Whiteriver's Truth

Chapter 22

   One-eye showed them a place where they could sleep and they quickly curled up. The stars shone over head and Whiteriver looked up hoping that she could see that one shining bright star again, but as she searched, it still wasn't seen.
   "How are you feeling?" Bravepelt asked, taking her out of her thoughts.
   "Good." She breathed. "I'm glad I got to meet him."
   "I see a lot of him in you." He purred.
   Whiteriver curled up next to him. She felt the warmth of his body on hers and could feel his chest rising and falling. "I'm glad you came with me." She purred.
   A rustle came from outside of their nest and heavy quick paws came rushing over to them. "Have you seen my kits?" One-eye peered inside, her eyes were wide with concern and worry.
   "Are they bot with you?" Bravepelt asked, rising from his place.
   "They were playing outside the den and I went to rest my eyes for a moment and when I opened them again, they were gone." She explained frantically. "Where could they have gone?" She cried.
   "Well where ever they are, we can help look for them." Whiteriver said now standing next to her mate.
   "Please hurry. Harley has already gone looking for them." She meowed.
   "They can't have gone too far." Bravepelt said turning to his mate.
   "Well let's get going before they get farther." The two cats rushed past the old queen and bounded past the bushes.
   They ran around trees and sniffed the air as they went. They started to slow down so they wouldn't miss their scent if they were nearby.
   Alarm suddenly rose in Whiteriver's stomach. "I smell fox." She hissed, turning to her mate with wide eyes.
   "Then we gotta hurry or just hope they're know where nearby."
   Before they could continue on their search, they both heard a small cry for help nearby.
   "That has to be them." Whiteriver panted.
   They raced in the direction of where they heard the cries. As they got closer, the stench of fox became greater and its snarls became heard. Both cats crashed into the place where the fox had found its hopefully easy meal, but they knew that they wouldn't make it easy for the nasty creature.
   Bravepelt launched himself at the red furry creature, raking his claws down its side. It let out a loud yelp and turned its head towards him, snapping his jaw, but unable to get ahold of him. Whiteriver then rushed in and pushed the kits into the safety of a nearby bush. Without looking back, she launched herself into the battle, catching her claws onto the fox's neck.
   It let out another yelp and started shaking its head side-to-side trying to fling her off. Bravepelt bit onto its hind leg making the fox stumble over onto its side. The cats then jumped back out of its way as it struggled to get up. The fox turned and snapped its jaw at Bravepelt who jumped out of the way and left a huge scratch down its muzzle.
   The fox stumbled back a bit and then looked between to the two cats before running off.
   "And stay away you mangy creature." Bravepelt hissed after it.
   Whiteriver made her way back over to where the kits were sheltered. They huddled together shaking with fear. They let out little squeaks and backed further away as the bush rustled, but quickly calmed down when they saw her face.
   "Are you guys okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" She asked.
   The grey tabby, Aster, limped forwards and stuck out her paw. "I think I got a thorn in it." She meowed, still a bit shaky with fear.
   "Don't worry, we'll get you back home and we'll take a look at it." She picked up the small kit by the scruff and lead the black one out of the bush.
   They made their way back to their little camp where One-eye rushed out to meet them. "What happened?" She asked frantically, licking her kits head with quick motions.
   "A fox tried to get them for an easy meal." She explained.
   "But we fought it off and they don't seem hurt. We got there just in time." Bravepelt chimed in.
   "I got a thorn in my pad." Aster squeaked holding her paw out to her mother.
   "It's okay little one." She meowed. "Now tell me, why did you guys leave?"
   "We just wanted to go explore." Crow explained, looking down ashamed.
   "Well you better be grateful that Whiteriver and Bravepelt were there to help you. You aren't leaving my sight again." She growled, picking Aster up by the scruff and carrying her back to her den.
   Crow started to follow, but looked back for just a second. "Thank you." She meowed before scampering after her mother.
   The two went back to their nest. "Well I'm quite tired now." Whiteriver yawned.
   Bravepelt curled himself around her and rested his head on her shoulder. "At least the kits are safe." He whispered groggily.
   Whiteriver purred. "They were quite brave as well." She mewed. There was no response, Bravepelt had already fallen asleep. "Goodnight my love." She whispered before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.