Infinita Frigus

Chapter 2

Thunder rumbled across the sky, dark gray clouds churning. A stunning orange she-cat with amber eyes turned her head to the stormy sky.

"Snowfall is coming," she murmured.

A black tom with frigid blue eyes walked up beside her, ribs showing. "It's always snowfall these days, dear," he responded.

The she-cat laughed, her belly, heavy with kits, swaying as she did so. "Of course, Ragnarok," she said, headbutting him playfully. "but we should hurry and find shelter. I don't want to be caught in the cold."

A rare smile graced Ragnarok's face, for Fire and Fire alone. "Of course, my love," he purred, blue eyes warming, before he leaped forward, sinking into the snow. "Oof!"

Fire laughed, a twinkling, gorgeous sound. 'Come on, silly," she purred, before lightly trotting forward.

Digging himself out of the snow, Ragnarok hurried after her. As she walked, long orange fur falling effortlessly around her, he wondered when he had gotten so lucky as to have this amazing, stunning, gorgeous she-cat for a mate.

Shaking his head to get rid of the sentimental thoughts, he quickened his pace so that he was walking next to Fire. They stayed that way for a while, a comfortable silence. Ragnarok normally didn't like silences, as they usually heralded trouble of some kind, but he loved Fire's silences. The she-cat gave off a feeling of comfort when she was silent, a silence that enveloped him in warmth and love.

Oh, foxdung. He really was turning into a lovestruck fool, now was he?

Fire nudged his shoulder. "What are you thinking of?"

Ragnarok glanced down at her. "Oh, nothing," he said absentmindedly.

"Mhmm..." Fire responded, looking forward and quickening her pace.

After a while, he sighed. "You've turned me into a fool blinded by love, you know that, right?"

Fire smiled. "I regret nothing," she proclaimed.

Ragnarok rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched up anyway.

Fire hummed. "What do you think our kittens will be like?" she mused.

The black tom fell silent. "They'll be beautiful just like you," he affirmed. "and smart, and caring."

"They'll have your eyes," Fire smiled. "And your stubbornness."

"Your loyalty," Ragnarok mewed.

"And your skill in battle," Fire mused.

"Your dexterity," her mate grinned.

"And your fluffy little ears," Fire said mischievously, reaching up to bat at them.

"My ears are NOT fluffy or little!" Ragnarok protested.

Fire laughed, "Yes you do~"

The black tom grumbled. "Whatever."

Fire laughed and entwined her tail with his. "I love you all the more for it," she smiled.

A fuzzy feeling spread throughout Ragnarok's body, warming him despite the freezing cold. Purring, he bumped his head against Fire's. "And I love you," he whispered quietly.

A low growl alerted both cats to another presence. Ragnarok whipped around, moving forward so that he was in front of his mate. His eyes changed from loving to harsh and challenging.

A badger was standing in-between two trees. Its pelt was ragged and dirty, and Ragnarok could see its bones. The beast's eyes were wild with hunger, and drool dripped from its yellowing jaws.

With a harsh roar, the badger loped towards them. It reared up on its hind legs when it reached them, intending to crush them in one blow.

Ragnarok hissed, darting under the badger's belly. unsheathing his claws, he raked them into the badger's underbelly. The beast snarled, before stumbling around to snap at Ragnarok's tail.

The black tom screeched in pain, ripping his tail out from the thing's jaws. Backtracking from the fight, he growled at the beast as blood stained the white snow red. The snowflakes began to fall more rapidly, limiting his vision.

The badger took a step forward, intending to finish him off, but an orange blur flew in front of it, standing protectively in front of the rouge. Fire snarled, before lunging forward. Her claws gleaned as she dug them into the badger's muzzle.

A brief smile flitted across Ragnarok's face at his mate's loyalty, but it twisted into a snarl as he leaped back into battle. Jumping onto the thing's back, he began to clobber its ears, shredding them. He saw Fire scramble off and breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she made it to safety.

The badger roared and bucked suddenly, throwing Ragnarok and Fire off. Twisting in midair, he nimbly landed on his feet and started to sprint back towards it. Gripping onto its tail, he clamped his jaws down onto the middle and clung there.

The badger twisted around and raked its claws along his pelt. Wincing, he dropped off and was met with an unsheathed paw; his eyes widened as it collided with his face, sending him reeling.

Groaning, he managed to open his eyes and see the badger's jaws bearing down on him. Fear shot through him, and his blood ran cold as he realized he was going to die-

But the blow never came. A body collided with him, shoving him away and into the snow. Choking and sputtering, his tail still aching, he frantically dug himself out of the white powder.

As his head broke through, he blinked furiously to clear his vision, before turning his attention to the badger.

And then his heart dropped into his stomach.

The badger loomed over Fire, jaws open. And Fire, his beautiful, lovely Fire, had a gaping wound in her side, blood spilling out and staining the snow crimson.

An unfamiliar sound came from Ragnarok's throat, and he was running forward, his eyes wide and filled with fury. And then he was clawing, biting, scratching, intent on hurting the badger, on getting revenge for Fire. With a roar, the beast finally stumbled away, it's fur sticky with blood. Ragnarok stood panting, staring after it, before turning and racing to his mate's body.

Skidding to a halt beside her, he breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her chest still moving ever so slightly. "Fire? Fire, my love, talk to me, come on, there's bound to be a healer somewhere around here-"

"Ragnarok..."

Instantly he fell silent. "Yes?"

Fire coughed, blood leaking out of her mouth. "Ra-Ragnarok, there's no hope for me now... You must go on without me..."

"No!" Ragnarok demanded. "Don't say that, Fire! You won't die, you can't! Think of our kits!"

Fire smiled ever so slightly. "I'm sorry, my love," she whispered before the life faded from her eyes.

Ragnarok froze. "Fire..?" he ventured. "Fire, no- Fire you can't leave me- NO!" he cried. "No, no, no no no no..." He sunk to the ground, sobbing.

"Why?" he gasped. "Why? I'm so sorry, Fire... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to protect you, and our kits... I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough..."

"I love you..."