Hello World Wide Cat Lovers!

Welcome to "The Purple Paw"! We (BlackCat13, KittyLover8, littlekitty5, and SuperPOWerHorse) have explored even the darkest corners of our minds to create the many posts on our blog. Here, we've posted funny articles, poems, adorable limericks, heart-stopping stories and fact-filled posts, for you to read.

Enjoy!

-BlackCat13
-KittyLover8
-littlekitty5
-SuperPOWerHorse
Showing posts with label Blaze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blaze. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Fallen Stars 11-A Stunning Surprise

Sunset yawned and blinked her eyes open against the golden glow of the sunlight. She stood up and stretched, her back arched and her ears flattened against her head. When she was done, she lifted her head and glanced around the den, a fallen oak that Sunset, Blaze, Crow and the new cat, Ivory slept in.

Sunset saw that only Crow wasn't in the den. Blaze's jaw was slightly parted in a soft snore. Ivory's chest rose and fell rhythmically. His back was facing Sunset, and his face was turned away, his head was curled to his chest and his ears where angled toward the wall of the den. Sunset turned away from the two toms and looked at the entrance of the log. Decaying bark that was half peeled away lined the shear-shaped exit. Sunset pushed herself onto her feet. Blinking, she realized that, absent-minded of it, she had sat down. As she walked out of the log, she felt exhausted, like she needed more sleep, even though she had slept later than usual.

Sunset stepped into the morning light. The sun cast a warm, radiant yellow light over the gray stones the formed the cave where Sunset lived. As Sunset looked up at the cloudless sky, the sun seemed to smile down at her.

There was also something eerie about this morning. Long, dark shadows seemed to hide behind the bushes and trees. Below her, in a valley, everything was at a standstill. It was as if the whole world was holding it's breath, waiting for something to happen...

Sunset pushed the thought away. Why would anything happen? Why here? Why would she eve think that? But still....

*******

After a successful hunt with Blaze, Sunset dragged herself to Lavender and her family's den, half-asleep. Lavender lifted her head as Sunset entered the cave.

"Hello, Sunset. You look tired. Are you feeling all right?" Lavender asked, sounding concerned.

"Hi, Lavender. Yeah, I am a little tired. I'm fine, though. How are you?" Sunset meowed drowsily, sitting down.

Lavender nowowed her eyes and slowly looked Sunset up and down. Than again. Although she still seemed unsatisfied, as if she did not believe her sister's word, she finally said, "I'm fine. Canary is getting be a wonderful hunter. She needs to work on her fighting skills, but I think that she will fit just fine in our little group. Stone and I are very proud. So, I am fine. You?"

"I'm great," Sunset purred, butting her head against her sister's.

A voice called from outside the den, "Hey! Sunset! Were are you? We have to check the boarder! Where are you?"

Sunset sighed, "That's Crow. I'm sorry, Lavender. I have to go now. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Sunset. I had a good time talking to you," Lavender meowed as Sunset got up.

"Me too," Sunset meowed over her shoulder.

When she pushed herself out of the den, Crow was readily waiting for her, tail lashing. She fallowed him out of the clearing. They walked in silence until Crow spotted something. Sunset ran towards him when she heard him meow for her.

"What is it, Crow? Why did you call m--" Sunset started. That is when she saw the paw print. A fresh paw print. And the black and orange fur caught in the brambles. She gasped, shocked. "Who made that pint? Why is there fur in that bush? Crow, what is going on?"

"I certainly didn't do it. We-we must tell Blaze," Crow meowed, seeming as surprised as she was.

The two stared at the paw print for awhile until they finally darted into the trees toward the cave.

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Fallen Stars 10-A Time of Harmony

Sunset walked into the clearing with a vole, a sparrow and a mouse clamped in her jaws. She placed the prey in the small pit where the cats that lived here, Blaze, Crow, Stone, Lavender, Canary and herself, kept prey before it was time to eat. Stone dropped his catches, three mice and a pigeon, into the pile also.

Sunset looked at the large patch of boulders that sat at the entrance of the clearing. "I hope that Blaze and Crow will be back soon. They should be finished marking the border by now," she meowed, worried.

"Well, they left just before us. Marking the border can take a while," Stone pointed out. "I know that you are afraid that there are more foxes out and about, but I'm sure that there are none."

Ever sense Sunset had heard a sound in some bushes, she had thought that there were foxes living on their territory. "Okay. Thank you for the reassurance." Sunset said.

