Mosskit Book 2: The Journey

Chapter 1

            "Run, Mosskit!" Skycloud yowled.

            "What?" Mosskit asked.

            "Run! Don't look back! Keep on running until you're safe! Run!"

            "But, Momma..."

            "No, Mosskit! Run now! Run!"

            Tears slid down Mosskit's cheek. He gave one last look at his mother and ran off into a meadow, running as fast as he could.

            Running, that was the only thing Mosskit could think of. He had been excited to receive such a lovely family, but it hurt him to leave his mother and her mate behind.

            The smell of smoke was strong, and Mosskit was tired of running, but he couldn't stop. He had to keep running no matter what. He coughed as he inhaled some smoke.

            The night sky was nowhere in sight because of the heavy smoke. Mosskit screeched as fire licked the tip of the branch behind him. The fire was catching up to him. He had to run faster.

            With all his energy, Mosskit ran. He ran like he had never ran before. He speeded past the fire until he came to a creek. The fire crackled behind him. He had to jump. He would never make the jump. He had to swim.

            Mosskit jumped into the creek and quickly made it through the shallow creek until he was on the other side, away from the fire. He ran through the woods. The fire was behind him now, but he didn't want to take any chances.

            Owls hooted. Bats swept through the night. Foxes and badgers lurked nearby. But Mosskit had to keep running.

            He could feel the hard ground on his paws as he ran along the slope. He gasped as he came to a large rock pile. He had to get up it.

            Mosskit began to climb carefully up the pile, trying not to slip. Rocks slipped beneath his feet and Mosskit held on tightly. He lifted himself up and sat to get a breath. He heard a growl from down below and noticed a fox.

            "I have to run," he whispered. He quickly began to run on the landscape with the fox right behind him. The fox snapped at his tail, but missed.

            Mosskit gasped for breath when suddenly he came to some tunnels. He had to go through them or else the fox would get him. He quickly crawled through the tunnels and hid. The fox pushed his muzzle into the hole and snapped his teeth, but he was unsuccessful.

            Mosskit decided to rest until he caught his breath. He wasn't exactly sure how to escape these tunnels. He began to creep through. It was dark, and he could barely see a thing.

            He was in there for an hour until he finally saw light peeping through a hole. He heaved himself out to see the moon shining. No more clouds. Just stars. His mother and father must have been shining down on him.

            Mosskit started to run again. He was still deep in the woods. He kept running until he came to a large river. This river was much longer than the creek he had crossed earlier. There was no way he could swim across. He would have to jump.

            Mosskit looked up to notice the two large trees on each side of the river. The branches came close to each other. Mosskit would have to climb the tree.

            Mosskit dug his claws into the bark. He had never climbed a tree before, but he was going to have to. It took him a few tries, but Mosskit finally reached the first branch.

            He began to climb until he reached the second branch. Then the third. Soon he was at the branch that almost connected to the tree across the river.

            Mosskit carefully walked across the branch. The river below him flowed rapidly. Mosskit gulped and continued walking.

            He neared the edge of the branch. The branch on the other tree was barely three feet away. With all his might, Mosskit jumped, his front paws outstretched. His claws were unsheathed, so that he may hold on to the branch.

            Mosskit's nails dug into the other branch, but his feet hung freely below near the river. Mosskit mewed. "Momma!"

            He knew Skycloud was dead. There was still hope that surged through him. He hoped she was still alive.

            Mosskit knew his mother would not come for him now. He managed to get his back legs onto the branch and he carefully slid down the tree avoiding the river.

            The morning sun had began to rise now. Mosskit was exhausted. He kept running through the forest until he came to a large clearing. It was a beautiful meadow.

            Mosskit knew he could run no further. He was safe from the fire, safe from the foxes, safe from everything. Mosskit found a large log in the meadow. He crawled inside, checking to see if it was occupied. No creature was inside. He yawned and laid down in the log. He then closed his eyes and slept.