The Flaming River #4

Coiled Snake led her search party along the edge of the border. Then, Coiled Snake let out an exited cry. She had spotted three small shapes walking in the direction that the scent trail was going in! Those little figures might be the missing kits!

"Mew!" cried a very startled Hissing Snake.

"There! The kits are over there!" called Coiled Snake to the search party. The cats circled around the confused kits with anger in their eyes.

"You made us all get worried sick!"

"What do you think you were doing?"

Coiled Snake waved her tail in the air to silence the voices of her cats. Then, when they were all quiet, she called, "Lets ask the kits only the impotent questions and give them time to answer." Then she paused to catch her breath. She spoke once more as she walked toward the trembling kittens. "Now, what were you three doing, exactly?" she asked, her amber eyes piercing the kits' eyes.

"W-w-well, we wanted t-to chase a-away the stray cat..." said Singing Jay, her voice shacking.

"What? You kits wanted to chase down the cat that is on our hunting grounds? Are you kits crazy? You could have gotten yourselves killed!" Coiled Snake spat, enraged.

"No cat can scare me!" Summer Storm piped up bravely.

Coiled Snake purred. "Come on then. Let's go home." Coiled Snake admired the kit's strength in the situation but, decided not to say anything.

******

Soon, Coiled Snake, the search party and the kits were quite close to home. Coiled Snake shot into the clearing, calling to her cats to announce their arrival. But, then Coiled Snake stopped in her tracks. A vaguely recognizable scent hit her nose and a strange pelt came into site. The stray cat!

Coiled Snake resumed her dart forward to address the new cat. "What are you doing here?" she asked the gray she-cat with a white splash on her chest.

"I-I was just passing through...I wont do you any harm," the cat meowed, fear in her eyes.

"We wont do you any harm, as long as you leave!" Rock Shadow spat.

"Silence, Rock Shadow! Everyone, give the newcomer some space!" Coiled Snake called to her cats.

"Can I leave now?" the she-cat asked.

"What is your name? Mine is Coiled Snake. I am the leader of HawkPack," Coiled Snake meowed, waving her tail over the many curios faces watching the stray cat, ignoring the cat's question.

"My name? My name is Neptune," Neptune mewed in a soft voice.

"Pleased to meet you, Neptune. I know that this is a little uncalled for but, would you like to join HawkPack?" Coiled Snake asked.

"W-well, of coarse," Neptune meowed, surprise filling her eyes.

"Alright, then. Everyone, introduce yourselves to Neptune," Coiled Snake called.

"Hello. I'm Icy River. These are my kits, Summer Storm, Singing Jay and Hissing Snake. This is my mate, Rock Shadow," Icy River meowed to Neptune, pointing out the cats that she was naming as she went.

"Hi!" Neptune purred.

"My name is Shy Fawn," Shy Fawn called to Neptune.

"Hello, Shy Fawn," Neptune called back.

"My name is Maple Leaf," Maple Leaf meowed, dipping her head to Neptune.

"Hi!" Neptune said.

"I'm named Soft Breeze," Soft Breeze meowed, gazing happily up at Neptune.

"Pleased to meet you," Neptune said.

"I'm Casting Shadow. Hello, Neptune," Casting Shadow called to Neptune from the far side of the clearing.

"Welcome to HawkPack," Coiled Snake meowed.

-KittyLover8

© 2012