The Three

Chapter 7

As I walked through the forest I found a puddle. I slipped my paw in flinching at the cold but the water wasn't as cold as my heart. I put all four paws in to get used to it. Once I got used to it I rolled around in the muddy water. I kept on walking it was getting cold I knew I had to find a shelter soon. I looked around for a hole in the trunk of a tree or a big gap in a bush. I stopped and widened my eyes there was something in the bushes watching me. Dark orange eyes were staring, I fluffed out my pelt and snarled.

" who are you!"

The figure came out of the bushes, A sleek red pelt with two white paws came into view.

" I should be asking the same question! You're on my territory!" She snarled

I fluffed up my pelt even more and showed my claws to scare her off but she stayed rooted to her spot. She unsheathed her claws about to pounce, I got ready to pounce. We both hit each other in a clash of claws and biting. I dug my claws into her shoulder and bit down hard, with a yowl of rage she bit my ear ripping the skin. I let go because of the pain and she went under me and clawed my belly. Piercing pain came in a strike, I was filled with rage! I grabbed her hind leg before she could leave which made her stuck. I put my other paw on her chest I was about to bite down on her neck when I heard,

"Mommy what is he doing to you" fear in the kits voice struck me

I let go in an instant and backed and bowed my head with shame because I was about to kill a mother!

" Understand now why your so protective, I will go" I mewed

I started backing away,

" wait you can stay with me and my kits tonight" she called

" why so"

" because I want to know more about you. Why you didn't kill me off when you saw I had kits."

I walked forward,

" I don't want to hurt a mother that has kits it is cruel for them to have to grow up that way. All alone..."

She padded closer and licked my bloody ear

" what's your name?"

" Pepper, what's yours?"

" my name is Dawn"

" well you sure do fight well" I giggled

She looked into my eyes and turned around into her den,

"well it looks like you've never fought before, coming or are you just gonna stay out in the cold all night?"

surprised that she knew that was my first time fighting, I followed her into the cozy den, two kits came into view.

" Hi!, I'm Apple and this is my brother Wheat!" She chided

Apple had tan and red patches all over her pelt and bright orange eyes, while Wheat had a golden dappled pelt with blue eyes. Wheat tried getting closer but Apple kept on getting in the way. They both looked eager to see another cat,

" hello my name is Pepper" amusement filled is mew.

" alright kits get in bed I'm sure Pepper will be here tomorrow" She gently pushed them into their nest and curling up leaving just enough space for me to slip in. I yawned,

" thank you, Dawn for letting me stay here"

" your welcome"

I closed my eyes and started drifting into sleep.