Rise of Our Clans: Book 1: Parting Gift

1

  A white hare was absentmindedly chewing on the sparse mountain grass. It shoved the snow away with its paws, uncovering the green shoots. It is expected nothing when a cat erupted from the mountainous landscape like a rock come to life, delivering a killing bite to the throat.
  "Brilliant catch, Yellow Flower!" Valley River complimented as the young she-cat dragged the snow hare to the gray hunter. "Why thank you." The young hunter lifted her head proudly.
  Yellow Flower and her littermate Sharp Needle were still learning to hunt. Today Yellow Flower and Valley River were out hunting with Mossy Oak, Dappled Fur, Tangle Tooth, and Sharp Needle. Valley River breather in the cold clear wind, and felt as though it could lift her off her paws.
  Her paws were numb to the cold as she and Yellow Flower went to show the hare to the others Valley River guessed it would feed about four cats, if it was as fat as it looked. Chances were though, that its ice weather coat just made it looked plumper, and it would only feed three cats.
  The shadow of an eagle soared over head, making Valley River bristle. Tribe cats all rolled in mud to keep warm and camouflage themselves, so it wouldn't see Yellow Flower's bright golden pelt or Valley River's light gray one, but it might still see the hare's black ear tips and the stain of scarlet blood on its white pelt against the snow.
  "Come on, let's go take this back for the tribe." Valley River instructed nervously. Dappled Fur melted out of the ground seemingly. "That's a big hare, who caught it?" The tortoiseshell sniffed the catch and looked up at the circling eagle. Valley River worried it would attract more birds.
  "Yellow Flower did, now let's go." Valley River grabbed the hare and went to hide somewhere the eagle wouldn't see. Yellow Flower let out a grunt of discontent as she followed Valley River and Dappled Fur
  The three hid under an overhanging rock where more eagles wouldn't see them. Valley River watched the shadow of the large bird, and a second, then a third shadow joined it. A chill swept over her body, three birds for three cats.
  The three cats waited with baited breath for the birds to pass, Yellow Flower held onto her catch tightly. The sky darkened briefly as clouds covered the sun, Valley River hoped it wouldn't snow. But the clouds passed quickly, and when the shadow of the clouds were gone, so were the shadows of the birds.
  Dappled Fur stepped out into the clearing. "The coast is clear. I'll bring you to the others, you shouldn't have gone off by yourselves." She meowed curtly. "Sorry. It won't happen again." Valley River promised. She went off with Yellow Flower because she believed the gold she-cat would learn best in one on one training.
  "Yeah, sorry." Yellow Flower agreed. "Come on, bring the hare." Dappled Fur climbed over the rocks, her agile form moving swiftly through the rough terrain.
  The other two followed, and Valley River saw Mossy Oak, Tangle Tooth, and Sharp Needle taking down an a hawk, piled onto the russet bird. Her heart sped up when she saw Mossy Oak's large and muscular form delivering the killing bite. His brown and cream fur was barely visible underneath the mud caked into his pelt, but Valley River found him attractive nonetheless.
  Everyone expected Valley River and Mossy Oak to be mates ever since they were kits. They near always got along, and they hung out a lot. When the hawk stopped moving. Mossy Oak panted, and then looked up, his green eyes glowing with affection. "Valley River!" He turned to face the gray tabby. "Hey Mossy Oak." Valley River's face grew hot and her voice grew quiet in the presence of her mate.
  "Whoah, that's a nice rabbit, did you catch it?" Mossy Oak purred at Valley River. "It's a hare and I caught it!" Yellow Flower swished her tail. Mossy Oak's eyes hardened as his eyes flitted over to Yellow Flower. Well, it's her fault for interrupting. Valley River told herself.
  "Yes, a hare, that's what I meant." Mossy Oak dipped his head and turned back to Valley River, his eyes softened again. "Can we go back to the cave now? My paws are sore!" Sharp Needle complained. Him and Yellow Flower were still young, and their pads still soft. They weren't used to leaving the cave for long periods of time.
  "Alright, soft paws." Tangle Tooth had a feather stuck between one of his large fangs and his lip. Dappled Fur motioned her paw at her lip to alert the black and white tom of the situation. Tangle Tooth pawed the feather away with a grunt of thanks. Then the black and white tom began to lead the way back to camp.
