Back at the tree we had made a small covering to sleep under. The pack leader was dead, so we felt pretty safe. The mossy nests were much better than the stick ones we'd had before. Silver Sky had insisted that she come down with the kits. She didn't want to be stuck in a tree, and I couldn't blame her. I wouldn't like that much either.
Sap and Lark were now almost a moon old and I was so happy to see them grow. Lark was starting to somewhat develop the long legs and lean body I'd suspected already. She'd be good at jumping and had got that trait from her mother. Sap was quite bulky with much shorter legs and he looked strong.
Comet and Puff had been going on hunting trips together. I didn't know why exactly, but I thought that they were getting closer and closer. One day they may be mates. Comet is eight and a half moons now. . . . Still young, but she was maturing quickly. They were currently put hunting at the moment. I was going to leave on my own trip.
"Bye, Silver Sky, my kits," I said. Silver Sky purred back. The kits mewled.
I padded out the den and walked into the forest. The scents of greening prey was already flooding my nose, and I could taste the muskiness of mice. As I tried to pinpoint a exact animal, a startling crash came through the bushes.
I jumped in surprise and looked back. It was a rogue. Those cats had two ways they usually were- either calm, welcoming and just passing through, or the ones who had purposely come to fight. I surveyed my opponent. She had rough gray fur and deep brown eyes. She was small, and looked frail and somewhat old. She showed no signs of aggression. She had a natural look of beauty, so I wouldn't be surprised if she had a family trailing along.
"Who are you?" I hissed. "What are you doing here?"
Her eyes were soft. "I was just passin' by, youngin'." the cat mewed politely. "No need to be rough 'bout it."
"How do I know your telling the truth?"
"You seem protective. Do you have a lil family around here? Young toms. Always like tha',"
"Well, go on then." I suggested, not wanting to fight. Neither of us needed unwanted injuries. She dipped her head gratefully and walked on, swishing her tail around. She glanced back at me and mewed. "Thanks."
After she had gone I resumed my hunting. The smell of mouse was still strong, but not as much as before. I trailed after it and soon found my culprit. It was eating a spiked pine-cone. It had a cross-eyed expression, and didn't notice me until it was too late.
~~~~~**********~~~~~~
      I had just arrived home when a crash came from outside. What was it? A painful ringing sounded through my head. I looked up to see a monster clawing at the trees. Silver Sky, the kits and Puff were all snug inside, but Comet was nowhere to be found. I raced up to Puff. "Where's Comet?" I yowled a bit too loudly.
His eyes were filled with looming fright. His fur pricked. "I don't know," he spoke with empathy. "She was just here, and what is that crashing about?"
I realized he was referring to the trees being ripped around outside. "Oh," I growled. "Those are just trees being ripped out of the ground, no big deal." I rolled my eyes and Puff got to his feet.
I didn't care if he followed or not, but I decided to run, run, run, hoping to catch Comet's scent. I was already halfway around the border when I heard heavy footfalls behind me. I didn't hesitate as he drew closer. I continued to run, pounding the ground with my feet.
Puff called me back. He called me back. I turned to snap at him. He walked forward pulling his drape like tail around my mouth. "Sshhhh. . . . " he mewed. I gagged on the thick fur in my mouth and he pulled tighter. "Just listen." He ordered.
I started to breathe more softly, drawing each breath in and out calmly, relaxing my body in Puff's grip. As my heartbeat slowed, I realized what the large tom was talking about. Loud thumps echoed through the forest, like giant trees collapsing on top of a soft cover. It didn't cease its fury, ever, even when the sun began to fade. Why is the sun fading? It's just sun-high!
I began to pull on Puff's arms again and he growled. "Be still."
I listened in exasperation as the noise got closer, until I'd had enough. I yanked away, this time succeeding. I heard Puff utter a shocked mew before he came after me. I dashed off into the night-like forest and looked through the branches when I could. It seemed as if the sun had been covered. . . . By what? The moon?
I paused when I saw the claw monster. It was dragging its way deeply through the dirt ground and when it surfaced, dirt was clutched tightly in its jaws, roots and plants dragged in as well.
Puff stopped beside me. "Wooooaaaah." He gasped.
I strode forward, keeping my paws light and quiet. Puff followed. We got to a point where the trees were almost cut completely bare, and the ground was laden with trunks of the fallen trees. That was when I realized we had to start searching. Comet was still out here. I ran through the dead wood splinters to the other side of the clearing. I took a whiff if the cool air and scented- was that Comet?
"Puff, I think I've found a trail." I yowled. The white tom came to the patch of scent. He crouched down to the ground and inhaled deeply. "Yup. That's her." He frowned. "Now we just need to find her."
We chased after the fading scent. Then it stopped. The trail had led us right up to a tree. I looked at our surroundings and felt my heart drop. This was a monster camp. What had Comet been doing here? And where was she now?
I sniffed at the end of the trail and found that human scent was mixed here, as well. The footprints of the large beasts came here, then went back to a tent. I opened my jaws. "Do you think it's possible that she was taken?" I said.
"Very possible, actually. Too possible." Was the gruff reply.
"We need to get her back."
"Yes, yes we do."