Stone dipped his head and, smiling, walked over to the cave where his mate and kit lived with him. Sunset watched him disappear into the shadowy den. Then, she stalked over to the boulders. She climbed up a steep, rock-laden hill. Once she was nearly at the top, she stopped. Sunset slid into a large boulder that was cracked down the middle. There she sat, surveying the forest stretched below her. She loved this place. She thought up here where it was quiet and she was alone.

Now, Sunset thought about the strange stars. The stars that morphed into kittens. She wondered what that meant. Was it even a sign or was it just a vision that coincidentally happened to have the same number of kittens as there had been falling stars? Sunset wished that she could tell someone about the sign, but who would she tell? Blaze? No, he would be to frantic and worried to give it a thought. Crow? No, he wouldn't understand her dilemma. Lavender? Yes! That's who! Her sister!

Sunset shot down the hill. Dodging the rocks that peppered the hillside, she thought, I hope that Lavender will understand the sign.

When Sunset was finally standing in front of the cave that Lavender, Stone and Canary lived in, she peered inside of the den and meowed, "Lavender? It's Sunset. May I have a word with you?"

"Sunset? Hello! Certainly you can! What is it that you wish to talk to me about?" Lavender purred, swishing her tail over the fern and moss bed, indicating to Sunset to sit down.

"Well," Sunset meowed, settling down in the nest and taking a deep breath. "Last night, I was looking at the stars washing earth in their radiant silver glow. Suddenly, five shooting stars fell across the sky. As I looked at them, an image came into my head. The stars turned kittens. One was a white she-cat with blue eyes. Two were brown tabbies. One was a black she-cat. And one was a gray tom. I opened my eyes and the stars were gone along with the kittens. I do not know what this means or if it even means anything. I wanted to be able to share this with you and ask you what your opinion is on it. So, what do you think this whole thing means?"

Lavender blinked, taking in all of this new information. "I think," she meowed thoughtfully. "I think that this image of the kittens does mean something. I don't know what, of course. But, I can guess. My guess is that these little kittens will somehow play a role in your life. I can't say that this is the truth and that it will happen, but that is what I make of this."

Sunset dipped her head in thanks. "Goodbye, Lavender!" she called over her shoulder as she left the cave.

"Goodbye!" Sunset heard her sister's voice call behind her.

As Sunset walked over to the prey pile, she saw that Crow and Blaze had arrived. Sunset looked them up and down. They looked very tired but, there was no sign that they had engaged in a fight with a fox.

Just to be sure, Sunset asked, "Any trouble at the boarder?"

"Yes--no! What does it look like? Do you think that if we saw some dogs heading towards the cave that we would hang around the clearing and wait for you to ask us? Do you?" without giving her time to answer he continued, "I can't believe that anyone would do that! I can't believe that anyone wound think that! But you do!" And with that, Crow stomped off.

"No. There was nothing there," Blaze meowed. And playfully purring he added, "Don't mind Crow. There's always trouble with him!"

Sunset smiled and lightly cuffed her friend on the ear. Then, the pair shared a rabbit together, in a time of peace and harmony. Although, this peace and harmony would not last.

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

Fallen Stars 9-A Sign in the Stars

Sunset crouched in the tall grass, her gaze fixed on a small, stone-gray bird. She tensed, preparing to leap. Then, Sunset heard a meow coming from behind her.

She hissed, immediately thinking, Blossom!

She whipped around, preparing to see the sweet, smiling face of cute little Blossom, but, instead, to her disappointment, there stood Ivory. The voting had led to his staying, so he now slept in the cave that she, Crow and Blaze shared.

"Hello, Ivory," Sunset said flatly.

"Well, then, ahem, what are you doing out here?" Ivory meowed, seeming quite fidgety.

Sunset glared at Ivory. "I'm hunting. What are you doing, Ivory?"

Tension crackled in the air. "I'm just taking a walk. That's a crime around here, I suppose?" Ivory shot back, genuine hurt in his voice.

Sunset felt a stab of guilt for the cat. Who was she to judge him? Who was she to say if he was bad or good? Sunset blurted out, her words tumbling over top of one another, her tone desperate, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to--" Sunset suddenly realized that she'd said too much already. "I mean, okay, then. Carry on with your walk."

"Alright, then. Goodbye, um, Sunset," Ivory meowed. Then, he left, his white figure was swallowed by a thick wall of trees. Sunset walked to the East, walking only about twenty yards behind Ivory. She was heading towards the river in hopes that there would be more prey there.

