Tribe of Cats: The Troubling Menace~Book 1

~Chapter 2~

"Well, what do we have here?" The huge black tom had a deep, frightening voice. His pelt was shiny, showing how well he was fed. His muscles flexed beneath his groomed pelt. Lyla almost flinched when she saw how long his claws were.

When Lyla didn't respond because she was stunned and frightened, the tom continued, "Frost tells me she found you on our territory, trying to steal some prey." Lyla made the connection that Frost was the cat she had chased.

Lyla flinched. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know..." Lyla trailed off, realizing she sounded stupid.

Well, I was stupid chasing after the first cat I've seen in awhile. Lyla shook her pelt, embarrassed.

The big tom's gaze was unreadable as he looked her up and down. He started talking with a dappled she-cat that had been standing beside him the whole time. She also had a groomed pelt, her muscles rippling as she sat down beside the tom.

While they were talking, she scanned the group of cats. They were all muscular and well-fed. She glanced back at her own pelt, realizing that she looked weak and skinny in comparison. These cats know how to take care of themselves. Lyla glanced back at the black tom with white paws. She looked at the pretty she-cat beside him. She had long dappled fur and a stunning gold gaze. Lyla felt her stomach churning more and more nervously as time passed.

Are they discussing my death? She asked herself silently, looking at her paws as they chatted.

Lyla sighed with relief and anxiety as the tom fully faced her. She had no idea what will come out of this cat's mouth. And she bunched her muscles, preparing to race far away from this clearing and all of it's cats.

"We are lacking in numbers right now. You seem like you know how to take care of yourself. You could be a good asset to our Tribe." The black tom meowed confidently, catching Lyla off guard. She wasn't expecting that at all. Lyla flinched, as if a cat had struck her across the face with a claw.

Why does he want me?

"Keep in mind, Alpha doesn't make this offer often." The dappled she-cat growled. Her gold eyes had a warning in them. Her expression seemed to say If you don't accept, you will be chased far away from here.

Lyla sat down, shocked. "But—" She was cut off as a protest sounded in the clearing.

"Why her? She's the size of a kit!" A dark brown tabby she-cat hissed from the group of cats.

Lyla felt resentment stir in her belly at the dark brown tabby's words. She glanced grudgingly at her pelt but was disappointed to see that she was muscular as well.

Alpha's head snapped around to glare at the she-cat. The she-cat cowered pathetically as the dappled she-cat bounded forward and cuffed her in the side of the head. Lyla blinked in more shock. She was bewildered, do these cats always treat each other like this? The dappled she-cat was clearly highly respected in this strange Tribe of cats. The cowering cat yelped in pain as blood started trickling down the side of her cheek. Lyla winced, she hadn't ever really had a serious wound ever. She had had a few small scratches and scraps, but never anything bad.

"Do not disrespect Alpha, Branch!" The dappled she-cat snarled, her gold eyes glittering angrily.

"Sorry, Beta! Sorry, Alpha." The dark tabby apologized quickly then withdrew to the side of the clearing. Sinking into the shadows as she licked her paw then started cleaning her face.

Lyla searched her memory at the words Beta and Alpha. She blinked with recognition when she remembered her mother telling her a story about a group of cats. The group of cats had a leader who goes by the name of Alpha. And the Alpha's second in command would go by the name of Beta. Lyla realized these cats must be a Tribe. A group of cats that lived together and took care of each other.