Sins of The Storm

Chapter Three-Fight or Flight

The tom's heartbeat quickened in adrenaline as all of the five cats lunged for him. He kicked out with his hind legs, launching himself forward and out of his attackers' reach with the help of the tree behind him. He whipped around to face the cats, who growled in annoyance.

His muscles ached at the sudden and harsh moves, but right now, he had worse problems than that. As the attackers circled around him threateningly, he observed his surroundings. Clearly, his only chance was getting away somehow. There was no way he could fight five cats at the same time, even if they were a lot older than him. He didn't recover fully from his previous accident, and his aching body reminded him of that every day. Maybe I should've listened to Smoke, he thought, but he shook it away. There's no way I'm going to admit that.

But how can I escape this? He wondered frantically. There were only trees and bushes around him, and he knew that he couldn't climb a tree or outrun the cats in this condition. It seemed impossible for him to get out of this.

I need a plan! I have to hide somewhere, but they are going to find me because I can't outrun them. He swiftly thought through all of his chances, fighting the chilling fear that would've made his mind go blank.

Suddenly, he spotted a bramble bush in the distance. The thorns were sticking out menacingly from the leaves, but maybe this spiky plant meant his escape. Two trees stood firmly in front of the bush, leaving a gap so narrow that only one cat could fit through it. Also, there was a huge branch that was so low that even he could jump on it with his aching legs. My best chance is still climbing a tree, he thought. I just hope that they don't climb after me. It wasn't such a great plan; it stood on rather weak legs, but at least he had something to cling onto.

The only problem was that the bramble bush and the trees were several fox-lengths away from his current position. To get there, he would have to fight his way through the five cats. I have to distract them with something!

Just as Acornfire was about to hook her claws into his pelt, the tom cried out. "Wait!" All of the attackers drew back at the sharp yowl.

"What?" Tawnydawn spat, baring her teeth at him. The orange tom began backing away towards the bramble thicket, slowly, step by step.

"Uh...The weather is really nice today, isn't it?" He spat out the first stupidity that came into his mind. He winced as he heard his own voice. Congratulations, really. If I continue like this, they are going to slaughter me.

His attackers' malicious expressions twisted into puzzled, confused and questioning looks, given that the rain was pouring all over everything. Maybe I do call this nice weather, but I'm sure that they wouldn't.

"Are you nuts?" Dewshadow furrowed his brow, jumping in front of him with his claws unsheathed. The tom tried to force his ruffled orange fur to lie flat as he backed away from the sharp, silver talons that were dug into the ground.

In the next moment, Tawnydawn leaped. Everything went blurry for a moment as the old she-cat struck him on the cheek, deadly claws unsheathed. He staggered back, trying not to fall over. Pain flooded his muzzle, making him hiss through clenched teeth. He could feel a large gash opening on his face, pumping scarlet blood all over his face. The sour tang filled his mouth, making shiver with disgust.

"He's just trying to distract us, mouse-brains!" Tawnydawn yowled, but it seemed so distant to the wounded tom. His ears were ringing, but at least most of his blood was washed away by the rain. It also somewhat soothed the stinging in his scratch.

But he didn't have much time to recover from the blow. Willowscar slashed at his ear, only missing him by a whisker. He stepped back to avoid it, but Patchfrost, who somehow got behind his back, snagged his tail in his jaws. The tom could feel his teeth sinking into his flesh, making him shriek in agony. He kicked out with his hind legs to get rid of Patchfrost, in which he succeeded; the big, black tom flew into the dust.