To Tell a Tail

Angelscloud stood near the edge of the clearing, her fur blowing slightly in the wind and her eyes flashing about. She watched the other cats come out of their dens and begin to prepare for a whole new day. She noticed Whitestorm who had padded over to small river at the other end of the clearing and began to clean himself. After he washed, his fur sparkled and glowed, and so did his eyes. Angelscloud observed the other cats' morning rituals, and couldn't help but smile. Whitestorm noticed her and padded up to Angelscloud, "Hey," he said his eyes still shimmering. "Good morning," She nodded her head. She noticed his eyes sparkle as she observed the rest of the clan wake. "It sure is amazing isn't it...?" Whitestorm sighed, "yes it amazing. His golden-blue eyes flashed with anticipation for the day ahead. "So what are we doing today?" She gazed at him and asked. He was a strong warrior, but with way higher rank than her, she couldnt help but sigh because she knew she would never have anybody special. "Hunt.....and I dont know," Whitestorm laughed. Angelscloud laughed, Well then we better hop to it before all the prey dies before we get there." Whitestorm smiled he could tell that this young she-cat was very interesting. Angelscloud smiled and purred, wondering who else they could add to their hunting patrol. Angelscloud, Whitestorm! Can I come with you? said Amberstar. Angelscloud gleamed with the thought of their leader hunting alongside her and Whitestorm. Whitestorm nodded in greeting as Amberstar walked over to them. Angelscloud bounded up beside Whitestorm to greet their leader enthusiastically. Whitestorm flicked Angelsclouds ear with his fluffy tail and laughed low. Angelscloud flicked Whitestorm back over his ear and purred as well. The patrol had walked into the forest and Amberstar has announced that she would hunt over by the river, leaving Angelscloud and Whitestorm in the training hollow. Whitestorm flicked Angelsclouds nose and purred. She turned towards Whitestorm in a crouching position with a rumbling purr, "So that's how you want to play huh?" She said as Whitestorm stood on his hind paws, "Yeah I do, he purred. "Oh ya!" She launched herself off of her hind paws just missing Whitestorm's flank by an inch.

"Haha missed!" He teased. Before he could finish his sentence she had knocked him over and stood triumphantly over him. "AHA! Now who missed?" Whitestorm purred and rolled letting her fall. "Hahaha," he teased again. "Darn!" She pounced after him instinctively. Whitestorm bolted around her jump and stood next to her as she landed on the soft sand. "Too slow," He teased and raced out of the sunny hollow into the forest. She bolted after him and realized that they were heading out of the camp but continued to follow him anyways, trying to keep up to him. He kept gaining speed and went faster than any cat she had ever raced against as an apprentice. Many minutes passed in the chase and Whitestorm realized that they were out of their own territory and stopped. Angelscloud was trying to keep up and was unaware that he had stopped, and crashed into the back him. They both went tumbling onto the grass. "Hey, what was that about?" She got up and groaned, looking at him with curiosity. "Were out of our own territory... then you crashed into me," Whitestorm said but he remained brave his red eyes glowing. He stood up, Where are we? "Woah, that was fast. What do you mean you don't know where we are? We should be able to smell... our... territory. Dangit! I can't smell it, youre right. Were lost!" Her eyes trying to be brave but she crouched low in attempt to not freak out. "Its ok Angelscloud well find our way back" he comforted her. "I hope so," she sighed. Lets try that way, I think it's where we came from." She pointed her tail in the direction. "Ok." They started to pad together; the scents and sights of the new forest were unfamiliar. "I hope Amberstar doesn't get mad that we ran off without her, if we find the territory soon enough we should hunt a bit. By the way, you can run really fast! That was insane!" She smiled enthusiastically. He blushed trying not to let her know how embarrassed he felt. I dont like it, I feel like a freak! He complained. "You're not a freak!" She said sadly, "I wasn't originally from this clan either. Amberstar found me wandering around the territory as a kit. I would have died if it weren't for her. This is your

