Snowflake's Story

Chapter Eight

Snowflake padded into the brick building. Cats around her gasped and whimpered as Snuggle's body was carried in by Hop and Falcon. Snowflake, James, Cocoa and Bird had refused to help. They couldn't bear it.

"Snowflake?" Blizzard's voice came from the side of her.

Snowflake looked at her. "M-Mom.."

Blizzard's green eyes widened and she raced over, curling her tail around Snowflake. "How did it happen?" She whimpered to Hop.

"Fox," Hop replied. "But Snowflake killed it."

Blizzard blinked at Snowflake. "It's going to be okay, sweetie. You still have me, and I love you."

Snowflake didn't even care to argue anymore. She just let her mother's tail hug her.

"You have me, too," James added in, padding over.

"Me three," Cocoa meowed.

"I'm here, too," Bird commented.

"Snuggle!" Glow's yowl came from across the building, but he was over at Snuggle's body in less than a heartbeat. "What happened to him?!"

Hop told Glow the same thing he told Blizzard.

Glow stared at Snowflake with large, desperate, golden eyes.

Snowflake understood. With Glow's mother dead and his father hating him, Snuggle was the closest thing he had. He loved him.

And now he's dead.

The rest of the friend group gazed at Glow with sympathy and he raced over. They all cuddled together, with Blizzard trying her best to curl around all of them.

"He never got the chance to train," Glow muttered. "He never got the chance to become a growncat, or see his sister grow up, or see his mother grow old. He never got the chance to love."

Snowflake lifted her head. "Glow. You are wrong about one thing."

Glow blinked at him.

"He got the chance to love. He loved you; I just know it."

For once Cocoa didn't wrinkle his nose in disgust at the word "love."

Glow took a deep breath. "Are you sure?"

"As sure as I have my pelt," Snowflake replied.

"My handsome, beautiful, sweet little kitten," Blizzard whispered to herself.

"Things will never be the same," James rasped.

"I'm gonna miss the little kitten," Cocoa added in.

"He gets to see Glass now," Bird meowed.

"I'll never forget him," Glow said.

Snowflake didn't have the strength in her heart to talk anymore. Her throat hurt and her chest felt like sinking to the floor.

It's okay.

Snowflake had to trust Snuggle. Maybe it would be okay. Maybe her life would get better. Maybe she could figure out plans for her life. She looked at Cocoa.

She would train with Cocoa and continuously be teased by him; but his teasing was now something that was special. It comforted her now. She looked at Bird.

She would be friends with Bird and watch her fall in love with Cocoa. She would be in line to congratulate her for her growncat ceremony and possibly even giving birth to Cocoa's kittens. Snowflake almost twitched her whiskers at the thought; miniature Cocoas. She looked at Glow.

She would grow a close bond with Glow since they felt the same amount of grief over Snuggle. She would try her best to comfort him and maybe, just maybe, help him find someone new to love. She looked at Blizzard.

She would bring prey to Blizzard every day and watch her grow into an oldcat. She'd grieve once she died, but wouldn't regret the time spent with her one bit. She finally looked at James.

She could imagine herself twining her tail with his and nuzzling him. She thought she could almost hear their purrs aligning. Maybe she would be his mate. Maybe she would get the chance to tell him she'd be expecting his kittens one day. Maybe she would give birth to his kittens, and raise them with him, and watch them grow into growncats.

She closed her eyes and let herself drift into sleep. She thought she could hear two all too familiar voices.

Thank you.

It's okay.