The Hemlock Trees

*A short story for Splatamy's Winter Tournament by Rxsthxrn*

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I sneaked out again, to see the beautiful hemlock trees at night. The snow covered ground had covered my previous pawprints from the night before, hiding away the evidence from my friends. What would they think if they knew I was doing this? I used to ask myself, again and again, everytime I would go out. But eventually, I stopped worrying about them finding out. All they do is laze around in sunbeams and beg their house folk for more food. I was different, I wanted to see the world, to experience it. My name is Latasha, the soon to be world famous she-cat who lay paw on every spot in the world.

I entered the forest of gargantuan trees, small holly bushes surrounded the bases of the hemlocks, choking off most of the smaller ones. There was no in between, either you were a giant made of bark and needles, or you were nothing, tiny and breakable, getting eaten up by the world around you. I used to feel tiny sometimes, but now I know someday I will be great.

The snow had begun to gather more thickly, falling down in big clumps. Much of it was getting stuck in the branches of the trees, and would later fall down from gravity. I kept trotting along, not a care in the world, even humming a small tune.

But something felt off about tonight, the taste of the air, the huge amount of snow. It was so cold, I don’t think I had ever felt that cold in my life. When I turned around I saw that my paw prints had been covered by snow, they weren’t supposed to be gone yet. My pawsteps were supposed to be gone by morning, after I was safe back home. To put it simply, I panicked, crouching down, breathing heavily.

“No, no, no. . .” I repeated again and again quietly to myself. I was just a silly kittypet, I had no idea what I was doing, and now I was lost in the woods. I thought for a while, trying to think up a plan of somesort. “I’m not giving up that easily.” I muttered out loud, for some reason I was expecting some-cat to respond, of course no-cat did. *My pawprints are gone but I walked in a straight line the whole time.* I stood and padded south, nerves racing through my head. *I am Latasha, world explorer, I don’t get lost.*

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*Oh yeah I'm definitely still lost, thanks for asking!* I was asleep, laying in a soft snow drift, when I heard a rustling. I immediately awoke and glanced around, eyes wide. Then, a slight twinkling noise from behind me and I slowly turned, stars reflected in my green eyes and I gasped. In front of me stood a small silvery kit with eyes glowing like golden moons. It smiled and hopped up to me, letting out several tiny mews and giggles.

“Are you lost?” The small kit asked, padding around me slowly.

“Y-yes, quite lost.” I was scared out of my mind. The she-kit looked up at me again, pelt sparkling in the sunlight.

“I’m SwanKit, well, I was. . .” *What a strange name. . .* She glanced away for a moment, thinking about something. “Who are you?”

“Latasha, nice to meet you S-SwanKit.” SwanKit leaned on me, flicking her small tail.

“Latasha? That’s a weird name!” She called, extending her small thorn-sharp claws as she looked up at me. I puffed out my fur and my eyes grew even wider. *How could such a small creature scare me so much?* “So, you’re lost, where are you supposed to be?”

“I live in a twoleg house. . .” I mewed gentilly, padding slowly away from SwanKit.

“A twoleg house!? Bleh!” She stuck out her tongue in disgust. *She must be one of those clan cats, they’re always looking down on kittypets.*

“It’s not that bad, do you know where it is?”

“A long way from here, silly!” *Dang it!* I flicked my tail and glared at my paws. Then my eyes lit up with an idea.

“Can you take me to the closest place where other cats live? You know, like a clan?” *Maybe they'll know where the twoleg place is.* SwanKit gasped and dashed up to me again, her eyes growing wide with excitement.

“I’ll take you to my old clan! You’ll love it there.”

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“Almost there!” SwanKit mewed cheerfully, glancing back at me. We had been walking in circles for hours, at least I think it was a circle.

“Mhm. . .” I groaned, licking my chest fur briefly. “You said that an hour ago.” She stopped and sniffed the air.

