Under the tree

Four cats skittered across the forest floor. Their clawless paws making no noise. They disappeared in a hole at the roots of the tree. One black, one gray, one ginger, and the last a ghostly shade of white. They crawled silently down, down, down into the darkness. Suddenly, there was light. The group of renegades edged around the wall hoping not to be seen. No such luck. The leader, a big multi-colored tabby with taut muscles, called out to them. 

“Girls! Good to see you. Did you get the food?”

The ginger stepped forward. In a strong clear voice she said. “No chief. The falcons were out. We only had time to get a bird. Sorry.”

“That is fine. You will go without food for the day.”

The ginger looker down at her stomach. “What now!?!? You can’t do that to us!!! NO!!!!!”

“Um . . . actually, Tiger, he can. As your father and chief, he has double authority.” the gray one commented.

Tiger sighed. “You’re right, Ash. Fine, Dad. I won’t eat and starve myself. Ugh.”

While all this was happening, the white kitty was edging toward the door. 

“Snow!! Tiger’s dad called to her.

“Yes, Chief” she squeaked.

“You will watch the kittens with Raven.”

The two felines glanced at each other. 

“Draco!!!”

Ash writhed on the floor. Acting like she was dieing. Luckily no one saw.

A puke colored cat stepped forward.

“What?”

“Please escort the girls to the hollow.”

The three cats trotted toward the far corner and down several ramps. Finally they emerged in a sun dappled room. Kittens were sprawled all over the place and the mother cats were panting like they had just run a mile. One was white, like Snow, the other, a dirt brown. 

“Thank goodness! You’re here! Come on, Milk, let’s go.” the brown one said.

The two older cats rushed from the room. 

“I’ll go get the milk.”Snow volunteered.

She left Raven all alone with Draco.

“So . . . are you free this weekend?” Draco asked nonchalantly. 

Raven edged away from him.

“Sorry. but no. I’ve got to watch the kittens now, so, bye.” Raven darted behind a gnarled root, out of sight.

Draco was about to pursue her when Snow came back, dragging milk filled bark buckets behind her.

“Hi, Draco. Have you seen Raven?” she asked.

“She’s behind the root.”Draco replied as he stiffly walked out.

Snow found Raven huddled in the shadows, hyperventilating. 

“He just . . . asked m-m-me out!” 

“Calm down, girl. As long as you said no, you’re fine. Now let’s get to work.”

The cats tended to the kittens for several long hours. Then, close to midnight, the guard cat came in. He was the color of rust and smelled just as toxic. 

“I got it from here, ladies.” he said. 

As they walked past, Snow’s eyes followed him as he walked back and forth across the doorway.

“You like Rusty,” Raven commented, referring to the rust colored cat behind them.

“What? Do not,” Snow replied, unconvincingly. 

Raven just smiled. 

The felines finally arrived at the open room where they had first been. From there, they snaked down several hallways until they came to a door. Inside, there were several female cats, settling down for the night. Ash and Tiger walked over.

“About time you guys got here. Come on, we saved you some spots.”

The four walked over to a corner where Tiger and Ash had set up leaves and grass to make a comfortable bedding. The cats all lay down and listened to the pitter-patter of the rain. Raven was just closing her eyes when she heard an awful shriek. Then a sickening thud and several moans. 

Someone cried out “The kittens!! Someone’s taken the kittens!!!” 

The four felines looked at each other. Then, with an certainty that none of them understood, they charged toward the door and to the nursery. There was utter chaos in the room. The four weaved through the crowd back to the last bed. Raven gasped.

“They’ve, they’ve taken St-Star!”