Alley Cats Runaway

#16 Icy Claws

It was the time when the leaves began to fall, scattered by the cold winds of autumn; when hunger came attacked cats.
He was a skinny one, his coat hung loosely on his bony frame. His stomach was empty, always growling for more. His claws were long and sharp, his tail was crooked, and his eyes were big and wild, always in search for food.

It was look I saw on everyone around me.
Every one at the shelter was loosing whatever fat they had before.
They were growing restless and snappy by the day.
Hunger has striked again.

"What are we going to do about this?
We have rationed our food supply as long as we can but it's getting worse. "
Said Sasha. We were at another meeting, one that was garenteed to end up the same. Unsolved.
"Perhaps we should start reducing the mothers share?" A cat named Scar suggested.
Catnip scowled. "No. We must be able to feed our kits! Our future depends on it."
"What if we don't have a future? Sooner or later there will be cats dying. Nothing you can stop from happening. " He argued.
I sat in my place sighing as they continued to arguing.
"They eat to much!"
"Do you want kits to die?"
"Perhaps another idea should be presented." I suggested. Scar turned to me, curling his lip in the beginning of a snarl.
"And what idea is that? Running away?" He spat. I scowled.
"It doesn't have to be. Just a place to stay until winter passes. We don't want any cat dying here. Do we?" I say.

"Of course not. Just it isn't the way to go. I don't want Frost thinking we're weak."

I snorted and rose to my feet.
" You can worry about being weak in the sight of Frost, I'll worry about food. This meeting is adjourned." I ordered.
I left the rear room into the main one only to be startled by a weezing cough.
Beside me was a grey long hair cat by the name of Smokey.
"Did you come to a solution Nutmeg?" He asked.
I shook my head.
" No unfortunately not."
Smokey sighed and began coughing uncontrollably.
"Well tell me when you do. "
He coughed.
"Do you need some water?" I offered.
He was coughing so much that he couldn't talk but only nod. I went to the rain pail and pushed the pail of rain water towards to sick cat who lapped it up .
"Thank you." He sighed.
I went over to the food basket to see there was only a scrawny mouse left.
"I'll go and get some more food." I decided.
Smokey stopped me.
"Forget about me, I'm gonna die anyway. "
"Nonsense. I'll be back and
I gave Smokey the mouse to eat in the meantime while I left to get more food.

The wind was howling, freezing with cold as I walked outside.
The cars on the street were huddled in long lines, trying to warm themselves up.

I raced over to the park next door, my ears were up and my scent glands were alert, in search for any live prey.
After long moments of nothing, I noticed movement in the remains of the tall grass. Excited I slid into a hunters crouch, my thick tail still and my paws tucked underneath me. I crawled forward . Once I was close enough so leapt into the air and pinned down my prey only to be flipped over and pinned onto my back. I stared up to see big blue eyes. I groaned.
"Hello Jay."
The silver grey tabby released me as he sat up on his haunches.
" Hi Nut, trying to hunt so presume?"
"Yes but there is absolutely nothing here."
I complained.
"There has to be at least something. " He thought positively. I shook my head.
"There's nothing. " I muttered.
I felt his tail rest on my shoulder.
"Maybe they're somewhere else in the city." He suggested.
"But where?" I asked.
" We will just have to look every where." He said. And that's what we did.
We searched every inch of the city. We went to the East to the West. South to the North. We found a few mice and squirrels but a lot of them were poisoned. The ones that were fit to be eaten we took them home. But we were too late.

By our feet was Smokey. The grey long hair cat lay limp on his side, his eyes were closed and his haunches didn't move.
"He's dead." Jay said. Stating the obvious.
My heart cracked.
My tail and ears drooped as I stared at him.
It's all my fault.
"Nutmeg before you start thinking-"
"Too late. " I cut him off, knowing already what he is going to say.
" It is not your fault Nut, I refuse to think it is. It's the reality of living in the alleys. When winter comes l, less foos is available then death comes." He reminds me .
My green eyes darken.
"But as leader of the alleys-"
"You couldn't possibly avoid it." He cut me off.
Eyes blurry with tears and my heart hard as rock, I left. Refusing to believe it.
I can avoid more death. And I know how.