I am going to be the greatest cat in the forest! I want to fight things bigger than the monsters mama talked about! I want to catch me juiciest, the most tasty prey in the forest!

But until then I am stuck hunting butterflies...

My tail twitched as I silently followed a pretty orange butterfly. I narrow my eyes in excitement and crouched down, prepared to jump. Suddenly a blur of grey fur flashed at the edge of my vision and I whipped my head around, snarling.

Was that one of the monsters?

"Surprise!" A huge ball of fluff rammed into my side, knocking the breath out of me as I fell onto my back. Dust billowed around my attacker's face, but I already knew who it was.

"Hey! I was about to catch it Silver!" I growled looking longingly at the butterfly as it fluttered higher and higher into the sky.

"Sorry!" Silver laughed at me in triumph,"But I found something cool!"

"What is it?" I ask grumpily, still watching the butterfly as it finally disappeared over the tops of the fresh green trees. That's my brother, always finding something 'cool' at the wrong time.

"You'll see, Gust, just come on!" The small grey tabby said, his blue eyes bright with excitement.

I sigh, last time I listened to Silver, we both got in trouble with mama. He likes to explore a lot farther than mama lets us. I think he is too adventurous for his own good...

"Would mama let us go?" I ask curiously, glaring at him. I don't think he would be telling the truth if he said yes.

Silver laughed, head tilted back to the sky, "Of course!"

"You're lying, aren't you?" I growl, narrowing my eyes. I knew this would happen. Same as last time. But this time I'm not as dumb. Just because I'm the runt doesn't mean I can't stand up to him.

"Come on! Let's just go!" Silver said, impatiently twitching his tail. I sigh, words catching in my throat. I just hope mama doesn't get mad...

"Come on!" Silver called again, walking away into the forest.

"Wait!" I say dashing after him, my small dust-brown paws flying over the foliage. I always hated being small, but at least my family never minded.

Once I finally reach him, I slow down wheezing from the effort. I see Silver glance at me, amusement in his eyes. I shake off the exhaustion and trot alongside him, wondering what this mystery thing is.

After what seems to be moons of walking we reach a wall of wood. It rises like the oak tree we live under, but it is flat and is leafless, instead just ending in a claw-like point.

"What is this..?" I mutter, taking a whiff of the air. I twitch my nose at the stench. I've never smelled that before.

Silver thought for a minute before replying, "I think they're called fences. Twolegs build them around their dens," I nod nervously, still eyeing the 'fence'. Yeah, mama would kill us if she knew we were here.

Silver suddenly jumped on the fence, scrambling to reach the pointy thing on top. "How graceful..." I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"Once I am as big as mama, it will be easier..." He said through clenched teeth, glaring down on me with his piercing blue eyes.

  Mama had always said they reminded her of our father, Blizzard, who had died before we were born from a monster. I had always felt bad, because I looked nothing like him. I was just a plain brown cat with green eyes, nothing special about me.

"Come on up Gust! You can see forever!" Silver exclaimed, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was gazing out towards the sunset, the reds and pinks lighting up the sky.

  I glanced at the fence nervously. What if I was too fat? Mama had always said I was fuller, which I think is the same thing. I glare at the wood wall one more time before scrambling up the fence as quickly as possible, but I ended up back on the ground with an audible thump!

Silver grinned, obviously amused by my awful attempt. I narrowed my eyes, and growled at the fence, "I'll show you..."

  I jumped up wildly, unsheathing my sharp claws and scaled the fence, almost falling. Once I reached the top Silver bit into my scruff and hauled me up the rest of the way.

I heaved a few deep breaths, surprised at how height I felt. A claw suddenly poked me in the side, nearly startling me off the fence. I whipped around to see my brother grinning, a wild look in his blue eyes.

"Look down there..." Silver purred, gesturing to the ground with his claw. I peered down and gasped at what I saw.

    It was a humongous floppy eared cat! It was laying in the shade of the twoleg den, its stomach rose and fell as it breathed, showing it was alive, just taking a nap. I remember mother had told us of these things, dogs she called them. She said that they shredded cats for fun, that we needed to stay away.

"Woah..." I whisper, careful not to wake the massive beast. It was almost mesmerizing to watch, seeing mamas story creatures come to life.

