Skie

Part 3: The Journey Starts

A tortoiseshell cat stood on top of the grand cliff, looking out over the trees. Another two cats padded up beside her and sat down. "It's bigger than I thought." Shadowpaw's uncertain meow echoed over the canopy, raindrops silencing it after a few fox-lengths. "We need to start. We can't wait any longer." Skiepaw turned to look at the blue-grey kit that stood boldly beside her, travelling herbs in his mouth. "Sunkit?" Skiepaw stared expectantly at him. Dropping the herbs, the three cats swallowed the foul tasting leaves. Shadowpaw shifted his paws around, sheathing and unsheathing his claws. "We need to go now, Skiepaw. We can't wait any longer." He mewed quietly. After a short silence, Skiepaw set one foot off territory. "Let's go." Skiepaw's meow hid her anxiety of the journey ahead.

The three cats trekked through the mountain range, hiding from hawks and drinking from the moss that grew on the cliffs. After a particularly hot and dry day, they sat down in a small hollow to sleep for the night.  Sunkit and Shadowpaw had fallen asleep curled up against Skiepaw. She listened to their rhythmic breathing, the gently swaying trees, and the pounding of a dog's paws. Wait. Dogs?! Skiepaw, Shadowpaw and Sunkit pelted across the mountainside, the rapid barking of a bloodhound echoing across the valley. A small brown tabby kit raced along beside them. "Fernkit?! Why are you here?!!" Skiepaw yowled. Fernkit said nothing, just sprinted faster.

The four terrified cats came to a cliff break. The jump was at least a fox length long. Shadowpaw bolted and leaped across, skidding, but landing safely on the other side. Next Skiepaw made the jump. Now it was Sunkit's turn. He leaped, scrabbling on the edge, but made it up. Fernkit looked at the endless drop, glued to the spot. The dog was a fox length away from her. "Jump!" Skiepaw yowled. The dog was one tail length away. "Fernkit!" The desperate screech from Sunkit made her look up. But it was too late. The dog smashed headfirst into Fernkit, it's teeth scraping her eyes savagely. It hit her with such force the dog boosted Fernkit to the other side, and fell into the ravine below. Fernkit landed with a sickening crack. Skiepaw started to move towards her, but Sunkit shoved her, hard, and raced towards Fernkit. 

Skiepaw moved again towards the severely injured kit, but Sunkit shot a look of such hostility at her that Skiepaw backed away. Fernkit moaned, and Sunkit murmured gentle words to her. Skiepaw was warmed by the stubborn kit helping another of his own. Fernkit woke up with short, shallow gasps, and Sunkit sat bolt upright. "Sun...kit..." Fernkit's voice was barely a whisper. Sunkit was looking at her with such emotion that he could only half-talk. "I'm here, Fernkit. I'm here." Sunkit's voice was a hoarse croak as Fernkit burst into a bout of coughing. "Fernkit will be okay, right?" Sunkit looked pleadingly at Skiepaw. She couldn't answer, just looked away. "Right?" Fernkit's faint mew sounded from behind Sunkit. "Y-yes, Fernkit." Skiepaw looked away, unable to meet Sunkit's eyes. The small kit made one last gasp, then rested her head on the ground, eyes wide open. She didn't breath again.

While Sunkit sat vigil for the fallen kit, Skiepaw and Shadowpaw hunted for prey. After coming back with a small, scraggly bird, they shared until Sunkit went to bed. Skiepaw and Shadowpaw sat on the ledge, overlooking where the dog fell. "I feel like I should have saved her." Skiepaw's heart wrenched with regret. Shadowpaw pressed his pelt against hers, saying nothing but reassuring Skiepaw with a warm lick. "We need to keep moving."