Alley Cats Runaway

#23 Growls in the Night.

The sun was going down when I lead Scout through the dense forest of the mountain.

Using our whiskers we found our way through the growing darkness.

Finally, the sun went down along with my confidence.

"Where are we?" I heard Scout ask in the looming darkness.

"I think it's this way-" I was cut off by a sudden gasp as one of my forelegs got caught by a root that stuck out from the ground, tripping me to go down the unseen slope.

I tumbled down in a shriek reaching out with my claws for anything to hold onto. Finally, my back bumped into a rock and I stopped thankfully. I peered down to see there was more and I would of fell to my death if it wasn't for the rock to stop me.

"Are you okay?!" Called Scout. He was still at the top of the slope. With the help of the moon, I could outline his small furry shape and his amber eyes looking down at me.

"Don't come down Scout, I'll come up to you." I staggered up to my feet only to stumbled back down. I winced in pain as I lifted up my sore right paw, noticing that I had sprained it.

Great. Just perfect.

I looked around. It was dark but with the help of night vision finally adjusted I could see how the mountainside was hard to travel on, especially at night.

"We should find a place to sleep." I heard Scout meow.

"Good idea," I say. Balancing on three legs I slowly climbed back up to join Scout. With Scout helping me along we continue to trek on. Using our nose we found a small stream beside a massive oak tree and decided to camp.

We came to the water's edge and lapped hungrily. I felt my tired self-become replenished, Scout found a group of mice at the base of the tree and with a little help, killed them with a crunch of his teeth.

We sat underneath the tree and shared the meal.

"This place is overrun with prey," Scout commented as he chewed. I nodded in agreement. Once we finished I heard a sudden growl in the distance. I perked my ears, trying to locate the sound.

It growled again but a lot more pronounced, it echoed in the darkness giving off an eerie feel.

"What was that? Scout whispered beside me.

Then a howl erupted, sending chills down my spine. Dogs. "Go up the tree, now Scout! " I commanded him. Scout didn't have to be told twice. He scrambled up the tree with me right behind him.

As I started to climb the pain in my right paw caught me off guard and I fell onto my belly.

"Nutmeg behind you!" I turned around to see three big dogs, they looked like huskies but no husky I ever knew was that big. Their tan fur ruffled in the small breeze as they stalked closer and closer. Snarling, baring their teeth.

"Scout, whatever happens, to stay in the tree," I growled. I stood before them and whipped my tail as a warning. Then I bared my teeth, flattened my ears and stood like a fence, raising the fur along my spine, in an attempt to look bigger and as a force not to be reckoned with.

Then the massive dogs leaped and attacked. I reared on my hind legs and fought viciously. Scraping them with my claws on their faces, gorging their eyes. Anything I could do to harm them to leave us alone.

Unfortunately, they had the advantage and two of them began to bite at my tail, my ears and my legs. Shaking it. The stench of blood replaced the sweet aroma of the pines and the undergrowth. I felt my body grow weaker and weaker.