to my mother, inhaling her sweet scent, never wanting to leave. I should watch what I say.

It was about early dawn when we heard the first twig crack. My mother’s ears flicked up as she scanned the woods. After a moment, she turned her alarm off and continued to lick my sister, Squirrel, asleep. I too ignored the cause of the noise. Probably just a clumsy deer traveling by. I realized I was very wrong when we heard another, even closer this time.

Mother was up in a heartbeat, ready to fight off the intruders.

“They found us!” my mother harshly whispered. My brother and sister were now wide-eyed and close to bawling their whiskers off.

“It’s okay,” I said, soothing the whimpers and causing them to curl up next to me.

I looked up as the first cat came through the surrounding woods.

“Ah! Berry. Long time, no see,” The tom was a dark gray color, easy to blend into the shadows; possibly the reason why we couldn’t see him until the last second.

“Stuff your tail in it, Hornet. You know we have no quarrels with Bone,” I was surprised my mother had such a ferocious tone.

Scared of Mother’s voice, Beetle and Squirrel whimpered again and I licked the top of their heads, “Sssh.”

Hornet’s eyes now focused on us. His amber eyes swam with interest, “Kits? Huh, I didn’t think Ocher was that kind of tom.”

My mother hissed at the mention of my father. She told me when I was younger that he had died in an accident. She didn’t go into detail, so I never pushed it.

“Don’t you dare mention Ocher. And don’t you dare touch my kits.”

The tom looked genuinely hurt, “I would never do such a thing, Berry. We just came to talk. Promise.”

Mother’s hackles started to lower, but I could tell she didn’t trust Hornet, “Fine. Talk.”

Hornet cleared his throat before continuing, “Bone wants you to know that he recognizes that you and your kits want to live in peace…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mother didn’t say anything but nodded her head for him to continue.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“…but he wants something in return.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She narrowed her eyes at this, “Prey?” she guessed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Kinda,” Hornet’s mouth twitched, “Your oldest son.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mother’s hackles were back up in a heartbeat, as were mine. They couldn’t take me away! And do what with me? Eat me!?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Never!” Her creamy fur bristled like a porcupine’s.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hornet shrugged, “Okay. You have three days to leave or else.” I gulped. I knew what ‘or else’ meant.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As Hornet turned to leave, Mother got on her feet and padded over to him, “I will never leave my home.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hornet grinned, “Okay. See you in three days, Berry. And kits.” And before I knew it, the gray tom was part of the shadows once more.

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">2 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">             “Mamma? Aren’t we gonna leave?” whispered Squirrel. Tiny, brave Squirrel…

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“No. I’m going to stay here. I promised your father I would never leave. And I’m keeping that promise.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I? What about us?” I dared to peep out. I could almost feel our former friendly home turn nasty swiftly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes, I. I’m sending you three to safety,” My heart dropped when Mother said this. She was leaving us.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“But-, “Her cream-colored tail covered my mouth.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She looked at me with warm eyes, “To safety. I’m making sure you’re safe in my sister’s paws. She lives two sunrises away. You three will hitchhike there tonight, under my careful instructions. Can you do this for me, Hopper?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I nod, but inside, everything is twisted up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           “Do you remember how to get to Moon’s hollow?” My mother asks me as she pries a clingy Beetle off of her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I nod. “Leave Bone’s territory until you reach an open plain. Follow the line of the woods until you reach a cliff. There is a small cave before the edge where we go down. The tunnel opens up to a meadow. Go to the creek straight ahead. Moon’s hollow is in the reeds. Did I get that right?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Perfect,” She purred. Even though I will never see my mother again, she seems positive. I could never do that. She knows she will die, yet she keeps moving forward. I will miss that.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I look again into her warm, blue eyes before meowing to my brother and sister, “It’s time we go.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Bye bye, Momma! See you soon!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Bye! Love you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I’m not brave enough to tell them that we won’t see her soon.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Bye,” My voice cracks on the last note, “Love you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As I guide Squirrel and Beetle into the woods, I hear Mother mew, “Love you too.”