“But I’m serious this time!” Rolling my eyes, I almost tripped over the small kit as she glanced around. She gasped and her eyes widened. “Look! Right over here is the bluff!” SwanKit dashed away and into a bush, shaking it violently.

“SwanKit!” I hissed and bounded after her, flicking my tail in annoyance. I didn’t expect the amazing sight that awaited me. A giant expanse of mint green moor, the pale winter sun shining beautifully upon it, making it glitter like a green ocean at sunset. Below the bluff we stood on was a hollow, at the center was a barkless tan stump, many bushes and crevasses formed dens that crowded close against each other, like sleeping cats.

“Latasha, welcome to MoorClan!” SwanKit called, nuzzling into my swamp brown fur. *Woah. . .* I stood in awe of the minty moor as it twinkled in the sunlight.

Then, my fur bristled as I heard a growl from behind me. My head whipped around and I saw two forms, crouching in the shadows of the hemlock trees.

“Why are you here.” One of the forms spat, flicking its ears. My eyes widened in fear and I cowered, shuffling away from the shadows.

“Answer him,” Another form mewed calmly, stepping out of the shade. “I promise, you’ll regret it if you don’t.” I glanced at SwanKit, her fur puffed out in fear. *Why is she afraid!? Aren't these cats from her clan?*

“I-I. . .I’m looking f-for my home.” I murmured, failing miserably to sound tough. The first form padded out of the shadows and up to me, completely ignoring SwanKit. He was a tall dark brown tabby, with fierce, fir green eyes.

“Name?” He growled, shoving his muzzle in my face.

“L-Latasha.”

“Alright, Latasha. Where is your home?” He mewed, seeming to calm down slightly and backed away from me. I glanced at SwanKit, my eyes wide. She shrugged and peeked over her shoulder, flicking her tail slightly. The fear had seemed to fade from the small kit and her trademark childish jubilance returning in waves.

“T-the twoleg place?” The second form, a black and ginger striped she-cat with gold eyes, padded next to the brown tabby tom, smiling slightly.

“Oh, the twoleg place? That's not too far.” She mewed kindly, her yellow eyes squinting. I relaxed a little, my brown fur flattening. “I’m HollyBlaze, and this is my brother, RabbitFur.” I nodded, and straightened up, flicking my tail. RabbitFur glared at HollyBlaze, fire in his eyes.

“G-good to meet you. . .”

“You as well,” HollyBlaze purred cheerfully, giving her brother a look. “We can lead you there if you want!” SwanKit’s eyes grew wide and she stared at me for a moment, then glanced at her paws.

“Sure.” I mewed hesitantly, looking from RabbitFur to his sister.

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HollyBlaze led the way through the hemlock forest, talking on and off about this and that. SwanKit still followed us, slightly saddened. *She must have wanted to lead me home. . .* I slowed slightly, she looked up at me and smiled.

“You good?” I whispered, gazing at her with concern.

“Yeah. . .”

“W-why don’t you talk to them?” I asked, nodding to HollyBlaze and RabbitFur, who seemed to be arguing.

“Well, they can’t see me of course!” She called loudly, jumping up in excitement as my eyes widened. *What?*

“Not at all! Not one bit.” Then she let out a gasp as she saw a small daisy and stopped to sniff it. *Am I crazy?*

We walked for a long while, I thought about the crazy amount of stuff that had happened over the last day. This must be a dream or something. I was lost in my mind when RabbitFur got my attention.

“We’re here, hope you're happy.” My eyes widened and I brushed past him and HollyBlaze. In Front of me was the fence that bordered my home, old and lovely. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled.

“Thank you, so much!” I mewed, dipping my head, RabbitFur smiled as well. SwanKit slowly padded up to me.

“I’ll miss you, Latasha.” She said gently, nudging my leg. Nodding again I jumped up on my fence and gazed behind me at the hemlock forest. *What an adventure. . .*

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I had to draw these two :D