Stars Without Borders

16

The chill in the air had not left since earlier and Softpaw began to wonder how long the cold season was going to last. She had seen it from outside her home, but she had never experienced it before. She would have to ask Leafpool if she could help look for herbs before the cold killed off the plants and she would have to hunt extra hard to find food for her clan. Fish still stayed during the cold season didn't they? Softpaw shivered. The thought of swimming alone was enough to make almost any cat uneasy, but swimming in the cold was something else entirely. Softpaw was aware of Jaypaw's presence the entire time as she wandered, but she couldn't be bothered to stop herself from walking away. Suddenly out of nowhere streaks of gray and white filled her vision and she was taken to the ground. The familiar smell of her first friend filled her senses and the she-cat batted her paws at Mousepaw's ears playfully.

"Get off you overgrown furball!"

"Sorry sorry!" His ears went flat as he stepped away from her and she scrambled up shaking the dirt and small bits of leaves from her fur.

"Careful next time, huh?" Softpaw purred in amusement as her friend's tail lashed about in embarrassment the golden ring around her blue irises flashing.

"I will!" Shaking himself off he sniffed the air and his shoulders dropped in disappointment.

"Looking for something?"

"Only more prey. Thought I smelled something, but guess I found you instead." Softpaw nodded and started walking down the small slope at her feet as the sun stretched through the trees as if trying to warm her pelt.

"Well I'm glad I don't go to the fresh kill pile." She purred and he snorted.

"You wouldn't even make a decent meal for the kits!"

"Hey! I'm not that small!" She cuffed his ear playfully and he ducked away nearly escaping it. This is exactly what Softpaw needed. Something to get her mind off of Jaypaw and his problems.

"Says the one who got pinned down."

"You caught me off guard!" Softpaw rolled her eyes and sped up leaping over tree roots and the occasional rocks until she was at her normal spot. The wind buffeted her face, but she didn't mind as the sun battled the cold to reach her.

"You seem at home here." Mousepaw seemed uneasy stepping out of the shelter from the trees as Softpaw sat content, her tail wrapped around her paws neatly.

"This place is special to me." She spoke softly and the gray and white tom didn't question her as he shivered against the wind. Wordlessly she moved closer to him trying to share her warmth as she gazed out onto the moor. She could feel Jaypaw's lingering stare as she scanned the open area ahead. The wind grr harsher cause Mousepaw to jerk and Softpaw motioned for him to come back with her to the safety of the trees hopping that would make him feel more comfortable.

"Let's see who can catch the most prey!" She meowed before quickly dashing off leaving the tom to follow after her. Once again, her heart felt light.