The Sunlapse (A Light in the Mist AU/rewrite)

XIX

A fierce whirlwind of snow and ice attacked the steep slopes they climbed, and Spotfur hissed as a million claws of shocking cold dug deep into her skin. The usually calm yet cold weather had given away to constant, frenzied blizzards, with gusts of ice trying to shove them back down to the base as the winds howled like wolves in agony.

Spotfur shoved herself up the ledge and stood up, the weak bodies of the trees around writhing in the whirling storm of white. She stared up, unable to see the peak. All she wanted to do was rest, but not even the weather would allow her to do so. It felt like they would never stop this trek, the furious grip of winter only wanted to stop them.

"Stupid snow," Mothwing hissed out against a cacophony of wind. 

"I don't think we have to worry about rogues anymore. No cat would want to live in this area of the mountain, unless they were going to constantly live in a cave or something," she replied as she dug her claws into another steep slope of white. She pulled herself up, not even able to see the peak of this slope. Spotfur hissed in painful frustration as the coldness stabbed into her belly, but after a painful, cold eternity she managed to pull herself up. 

Against the whirlwind of white, she caught sight of a faint orange glow. Fire. Spotfur stepped forward, seeing that the flame didn't move or spread and seemed to have no threat. She and Mothwing stepped forward, taking in the crackling warmth for a few moments, before she turned and something else caught her eye.

"Mothwing, look! A cave!" she yowled, and she turned to see Mothwing's eyes widening as they stared at it. A gap opened itself into the mountain, menacing spikes hanging at the entrance. They rushed in, the warmth of the cave heavenly after the gusts outside. Spotfur breathed in, grateful to be able to see and breathe again without the winds and snow stopping her, and being able to walk through warm and still air.

There was a huge gap in the ground, separating one side from the other like a vale, but there was also a bridge made of planks of tan wood. It was likely built by twolegs, for any animal to cross. From the ceiling fell clear waters, rushing down into a pool that filled the vale. They walked across the bridge to see what looked like some containers, looking triangular, their walls weak and feeling like rough pelts. Next to it was another smaller container, also feeling like it was made of rough pelts, and peering inside she caught sight of wrapped up food and clear shapes containing water.

"Yes!" Mothwing cheered triumphantly as she snatched a hard, clear box filled with pale-coloured meat and crispy skin. They clawed off the lid and feasted on the meat, before clawing off the cap on one of the clear, water-filled shapes and drinking as it spilt out. The water tasted warm and metallic, and the meat tasted odd, but it was divine to finally eat something. Spotfur pulled out something oddly shaped, but it was brown and crispy, and the inside was soft and white. She devoured it quickly.

They padded into one of the tents, seeing colourful and silky things laying on the ground. She felt like she hadn't slept in years. Her legs were rough twigs, ready to snap beneath her and her eyes were two heavy stones. She would do anything for the warmth of a slumber. Spotfur and Mothwing laid down on the mat thing, and she allowed herself to sink into a restful position, closing her eyes. Calmness bloated her, and all she payed attention to was the whirling sound of the snowstorm outside as she slipped away into unconsciousness. 

A loud noise roused Spotfur out of her sleep, and she opened her eyes to hear an angry roaring sound from outside the tent. She rose to her paws, mind still bloated with the thick milk of sleep as she struggled to push herself up, still swaying with exhaustion. 

"Uh oh, did the twolegs find us?" Mothwing groaned, her voice sounding just as heavy with fatigue as hers. She stepped forward until her mind began to grow sharper, peering out of the entrance. A group of huge twolegs were roaring at each other with anger. They were wearing something puffy and bright orange to protect themselves from the snow, with black covering their weird paws. I should get one of those.

The twolegs turned to look at them, and Spotfur expected them to roar out and kick them into the pool between the cliffs, but they never did. A tall, skinny twoleg grabbed what seemed like a soft, black pelt, and laid it over her and Mothwing. Spotfur didn't know whether to feel confused or relieved, but it was nice to see them actually showing kindness. Another twoleg handed them both some pieces of the meat and she quickly ate her share.

"Guess I was right. I always had this feeling that twolegs weren't the big, evil monsters stories always said they were," Spotfur meowed. The twolegs carried them back into the den thing, before taking off the orange puffy things, changing into something else and laying in the colourful silky things, going to sleep. 

They still needed to continue their trek, but the storm outside would likely kill them if they stayed too long without a break. They decided they could stay here for a while.