family! Youre lucky you can run really fast." She padded alongside him, her head low. "You're not a freak, trust me." She looked at him and smiled slightly. He smiled lightly and said, "Well weve been walking for some time now... its getting dark and we need to rest. Ya we should." Angelscloud sighed, and saw a dent in the bottom of a tree trunk. "How about over there?" She points her tail to the tree. "Yeah," Whitestorm shivered, "its getting cold also. They crept into the little dip and Angelscloud
snuggled herself against the tree on a pile of leaves. The wind howled through the forest, keeping her alert. "It's so creepy out here." She said glancing everywhere. "Its okay I will be near," Whitestorm cuddled up to Angelscloud and whispered, "thank you." She felt warmer now; smiling she lay her head on her paws and whispered, "No problem." The two of them soon fell asleep.

Waking to a bright sunbeam that had landed on her face, Angelscloud squinted and raised her head. She reached a paw out to nudge Whitestorm but she realized that he wasn't there. She bolted upright and looked around. "Whitestorm?" She called. "If your gunna jump on me I swear I'll eat you!!!" She said sarcastically. Whitestorm flashed as a blur appearing at the entrance of the tree holding two birds. "Few! I thought you had left without me! And you brought food!" She excitedly bounced towards him. Whitestorm said, "Why would I leave my only company?" He smiled at Angelscloud. "True... " She grinned and lay down beside Whitestorm to eat her meal. After eating, Whitestorm said, "I hope the clan isnt worried" his red eyes full of questions. "Ya, but hopefully they'll know that we will find our way back soon. Lets see which direction we should head in next." "I dont know....." Whitestorm said. "Me neither. BUT we have to try!" She stood up determinedly and started walking in the direction they were traveling the day before. She turned around to Whitestorm, "you coming?" adventure flashing in her golden-blue eyes. "Of course," his red eyes also full of adventure. They padded along the forest floor for a long period of time.

"I don't think were getting anywhere..." She mewed annoyed. "Yeah me either, Whitestorm said and sighed. "What should we do now though? It's already sun high." "We need to go on for as long as we can since we are so far from home." "Hopefully were at least going in the right direction." She gazed up into the trees but stayed silent, listening to the birds, her patched coat shining in the sunlight. Whitestorm stared at her and padded next to her . "Dont worry well find a way." Whitestorm reassured her. She sighed and continued to walk down the path. "I miss the clan," Whitestorm said suddenly. "Me too." Angelscloud meowed solemnly. "How far away do you think camp is?" asked Whitestorm. "I don't know..." she mumbled, dragging her paws. She looked up to see a small creek a ways up the path. She sprang towards it and leapt in, splashing around. Whitestorm laughed and said, "Count me in. She danced around in the water and when Whitestorm came by she splashed him, soaking his white fur. "AHA! Gotcha!" She gave a huge grin and bounded up the stream. Whitestorm cut her off because he was faster than she was, "HAH" he grinned. She whipped around and raced the other direction, but Whitestorm flashed in front of her and smiled. "You just don't give up do you?" She cocked her head then threw up another wave of water at him. They bounced back up stream through the water, water spray flailing behind them. "Hey no cheating!" Whitestorm said playfully and flashed in front of her again. "It's not cheating! It's thinking strategically." She smiled and ran around him farther upstream until she got to a small waterfall. She heard Whitestorm racing up through the river. "That's no fair!" She leapt through the waterfall onto a small ledge, a dip in the rock, to hide. Whitestorm flashed through the water fall and landed on the slippery ledge. They sat panting for a moment and noticed that a tunnel opened up in front of them into the dirt. There was a very low light at the end of it. "WOAH! Lets go!" She bounded down the tunnel quickly, avoiding the roots jutting out. When they came out into the light Whitestorm said,

