Dark Moon: Tell-Tale

Chapter 2

"Okay, now when it comes close, snatch it up with your paw quickly." Jasper instructed quietly. Tonks was staring down into the shimmering blue water, her eyes narrowed as she focused on the silver fish that darted around in its icy depths.
The forest was cool and damp around them, the brown leaves on the trees rustling in the autumn breeze. A crow squawked in the distance behind the two cats, its wings fluttering loudly as it glided away.
A grey fish swam to the edge of the pond, almost reaching out to touch Tonks' paws. She shoved her paw in the water, then instantly drew it back out, flicking water droplets onto Jasper's pelt.
He flicked the water from his ears and whiskers with an unamused glare, his verdant eyes shining with disinterest.
"Why didn't you catch it?" He grumbled.
"I don't like getting my paws wet." She mewed, licking her damp paw furiously.
Jasper sighed irritably. "Well, you drink water from a bowl right? If you can get your muzzle in the water, then how about you try catching a fish with your mouth?"
Tonks cocked her head, as if she didn't understand.
"Look, like this." Jasper bent down to stare into the sparkling pool. As soon as a fish swam close to his muzzle, he thrusted his head into the water, grabbing the fish in his jaws. When he lifted his head back out, he dropped the fish on the dehydrated grass, where it jerked about as it struggled to find a source of water. Jasper dug one hooked claw into its scales, and it lay still.
"Now you try." He looked up at Tonks, smiling.
Tonks looked down at the pond uncertainly. She hunched down so her muzzle was almost touching the surface, being careful not to breathe on the water and cause ripples. A shiny brown fish floated toward her, and she quickly snapped her jaws around it before it could notice her. She threw it out of the water; it landed clumsily in a thicket behind her, and she lost sight of it.
Giggling nervously, she sauntered over to the bush, digging her muzzle into it and trying to detect the fish's scent. She eventually located the shimmering bronze fish, still twitching aimlessly. Tonks clasped it in her jaws, digging her teeth into its flesh to kill it, and backed out of the thorny bush. Jasper was waiting patiently outside, and gave a small smile when he caught sight of her.
"I'm a mess aren't I?" Tonks murmured, dropping the fish at his paws.
"Don't worry." He reassured her, laying his tail comfortingly over her shoulders. "You did a good job."
Tonks perked up a little at his praise, her yellow eyes shining with joy.
"How about we try tree-climbing?" Jasper suggested, striding toward a tall beech tree.
Digging his claws into the soft bark, he clawed his way up the trunk, perching on a low, thick branch. He looked down at Tonks.
"Come on, it's easy!" He called down.
Tonks placed her paw on the bark of the tree, unsheathing her claws so she could dig them into the wood. She attempted to clamber up, lost her footing, and slipped back down.
"Remember to hook your claws into the wood, and pull yourself up paw by paw." Jasper instructed gently.
Tonks did as he said, gouging her claws into the smooth, cream bark, and pulling herself up one paw at a time. She grabbed the branch Jasper was sitting on, and he shuffled over a little bit so she could get up. Panting, Tonks hauled herself onto the branch to sit next to Jasper, her dark pink collar jingling with the effort.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Jasper asked, staring out at the autumn forest. The pond was shining in the midday sun, orange leaves drifted from the trees, birds fluttered past, and wildlife teemed everywhere Tonks looked.
"Yeah." She mumbled. "It is beautiful."
The pair sat in silence for a while, gazing at the stunning view, before Jasper continued.
"You know, when I was out here, I lived in a group, with my dad, Oblivion, and my brother, Eclipse." He muttered. "My mother was killed by humans when I was only a month old. I've never been very fond of humans since then. But, me, Eclipse and Oblivion, we were wild cats, living together in peace. My father was great friends with Eclipse, he would train him, take him hunting. But me, he just... Left me." He looked down at his paws. "And one day they went away to some far away mountain, and wouldn't let me come along. I don't know where they are now." He shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. "And I just felt out of place. I'd never had a mate, I'd never known what it felt like to even have friends. They both went to live in some far off mountain, and left me here. That's why I came to the village." His voice quietened as he carried on. "I've always wished I could have my own family. I've always wanted kittens, and someone to look up to, someone to just... Be there for me..."
Tonks stared at him affectionately.
"I know how it feels." She comforted, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. "I was abandoned by my mother and father as a kitten. I was lost, scared, hungry, and cold. That's when my human found me. She took me home, and gave me food, water and a soft bed. She's looked out for me since. I could never have had a better owner."
"You're lucky someone cares about you. I don't know how it feels to have a best friend." Jasper muttered, his voice saddening.
Tonks turned to look into his half-closed green eyes. "I care about you." She whispered after a short pause.
"R-Really?" Jasper seemed taken aback by her phrase. "No one's ever said that before." He whispered.
Tonks buried her muzzle in his shoulder fur. "I'm glad to be the first." She purred loudly.
Jasper bent his head to lick her ears. "I'm glad a cat like you exists Tonks." He muttered quietly. "Without you, I would never have felt complete."