Fight or Flight :: warrior cats fanfic ::

» 6. fight «

      "So then Briarfrost comes out like-- 'I'm Starstar!' And they got really scared and--"

"--and then they thought the almighty StarClan leader murdered you and they ran. If I have to hear this story one more time I'll line your nest with bramble thorns." Sparkfur growled, taking a large step over an overgrown fern that was spreading across the path they were walking on. Mothdapple shook out her fur, as if to shake off the comment, following after the scarred tabby.

      "I know but Ivymist hasn't heard it yet." She motioned toward the dilute tortoiseshell at her side.

      "I could listen to the story a thousand times!" Briarfrost chirped from the back of the group.

      "I didn't let you bring a friend on this hunting trip just for you to tell that story again." Sparkfur glanced over her slim shoulder.

"Better not continue with the story then, I'd hate for you to be pricked with thorns," Ivymist murmured to Mothdapple.

"I don't see why. It's a great story-- have you heard the part where they thought I was some Sea-Bear creature? How nuts!" Briarfrost moved up so he was at Mothdapple's other side.

"Oh, I've heard a tom talk about that! It's supposed to be a giant dog-like creature that can walk on its hind legs-- like a two-leg! It has fish scales, too." Ivymist put in, her golden-green eyes huge with all seriousness. Briarfrost glanced uneasily to Mothdapple before flicking an ear.

      "Probably true," the dark tom shrugged.

      "You think?" Ivymist's thick fur fluffed up slightly.

      "Come on, we can't eat if we don't catch anything." Sparkfur waved her tail from where she stood waiting, dusk light outlining her silhouette from the top of the small incline. Briarfrost's fur prickled at the thought of an empty stomach, quickly bounding forward to the golden tabby, who murmured something to him, which he in purred in reply, rubbing his side along her side before bounding further ahead into the ferns.

       "I'll go hunt over to the left, you take the right?" Ivymist twitched her whiskers questioningly, to which the patched she-cat nodded.

      "Sounds great." Mothdapple nodded, waiting for her gray-and-cream dappled friend to disappear into the undergrowth before looking up to Sparkfur. She was giving her an unreadable look-- like she was analyzing every move she made. Mothdapple forced her fur flat, narrowing her eyes. You can't just stare a cat down like that. It's creepy. The bicolor she-cat gave Sparkfur a side glance before turning. It's like she's studying me-- but what even about me is worth taking time to analyze?

She disappeared into the woods off to the right side of the path they had been taking, letting the scents of the forest overwhelm her. Though I suppose you should know as much as you can about a cat sleeping a taillength from you. Mothdapple blinked, scanning the area for prey. I'm being distracted by something so menial-- I can't even concentrate. She unsheathed her claws, digging them into the earth with frustration, quickly making her way a few paces so she was deeper into the undergrowth. Inhaling deeply, she tried again, checking the scents. She blinked, surprised to scent another cat rather than a mouse. Maybe Sparkfur is even following my hunt? Is she really that interested in every move I make?

"Sparkfur, please, I wanted to get some hunting done--" Mothdapple was shocked to see, though, that rather than the gangly but strangely intimidating golden tabby, she was facing a beautiful, long haired brown tabby she-cat with small white paws and a white chest. Mothdapple's pelt grew hot and she backed up a step.