Come back to me

Chapter 5- A normal day

"Wake up!" A voice called. 

The morning light seeping into the den. Ring yawned and forced his eyes open, wanting to sleep more. 

"Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up!"The voice rang and rang, it was Iris. Ring gasped as a weight crashed into his side. Scrambling to his paws in alarm he looked down to see Iris. She stared up at him with wide amber eyes. Ring flicked his ears in irritation.

"Couldn't you have let me rest a little longer, my shoulder still stings." He rasped. Iris's gaze fell.

"Sorry." She mumbled. Ring yawned and sat up properly. He crawled out of his nest and slithered out of the den. He blinked sleep from his eyes blearily. It was almost dawn he guessed. He had sat up all night thinking of what his father said. His nose twitched and he sneezed. Maybe droping by the stream on a windy night was a bad idea. 

Iris scampered out of the den and stood in front of him. Her tail waving back and forth crossly. 

"I thought you were going show me something today." She pestered. Ring stared at her blankly.

"Like how to properly catch a bird!" She hissed. Ring's eyes sparked with realization.

"Iris I'm sorry, I forgot tha-" Iris flicked her tail over his muzzle, cutting him off. 

"Violet taught me how to hunt mice and shrew, Cedar taught me how to hunt squirrel. You told me you would be the one to teach me how to hunt bird, you insisted! How could you forget!?" She huffed, she turned her back on him. She started to pad away but Ring jumped to his paws and raced into her path. She lifted her muzzle defiantly, just one inch shorter than him. It has only been one week and she's grown so much. though Ring absent minded. 

"Look i'm getting old and brittle, and I tend to forget things, okay?! Don't worry, I wont let badger paws teach you how." Said Ring, jestering with a flick of his tail over at Cedar who was sitting outside his and Violets den. Iris felt a twinge of relief prick her but she still felt annoyed with the arrogant fur-ball. Ring lowered his head to were his muzzle was brushing her ear fur. 

"Don't worry I want to spend every second I have away from these old porcupines too." Ring chuckled. Ring then padded off to the entrance of the clearing, beckoning her with his tail. Iris blinked, glancing over at her father. Cedar had moved to were he was laying on his side, licking his paws gingerly then cleaning his ears. Iris let out a soft snort and stalked off beside Ring. When will he ever stop grooming? Iris thought. 

They padded past the entrance, crossing the small path, came over a slope, and crossed a ravine. Ring came to a halt. Parting his jaws he let the forest scents bath his tongue. Iris mimicked him, tasting mouse and bird, and vole. Bird! At last! She thought joyously. She hared through the trees. Suddenly something grabbed her tail and jerked her to a halt. She turned around with a crossed look on her face but squeaked in surprise as she saw a black pelted tom loom over her, his strong frame outlined by the dawning sky. Iris gasped as she couldn't tell what he looked like, except for the glint of his eyes. Iris leaped to her paws and backed away, the fur along her spine bristling. 

Iris glanced around her. Everything suddenly seemed dark and gloomy, causing her to feel a bit blind. She skirted around him, trying to run back the way she came. He jerked around to were his nose was one mouse-length away from her face. He sniffed her muzzle once then flicked his right ear in the direction she had came from. Iris didn't catch the signal but she held his gaze for a moment before she took off. She ran at full pelt, her heart pounding. She felt herself trembling as she bolted through the trees in blind panic, looking for any sign that she was in her territory again.