Scorchmuzzle's Loyalty

Chapter one

Bhaskara held his breath, creeping forward ever so slightly. He kept his eyes focused on his sister's twitching tail-tip. He slid another paw forward, trying his best to stay silent. He was so close to Maple's tail, all he had to do was pounce. He gathered his hind legs beneath him, getting ready to spring onto his sister's tail. He pounced, grasping Maple's tail in his claws. Maple sprang up, her legs stiff, tail bushing out. She whipped her tail indignantly out of Bhaskara's paws, glaring at him with her amber eyes.

"What was that for, pellet-brain?" She snapped, her ears twitching.

Bhaskara sat up, puffing out his chest. "Pretty good, huh?" He boasted. "You didn't even know I was coming until I had caught your tail!"

Maple rolled her eyes, giving an exasperated huff. "Now I'm going to have to regroom my tail, you ruffled the fur on it,"

Now it was Bhaskara's turn to roll his eyes. "Is that all you care about? Looking pretty?"

Maple looked up mid-lick, her tongue still sticking out. "What more is there to life than that?"

Bhaskara wrinkled his nose. "Don't you ever wonder what life's like outside this stuffy den?" He gestured with his tail to the tall, clear stretch of wall blocking his way to get in the yard. His twolegs rarely let him out.

Maple shook her head, the plumy fur on her cheeks fluttering with the movement. "Why would I? We have everything we need right here,"

Bhaskara twitched his tail. "I don't like it here," He muttered. "I've seen wild cats outside beyond our yard. They probably get fresh prey while we get dry pellets. They know what it feels like to have the wind blow through their fur."

Maple resumed grooming her tail, not bothering to answer her brother. Bhaskara dug his claws into the soft, springy floor of the den. It was almost like grass, but not quite. A loud crash made Bhaskara jump, the fur on his tail fluffing out. Muffled shouts could be heard from the other side of the wall.

"What's happening?" Maple whispered, her eyes wide.
Bhaskara shook out his pelt, forcing his tail's fur to lay flat. "I don't know,"

Suddenly one of their twolegs stormed into the space they were in, anger clear in his movements. It scooped Maple up swiftly, then grabbed Bhaskara by the scruff. Bhaskara let out a yowl, his legs swinging with the twoleg's movements.

The twoleg's paw squeezed tighter around Bhaskara's scruff. Maple was looking down at Bhaskara from where she was cradled in the twoleg's arms. The twoleg pushed open the moving wall, heading outside. He was heading straight toward one of the monsters! Bhaskara squirmed in the twoleg's paw, but the twoleg tossed him and Maple into the belly of the monster before a loud slam closed the opening to the outside world. The twoleg climbed into the space in front of Bhaskara and Maple. The monster suddenly roared to life, rumbling beneath Bhaskara's paws. Maple pressed against Bhaskara, her eyes showing the whites. Bhaskara rested his chin on Maple's head, his heart pounding.

"Bhaskara, I think the twolegs are getting rid of us," Maple's voice was trembling.

Bhaskara closed his eyes for a brief moment. "We have to get out of here," He murmured.

He noticed the world moving past them with a blur. Suddenly a loud pop sounded and the twoleg shouted, slamming his fists on the circle disc-like thing in front of him. The monster was slowing down gradually, and Bhaskara knew this was him and Maple's only chance to escape. He sat up, his ears pricked. He exchanged glances with Maple, then gave her a nod. The twoleg threw open the door and Bhaskara lunged for the opening, Maple right behind him. They tumbled out onto the hard, stinking ground.