Mosskit Book 2: The Journey

Chapter 2

            When Mosskit awoke, he assumed it was near the afternoon. The sun was shining brightly over the meadow he had been sleeping in, and no creature stirred.

            Mosskit's muscles were tense from all of the climbing and running through the forest from the previous night. He padded out of the log and stretched. His muscles ached badly, but stretching seemed to help some.

            His pure white pelt was coated in dirt and leaves. He decided to find a stream to wash the dirt off.

            Mosskit's stomach growled, and he realized how hungry he was. He had no idea how to find food. He had never learned how to hunt. His only chance would be to find leftovers from another cat's meal, if there were any cats around here.

            Within taking a few steps, Mosskit sensed another cat in his presence. "Hello?" he asked.

            An orange she-cat wandered out of some bushes and Mosskit quickly ran back into the log. "Please don't hurt me!" he yowled.

            But as the she-cat came forward, he noticed she was a much older she-cat, and she gave Mosskit a warm smile.

            "I won't hurt you," she said. "Please, come out of there."

            Mosskit wasn't sure if he could trust the she-cat or not, but he hated the thought of being alone, so he nervously edged out of the log trying not to make eye contact.

            "What's a kit like you doing out alone in the woods?" she asked.

            Mosskit looked down, trying to avoid tears. "My momma died in a forest fire."

            "The big fire many miles away from here?!"

            Mosskit nodded sadly.

            "I could see the smoke rising up from the trees," the she-cat said. "You poor kit. You've lost your mother at a fairly young age."

            Mosskit sat down now and the she-cat edged towards him. Mosskit flinched, thinking she was going to kill him, but she she-cat rubbed her pelt against his reminding him of Skycloud, and how she would always do this to him.

            "What's your name?" the old she-cat asked.

            "Mosskit," he said, barely audible.

            The she-cat may have been old, but she wasn't hard of hearing. "Hi, Mosskit. My name is Ginger. I'm a rogue here. No other cats live in this forest besides me. Come on, I'll take you to my den. Are you hungry?"

            Mosskit nodded. He followed Ginger through the meadow. Once some trees came into view, he spotted the den. It was near the edge of the meadow. Ginger walked in while Mosskit stayed outside.

            "Come in," Ginger said.

            Mosskit padded inside the den to see it full of herbs, prey, and moss filled with water. "Wow!" Mosskit said.

            Ginger left a dead squirrel at his feet. Mosskit had never tried meat before, but his growling belly reminded him of his hunger, so he took a bite.

            After the first bite, Mosskit continued eating the delicious squirrel until it was nearly gone. Full, Mosskit sat up against the den.

            "My my, your pelt is all dirty," Ginger said. "Where have you been?"

            "Momma told me to run, so I ran throughout the forest. I ran all night until the sun began to rise."

            "Let's get you to the nearby stream," Ginger said. Once again, he followed the she-cat until they came upon a shallow stream nearby.

            Mosskit touched the water with his tail and flinched. It was mighty cold, just like the stream he had crossed the previous night. He walked in the stream, ignoring the coldness spreading throughout his body. Once all of his body was wet and the dirt had left his pelt, he padded out of the stream and shook his pelt.

            "Your pelt looks so much cleaner!" Ginger exclaimed.

            Mosskit followed her back into the meadow to let his pelt dry. He layed down next to the old she-cat and smiled. He didn't have to worry about himself anymore because this she-cat would take care of him now.

            "So you are a clan cat, I presume," Ginger said.

            "I guess so," Mosskit said. "This rogue captured Momma and me, but then he let us go, so we returned to SnowClan, but Momma didn't want to leave the rogue because she fell for him, so we headed back, and then the fire came."

            "You are a SnowClan cat? I have heard of the clans miles away, but I did not know their names."

            "Yes, there's SnowClan, CloudClan, and FoxClan. Once there was an evil clan named MoonClan, but SnowClan and FoxClan drove them away!" he exclaimed. "Are you a clan cat?"

            Ginger shook her head. "Oh no, I was born a rogue and I've always been a rogue. I once thought of joining the clans, but I didn't think they would accept me."

            "Oh," Mosskit said. His pelt had nearly dried and the sun had begun to set on the horizon.

            "Why don't you sleep?" Ginger said. "I assume you're sore from all that running."

            Mosskit nodded and followed Ginger into her den. Ginger laid down some fresh moss for him, and Mosskit slept peacefully with the she-cat at his side. It was as if his mother was with him now.