Dark Moon: Tell-Tale

Chapter 9

As the group trudged on through the snow-coated forest, the sun reached its peak.
Jasper kept his head down the whole journey, Homer plodded beside him, keeping a keen eye on him, and Blizzard took the lead, with Tonks, Venus and the kittens behind him.
The cold winter breeze ruffled their fur, almost knocking Monty off his tiny paws.
"Do you really think we should be heading this way?" Homer called over the howling wind. "I mean we could find a shelter again until the wind and snow has died down or something."
"There is no way we're letting a bit of cold weather block our path." Blizzard yowled back over his shoulder.
"Really lives up to his name." Venus murmured to Tonks, who nodded with a smirk.
The group neared a small ravine, a dark void of rock and mineral. Monty gazed down into it with awe.
"Wow!" He squeaked, turning to his brother, who had settled next to him. "That looks so cool. Imagine what monsters we could find in there!"
"You know those monsters are just kitten tales." Tonks growled, grabbing Monty by the scruff and dragging him away from the cave.
A harsh wind suddenly swept through the trees, and Monty had to dig his claws into the cold earth in order to stay put. Marley however was knocked off-balance, landing with a thump in the deep ravine.
"Marley!" Tonks shouted down into the cave, her fur blowing wildly in the wind. Marley was barely visible in the obscurity; a dark spot against the shadows. Terrified mewling emitted from the pitch blackness, echoing around the clearing.
"I'll get him." Blizzard volunteered, crouching by the edge of the ravine and gazing down into it, preparing to jump.
"Blizzard wait-" Homer was cut off as Blizzard ignored his command and leapt into the ravine, landing neatly on all four paws.
Marley was cowering by a wall, his back pressed against the cold rock, almost camouflaging with the stone. He was quavering with fear, staring up at Blizzard with startled, yellow eyes.
"It's alright Marley." Blizzard hushed the kitten. "I'm gonna get you out of here." He gently grabbed Marley by the scruff and dug his claws into the hard stone wall, pulling himself up.
Blizzard heaved Marley out of the ravine, where Tonks bundled him into her paws, smothering him with comforting licks.
"Mother, I'm fine!" Marley complained, pushing against his mother's face angrily.
Jasper wrapped one paw under Blizzard's shoulder, pulling him up out of the cave. He cast a glance over his shoulder at Marley with narrowed eyes, before looking back to Blizzard, who was now panting on the snowy grass.
"We need to keep going." Venus looked up at the sun, which was now at its midpoint. "We can't let any more accidents get in our way." She headed off the way they were going once more, with Blizzard on her tail.
"Yes, and I am not letting Marley out of my sight again." Tonks warned her son, wrapping her tail around him and guiding him away. Monty giggled and stuck his tongue out at his brother before bounding ahead.
Jasper let out a low growl.
"He should have died." Jasper mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Homer asked, his eyes narrowed to slits.
"Shut up." Jasper bared his teeth and hissed at Homer, trailing after the others.