Small Talk

Prologue
The elderly pale tabby she-cat stared sorrowfully at a handsome ginger tom with a flame colored pelt as he lead a Clan of cats away from her. "Good-bye, Firestar!" called the she-cat and turned to look at her companion: a white she-cat.

"Farewell, Speckletail and Frostfur! May StarClan light your paths forever!" Firestar called as he turned briefly to say good-bye.

Images of a younger self flashed through Speckletail's mind as the four Clans of cats disappeared in the horizen. Her cheering for her and her new clanmates' names: Bluepaw and Snowpaw. Falling in love with Smallear. It all flew by so quickly.

"Remember when we were warriors, Speckletail?" Frostfur inquired softly, as if reading Speckletail's thoughts. Her eyes clouding with reminescence. Speckletail nodded and looked behind her. The cold body of Mudfur, the old RiverClan medicine cat, lay there, awaitng proper burial.

"Come on," Frostfur rasped, "let's move his body. Somwhere he can be proud to be buried in." Frostfur stood up and grabbed the dead cat's brown scruff and hauled it through the dirt. Speckletail quickle jumped up and took Mudfur's tail in her jaws, helping her clanmate.

The two she-cats padded the dirt over Mudfur's body. The river water lapped at the shore and the soft breeze buffeted their fur. Sunningrocks was the perfect place to bury a highly respected medicine cat. Especialy a RiverClan one.

"May StarClan light your path, old friend," Speckletail whispered quitly. "May they light both our paths."

Chapter 1
"I can't believe I actually managed to catch that mouse!" Frostfur gasped as she stared at her freshly-caught mouse. Speckletail gave a weak chuckle and flinched as her joints spread pain like wildfire through her whole body.

I sure do miss being young, she thought.

Frostfur flicked Speckletail's head gently with her tail. "Hey, mouse-brain! Did you hear what I just said? I asked of you wanted to share?" Frostfur pushed the mouse towards Speckletail with her white paw.

"Oh, of course." the pale tabby elder rasped as she lay down and gulped down the mouse neatly.

"Hey! I asked if you wanted to share! Now I'll have to go catch another one!" Frostfur growled softly and stiffly got up from her spot. Embarrassed, Speckletail stopped her friend from moving any further.

"No, I'll go. It's the least I can do." Stiffly, Speckletail got up, trying vainly to ingore the pain in her joints. Frostfur flicked her ear gratefully and laid back down under a shady tree.

As Speckletail made her way further and further from where she left Frostfur, she noticed more and more Twolegs. They were walking about, shouting orders, flicking one another's ears, and waving to some in the distance. None of them seemed to notice the pale tabby she-cat making her way around them.

When Speckletail finally scented mouse, a shriek came from about a tree-length away. Looking up, Speckletail gasped. She was looking straight into the eyes of a Twoleg kit. The small kit let out another excited shriek, which attracted more attention than what Speckletail already had.

Oh great StarClan!

A huge Twolag male came up behind the kit. This Twoleg was harrier than most and his face didn't look too pleased. He let out a gruff bark and another more younger Twoleg male came. He opened his arms wide, which Speckletail answered with a growl and hiss. The Twoleg took a step forward. Speckletail snapped.

She ran as fast as she could for Frostfur. The sound of heavy running from behind her warned Speckletail that the Twolegs were drwaing closer and closer with each stride. Her joints screamed in pain but the pale tabby ignored them. Her amber eyes were wide and anxiouse.

StarClan, please run them off'! When Speckletail reached Sunningrocks and the edge of the forest, she let out a huff breathe and gasped wildly. Frostfur appeared and she looked stunned.

"Great StarClan, Speckletail, you look like you've been savaged by a dog!" Her blue eyes grew wide when the young Twoleg male appeared behind Speckletail. Frostfur let out a startled yowl and turned tail to run towards the river. The older Twoleg male appeared and grabbed her ruffly by the scruff. Even though she was old, Frostfur slashed out like a warrior and fought as hard as any warrior.

Speckletail wanted to run, but she was taut. Her paws seemed to be rooted to the ground and blood roared in her ears. Her fur bristled wildly as the other Twoleg grabbed her in his smooth arms. He stroked her softly, trying to console her, but Speckletail was still shaken up, yet she purred with every stroke the Twoleg made.

The Twolegs carred Frostfur and Speckletail to a small wooden nest far from Sunningrocks. As they entered the nest, Speckletail heard, smelled, and saw more than hundreds of cats in shiny metal webs.

"Oh StarClan!" Speckletail gasped as she was pushed gently into one of the wired mesh with Frostfur. The metal was cold at the tough and smelled strongly of Twoleg monster. Frostfur scrunched up her nose and lay down quickle in the back of the mesh. Speckletail stared worriedly at her friend and back t=at the mesh.

Maybe if I bit through it... Speckletail bit the metal web and immediatly let go. It tasted horrifying!

Please StarClan bring us hope and get us out!