******

Sunset returned to the cave after an unsuccessful hunt. She had only caught a fish and a mouse. She placed her catches in the small pit that served as a prey pile.

Then, Sunset thought, anger burning inside of her, I would've caught more if Ivory hadn't scarred that bird away. Why did he have to make so much noise? Where was he going, anyway?

Sunset's tail twitched. Then, it occurred to her that Ivory had been away for a while. She decided to ask Blaze if anyone had seen the white tom. As she made her way across the clearing, a little orange ball of fur tumbled into her.

"Canary!" Sunset exclaimed, laughter in her voice. She was quite fond of the sweet kitten. Sunset had always wanted to have kits of her own.

"Hello, Sunset," Canary meowed, trying to sound formal and polite, but obvious joy rang through her mew. Then, the kitten gave up being formal. "Want to play with me?"

"I'm sorry, Canary, but I have to talk with Blaze at the moment. I will play with you afterwards," Sunset meowed. Canary looked crushed. "Maybe Stone or Lavender could play with you while you wait for me," she suggested.

"But I want to play with you!" Canary protested.

"Canary, I am very busy right now. I need to talk with Blaze. I'll play with you when I'm done. Please understand," Sunset pleaded. She needed to speak with Blaze.

"Okay. I hope that you have a nice conversation. Goodbye!" Canary chirped happily, losing all of the heaviness that had hung in her voice.

Then, Canary trotted off. Sunset watched as the kitten headed into the cave where she and her parents lived. Sunset pulled her gaze away from the kitten and walked over to the log that the rest of the cats slept inside.

"Blaze! Blaze, are you in here?" Sunset called from where she stood at the entrance of the log.

"Who's there? Is that you, Sunset?" a voice echoed from the back of the fallen tree.

Sunset immediately recognized Blaze's meow. "Yes, I'm here. I need to speak with you."

"About what?"

"When I went out hunting in the afternoon, Ivory bumped into me. He told me that he was taking a walk and then left. I haven't seen him after that. Now that it's sunset, I was just wondering if you have seen him," Sunset meowed once Blaze came into site.

"No. I thought that he might have joined you," Blaze replied.

"Then we should look for him. He might be in trouble!" Sunset raced out of the cave with Blaze at her heals.

Then, Sunset hit something, large, white, and furry. Ivory! she thought. Sure enough, when she stood up, her ivy-green eyes met Ivory's mud-brown ones.

"Hello, Ivory. What are you doing back so late?" Blaze asked.

"I's sorry if I got you worried.
I'm fine. I just needed some time alone," Ivory meowed. Then, the tom brushed his tail pointedly at a small shrew that sat beside him. "I caught some prey," he offered. A few days ago, Sunset had found out that Ivory was a terrible hunter.

"Okay, then. Lets go to sleep now. It has been a long day," Blaze meowed as he ushered Ivory into the log.

Sunset stayed out in the clearing, though. She looked up at the starry, ink-black sky. Then, suddenly, five stars shot downward. They were strangely clustered together. As Sunset gazed upon the colored shooting stars, an image formed in her head. The stars morphed into kits. The one that was light blue turned into a white she-cat with eyes the color of the star that she used to be. The two that were dark orange turned into brown tabby kits, one female one male. The one that was dark blue turned into a pitch black she-cat. And the one that was gray-blue turned into a stone-grey tom.

Sunset's eye lids flew open. The stars were gone.

"It's a sign," Sunset murmured.

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fallen Stars 8-A Sound In The Bushes

"I-I wish to join your group," Ivory meowed.

Sunset flattened her ears and hissed softly. This wasn't natural. She didn't think that this was right. Why would someone what to join the small group of cats all of the sudden? And how did Ivory even know about the cats? Sunset was about to question the cat, but Blaze stepped forward.

"Hello, Ivory. My name is Blaze and this is Sunset. I will have to speak with the rest of the cats before we can allow you into our group," Blaze said. "Come. We will escort you to our home."

Blaze led Ivory to the camp and Sunset brought up the rear. Soon, they where about halfway to the cave. Sunset felt unnerved around the newcomer, but she was quiet. She knew that she would have her say at some point. A loud crunch in the bushes made heads turn. Sunset was still for a moment. Then, she stepped forward. She stalked around the bush in a circle. She knew that the animal that made that sound was bigger then a regular squirrel. Sunset nosed around in the leaves along the edge of the bush. No scent. She sighed and turned away from the leaves momentarily.

