The hazy morning sun had just begun to rise up across the horizon. There was not a single wisp of cloud in the sky that the ginger tom could see as he opened up his eyes.
There was not even a slight breeze that ruffled the long fur of his cheeks. But it was definitely cold as the cat stood and stretched out the sleepiness from his limbs. Climbing out of his nest, silently as he could, he stood by the nearest tree and reared himself up, stretching as far up the truck as he could, and dug his claws in.
It was by no means soft, but the sharp tug as he raked his claws carefully down through the rough bark definitely woke him up for good.
In the meantime, he could hunt. He dropped to all fours, the cold of the frozen mud beneath sinking into his pads, but he dared not let that stop him.
He pricked his ears as a bird chirped away above, the repeated chattered calls being the only noise surrounding him. He lifted his muzzle and opened his mouth to get an idea of the closest thing around, the scents were frozen, but he was up for a good challenge.
The tom wandered away from his nest, before crouching down suddenly as a blackbird swooped down to land, jabbing at the soil a fair few tail-lengths away, back luckily enough facing him. It picked up small twigs in its yellow beak and it turned its head a few times, wearily, before resuming its pecking.
Slow and steady, the speckled tom creeped forward, aware of the frost coated leaves scattering the floor. He needed to be extra careful not to let his paws crinkle the leaves. He kept his tail just high enough for it not to drag along the ammil, and held his breath.
He was only a single tail-length away when he built up enough power to pounce, leaves spiralling behind. The bird let out a screech as the tom landed on its tail, and with a quick, hard bite to it's spine, it was still.
He picked it up in his jaws, relishing the smell of a warm, fresh meal.
The sun was just now shining rays of light through the bare branches of the tiny woodland he and his friend decided to rest in for the night.
The other cat was stirring in the nest not a muzzle-length away from his own as he approached with the fresh-kill.
The grey tom was barely visible still, his pelt blending in with the shadows the sunrise brought through dense woodland.
"Out early again, are we Domino." Tiredness edged his mew.
Domino dipped his head, tail swaying behind. He placed the bird ever so carefully in front of his friend's nest.
"I caught this while you were still sleeping away." He fought back the purr that threatened to rumble deep in his throat. "Never knew you could be the cat to sleep so much, Calvin."
The other shrugged, plucking out the silky feathers of his meal's chest before taking a bite. Domino sat and groomed his growing mane of a flick of moss.
He waited patiently, twisting his head to watch the sun filter through the trees, climbing higher and higher through the sky with each minute. As it did so, it warmed his back, and he shut his eyes slowly to bask in the familiar feeling.
Around him, the frost of the fallen leaves glistened.
The grey tom stood and shook the frost from his short fur, green eyes glowing with interest.
"Where to now?" He asked, padding up to Domino.
"I was thinking the moor." Domino flicked his tail towards the nearest opening in the trees. "I saw a river, we can drink."
Calvin nodded slowly, "Good, good."
His friend stretched, fur fluffing up as a breeze brought back the harsh reality of this freezing moon. It was a miracle they had managed to survive this long.
The two cats traced along the edge of the woodland, where they both sought out an opening underneath a row of thorned wire. Around them, dense feather grass stood tall and hardy, following the steep contours of the land that surrounded them. The sun cast glows of orange, lighting up the thin sheets of ice that covered almost everywhere the darkness had touched in the night, and trees surrounded them, though towards the rising sun, a crack in the land gleamed, promising a waterway.
The scents thawed, and new smells filled Domino's mind with freedom. The confines of his home may have been warm, with plenty food and water to make any wild-born cat jealous, but he had left all of that behind, to stick alongside Calvin.
And this was his reward.
Fresh kill, that he could hunt all on his own. The thought alone of thrush made his mouth water as the pair sauntered through the tall grass.
His paws ached to run along for as long as possible. To see what a cat he could be. Calvin had taught him a few tricks when he was a kit, but growing up in the confines of a small village never gave him a good enough opportunity.
So why not grasp it now? Claws unsheathed. To tug at this chance at the scruff of its neck?
And so, the ginger tom padded faster, passing Calvin, making sure to turn his head with a grin, before breaking into a run. He disappeared into the grass, leaving only his scent behind.
He made an effort to hare along the moor towards the slope the river climbed, reaching out far with his forepaws and then tucking in his rear ones, curving his spine until he knew nothing but the wisps of green below his pawsteps and the feeling of the icy wind in his fur.
He breathed in time with each time his legs crossed, ears flat, tail streaking behind.
It wasn't long before he faintly heard the soft thrumming of another set of paws to his rear. As Calvin gained his own speed, his sleeker form in comparison to Domino's long furred, muscular frame gave him a much bigger advantage. The grey tom matched his pace, appearing as if to glide along the land as effortless as a swallow gliding through the sky.
He gave a nod and a smile, and Domino smiled back, warmth and pride and exhilaration flowing through his body.
They broke through the other side of the tall grassland into an area of shorter grass, and only then did the two slow down, Calvin just ahead of him.
He took a moment to catch their breath, before Calvin lifted up his muzzle and turned around to look at his friend, green eyes gleaming. There was a hint of playfulness in his gaze, as well as something else that Domino couldn't quite understand.
The two collapsed beside each other, their fur brushing.
Calvin was the first to speak.
"You've gotten faster."
Domino focused on the sudden coolness of the earth, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I've learnt from the best."
He felt a playful nudge to his ribs, then comfort as the older tom gently rested his head to his for a moment.
"You just watch your tongue." There was a purr bubbling in his throat, Domino could tell.
And in that moment he somehow felt the most free he'd ever felt for a long while.
