Snowflake's Story

Chapter Thirty

Snowflake watched Sara and Falcon carry Blizzard's body away. Flower and Milk had gotten better.

"I know, Snowflake, I know," James whispered as he padded up to her.

Snowflake turned on him and lashed her tail. "No, you don't!" She hissed.

James narrowed his eyes. "Have you already forgotten Stars?"

"You didn't know your father, and you didn't have a brother to lose! The only losses you've really had is Stars dying and Glow leaving!"

James seemed hurt.

Snowflake felt immediate guilt. "I'm sorry," she grumbled, stalking away.

James followed her. "It's okay," he reassured.

With a wave of sorrow washing over her, Snowflake looked at Mud. He's lost everything. Snowflake thought she had no reason to be whining if the cat who has watched his whole family either die or leave him feels perfectly fine. She then scanned the clearing, spotting Cookiedough playing with Sweets and Tree Trunk.

"Catch my tail," Cookiedough said unenthusiastically.

"What's wrong, mommy?" Sweets mewled, pawing at Cookiedough's tail.

Puddle padded over to them. "Cookiedough has lost someone very important to her," he explained.

Snowflake's mind clicked; Cookiedough was Blizzard's sister. Snowflake wasn't the only one who was suffering. Then she let out a sigh. Cookiedough, Sweets and Tree Trunk were the only family she had left. But then she looked at James. It wouldn't be that way for long. Snowflake would have her very own kittens soon, him being their father. Glass, Snuggle and Blizzard would watch over her kittens and keep them safe. She brushed up against James, letting the feel of his fur at her side comfort her.

James laid his tail over her back. "You'll be okay, Snowflake. I just know it. You're a strong cat."

Snowflake let James's words of comfort light up warmth in her chest, temporarily forgetting about Blizzard's death, or Snuggle's death, or Glass's death. She looked across the clearing, spotting Cocoa talking to Bird.

Cookiedough, Sweets and Tree Trunk may be her genetic family, but Cocoa, Bird and James were her mental family. There was another cat who was part of her mental family, Glow. But he had gone out to do what he wanted with his life, to see beautiful sights that cats cooped up here couldn't dream of. He was probably running freely through a yellow wood, or picking off mice one by one from a barn and eating rather well.

Snowflake stared towards the entrance.

He was out there.

Somewhere.