Some terrible things

Happen because of fear

Because we want to protect things

That are already lost

It's not our faults

So do not whimper

One cat who's tale cut short

Was known as Face of Faded

A rather young queen at the time

And recently injured

She was temporarily blinded

By the eyes of a monster

Though she could not see them

She could purr at the sound of their mewling and soft squeaks

She loved every one of them

Pressing them close for the night

Who no one knew

Would turn so dark

She awoke to the sound

Of scuffling and squeaking

Her ears flattened soon

As she smelled the familiar scent

Her heart was said to have lurched

At the sound of rats dragging her kits

Out of the den

And far away

Even though she could not see

She still got up and chased after them

Not minding the several times she fell

And her pads scratched against stones

Soon she had managed to get one under her paw

With no mercy

She tore into the squeaking flea bag

Before pouncing at the next squeak she heard

No effort needed

A cracking sound like one of a twig

Told her that rat was no more

As she caught the last one

She felt wetness on her paws

As the water from the stream greeted her

She plunged the squirming pelt under the water

Feeling it's motions weaken

Before finally it grew limp

She sat back

A long breath escaping her

As she slowly began to recover from her blindness

Eager to finally see her mewling kits, she looked around

And froze in place

The rats had dragged them here

But they had fled once they made it

Under her laid the matted fur

Of one of her now lifeless kits.