"Blaze, I can't catch a scent!" Sunset called. "Should we continue?"

Blaze replied, "Well, yes, yes we should. It was probably just a rabbit or something."

Sunset walked over to him and nodded, although, she knew that he too, was unsure. The rest of the trip was quiet. A bird chirped ever once in while, but that was all. Once they where at the cave Blaze and Sunset parted to tell everyone about Ivory. Blaze went over to fallen tree where Crow, Blaze and Sunset slept. Sunset headed over to the small cave that Lavender, Stone and Canary shared.

"Lavender! Canary! Stone!" Sunset called. Canary and Lavender lifted their heads. Stone appeared from a spot in the shadows of the cave wall.

"Yes?" Lavender answered.

"Blaze and I found a new cat while we where hunting. His name is Ivory and he wishes to join our little group. Blaze says that we should all have a say in this," Sunset meowed. She herself didn't trust this cat, but Blaze seemed conferable enough around him...maybe she was just overreacting.

"Okay," Lavender said, blinking in confusion. Stone nodded slowly. Meanwhile, Canary bounced around the den.

"Ivory! Can I see him? PLEASE mama! Can I? Can I?" Canary begged.

"Honey, this Ivory cat is just like you and me. I'm sure that he is nothing out of the ordinary," Lavender meowed gently.

Canary stopped bouncing and looked up at her mother. Then she said, "But what dose he look like? What color is he? I still want to see the new cat."

"Fine," Lavender sighed. "You can see him. Come along, then."

Canary raced ahead of her mother, talking about how she was going to see the new cat all of the while. Stone followed his mate out of the den. Sunset couldn't help thinking about the strange new cat. Who was he? Where did he come from? Was he going to stay or leave? And what was that sound in the bushes? Questions nagged at her mind. Then, Sunset shook her head. Ivory seemed nice. He was sure not to cause any trouble. As she left the small cave, one more question seeped into her mind. Or was he?

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

Fallen Stars 7-The Newcomer

Sunset and Blaze walked past a tree. Sunset began to purr blissfully as a cool wind brushed past her. Blaze purred with her and they walked toward the stream. They were going to hunt some minnows there. Crow had seen a large bunch of them in the stream while he was collecting moss. Soon, Sunset and Blaze reached the azurite-blue stream. Sunset sat down beside the sodden bank. She looked at the water watching as a few bits of vegetation drifted by, being puled by the strong current. She scanned the water.

Good. Sunset thought as she saw that the large group of minnows were farther downstream.

Sunset gingerly put a silky white paw into the water, careful not to make a sound. Then, she placed the other fore paw in the stream, and then her chest. Slowly, she sank into the stream, letting the water envelop her. She circled around in the depths of the stream, unsure of where she was.

Then, Sunset saw a flash of silver, followed by a few more, and knew that the minnows were in that direction. She surfaced, taking in a few gulps of air, and then silently slipped back into the water. She swam over to where she'd seen the minnows, feeling the current trying to pull her away from her destination. Sunset swam harder, pushing away water and shooting forward with strong kicks from her hind legs. She finally found herself just a few yards away from the group of minnows.

Sunset didn't realize how far she'd swam until she felt her lungs screaming for air. She pushed herself off of the muddy riverbed with her hind legs. She gasped for air the moment her muzzle left the water. Once she had caught her breath, Sunset dived back into the water and lurched forward. The second she had hurled herself into the group of minnows, she grabbed up a few in her jaws. Then, Sunset surfaced once more, this time with two minnows hanging from her jaws.

Sunset swam over to the bank so that she could place down her catches. She pulled herself out of the shallows and onto the muddy shore. She stalked over to drier ground to set down her prey. She turned around to see how Blaze was doing. She saw that he had caught a minnow and two water voles. She picked up her catches and walked over to him. She set down the prey beside his prey. Suddenly, she saw something dart through the bushes and toward Blaze and her. Once the white figure stopped, Sunset could see that it was a cat.

The tom lifted his head and meowed, "Hello. My name is Ivory."

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Fallen Stars 6-All Is At Peace

Brown early-winter maple leaves slightly lifted in the breeze. Canary walked closer to her mother, Lavender, shivering as some cold wind buffed her fur.

"Are we almost home, mama," she complained.

