She spun and stared at him, clearly shocked to see him.
Acornkit forced himself higher and higher until he reached Morningkit.
He winced. The thin limb groaned under his weight. “What are you doing up here?” Acornkit demanded, lashing his tail and glaring at her.
Morningkit ducked her head, obviously ashamed. “I-I’m sorry, Acornkit,” she feebly whispered. “I was tired of being good all the time and those.... those looks you gave me.” she hesitated, but not long enough for Acornkit to inquire about the looks.
“So I wanted to climb the tree just to show you what a daring cat I am. Did it work?”
“No, it didn’t,” replied Acornkit hotly. “Now we need to get down. You first.”
A few heartbeats passed, and Morningkit still hadn’t made a move. “Go!” Acornkit growled, annoyance sparking in his toes, begging him to go ahead without her.
“I can’t!” Morningkit cried. “And I won’t! Oakleaf can carry me down.” Acornkit turned, and sure enough, the dark gray she-kit was sitting with her back facing him, tail twitching and claws deep in the tree bark.
Annoyance was replaced with anger. “Fine! Suit yourself!” Acornkit spat, and he placed paw before paw. Soon, he was only a fox-length off the ground again.
“Helllllllllllllllllp!” a shriek rose from above him. Acornkit’s heart stopped. Instinct made him leap off the tree and hit the ground with a small thud. It just about killed him, but he didn’t care. Every heartbeat mattered before Morningkit fell to her death.
Acornkit didn’t bother to steal a glance at the warriors crowded around the bottom of the tree. How frustrating! They don’t even bother to make a move! Paws pounded as Thornpad’s patrol returned to the camp, but Acornkit ignored it all.
Morningkit’s body, which she had allowed to fall limp, was tearing to the ground faster and faster like an owl rearing down to clasp its prey in its talons.
Dark gray fur filled his mouth, nose, and eyes, as Acornkit skidded to a halt. Morningkit’s body slammed down onto his outstretched front legs. Biting his lip to hold back a yowl of pain, Acornkit shuffled backwards and gazed at the still body. It fluttered faintly, and then Morningkit’s eyelids ascended.
Oakleaf stumbled over, dazed, her mate Webbedpelt on her tail. “You saved our daughter, Acornkit!” Webbedpelt beamed broadly and wrapped his tail on Acornkit’s shoulders as Oakleaf staggered over to Morningkit and picked her up in her jaws.
“Acornkit’s a hero!” Webbedpelt continued, though this statement was an overjoyed caterwaul to the sky. Oakleaf smiled and set Morningkit down for just a moment to lick the brown kit’s head.
Thornpad trotted over, gasping and panting heavily. “Well done, lad,” he whispered in Acornkit’s ear. “I never did anything majestic like that before.”
Dovecry was the last cat to come up. “Oh, my little acorn,” she murmured, pride decorating her every word. “what a great act.”
Hazelstar bounded up, tail frizzled and eyes wide open in alarm. “Is someone hurt?” He shouldered his way through the crowd.
Webbedpelt happily told him what had happened. “I have no idea how either of them got up there,” the gray tom concluded, “but I think this a very grownup act to do. Like, an apprentice act.” Something flashed in the father’s gaze that Acornkit understood acutely. Apprenticeship was looming before him.
No comments:
Post a Comment