Bluecreek's Story

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c h a p t e r 1|before birth
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Bitter leaf-fall whistled in the ears of the lone she-cat, whose pelt bristled against the cold. Fur bushed like a mane, she stalked the frosted undergrowth, eyes blazing like an owl. Her dark, shadowy pelt melted in and out of the shadowy greenery, her paws silent and light. A flicker of ragged gray fur flashed past her vision. Too big to be a mouse. Her teeth clenched, her glowing amber eyes narrowing in a scrutinizing stare. Waggling her slim haunches, letting her tail lie still, she lunged forward in a long, strong leap.
"Youch! What on earth was that for?!" Yowled a voice. The she-cat blinked her wide, shocked eyes. She jumped back, spine arched and fur bristling. Spitting, she withdrew her ears, eying her 'victim'. A young, skinny gray tabby lay on the ground before her, legs splayed and muzzle speckled with blood. Wincing, he sat up, shaking the dust from his ears.