Lavender opened her mouth to say something in reply, but Stone spoke first."Canary, you need to practice hunting crouches and fighting moves. You know, you are 5 months old."

Canary sighed. Then she thought, grudgingly, You're no fun. This just isn't fair! Then, Canary meowed, "I just don't see why we have to do training in such cold weather. I don't even see or smell any prey. Plus, even if anything was out, the leaves make to much noise. The prey would simply run away."

Suddenly, Canary realized how rude she'd been. "I'm sorry," she meowed in a tiny voice.

Lavender glanced at Canary and purred, "It's okay. We're all very short tempered in the cold."

Stone purred playfully, "Everyone changes from joy to impatient, except Crow. He changes from impatience to even more impatience!"

Mrowing with joy, Canary hurtled herself at her father, paws first with her claws sheathed, and raked her paws across her father's flank. Lavender happily flung herself at Canary.

"No fair!" Canary cried in mock anger as Lavender pulled her off Stone's gray tabby pelt.

Then they all shook themselves off, and walked home.

******

Together, they all slept, Blaze, Crow, Sunset, Stone, Lavender and Canary, all of them sleeping in the peace, the peace that seemed it would last forever, but, would it?

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Blaze

Blaze, the big brown tabby,
Blaze, the midnight hunter,
Blaze, the cat of passion,
Blaze, the wild cat,
Blaze, the devoted cat,
Blaze, the cat of love.

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Fallen Stars 5-Homeward Bound

Sunset walked on. She had been walking for quite a while and was now very tired. She decided to curl up to sleep. The minuet she closed her eyes, a strange sound blasted into her ears. Sunset looked around, swiveling her ears. The sound slowly faded away into the distance. She felt that she couldn't sleep now that she'd heard the sound. She got up and looked around once more, nervous. Then, she silently walked forward.

The noise erupted into her ears once more. This time it got louder and louder by the second. Then, Sunset recognized this sound. It was FOX!!

Sunset began to flee, but the fox was already upon her. Sunset hissed at the fox as she ran unsheathed claws along its flank. The fox bit her fore paw. Screeching in pain and fury, Sunset tried to fling the fox off of her, although she knew that it was no use. The fox was much bigger then her. Then, an idea popped into her head. She began to shimmy her way from underneath the fox. When she finally got out, however, the fox clamped its jaws on her half healed tail wound. Sunset wailed in pain and raked her claws along the fox's ears, hoping that that would make it loosen its tight grip. The fox let go only to grab Sunset's scruff and fling her across the clearing. Sunset yowled in pain but, her cry was cut off as her head hit a hard rock and she was knocked out.

******

Sunset woke up. Then, as she was getting up, she smelled, through the stench of fox, Crow and Stone! She looked around, but then she realized that their scents were old. They had been here yesterday. Sunset then recognized the place that she was in: it was her old hunting grounds! She was here!

Sunset shot forward. She swerved trees, leapt over logs, ran through tangles of grass, and slipped underneath bushes. Sunset, panting, ran over to a small, rocky hill. She remembered this hill! This was her home! She plummeted down the hillside. She announced her arrival with a happy chirp. Slowly, her friends began to gather.

Sunset was astonished to see how much Canary had grown. The little orange cat then squeaked, "Who is this cat, mama?"

Sunset felt sad. Had she really been away for so long that they didn't recognize her? Then, Sunset heard Blaze meow with astonishment in his voice, "Could it be...? Sunset? Is that you, Sunset?"

"Blaze!" Sunset cried happily.

Blaze's face echoed her joy. "Sunset! I can't believe that it's really you!"

"Oh you better believe that it's me!" Sunset purred playfully as she leaned over and gently nipped his ear.

A little while after she had told them the story of her travels, they all settled down to sleep. Sunset was pressed in between Blaze and Crow. She was content. She was home.

-KittyLover8
© 2012

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Fallen Stars 2-Broken Silence

Sunset awoke, as she stood up, pain griped her tail. A fox had attacked the cave that she and a few more cats live in. She cast an uneasy glance at her tail and gave it a sniff. Sunset let out a sigh. Although her tail hurt like fire, it wasn't infected.

She walked out of the den, but one of her paws brushed up against a dry, brown leaf. Crow lifted his head, his eyes squinting in the dawn light. "Wazza?" Crow meowed.

"It's just me, Sunset," Sunset reassured him.