  Valley River helped Yellow Flower carry her hare. "When we get back, you should go share this with the elders, they'll really appreciate it." The silver she-cat told Yellow Flower. "Really, you think so?"
  Yellow Flower cared about being popular, the young cat would always say that she wanted to be the next healer. It was a bold goal, but it was certainly possible.   Approaching a clump of vines and bushes covering a hollow, Valley River opened her mouth, breathing in the strong smell of the mountains. Dappled Fur was the first to plunge through the thicket, disappearing through a small gap in the foliage.
  Valley River and others followed Dappled Fur, the bushes thinned out and the hollow widened into a large cave. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the roof, and cats lay in shallow dips in the earth filled with moss and feathers. They groomed each other's pelts, sharing tongues. A few looked over at the patrol returning, laden with freshkill.
  A tumble of rocks led up to a rock ledge, where a secondary cave stretched back into the shadows. For a moment, Valley River thought she saw purple eyes glowing from the cave, but after a moment it seemed she was mistaken. Starseer must be inside.
  Valley River's father, Snow Fall, approached. "I see you hunted well." The gray and white tom purred. "I know, I'm glad it's starting to get warmer out." Valley River touched her nose to her father's cheek, and he returned the favor.
  "Come on Sharp Needle, let's go share this with Dark Night, Scarlet Sun, and Burning Scratch!" Yellow Flower dragged the hare across the cave where the three elders were laying. "Is that for us?" Dark Night lifted his head.
  The black tom was young for an elder, he retired early because of the time he got caught in a rock slide, and a rock crushed his legs. Luckily his internal organs were left intact, only his legs and tail were crushed.
  "Yup!" Yellow Flower lay the hare down. "It smells delicious, did you catch this?" Burning Scratch licked his lips. "I smell prey." Scarlet Sun lifted her head. She was totally blind and half deaf, but her sense of smell was sharp as ever.
  "Valley River, want to come with me, Dawn Star's kits are old enough for prey now." Snow Fall mewed. "Of course!" Valley River smiled. Dawn Star and Snow Fall had a new litter about a moon ago, and Valley River found them absolutely delightful.
  Snow Fall took the mouse they caught and took it to where Dawn Star was talking with Valley River's littermate, White River. Valley River was taller than both her parents and her littermate, but White River and Dawn Star were not small cats. Valley River was also skinnier than her other family members.
  "Snow Fall!" Frail Feather jumped up. Like her mother, Frail Feather had mottled fur, but Frail Feather was brown and cream, while Dawn Star was cream and gray. Several cats had described Dawn Star's pelt as a "misty sunrise."
  Frail Feather was the smallest of her litter, the larger two were her brothers, Frozen Claw and Minnow Pelt. Snow Fall purred loudly, but his mouth was full so he couldn't speak. Frozen Claw and Minnow Pelt joined their sister. "Hi! Is that for us? Dawn Star said we're old enough to start eating prey." Frail Feather looked up at the mouse.
  "It's all furry, how are we supposed to eat it?" Minnow Pelt asked. "What about taking the fur off?" Frozen Claw rolled his eyes. Snow Fall dropped the gray creature. "Yes it's for you three, let me show you how to strip the meat." Snow Fall began ripping the fur fr the mouse, and Valley River realized White River was next to her.
  Her sister had thick and long white fur with gray stripes. Her eyes were a clear blue like a swollen stream after the thaw. Many toms padded after White River, but she rejected them all. "Remember when we first tried prey?" Valley River asked softly. "Yeah, you gagged at the sight of blood!" White River teased, cuffing Valley River roughly over the ear.
  Valley River giggled and batted back. They two stopped play fighting and looked back to the kits who were trying mouse for the first time. Frail Feather was eating excitedly, Frost Claw was taking tiny little bites, he tried to look disgusted, but a purr was rising in his throat. Minnow Pelt seemed unsure, he tentatively nibbled at the mouse and jumped back.
  "It tastes weird, it doesn't taste like milk." Minnow Pelt complained. "Of course it doesn't taste like milk, it tastes like mouse!" Dawn Star smiled at her kits. Even if the outside of the cave was harsh, the inside was warm, and cozy, and full of little miracles like a kit tasting prey for the first time. That made living in the tribe worth it to Valley River, and she knew in her heart all her tribemates agreed.