Snowflake's Story

Chapter Forty

A cat barged in. His orange eyes looked feirce and his solid gray pelt glistened. "Where is your leader?" He called to no one in particular.

Snowflake nudged the kittens off towards James and walked towards the gray tomcat. "Right here."

The stranger looked over her shoulder. "Echo's son," he meowed in a deep voice, gesturing with his tail to James.

Snowflake's hackles raised as she shoved herself in front of the stranger. "You must be one of the invading cats I heard of. Why are you here?"

The stranger flicked his tail and narrowed his eyes as his gaze returned to Snowflake. "You are correct. My name is Stone, I am here to take this building."

Snowflake heard cats behind her hiss, but she raised her tail to tell them to stay. "You and what army?"

About ten more cats appeared behind Stone.

Snowflake's tail flicked with nervousness and pressure but she stood her ground.

"You have until tomorrow," Stone growled. He turned away and ran off, his cats following him.

Snowflake lashed her tail.

"What will we do, Snowflake?" Falcon whimpered.

Snowflake flinched. Falcon was older than her, and he was looking to her for advice. She let out a sigh.

"We will fight them."

Snowflake sensed tension in the air, so she explained.

"We have always lived here. Like Mud said, it is better to die here, where you all have always been, instead of fleeing. I will not let Mud's determination and honor go to waste, and we will not ignore Echo, who died fighting invading cats. We will not ignore any other cats who died for this building either."

Murmurs of agreement rose, and Snowflake narrowed her eyes with determination.

She would fight these cats. She would fight for the honor of her and her clowder.

"What about the kittens?" Bird whined.

"..They will be on the ledge."

"But what if they fall?!" Sara wailed. "And what about me, an expecting cat? There's no room for me up there with them!"

"You will be under the ledge, and we will have to trust the kittens to not fall. We should all try to protect the area around the ledge. It is the only option we have."

Snowflake refused to give up the honor of the cats who died here. The voices in her head told her she was doing the right thing.

Thank you.

It's okay.

I love you.

I'll never forget you, and don't you ever forget me.

Take care, young one.

I believe in you.