"Wow. There were thousands of little white flowers surrounding the, and the small creek that they had bounded through continued along the right side of the clearing. The sunlight beamed in, igniting the two cats with a glow. "Wooow. It's beautiful," Angelscloud gazed at the nature around them and ran over to roll in the grass excitedly. Whitestorm rolled on his back right next to Angelscloud and said, "You know even though that we are lost Ive had a fun time, he purred. "Me too. I'd say that I think we should do this more often but you know we really shouldn't," She laughed and watched the sun begin to set above. Whitestorm said, "Where do you want to sleep?" he smiled. "Here," She smiled and lay in the grass under the stars. He laid down and said, "Wow...." and purred. Gazing at the stars, the reflections twinkling in her eyes, listening to the low drum of the stream. "Do you think well ever find home?" she asked still looking at the stars. "I dont know" he replied looking in her sparkling eyes and his red eyes started to gleam. Angelscloud sighed and turned to him and lay on her side. "Whats wrong?" Whitestorm looked at her his red eyes sparkling. "Nothings wrong." "Then what are you thinking?" she mewed. "About our time together," he mewed. "Yea, I never got to really know you until now." she purred. Nor did she ever think she would know a cat like him. "Same here," he purred. She smiled and looked up into his eyes. You are the deputy after all... He looked into her eyes and asked, You have beautiful eyes... Whitestorm meowed to her. Angelscloud smiled and blushed. He couldnt help but notice her gorgeous eyes, and right then he knew that he loved her. Angelscloud had never realized that she could experience love. They cuddled next to one another and purred contentedly, and soon they were asleep under the stars.

Whitestorm woke to see a beautiful she-cat lying next to him. She looked stunning under the morning sunlight and he tried not to wake her. He slipped off into the forest to hunt for a few minutes . He returned with two mice. Angelscloud woke with a start at the sudden movement and noise, "Huh? Whats that? Oh Whitestorm, great job!" She purred amused. She took one of the mice and began to eat it contentedly. Whitestorm ate and said, "I wish we could stay here." Angelscloud sighed. I know what you mean. But what about the clan?" "Yeah I miss the clan," he admitted with a sigh. "I wonder what we should do now though." "Keep going?" suggested Whitestorm. "But which way?" She looked around the beautiful meadow. "How about that way?" he pointed his tail to a trail that swerved off behind some brushes at the edge of the clearing. We might as well try it," She shrugged and they padded toward the trail, Whitestorm padding behind. After several hours of walking, their paws were getting sore and Angelscloud was tired of walking and getting nowhere. Where are we even going? Whitestorm grumbled.

I don't know, I gave up long ago." She sighed exasperatedly, and my paws are hurting from all this walking."
"Sit down and rest I will go up the hill and see whats up at the top," said Whitestorm. She didn't argue and sat down next to a tree. Whitestorm jogged up the hill and saw four cats near the base on the other side. He pelted back to Angelscloud and said, "There are other cats!" "What! Are they from our clan? Hopefully they don't smell us. Can we get help from them?" "They dont look like they are from our clan," he said worried. "Well if they can't help us we should go back or try a different way," She said disappointed. "Maybe they have seen our clan mates nearby," Whitestorm said. "Out here, its unlikely. They are probably rouges." "Yeah, but..." Whitestorm was cut off when they heard a yowl from the top of the hill and saw the four cats. Two were black and one had an eerie scar across his face, another was grey and the other was brown.