"Watch this," Silver muttered through gritted teeth. I cocked my head in confusion. Just what was he doing?

"HEY MUTT!" Dog's ears pricked, but it didn't jump up, "FLEA PELT!" Silver yelled as its dark, cold eyes focused on him.

"Silver, stop!" I pleaded, my voice squeaking from fear. Why was he doing this?

"What? Nothing will happen!" Silver grinned wildly at me as the dog came running up to the fence.

"SILVER, RUN!!!" I screamed at Silver, my eyes widening in fear. He was going to get us killed!

Silver stayed put with a smug smile as he looked at the dog. Now it was only a tail length away from the fence. Suddenly it leaped, covering the last distance.

"SILVER!!!" I howled, picturing my brother's broken body being torn to shreds by that dog. Limp grey paws. Blank blue eyes.

The next thing I hear surprises me. Instead of hearing my brother squeal in fear he was... Laughing?

I glance back at the scene to see that the dog was trying desperately to reach us, it was barking up a storm. It's paws were slipping uselessly on the slick wood, sliding down on every attempt. The stupid thing's claws weren't even out! How did it expect to climb?

Soon I started laughing along too,"The stupid flea pelt can't reach us!"

Silver smirked, "Told you, you don't have to worry! For I the great and wise Silver-"

Suddenly the fence shook.

My paw exploded in raw pain, and I jump to my feet, but something drags me down. Sharp points dig into my skin, and I feel blood trickle down onto the fence.

I landed on the ground with a thump, but that was enough to get the dog's teeth off me, and I dragged myself slowly away, a trail of blood behind me.

I look up at my brother, whose blue eyes shown fear, and my heart started beating as fast as the river.

I look to my side and see the huge dog staring at me with wild eyes, my scarlet blood on its ugly face.

"RUN GUST!!!" Silver called to me. As if on cue, the dog ran towards me, and I limped toward the corner of the fence.

I spotted a small tree and leap up into it, despite my legs protests. It wasn't as tall as the fence, but the dog sniffed around it, unable to climb. I would've laughed if I wasn't nearly bleeding to death.

"FLEA BAG! LOOK AT ME!!!" Silver yelled, hoping to distract the dog so I could run. But instead the dog continued to sniff around the tree, clearly not interested in my brother.

"I am going to try to reach the fence!" I yelped at my brother, seeing I had no other choice. If I just sit here I might fall.

"No!" He yowled but it was too late, I jumped off the tree and ran towards the fence, my limp leg dragging behind me.

I'm going to make it!

Suddenly a pair of jaws grabbed my scruff. "Help me!" I yowled to my brother who shouted back, "It'll be fine!"

But how will it be fine if I die?

The owner of the jaws jumped straight over the fence and once it's paws hit the the ground it dropped me, and I looked up to see mama, her amber eyes gleaming angrily.

"Why did you do that?" Mama snarled, still trying to calm down, "You could have died! We could have died!"

I slow my breathing to realize that the dog didn't grab me- it was mama!

"Thanks mama! I'm so sorry, I won't leave again!" I cried and jumped onto her, snuggling close to her fur. Her anger obviously forgotten, she wrapped her tail around me protectively and lapped my head, comforting me.

"And you," Mama growled at my brother, that angry spark returning, "You talked him into this didn't you?" Mama sounded as disappointed as she was furious, "Your brother almost died! We already lost Blizzard!...What if we lost Gust?"

Blizzard. That was father. I hadn't met him but Mama told me stories about the heroic tom. Just like Silver of course. Mama never said it, but I think she likes him more.

Silver stayed silent and looked at his paws, which were now kneading the ground in regret and shame.

Mama sighed, the spark finally diffused, "I hope you have learned your lesson... Let's go."

I walk beside Mama but Silver was lagging behind, his head low. I was tempted to walk with him, but I knew he needed to feel guilt sometimes.

Once we got to our den the sun was setting, casting a blood-red glow across the forest. I shook away that thought.

The den used to be a fox's, but the fox was long gone now, so it is ours. It still holds the scent however. I crinkle my nose every time, but I've gotten used to it.

I curl up besides mama and Silver, their warm pelts soothing my nerves. The blood on my fur has dried, and my paw aches, but I let it all subside into blissful sleep.

And with that I close my eyes, happy to still be here.