A Rogue Encounter (closed)

Summer was a busy time for the Twolegplace Farm. Everyone you looked there were Monsters focused on the grass beneath their rumbling feet, twoleggers spending nearly as much time outside as the sun would permit them, and their strange-shaped and giant pets making all sorts of noise. Any passing cat might be arrested for a moment or two by the hum of activity, amused whiskers twitching as a whole other world played out in front of their eyes.

Shellkit heard one of the queens and a visiting warrior gossiping about it a couple of moonrises ago. The scene seemed to generate scornful dismissal in the cats, but Shellkit couldn't help but be captivated. There was so much that she hadn't seen, so much to be experienced that she could hardly wait to be a part of it all--but when she was made an apprentice, wouldn't she be too busy to pay attention to weird Twoleg activities? What if they had gone away by that time?

She had talked to Mottlekit about what she heard later that day, just buzzing with curiosity. When she brought up the topic again, and yet again, an exasperated suggestion from another littermate led her to her current position: on the border of their territory before the farms, tail twitching back and forth as she observed wide-eyed at all the activity below.

The morning had dawned misty, making good cover for her expedition. The hot sun of greenleaf had melted most of that mist away at this point, and the dew clinging to her kneading claws was the only trace left. But consequences were for later: right now, there were Twoleggers, and bright details of the world outside the nursery being observed with hungry eyes.

She turned to her companion. "Didn't I tell you it would be worth it?" she demanded. The pace of her twitching tail increased.

Mottlekit was unsure of what they were doing. She hated getting in trouble and she was afraid they would get caught. She'd only agreed to go because the older cats usually avoided twolegplace, and she hoped they wouldn't get caught while walking to or from the spot.

Still, it was her first time out of camp, and Mottlekit couldn't help but be excited. She had never seen twolegs before either, and she thought they looked very strange indeed, running around without pelts. Don't they cold? She wondered. Maybe that's why they covered themselves with strange, fake pelts in unnatural colors.

Mottlekit smiled to her friend, not wanting to ruin her excitement. "I guess this is pretty cool." She realized the answer was a little reserved and purred to show Shellkit she was enjoying their adventure.

Twig rested in the grasses. The Straight-walkers (what twig calls "Twolegs") recognized her as a regular visitor and let her catch the mice. Why wold they just let her take their meals? She didn't know, but it was great!

Suddenly, she heard talking and decided to investigate. She slowly and quietly stalked through the grasses after the cats, her brown eyes narrow.

Suddenly, Mottlekit noticed something moving in the grass ahead of them. She gently tapped Shellkit with her tail to get her to stop. "Do you see that?" She hissed as quietly as she could. "I think there might be a cat over there! We should be careful."

Mottlekit couldn't help feeling a tingle of dread run down her spine. What if it was a RiverClan cat, come to punish them? She never should've agreed to leave camp.

Shellkit pressed her body to Mottlekit's in comfort, internally scolding herself. She had been so wrapped up in her own excitement that she hadn't considered Mottlekit's agreement to come with her hadn't been because she felt the same way she did! And now with the threat of danger upon them, the sounds from the twolegplace seemed a little more menacing. Flicking her gaze around her, the cream tabby was confronted with the fact that the borders of her home were actually foreign territory to her.

Shellkit flattened the ear towards Mottlekit to show she had heard, and took a couple steps forward. She was the one who had gotten them into this mess, so she would be the one who got them out.

Hopefully. Because she could tell now that the approacher was a cat--but not a Riverclan one.

"St-stop," she called out, the fur along her spine bristling in the effort to hold her ground. "Mottlekit saw you, so. Why don't you come out!"

Twig sighed and stepped out. "I can fight a full grown cat but I can't hide from some kits!" Her high-pitched voice meowed. "At least I scared you!" She smiled and put one of her paws foward.

Mottlekit saw the movement of Shellkit's ear and knew that the other kit had heard her. So why was she still stepping forward? Mottlekit tensed in case they needed to run away fast.

A brown she-cat emerged from the grass. Mottlekit flinched back from her offered paw. Is she going to hurt us? But the gesture didn't seem threatening. Keeping her legs tensed in case she needed to run, she took a cautious step forward and made eye contact with the unknown cat.

"My name is Mottlekit. Who are you?"

"Twig!" She said confidently. "I'm gussing you two are clan cats by your foul smell and weird named" Twig rolled her eyes.