"Prince Fog? Are you in there?"

   The gray tom lifted his head from the mouse he had been eating, blood dripping from his chin. He quickly licked it up and called to the cat on the other side of the Twoleg box. "Yes, you may enter."

   A heartbeat later, a bulky white tom pushed through the entrance to his room, a lithe tortoiseshell at his side. "Your highness," the white tom dipped his head. "I bring a gift from the king."

   "A gift?" The prince's eyes lit with curiosity. However, his eyes widened as the white tom thrust the tortoiseshell forward forcefully. She stumbled, only a tail-length away from him now.

   "We caught this fool stumbling around in the forest," the white tom meowed, his voice devoid of emotion. "King Venom said you can name her."

   Prince Fog studied the she-cat. She looked to be no older than him, only about seven or eight moons. Suddenly, she raised her head, and their eyes met. The gray tom almost stumbled backward when he saw the raw grief and fear in her bright green eyes.

   The tom shuffled his paws. "Er, hello. I'm Prince Fog."

   "H-hello," the molly stuttered. She dropped her gaze and stared back at her paws.

   "You must be scared."

   "W-what?" The tortoiseshell suddenly lifted her gaze to his again. She blinked cautiously. "Yes, I-I am. I was on my territory gathering herbs, and all of a sudden..."

   She trailed off, but Fog could guess how the rest of the story went. "You don't seem to be injured," he noted, grateful that his cats hadn't harmed the innocent molly. "Tell me, what's your name?"

   "F-fawnpaw."

   A strange name, he thought, but shook it away quickly. "How about I call you Fawn, then?"

   Her eyes flashed with emotion, but she blinked it away and smiled. "Sure. Th-thank you. I didn't think any cat in this stinking Twolegplace could be nice," her eyes suddenly widened. "S-sorry, I-I didn't mean it like
that—"

   "It's quite alright," the royal interrupted, his whiskers twitching. But suddenly, his expression became more serious. "But be careful, you can't say things like that in front of the others. She-cats are not allowed to speak freely here." Fawn nodded, her face solemn as well. The prince shook out his fur and smiled. "Would you like me to show you around?"

『••✎••』

   Prince Fog was woken by yowls and hisses from outside his den. Is someone attacking? He leaped to his paws and gazed around wildly. "Fawn, did you hear that? Fawn?" He narrowed his eyes to adjust them to the dim lighting, then gasped. Oh no...

   "You mange-pelt!"

   "I-I'm sorry! I don't want any trouble! H-here, you can have it."

   His heart leaped into his throat. "What is going on here?"

   Fawn and the large tom she had been facing off with whipped their heads around. The molly looked relieved, while the dark brown tabby curled his lip.

   "That she-cat stole my mouse! Can you believe it? A she-cat, daring to defy a tom?" The tom chuckled coldly, his amber gaze dark.

   "Calm down, Tick," Fog growled. "Keep you fur on. She wasn't born here. Sometimes she forgets the rules."

   "Maybe she'll remember if she's taught a lesson!" Tick roared back. His thorn-sharp claws were sunk into the dirt. "I'll flay her!"

   The prince took a threatening step forward so that he was standing next to Fawn. "You won't lay a claw on her."

   Tick smirked, eyeing the younger tom. "You think you can beat me? You're hardly more than an overgrown kit!" Fog growled, and that only seemed to fuel the tabby's bloodthirst. "I'll shred you, then her, if that's what you wish."

   "Choose wisely," Prince Fog hissed. "If we fight, you will be banished from Twolegplace forever, or tried and put to death. Would you rather step down or be thrown to the dogs?"

   The tom's eyes flashed briefly with uncertainty. He cast a glance over at the mothers' den, where his first litter of kits slept soundly. But after a heartbeat, he puffed out his chest and met the prince's glare defiantly. "I'd rather fight."

   "Very well. Rules—" the gray tom broke off with a yowl as Tick sunk his fang into his flank. Fog shifted and managed to tear his leg free, his eyes blazing. Oh, it's on now.

   With a roar, Prince Fog sprang at his opponent. The gray tom stared at Tick through slitted eyes as he ducked under his belly and twisted to rake it with his claws. He was too slow, however, and the larger tabby tom crushed him under his weight. Fog coughed and spluttered as he founder for breath, while the older tom shredding his hindquarters.

   You can't lose! Your kingdom needs you! Fawn needs you! She told you she's a medicine cat who doesn't know how to fight! With a massive heave, the prince threw his attacker off. Before Tick could regain his footing, Fog leaped skillfully over his head and landed gracefully on the other side of him. Quickly, before Tick could whip around, he dove forward and felt his teeth sink into the soft flesh of the tabby's throat.

   "Do you surrender?" He growled, the other tom's throat in his jaws and both of his forepaws on his chest.

   Tick met his glare with furious amber flames for a heartbeat before glancing away. "I do."

   "Then you're going to the dogs."

   His eyes suddenly widened fearfully. "No, Prince Fog, please! You can't! M-my kits—"

   "You didn't seem to care when you threatened my kits." A few cats gasped, and Fog shot a guilty look at Fawn. "Yes, she's expecting. But that's not the point. I told you that this is what would happen, Tick." He waved his tail to call the cats behind him forward. "Ant, Adder, Ace, and Archer, take him to the dogs."

   Prince Fog watched as the four littermates dragged the defeated tom out of the alley. He then turned to Fawn and sniffed her pelt. "He didn't harm you, did he? Are the kits ok?"

   "They should be fine." The tortoiseshell she-cat stared lovingly into his eyes. "I'm glad I decided to stay. I can't imagine my life going any differently."

   The gray tom purred and nuzzled her cheek. "One day I'll be king, and rule these cats with you by my side."

   Fawn purred back. "You'll make a great king."