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">3 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">             My paws ache, but I don’t dare stop. We aren’t out of the woods yet and I promised Mother I wouldn’t stop until we were out of Bone’s territory. I can tell Squirrel is having a hard time, but she doesn’t complain. Neither does Beetle. But as the weakest, I carry him.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It isn’t until we start to see the horizon through the trees does Squirrel ask, “Who’s Bone, anyway?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I set Beetle down so that he can walk again,“Um...” I try to remember what Mother had told me about him. “He’s a-a bad tom. He’s black and gray and white and has a lot of scars. He doesn’t like kits and he doesn’t like cats who don’t listen to him. Bone wants to rule the whole forest without trouble, and when there is trouble, he sends other cats to work it out.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Like Hornet?” replies Beetle. He tries to hop over a rock, but misses it and lands on it. I smile and grab his scruff to put him on the other side.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes. Like Hornet.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Why did they want you?” probes the creamy furred she-kit.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Bone trains young cats, not kits, to be part of his army. That happened to Momma and Daddy. That’s how they met.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Beetle runs ahead and turns around to face me, “So, Momma and Daddy got in trouble and ran away, like us?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yep. And since they didn’t like being mean like Bone, they left.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“And Bone didn’t like that?” guesses Squirrel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Correct.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“So he wants to hurt Momma?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This next question stops me for a second. Beetle and Squirrel pull back too and come over to me.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Are you okay, Hopper?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yeah. I’m fine. And yes, Bone does want to hurt Momma.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“So she sent us away so he wouldn’t hurt us too,” Squirrel was smart, I’ll give her that.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Right.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Beetle’s eyes flickered around warily, “Can we go now, Hopper?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Of course, Beetle. Come on, Squirrel, we’re going home.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           Not long after, the three of us finally reach the edge of the trees. We’re free.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I also can’t help but feel like I’ve left a piece of me behind. I hope Mother was okay.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I lead the kits over to a pile of rocks. I can almost see the cliffs in the distance. One more night and we’ll be home free.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“We’ll stay here tonight,” Squirrel plops down on the ground as soon as I finish talking. Beetle has already laid down, the gentle rise and fall of his chest tells me that he has fallen asleep. “I’ll go get some prey. Stay here and watch over your brother.” I order this in a kind voice, but the words are strong.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Squirrel nods and I pad over to some brambles. The scent of mouse wafts through the air. I taste the air again and find that it’s fresh. I follow the trail to the bottom of a tree. I crouch there, waiting, until I see a leaf rustle. I keep my breath still as a nose peeks out and sniffs the air. I thank the wind for blowing the opposite direction. I wait until the mouse is fully out from the leaf until I start to drag myself across the grass. I’m careful to move silently and weightlessly to not alarm the prey. When I’m in a good distance, I wiggle my haunches to leap.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But before I can, a flash of ginger comes out from the woods. I hiss in alarm and startle the mouse. It runs into a hole before I can catch it. I frown but focus my attention on the ginger cat that just appeared. I’m scared that the cat is dangerous so I keep low. I want to find shelter in a tree but I swiftly remember I have companions.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I look around frantically for that pile of rocks, but the sun has gone down and I can no longer see as far. I dare to breathe out Squirrels name, hopeful that the rocks are nearby. No such luck.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turn around again to see the ginger cat, but it’s gone. Where did they go!?