The Shadows - A Cat Story ✔

Chapter 11

[Author's note: If you notice any errors in my writing, find something confusing, or have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know! Thanks for reading!]

Stream opened her eyes to find that outside her den was covered in snow. The breeze sent shivers down her spine. She pulled herself up and padded outside, the snow cooling her paws. She started to stretch.

"Moon!" A piercing yowl split through the air. Zinnia came barreling out of the den she was sleeping in.

"What's wrong?" Ash was quick to come from Night's old den.

"Moon- she's gone, she's not in her nest. And it is cold, her nest is cold, she hasn't been there all night!" Zinnia cried.

"Shhh... You'll wake the others. I will take Stream with me and we will find her," Ash soothed the she-cat.

"Thank you, Ash," The mother turned to go and comfort her other kittens.

"Let's go," Ash led Stream out of the camp.

"There are no paw prints, none," Stream noticed.

They were walking towards the edge, where the rumblerock sat nearby. It would be awfully quiet there in this chilly weather.

"I can't believe the snow came so soon," The white she-cat stated as they neared a pause between the trees.

"Look!" Ash commented.

Stream could see little footprints but they didn't go in any direction. They were just in that one spot. She sniffed them, picking up Moon's scent mixed with another.

"The smoke," She whispered.

Ash sniffed a little ways until Stream saw that he saw some more footprints, and then drag marks towards a rock that seemed to be covering something.

"She must be in there- with the smoke. I can smell it. I will distract it, you go in and get Moon," Ash ordered. Stream went to the other side of the rock, waiting for it to move. She watched Ash step on a dead leaf. It made a crunching noise.

The rock moved. A long-haired black tom exited. Seeing Ash, he quickly shifted into the black smoke.

"I know who you are already, no need to hide behind that smoke," Ash sighed.

Stream snuck into the cave. She saw a fire crackling ahead, and in the corner of the room was a small white object. Stream darted towards it, picking up the small body. She couldn't tell if it was alive or dead, but she got out of the cave quickly. The long-haired tom was no longer in his smoke form, but when he saw Stream he tried to change.

Ash jumped on the tom, digging his claws in to keep the cat in enough pain so he couldn't shift.

Stream ran for the camp, and soon Ash was at her heels, following. Soon they reached it, and Stream followed Ash directly into the healer's den.

"Stone! Help!" Ash shouted. Stone came around the corner and Stream set the kitten down.

Stone examined Moon. "It seems she ate something rotten," Stone sniffed her. "Rotten fish. Rotten fish will put a cat to sleep very quickly. She will be awake soon, but I will give her some herbs that will cause her to vomit when she wakes. If the rotten fish is digested fully, she could get very sick- incurably sick."

"Oh! Well thanks for helping, Stone. I must inform Zinnia that I have found her kitten," Ash looked relieved as he left the den.

"You can go too. When she wakes, company will not affect her very greatly," Stone murmured, nodding at Stream to leave.