"Oh no! They scented us!" Angelscloud hoped that they were kind-hearted and stood up straight, "Hey! Do you think you could help us?!?! We are lost." She yelled up to the cats, who now looked confused. The four cats showed no consideration at her suggestion and showed anger, "What are you doing here!" said the big black tom. "We don't know where we are! Is this YOUR land?" Without a simple answer, the four cats started to run at Whitestorm and Angelscloud in battle yowls. The two prepared themselves and before they could think Angelscloud had veered up the side of a tree so fast, rebounding off of it and landed onto one of their backs, ripping fur off. The tom hadn't even seen her coming. Whitestorm came from the other side, slashing flanks, and before they knew it, the cats had turned to flee. They sat and caught their breaths for a moment and began to walk again through the forest. After another hour, Angelscloud was almost limping in pain, her pads swollen from the terrain and distance they had gone. Coming upon a clearing they stopped. It had a small creek again nearby and the grass was a bit shorter than the previous one. She washed herself near the creek and when she was done she turned around to see Whitestorm huddled in the clearing, looking as sad as a baby bird in a badger cave. He sat their silently still, so she went and sat beside him, she flicked his flank with her tail. Why are you so sad? Those cats... they almost killed you. She knew they hadnt almost killed her but she kept listening, If you had died, what would I have done then? I wouldnt have been able to live with myself. I couldnt take your body back to the clan, nor could I live with seeing you, a cat I was to take care of, like that. He just sat worried. She just sat beside him washing him with rhythmic strokes and soothingly purring. After a long pause he responded with, "I never should have flicked your ear that day, if I hadnt we wouldnt be in this mess. "Well then why did you?" She asked curiously. "Because I thought you were a wily young cat I could annoy and we were waiting for Amberstar," he said laughing a little. She smiled. "Well I think that that flick was the best thing that ever happened." "Why would you say that?" asked Whitestorm. "Because I now know what it is like to love." She looked at him with the biggest grin ever, she couldnt hide it. Whitestorm looked at her lovingly. She let out a purr and nudged his side with her nose. Whitestorm purred and licked her cheek. "Do you think we should walk some more before sunset?" She said quietly in his ear. "Im pretty tired," replied Whitestorm. "Ya," Angelscloud curled up next to Whitestorm with her head on her paws in the green clearing. It wasn't quite dark yet but the sky was turning to an orange/red. Just before she fell asleep he whispered in her ear, Dont worry; I wont let anything happen to you, ever.

Angelscloud made sure she had woken up earlier than him today; she wanted to go hunting this time. She zipped through the trees to scent a vole up close. As she was readying to pounce she passed by a tree. A familiar tree, one scented with... her clan! "WERE HOME!" She screeched and ran back to the clearing where she jumped on Whitestorm. "WERE BACK! The territory is right over there!" Whitestorm opened his eyes, Huh? She pressed her paws on his flank, shaking him up. "We made it back!" She said her eyes wide with excitement. He got up and she tugged him enthusiastically towards the path she had scented her clan on. He followed her still half asleep but she could tell he was happy as they jogged through the familiar smelling forest. Angelsclouds pawsteps slowed down and she matched his steps. She turned to him and said, "You know things will always be a bit different, right? "What do you mean?" he asked turning to her confused. "I don't even know if I'm allowed to like a cat of your rank, which is much higher than mine. I just became a warrior 4 moons ago, and youre the deputy. I don't know if we can be together." She sighed, unsure and sad. He looked into her eyes with sadness; he knew she had a point. I guess we don't have a choice though," She sighed turning in the direction of the camp. Before she could take another step he mumbled, Angelscloud, wait... Hm? She turned her head to look at him, his head down and mind thinking. We dont have to go back to the clan. He looked at her, unsure and pleading. What do you mean? We cant leave the clan! They are our family; they need us just as much as we need them. She knew she could never properly be with him in their clan, but she didnt want a life away from him, or the clan. Im sorry Whitestorm; I need to stay with the clan. He sighed, but she knew he understood. She studied his face for a long time and rubbed her face on his shoulder before padding back into camp trying to pretend that nothing had happened. They were greeted with many smiles and friendly faces asking what happened; she just told them they got REALLY lost after hunting but everything was fine, other than her sore pads. Amberstar walked over to them, Youre back! This is a miracle to be sure; we thought you were both dead.Amberstar called a few clan mates to call off the search parties. Amberstar smiled and purred that her warriors had returned. We are back, Angelscloud mewed happily. After being hoarded by her friends that had all been concerned about her, she nodded her head to her leader and walked over to Whitestorm. He saw her walking over to him and raised his gaze to meet her beautiful tortoiseshell pelt and blue eyes. This is going to be a real challenge, but these cats ARE my family, they will understand that... I love you.