Sunset's Rage

Prologue

Rain poured down the hill, forming a small pond before washing away. Wind battered against the ground, a crackle of thunder rattling the sky and shaking the trees from there roots. The tiny stream, once calm and still, was now overflowing with water. The screeches of cats trying to get away got louder as the dangerous weather continued its wrath. 

A loud patter of paw steps echoed through the den. Alone in the dark cave, sat a white tom. A bluish grey she-cat entered the cave, her fur wet from the heavy rain.

" Where are the kits?" The white tom asked, not even turning his head to greet the she-cat.

" Back in the rockslide." The she-cat meowed, her voice stern. The rockslide was where the kits slept. The tribe had found it after a number of rocks had fallen. It was perfect. They could make dens and fit leaves over the rocks for shelter. Not to mention the kits could play around on them.

" I told you to bring them here. It's not safe for them in this storm, can't you see how angry the wind is?!" He meowed, his voice starting calm and then turning into a hiss. The grey she-cat was about to reply, but a flash of thunder roared and she heard the sound of cats running into the cave.

" Hail! A fire has surrounded our grounds!" One of them wailed. Hail let out a sigh. Why were they being punished? They had always respected their ancestors, and they chose to repay them with destruction?

" Tell everyone to come in here. They will be safe in the spirit cave." Hail instructed. The two cats nodded and rushed out of the den immediately. He sharply turned his gaze to the silky she-cat, who looked as if she was about to settle down. " And you. Go get your kits." He meowed. 

" But I could die! You heard what they said, theres a fire. I want to stay alive thank you very much." She spat. Hail felt  hairs rising on his pelt. 

" I am your leader! If you do not do as I say then I will leave you out there to die!" He snarled. The she-cat gave him a startled glance. She let out a hiss and stormed out of the cave.

I can't believe he thinks he owns me! I'll get those stupid kits I guess...

The she-cat braced herself against wind and rain, jumping when she heard the cracking sound of thunder. She could already smell a strong scent of fire. She kept running, her lungs gasping for air. She finally made it to the rockslide. It would be hard and slippy to get down, was it worth it? She could slip and brake her leg, the fire could burn her alive if it got this far.

" Mist! Over here! Help us!" Tiny yowls sounded from a rock near the bottom. Mist gulped. Are they really worth it? They're not even a moon old, I could lie and say they died when I got there. She was about to go, but when she turned she noticed a familiar tom.

"Bark! Please help! My kits are down there!" Mist begged, hoping her mate would grab them for her.

" I'll do what I can." He grunted and leapt onto the first rock. Mist watched as he jumped from one rock to another, but she spun around when she heard a crash!

She let out a yowl as a branch, which was scorching with fire, fell so close to her she could nearly feel it. I guess I have no over choice now! She thought. Quickly, she leapt onto the same rock Bark had, she took the exact path that he had chosen.

When she reached the bottom, she saw Bark lifting up one of the tiny kits in his jaws. Mist quickly picked up the other one, feeling hatred form in her heart as she realised this was her daughter. I've never liked her, ever since I found out she was blind. She will always be useless. 

" Come on, we need to get out of here before the fire blocks the spirit cave!" Bark hurridly meowed as he ran, her kit in his jaws. Mist quickly followed, not bothering to check if her kit was okay with the pace. Her kit would never repay her for this. She would never hunt or fight for the tribe.  

As they raced along the terrain rain flew into her face, she wasn't concentrating and didn't realise that Bark had stopped. 

" Why did we stop? We need to get to the cave now!" Mist urgently meowed. She knew this place. They were so close to the cave, why were they wasting time?! Then she realised why Bark had stopped. The path that led to the cave had been destroyed. Only a thin log lay where it had been. Mist gulped. " How are we going to cross this?!" She gasped.

" We won't." Bark sadly meowed. " But our kits will. If we carry them across, it will snap. Maybe one of us could go... but it would mean leaving one and the kits behind." He darkly meowed. Mist felt her heart beat quicker. If they let the kits go, they would probably die. I'm not willing to trade my life for my kits! But if I go Bark can't come too!  I'll have to get rid of him somehow...

" Maybe we could swim..." She suggested as she looked into the deep water that surrounded them.

" Are you feather brained?! We would drown for sure!" Bark hissed. Mist flattened her ears. He would trade his life for their kits. She would have to get rid of him too. 

"No look! I'll show you..." She meowed and picked up her blind kit. She walked closer to the edge, her kit dangling in the air.

" Mist! I'm scared... I don't wanna go alone!" The kit whimpered. Mist ignored the blind she-kit as she took a step closer to the edge.

" Mist, no! You're going to kill her!" Bark yowled. Mist ignored him. Without hesitating, she flung her kit into the water. The tiny kit let out a squeal, which was broken by a splash. " How could you?!" Bark yowled. " I can't believe I mated with you!" The other kit let out a frightened squeal, traumatized after watching his sister fall into the lake. Without wasting another heartbeat, Bark grabbed the tom and ran to the thin branch.

" Go and walk across it. I'll be right behind you! Take your time, and please try not to fall." Bark whispered into the kits ear. The kit gave a frightened nod and started to walk across the thin branch. Bark turned around in outrage and faced his mate, his lips drawn back into a snarl.

" You better go now. Or I'll kill you." He hissed at Mist. She flashed a surprised glance at him and she turned. He watched as she walked off. 

Mist waited until Bark had turned around. Without hesitating, she let out a yowl and charged into Bark, she swiped her claws into his shoulders as he yowled in surprise. He spun around and bit hard into her shoulder, causing her to lose her grip on him. He slashed his claws into her eyes before she could shut them, and she yowled in pain.

" I can't see! Help! Help me!" She yowled. She felt Bark shove her to the ground, and she let out a pathetic yowl. Is this how my kit felt?

" Now you're blind. You should have left when I said so. I don't fancy going to my son with blood in my claws, so I'll leave you to die instead." He blankly meowed and she heard him walk off. Mist could only feel pain. If she was going to die, it would not be like this. She got up to her paws and estimated where Bark was. She let out one last yowl and charged into him. He let out a startled yowl as they started to fall.

Mist felt her body fall through the air and she landed with a thud! Darkness engulfed her and she let out her final breath as she went limp.

Mist opened up her eyes, surprised that she could see. Could it have all been a dream? No, I'm definitely dead, the pain was real.

" Welcome to Hollow's Shelter Mist. I hope you enjoy your stay." A voice whispered. At this point, Mist didn't care. She didn't care she was dead. She didn't care she had killed her mate and kit. Even if all she saw was dark trees, she didn't care. But she would make others suffer. After all, she had found herself to be good at it.