Solid Loyalties

Solid Loyalties

by Firey and Eevee

One ~ Eevee
Nightmare stealthily padded through the trees, his ears pricked for any sign of prey. Since his black pelt blended perfectly with the dark night, he perferred to hunt late. He glanced up, interested in a scurrying noise, but found that it was a small fox digging for food.

Leafbare was always a bad time for hunting. All of the prey went into their burrows when it was coldest, so he never found anything to eat, save frozen berries and fish (and fish were not on his mind; let's just say that water that was frozen over was not Nightmare's friend.). Hunting by day wouldn't find him any food, either. His black pelt stood out too much against the bright snow.

The tom's belly rumbled, and he winced. He was so thin, his ribs almost showed. He flattened his ears and growled, "Shut up."

Something was scuffling around in the snow, and Nightmare's ears pricked. ''Prey! ''He instantly dropped into the hunting crouch, and soon had a somehow-fat mouse in his claws. It smelled of Twolegs, so it must've been a Twoleg's pet once. He shrugged and bit into the mouse, savoring the flavor that he hadn't tasted in almost a week.

"Halt!"

Nightmare looked up in surprise, swallowing his mouthful. "What? Who's there?"

Three cats stepped out of the undergrowth. One was a big brown tabby tom with a stumpy tail. Another was a grey tom with white patches. The third was a slightly smaller she-cat with delicate paws and a long tail. She was hanging back behind the other two.

The tabby growled, "What are you doing on DuskClan territory?"

''Erm... dusk lan? ''Nightmare's tail twitched. "What are you talking about...?" he asked, a slight edge to his voice.

"Y'know, DuskClan!" the tabby repeated.

The grey and white tom rolled his eyes and meowed, "Let's not waste our time with this rogue, Halftail." He unsheathed his claws. "And that mouse is one of the most decent meals we could ever have. Let's drive him off and take it." He lashed his tail and grinned evilly at his own idea.

"Patchpaw, really?" the tabby called Halftail sighed. "But, I guess you're right." He unsheathed his claws as well. "Since he won't listen to words, then maybe he'll listen to claws."

Nightmare's fur bristled as the two toms advanced toward him. He growled, flattening his ears to his head.

"Wait, stop!" the she-cat cried, leaping to stand in front of the two cats. "He's only like us; a cat trying to find a decent meal in the middle of leafbare! Why should we punish him?" Her soft blue eyes bore into Halftail's and Patchpaw's.

Halftail rolled his eyes, muttered, "Soft-heart," then turned to Patchpaw again. "Back to camp, apprentice." Looking at the she-cat, he mumbled, "You, too."

The she-cat's soft blue eyes met Nightmare's pale amber ones, then her gaze broke away and she followed the other two, her feathery tail disappearing into the forest.

Nightmare blinked, stunned by the she-cat's beauty. How could she live with those two ruffians with her? After a moment's pause, the black tom finished his mouse and started back to his den. All he could think about was the soft blue eyes of that she-cat.