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I scent the air to find Beetle and Squirrel once more. Instead, I scent an unfamiliar scent. I start to turn around when claws reach my shoulders. I hiss in fury and try to get the intruder off of my back, but to no avail. I turn my head around to see that it was that mysterious ginger cat.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Who are you?” I gasp.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The cat doesn’t reply but digs their claws in deeper.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“What do you want? I come in peace!” I dig my claws into the ground to try to buck them off. Their grip loosens and I can pull away.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I turn to face a--she-cat! And she’s not much older than me, “Who are you?” I demand again, “Are you part of Bone’s army?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The she-cat’s eyes burn into mine now, “Never!” She screeches, “Are you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I’m running from him.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She seems to trust me more now, “My name is Scarlet.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hopper.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Her hackles lower as she grins, “That’s an interesting name, Hopper.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">4 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">             “Do you have no Daddy too?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Where are your brothers and sisters?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Is your Mommy brave?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet never left any of Beetle’s or Squirrel’s questions unanswered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes, both of my parents died.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I have none.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes. Yes she was.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I can’t help but feel bad for the ginger she-cat. Though, I feel if I were to comfort her with a lick, I would get a scratched ear in return.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Cool!” Squirrel no longer seems tired. She’s hopping around and pouncing on her brother as if she would never grow sleepy.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Like your name,” comments Scarlet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I purr in agreement and grab my sister off of Beetle. “Come on. Let’s sleep now. We have a long journey ahead of us,” Squirrel doesn’t complain and climbs into our makeshift nest.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Journey?” Scarlet echoes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yeah, we’re running from Bone to our aunt’s hollow.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Did he want you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I was wanted for his army too. Hornet came to tell my parents, and they refused to let me go. Three days later, Hornet came back. With'' friends. ''I ran as my parents were slaughtered.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I’m sorry,” I frown and gently rest my tail on her shoulders. She doesn’t shake it off for a while, as she relives her horrible memory.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I ran and they never caught me. I’ve been living in this open field for a few moons now, nobody comes or goes. Except you three.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Nobody? Is this really so safe, being close to the woods?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet shrugs, shaking my tail off of her at the same time. I don’t bother putting it back, “This area doesn’t belong to anybody; I don’t know why he wouldn’t want this.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Maybe Bone is scared of something here.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet looks at me in surprise. “Bone. Ha! He’s scared of nothing. He’s not scared to rule a forest. He’s not scared to kill in cold-blood. Nobody can stop him. Do you really think he’s scared?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I bristle at her harsh tone, “Fine. I guess I was wrong.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet jumps off of the rock pile, careful not to step on my sleeping kin. “Sorry. It’s the truth, Hopper.” She glanced at me again before she started to trot off into the shadows.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Wait!” I call her back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She doesn’t turn around but she stops, “What?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Come with us. Please. Squirrel and Beetle like you,” I wasn’t lying. Squirrel and Beetle did seem to like Scarlet. But I don’t think they felt like they needed her like I did.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet still didn’t turn around when she meowed, “Okay.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I guess she needed other cats to keep sane.

