Snowflake's Story

Chapter Seventeen

A few days had passed.

Bella had given birth to two kittens. A brown tabby tomcat with a white undercoat, white paws, black ears, a black tail and green eyes that Falcon had named Hawk. The other kitten was a white queen with brown ears, a brown tail and amber eyes that Bella had named Flower.

Glow had usually seemed lost in thought.

Cocoa and Bird have been completely attached to each other and had usually forgotten the world around them had ever existed.

So, that left Snowflake with some alone-time with James.

Snowflake was having a fantastic dream about running through meadows full of flowers until she felt someone nudge her awake.

"Hey," James whispered. "I just heard of this really creepy building deep in the forest; we should go check it out!"

Snowflake blinked sleepily. "But it's the middle of the night.."

"Which makes it even creepier!"

Snowflake stood up, her tail tip flicking. "Okay, let's go; but we have to be quiet."

James nodded; Snowflake could hardly see his black pelt against the night. They snuck outside the brick building silently and looked around; they had gotten out without a problem!

"Where is it?" Snowflake rasped.

"Follow me," James replied, padding into the woods.

Once they had gotten into the creepy building (which was a rotten wooden house), Snowflake had stuck close to James as they walked around.

Snowflake yelped as a floorboard creaked.

"It's okay," James purred. "I'm here. I'll protect you."

Snowflake smiled as she felt a bright light inside her shine. She felt safe until she heard something from the shadows snarl at her. "James!" She whined, pressing closer to him.

James slid out his claws. "Attack, you coward!" He yowled in the direction the snarl came from.

A raccoon leaped out of it's hiding place and clung onto James's back. James let out a yowl of alarm but easily rolled over and crushed the raccoon. He stayed there until the raccoon scrambled out from under him and ran out of the rotten wood building.

"James!" Snowflake shouted, running over to him. "Are you hurt?"

James stood up and shook out his fur. "I'm fine; it's bites were only little nips."

Snowflake smiled and let out a long purr.

Next thing Snowflake knew, she was curled up next to James and opening her eyes up to bright sunlight. Her eyes widened; they never went back home! She nudged James harshly with a paw. "James, wake up!"

"I'll get you, rabbit.." James groaned as he slept.

Snowflake's whiskers twitched with amusement. "Oh no, i'm a little rabbit! Please don't eat me!"

James's paws started twitching.

Snowflake laughed and nudged him again.

James jolted awake. "Tasty rabbits?"

Snowflake shook her head. "James, we never went back home!"

James blinked sleepily. "I was tired from that raccoon fight.. Our mothers will be worried sick!"

Snowflake nodded. "Our friends, too. Come on, let's get home as soon as possible!"

James stood up and nodded, then sprinted towards home. Snowflake was on his heels.

They ran into the room; Blizzard was pacing along a wall, Stars was looking up into the sky as if she were praying, and Cocoa, Bird and Glow were talking in hushed voices. All their faces seemed worried.

Blizzard and Snowflakes's eyes met before her mother ran over. "Snowflake! Oh, I was so worried about you!" She shouted.

Stars ran over to James and she started licking his forehead affectionately.

"Mom!" James groaned, pawing Stars away.

Cocoa, Bird and Glow ran over.

Snowflake suddenly felt a wave of shame wash over her; she didn't mean to worry Blizzard, Stars, Cocoa, Bird and Glow like this!

"I'm sorry!" Snowflake blurted out.

"It's my fault," James butted in. "I knew about a creepy house in the woods, and I woke Snowflake up, so we went there to see how creepy it was--"

"You mean you invited Snowflake on a date?" Cocoa cut James off.

James's eyes widened and he lashed his tail. "What? No! Well.. No! And then I fought a raccoon--"

"You fought a raccoon?!" Bird yowled.

Stars started checking James's pelt for wounds.

"Yes, but i'm FINE! And then I was tired from fighting it so I fell asleep and dreamed about rabbits!"

"Tasty rabbits," Snowflake added.

"Why did you stay?" Blizzard asked, looking at Snowflake expectantly.

Snowflake felt her face grow hot. "Well.. I wanted to spend a night next to a friend--"

"A 'friend,' who invited you out on a 'not-date' into a creepy house, without anyone else?" Cocoa meowed.

Snowflake lashed her tail. "You don't understand!" She hissed.

Glow raised an eyebrow. "So, we don't understand your not-relationship?"

Snowflake let out a loud snarl and shoved her way in-between the cats crowding her, stomping away.

James ran after her. "Wait!"

"Your not-mate is concerned about you!" Cocoa shouted.

Snowflake was so infuriated, and embarrassed. She curled on top of a small pile of hay and covered her face with her paws.

James padded over. "Snowflake--"

"I want to be left alone!" Snowflake hissed.

James flinched. "You know they don't mean any harm."

Snowflake's tail flicked and she uncovered her face. "Yeah.."

"Hey, you're not the only one that's embarrassed," James purred, nudging her. "Sorry that I brought you there."

"Don't be sorry, James. I should be thanking you, for protecting me from that raccoon."

James smiled.