"I could care less if it where you or that mangy fox coming back again! I just want to sleep! It would be nice if I could without cats stomping around in the leaves like an upset badger!" Crow growled.

Sunset flicked her ears in anger. But then she just shook it off. Sunset then, pushed the rest of her way out of the den. Orange-red sunlight filled the deep-purple sky. Sunset loved dawn.

Blaze walked up to her, "Would you like to hunt with me, Sunset?" he asked.

Sunset blinked in surprise, then she shook her head to clear it and then asked, "Have you, Stone, and Crow checked for fox scent?"

"Yes. We found out that it left our hunting grounds."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hunt!" Sunset purred.

Then, tails trailing behind them, they ran off.

********

Sunset was stalking a vole. Once she was about three feet away from it, she ponced. But she had missed the little creature by an inch. She sighed. Then she stood up from where she lay in the grass.

Sunset lifted her head higher and slightly parted her jaws. The strong sent of mouse wafted into her nose. Sunset carefully stalked the small gray shape that was just ahead of her. Quickly, she leaped on top of her prey. She then picked up the limp mouse and placed it down beside her other catches; two birds.

A sudden crackle behind some thick trees made her spin around.

"Blaze?" she called.

No answer.

"Blaze? Blaze, are you there?"

Another loud snap of a twig.

"Blaze, please help me," Sunset whispered meekly, her eyes wide with fear.

Sunset tasted the air, only to find a strange stench filling the air. What is this creature, and why is it here? she thought.

Just then, a human walked out of the trees. Sunset let out a startled gasp when she saw what the human was carrying inside a cage; Blaze!

Sunset screeched with rage and flung herself at the human's leg. The human yowled and dropped the cage. And with that, it sprang open. Quickly, Blaze raced out of the cold silver cage.

The human yowled again and grabbed her. She screeched in fury as she was shoved into the hard cage. Then, Sunset turned around, wanting to see if Blaze was okay. Suddenly, she felt a sharp wave of pain quickly grow as she hit her head on the hard metal of the cage. Then everything went black.

********

Sunset awoke on a soft rug covering the ground underneath her. She shook her head, dizzy from all of the new sites and sounds.

Sunset sighed. Remembering where she was. She had been here, trapped with the humans for a week. She was always grateful for the kindness and gentleness they showed her, but she wanted to be back home, in the cave.


A young human stroked her fur. Sunset closed her eyes in content, but a question raked through her mind; was she trapped here forever?
-KittyLover8
© 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Fallen Stars 1-The Deadly Red Shadow

Crow's angry hiss echoed across the clearing, awakening Lavender. Stone, her mate, lifted his head and stood up beside her. Lavender glanced at Stone and then at Canary, her kitten. Stone walked out of the small cave that he, Lavender and Canary slept in.

Outside, Crow was battling a large red fox with Sunset. Stone jumped on the fox's back and raked its sides. Sunset raked her claws across the fox's muzzle. In turn, the fox bit her tail. Blood splashed on the dusty ground. Crow nipped the fox's hind leg, but then jumped back when the fox swiped at him. Stone leapt to Crow's aid, but the fox slammed into a large stone at the heavy blow of Sunset's hind legs. The fox got up, shook itself, and ran off.

Blaze, who had been out hunting, raced into the clearing."What happened?" he exclaimed, his mew muffled by a shrew and two mice that dangled in his jaws.

"A fox attacked camp," Sunset panted, out of breath.

"I'm so sorry that I couldn't help," Blaze meowed sadly, guilt heavy in his voice. "I was out hunting."

"It's fine. I'm sure you would have fought just as hard as the rest of us if you had been here," Sunset soothed,"In the meantime, let's enjoy this prey."


Everyone nodded in agreement, and Stone summoned Lavender out of the cave. Then, they all settled down to eat.


********

The full moon bathed the clearing in a silver glow. In the distance, an owl screeched, awakening Sunset. She stepped out of the fallen tree that she shared with Crow and Blaze. She bit back a cry of pain as she brushed her mangled tail against a bush. She sighed. Would the fox ever come back? For the first time, she began to question their safety here in the hollow.

Blaze unexpectedly settled down beside Sunset. "Tomorrow, Stone, Crow, and I are going to scout the territory for any signs of the fox," Blaze meowed.

Sunset settled her green gaze affectionately on Blaze's golden eyes. Then the two walked back into the log, tails twined, curled up together, and slept.


-KittyLover8

© 2011

Thursday, December 8, 2011