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">5 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">             I roll onto my back and glance at the sky. Dawn streaks the horizon around me, turning the entire forest a golden sheen. It was beautiful. I glance over to my right where Squirrel and Beetle are wrapped up in Scarlet’s thick, ginger fur. She barely seems to care that they love her so much, but I can tell that she feels something back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As if I had woken her up, Scarlet starts to blink open her eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hopper?” she asks with a harsh, barely awake voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yeah?” I whisper back. I pad over and drag one of the kits off of her so that she could talk better.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Thanks,” She replies, “But-um…when were you thinking we should leave here? I normally leave here and come back at night. I don’t trust the woods too much.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I couldn’t help but agree more about the feeling of the woods behind us, “When the kits are ready.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She nods and starts to doze off again she mews, “Thanks for…,” She gestures to the kits, “…this.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           “Come on let’s go,” Beetle pounces on me with an oof.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“One second,” I finish my last bite of vole hastily. I shove Beetle off of me and grab Squirrel off of Scarlet. “Come on. Since you guys wanted to leave so quickly, let’s go.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet hasn’t said anything to me since earlier this morning, and I’m a bit taken aback. “Scarlet?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Uh-huh?” She sounds distracted as she scans the forest.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Is it safe?” I ask nonchalantly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">What I really wanted to say was, “Oh, Scarlet. By the way, you’re really pretty.” Or maybe, “Oh, what’s up? I think you’re the most amazing cat ever, even though you attacked me.” But…I couldn’t.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hopper.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I start to slowly back out of my daydream. “Yeah? Is it safe?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hopper,” Her voice is shaky. I glance at her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“What’s wrong?” I demand.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hornet.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“What!?” I screech and when I follow her eyesight, I find that she’s right. My worst nightmare just came true.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Before I can do anything, I see a dark gray tom and five other cats ooze out of the surrounding woods.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I’ll get the kits,” I don’t say anything when Scarlet meows this. She just goes over to Squirrel and Beetle and drags them back over to us. “What do we do?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I don’t know. They must have been mad enough to get my mother and come back after us.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet rolled her eyes, “What do we do? Not what we think the backstory is.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Fine,” I growl, “We can’t be too far from the cave. Want to make a run for it?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“With the kits?” she frowned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">What are we going to do? We’re going to die. I either take Scarlet and leave Squirrel and Beetle or I could just run myself…What am I talking about? I made a promise to Mother. I would protect these two until the day I die, because she can’t.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“We’ll have to make do,” I grab the Beetle’s scruff and start to make a run for it.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As soon as I leave the cover of the pile of rocks, Hornet spots me.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“There!” he screeches, “There’s Berry and Ocher’s eldest! Get him!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">At his order, two toms start to make their way towards us. I feel Beetle starting to squirm in my mouth and I mumble for him to stop as I start to weave myself through thickets of gorse and rocks.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">One of the toms, a tabby, was gaining a lead on the other tom on reaching us. I try to turn my head around to see if I could spot Scarlet and Squirrel but I was afraid that if I did, I would immediately run into a rock or something.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">''Just weave through this. Don’t stop until you reach the cliff. Squirrel is waiting there with Scarlet. Scarlet… ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I barely feel pain as I hit the ground. Nor do I feel his claws ripping into my fur. I do, though, feel fear. ''I’m going to die. I am going to die. ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">''“No! Don’t hurt my brother! Hopper! Fight back, Hopper!” ''I can barely hear Beetle, his voice and everything else sounds like I’m underwater.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hopper!” I hear Beetle cry once more.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I’m sorry,” I whisper as everything goes black.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); mso-themecolor: accent3;">6 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           Bird song fills the air and sunlight filters towards me through the branches of trees.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Am I dead?” I wonder. Out loud I call, “Beetle? Squirrel? Scarlet? Mother?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">No answer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Where am I?” I ask again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Behind me, someone clears their throat. I turn and face a yellowish-brown tom; the exact carbon copy of me.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Father?” I whisper.