Mosskit Book 2: The Journey

Chapter 14

            Snow had covered the ground from the night before. Mosskit groaned when he saw it. He didn't like traveling through the snow at all. It slowed him down. At this rate, they wouldn't be in SnowClan until he was an elder.

            "It snowed!" Snakekit gasped.

            Ginger nodded. "The last snowfall of leaf-bare, I presume," she said. "Eat this rabbit so we can be on our way," she said, pushing a plump rabbit at the two kits.

            Snakekit and Mosskit ate away until only the bones and fur of the rabbit was left. With full bellies, Mosskit was ready to begin the journey home.

            "Are we ready?" Ginger asked.

            Mosskit and Snakekit nodded.

            "Off we go," she said.

            They trudged through the thick snow at a slow pace. They trudged through the meadow, leaving Ginger's den and the kittypet life behind. Mosskit looked at Snakekit who was already shivering.

            "Um, Ginger?" he asked.

            "What is it, Mosskit?"

            Mosskit turned around to see that Snakekit had stopped walking now. She was licking her fur, trying to keep warm.

            "Snakekit's really cold," Mosskit said.

            Ginger groaned. "I'm not sure what to tell you, Snakekit. Mosskit, go stand by her the whole time. You have thicker fur than her. Maybe it will keep her warm."

            Mosskit nodded. Snakekit got up and began to walk again. Mosskit stood right next to her, hopefully warming her up.

            The wind howled, blowing Mosskit's pelt with winter winds. Mosskit shivered a little. He had to stay strong though. Snakekit had a smooth pelt. She needed warmth more than him.

            Soon, they were out of the meadow and into the woods where they had more protection from the cold winds.

            Mosskit looked up to see the large pine trees covered in blankets of snow. The ground was covered in snow, but not as much as the meadow. Wind could still be felt, but only barely.

            "Do you need me to stand next to you anymore?" Mosskit asked Snakekit.

            Snakekit shook her head. "I'm good now. You can go ahead and walk at your own pace now."

            Mosskit moved away from Snakekit and began to walk on his own. Ginger led the way while Mosskit and Snakekit followed behind her. Every few moments, Ginger would look over her shoulder to make sure the two kits were still there.

            The forest was much more silent than it usually was. You couldn't even hear the streams since they had been frozen over. No birds called from the trees. No life moved within it.

            Soon, the clouds had cleared, leaving a bright sun to shine. The sun began to melt the snow, making walking a little bit better.

            Mosskit yawned. "Ginger, can we sleep?" he asked.

            Ginger shook her head. "No! We can't even find a place until sunset. We can rest now if you want."

            "Resting would be good," Mosskit said.

            They found a large rock to sit by. Mosskit yawned, wanting to curl up and sleep. He was already tired and it was only mid-day. His stomach was already beginning to growl.

            "Um, Ginger?" Snakekit asked.

            Ginger looked at her.

            "I'm beginning to get a little hungry," Snakekit said.

            "I'll catch something," Ginger said. "Stay right here. Don't move!"

            Snakekit and Mosskit sat by the rock, barely speaking or even making eye contact.

            "So," Mosskit said at last. "Long journey, huh?"

            "It better not keep snowing," Snakekit groaned.

            "Ginger said it was the last snowfall of leaf-bare. New-leaf will come soon. Everything will be better then," Mosskit said.

            "I hope," Snakekit sighed.

            A rustle came from the bushes. "Ginger?" Mosskit called. He gasped as he saw a large badger coming towards them.

            "BADGER!" Snakekit screeched.

            Mosskit shoved his tail over her mouth, but the badger had already heard and seen them. It came lumbering towards them, holding its claws up.

            "HELP!" Mosskit yowled.

            A sudden flash of blue came and all was silent again. The badger was nowhere in sight. Ginger came padding up with a bird.

            "It was all I could find," she said.

            "But, that badger," Snakekit said.

            "It's gone now," Ginger replied.

            Snakekit and Mosskit ate away at the bird, leaving some leftovers for Ginger. Ginger finished it off and they padded away again.

            The snow was beginning to melt fast now. Some ground was visible. It was much easier to walk now. The two weren't as far behind as they usually were.

            They traveled for hours, occasionally resting or getting water. When the sun began to set, Ginger stopped.

            "We must look for a place to spend the night now," Ginger said. She looked around, but saw nothing.

            "We must go deeper in. Follow me," Ginger said. The kits followed her into a deeper part of the woods until they came upon a burrow.

            Ginger sniffed the burrow, dunking her head in. "The scent is very stale," Ginger said. "No animal has been in here for moons. It's safe."

            The kits followed her into the burrow. It was just big enough to fit all of them. Mosskit curled up on the ground. Snakekit curled up beside him. Mosskit instantaneously fell into a deep sleep.