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The tom smiled, “Yes, son. I am so proud of you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“But I died,” I reply back sourly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“No, I did,” meowed Ocher.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I-I’m not dead?” I ask astonished. Is this just a dream?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ocher looked at me with sorrow now, ”Not yet. But close enough to bring you here.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Where is here?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ocher swept his tail around, letting me take in the entire place, “This is Utopia.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Utopia,” I whisper, “Paradise.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Exactly.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">For a few moments, the two of us walk side-by-side for the first time. My father talks about how proud he is of all three of us and comments on the beauty of Scarlet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“It doesn’t get any better than that,” he chuckled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When we finally reach an open stream, Ocher looks me in the eye and says, “Look.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I obey and look into the stream. At first, I see nothing until I finally spot a blurry figure. Me.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“That’s me,” I comment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ocher grunts in agreement and meows, “Look closer.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I do and I start to see something behind my head. Another head. A creamy-furred head with bright blue eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Mother!” I cry. I turn around to see the one cat I missed more than my father.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Oh, Hoppy. I’m so proud of you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“You’re dead, aren’t you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes, sweetie. But I will never die in your heart; nor in your brother or sister.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ocher comes back into view again and licks the side of Mother’s head, “Welcome home, Berry.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As quickly it started, it ended. Before I knew it, my parents started to fade.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Wait!” I cry.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Find Moon. Take care of the kits!” Mother calls back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Get the she-cat!” chuckles my father.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I love you guys!” I reply before, yet again, everything goes black.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           I gasp, struggling to take in air. Everything is still black, but I don’t care; I’m alive.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“He’s alive!” cries the familiar voice of Squirrel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Beetle sticks his muzzle into mine, “Are you sure?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes,” I cough, “I’m alive.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I realize that I can see the moment I spot Scarlet in the back, “Scarlet?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“You almost died. Like my parents. All thanks to Bone and Hornet.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“But I’m not,” I try to comfort the distant she-cat, but she doesn’t budge.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">She turns her back on me when she meows, “I got all of us down in the cave after Hornet thought you died. He retreated and I dragged you here.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I lay there for a moment, taking in Scarlet’s harshness. It was just the shock, right? Of losing me? Or just reliving her parents’ death over again? Was it all of the above?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Squirrel pokes me in the shoulder, “Don’t fall asleep again. We need our Hoppy.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I swallow hard at Mother’s nickname for me. Mother...she’s dead.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I shake my head as I meow, “Right. No sleepy, more Hoppy.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Careful. Those cuts are deep. Just…stay there. It’s already dusk.” That’s all Scarlet says to me before she pads out of the cave and back into field.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Ignore her, Hopper. She’s scared that she almost lost you. She really likes you,” smirks Beetle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“He he, yeah. She almost cried.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“She did?” My heart stops. I made her suffer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine once she knows you're fine.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); mso-themecolor: accent3;">7 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           “Mother said the journey through the tunnel should take most of the day until we finally reach the meadow,” I note, remember almost every lesson from Mother before we left, “There should also be an underground stream about half-way through.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Fine,” replies Scarlet as she picks a clump of dirt from her claws.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Okay…Squirrel and Beetle, are you guys ready?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yep!” They chorused together.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I led the three of them behind me as I remembered every twist and turn I had memorized from Mother. Left, left, right, straight, expect dip, right…and so on.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By the time we had reached the stream, as promised, the kits were already being carried by Scarlet and I. We set them down gently as we all took a long, refreshing drink.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Come on.” I didn’t want to waste any more time, I could feel how close we were.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet didn’t say anything but picked Beetle back up and hopped over the stream. I grabbed Squirrel and followed. She let me take the lead as we started back up again. Right, left, straight, straight, slope up, right, left…

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Are we there, yet?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“No.” I mumbled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Are we there yet?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“No, Squirrel.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Are we-we’re here!” Squirrel squirmed in my mouth and I set her down. She ran ahead the last few pawsteps. Sunlight poured in from a rabbit-sized hole in the ceiling of the tunnel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet set Beetle down and growled, “How do we get out now?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Try to make the hole bigger. I’ll hop up and you can hand me the kits.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Fine,” Scarlet didn’t complain as she got up on her hind-legs and clawed at the hole. Clumps of earth and roots rained down on our heads, leaving the kits to wail.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Sssh! We don’t know who’s out there,” I said, cautious about the easy retreat of Hornet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet stepped back to examine her work, “It’ll do.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Alright.” I started to bunch up my muscles to leap when Scarlet placed her paw gentle on my shoulder.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Be careful,” she whispered. Her amber eyes glowed with sorrow as I bunched up my muscles again. I nodded and leaped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I cleared the distance just fine and scrambled to keep my hind legs from falling back in. I scan the area around the hole and find nothing but flowers. It was the meadow.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“It’s all clear!” I call back into the hole.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Here’s Beetle,” replied Scarlet’s voice. As soon as she finished, a pale gray head appeared. I grabbed his scruff and pulled him back to solid ground.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Squirrel,” Scarlet mewed, handing him the lively kit.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Hey!” she protested when I grabbed her scruff and put her next to her littermate.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Okay, come on up, Scarlet.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I pushed back the kits to give her room to leap. I started to see Scarlet’s ears when I heard her screech. I no longer saw her ginger head and now saw the head of Hornet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Ah, so Boulder didn’t kill you. I was right,” smiled the tom.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“What do you want? We aren’t on Bone’s territory anymore,” I demanded.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The tom laughed. I started to realize that he had a friend; the same one who almost killed me.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Boulder, get the she-cat to shut up.” Boulder obeyed Hornet’s command, scratching Scarlet’s beautiful ginger muzzle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“NO!” I yowled. “What do you want, Hornet?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“You,” grinned the murderer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Fine,” I started to make my way down the tunnel again when Scarlet whimpered, “No! It’s a trap, Hopper!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I know.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Don’t do it. Don’t do it for me. Get Squirrel and Beetle to Moon.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I stared back at her, “I’m doing this for you, whether you like it or not. If they take me, they’ll leave you. Then you can take the kits.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“No, please!” sobbed Scarlet as I hopped back down next to Hornet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Okay, Hornet. You got what you wanted. Take me and leave Scarlet alone.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hornet shrugged, “Leave the she-cat alone, Boulder.” He turned back to me. “Come on, Hopper. Let’s go meet Bone.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“No!” howled Scarlet as Hornet led me back through the tunnel, following our scent trail, “Hopper!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           Night had fallen by the time the three of us had reached the end of the tunnel, and the rest of my kin behind.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">''“I’m sorry I failed you Mother” ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A gentle breeze went by, tickling my nose and ears. It also carried a message'', “Not yet, my son. Not yet.” ''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mother was right. Not yet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“So, Hornet...,” I meowed casually, “Do you know what happened to my father?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yeah,” Hornet flicked his tail, “He’s dead.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“That’s where you’re wrong.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hornet stopped short, “He’s alive?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yep,” I smirked, “Alive and well.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“He can’t be. I killed him myself!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“What!?” I growled. I took advantage of Hornet being distracted and pounced. I landed on his back, pushing him back on the ground.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Oof!” breathed the gray tom. He struggled to get up, but years of heavy eating finally paid off.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I put my muzzle by his ear, breathing into it hard saying, “I know he’s dead, fox-dung. We recently met after my quarrel with your friend, Boulder.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Hearing his name, Hornet cried out, “Boulder! Boulder, help me!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I too hadn’t seen the tom for a while. My fur prickled, waiting for him to launch an attack when I heard a voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“He’s dead,” I turn and face...Scarlet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“You came after me,” I breathed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Looks like you were planning to come back anyway,” Scarlet replied, gesturing towards the pinned-down Hornet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Oh, this. This is nothing.” I grin.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yeah, well Boulder didn’t bother putting up much of a fight either.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I hold up my tail to pause Scarlet while I bend down and bite Hornet’s neck. A few moments after weak struggling, my father’s murderer is dead.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I get off of his body, kicking dust and mud into his face declaring, “That was for my father, fox-dung.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet rested her muzzle on my shoulder, “He killed your father?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Kinda already knew. It isn’t too hard to figure out your choices of murderers.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet pulled back, resting her amber eyes on my yellow.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“I love you so much,” I blurt out, too fast to stop myself. I covered my muzzle with my tail, to stop myself from say anything else stupid.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet buried her muzzle in my flank saying, “I love you too.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

==<span style="color: rgb(82, 109, 176); mso-themecolor: accent3;">8 ==

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">           “After you had left, I got the kits to Moon. She welcomed them without question. I then came charging back after you, wasting no time. Then I cut Boulder from the group and killed him. Finally, here we are,” Scarlet meowed as we walked back through the tunnels, filling my in.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Impressive,” I comment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Scarlet licked her chest fur down like it was nothing, “Thanks.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">We walked in silence for a while, side-by-side. We linked tails and matched our steps. It wasn’t long until we reached the opening again. Dawn streaked the sky and bird song filled the air once more.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Scarlet?” I asked, facing my new mate.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Yes?” she tilted her head in confusion.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Let’s go home,” And with that, I jumped up and out of the tunnel, waiting for Scarlet. She giggled and hopped up next to me.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Just like your name,” she commented.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Just like my name.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

Writer's Note
Thanks for reading! I hope this does well in RedPandaPotter's contest and that you tell others about this story. I worked hard, don't let my work go to waste!

Also, I'm sorry for the weird spacing, I copied it off of Microsoft Word. :/

Again, thanks for reading. :D

-- No. I did not eat your mouse 23:45, June 12, 2012 (UTC)

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