Chapter 1 , Tredding Thin Ice

[Blackie™ ` VAMPIRE]

'What are you doing?!' The gray-blue tom hissed. His mustard eyes glanced over his shoulder, hoping no one would appear while the two were there. A flame-colored head popped from around a large Oak tree.
'Stop being a mouse, Blizzardnose!' The the flame-colored tom replied. Blizzardnose shook his head and ran over to the tom.
'Firebutt, we're going to get caught!' He whispered in the flaming tom's ear. Firebutt crouched down, moving forward stealthly. He then leapt, leaving Blizzardnose alone. A moment later, Firebutt returned with a squirrel gripped firmly in his jaws, his chest puffed out with pride. Blizzardnose shook his head in frustration.
'You know if Jumpingear finds out he'll tell Stompingbelly and we'll get punished.' He insisted. His whiskers twitched at the thought, and the nervousness in his belly grew. Firebutt nodded and began to pad towards the fence. Blizzardnose followed, his head low. His pelt flarred when a scent hit the roof of his mouth; the scent of a housepet. Blizzardnose turned sharply to see a flash of white streaking towards them. The gray tom fell on to his belly, hoping the housepet would trip over his lowered body. Claws flashed in front of Blizzardnose, and pain shot through his face. Blood began to sting his eyes, flowing in from new wounds. He could feel teeth bite down on his shoulder, and bolted up, rolling to try and manage to throw the housepet off. Blizzardnose knew he would have to wait for Firebutt to jump the fence, and in the meantime, would have to occupy the housepet. The white tom whirled around, landing quickly on his paws and swiping at Blizzardnose again. Blizzardnose took a step back, rearing up on his hindlegs, ready to crash down on the housepet. The white tom zig-zagged, hitting Blizzardnose square in the flank. With the breath knocked out of him abruptly, Blizzardnose fell onto his side, feeling claws and teeth digging into his pelt and creating fresh wounds. He took in a gasp of air and looked over at the fence. no sign of Firebutt, which meant the flame tom had made it across. With a final effort, Blizzardnose thrust with his hindlegs, feeling the soft fur of the white tom's underbelly meet his paw-pads. The housepet landed a few tail-lengths away, giving Blizzardnose just barely any time to reach the fence. His hautches bunched beneath him, and he leapt, grabbing hold of the fence post and leaping to the other side. He lost his footing while he landed, his muzzle scrapping the Path. The raoring of a Creature drummed in his ears, telling him to move. Blizzardnose twitched his tail tip, his body numb. His eyes were closed, not wanting to open, and his voice seemed to have left him. This is it, isn't it? It all ends here. I can't move, and I know I'm on a Path...

Firebutt had raced back to the Barn, thinking that Blizzardnose was behind him. When he arrived, he dropped the mouse on the Kill pile, and looked over his shoulder, calling Blizzardnose's name. No one was there with him. Firebutt had thought for sure Blizzardnose had gotten away! His pelt bristled at the thought of Blizzardnose fighting the housepet. He pelted back, scenting freshly spilt blood as he neared the Housepet's home. He skidded to a stop once he reached the path, his eyes showing nothing but horror. Blizzardnose lay on the Path, bleeding from open wounds. he wasn't moving, but Blizzardnose could see the shallow rise and fall of the tom's flank, revealing he was still alive. Firebutt looked down the Path, seeing a Creature approaching quickly. He darted over to Blizzardnose clenching his teeth before grasping the tom's neck scruff. He gently, yet quickly, pulled Blizzardnose to the otherside of the Path, only moments before the Creature reached them. it roared by, sending up leaves and dirt into the cats' pelts. Firebutt panted, his heart racing. he wasn't sure how he would get Blizzardnose back, but he knew he had to hurry.

I could feel Stompingbelly's angry stare falling down on me. I had noticed it all night, and tried to ignore it, with no success. I could not help think it was all my fault. Blizzardnose did not have to go. I told him he could stay. Yet, he insisted. Said that I would get hurt if I went alone. But I did not get hurt in any way. He did. When I think about it now, I wish it had been me, laying on the Path. Bleeding from wounds caused by the Housepet. Barely breathing. My body numb. I can't even imagine the pain. The closeness of death. The Creature would have hit him if I had not gone back. I was still too late though. I could have helped Blizzardnose get away. Instead I went on. I thought he was okay. I did not think that he could be beat, just like Stompingbelly. Or Jumpingear. I thought he was invincible. But Stompingbelly says no one is invincible.
'Stompingbelly,' A call comes from the back of the barn. He looked up, his gaze not changing. I could see anger, and yet worry in his eyes. I could understand why. I, myself, was worried. No. I was terrified for Blizzardnose. When I had found him, I thought for sure he was dead. I watched as Jumpingear stalked past me. He had been helping Twitchyeye tend to Blizzardnose's wounds. The two exchanged words I couldn't hear. Jumpingear glared at me. I could feel his hostility burning straight to my bones. Stompingbelly walked by, Jumpingear following briskly. I had a bad feeling in my stomach now. I wanted to follow, my paws itching to bolt after them. But the stare. The look on their face when I returned with Blizzardnose. When I told them what happened. I just can't face it again. I turned my head. I just had to know. Nothing. They had hurried. It was not good...

I left before Stompingbelly returned. I did not want to wait for the announcement. If Blizzardnose died, it would be my fault. My pelt bristled as a rustling sounded beside me. With claws flexed, I let out a warning hiss. A chuckle erupted from the bush, and a moment later Twitchyeye walked out. I relaxed visibly. But the thought of Blizzardnose was still haunting me.
'Firebutt, I need to speak with you.' Twitchyeye meowed. I could hear sadness in her voice. I didn’t want to know why she was sad.
‘Listen,’ She began. I knew it was coming. Blizzardnose was dead. She wouldn’t speak like this unless he was. ‘About Blizzardnose. He has very serious wounds. I’m not sure if they will get infected. I put herbs on them, so hopefully they won’t. But, I think you should watch over him. You and him are close, and I think he'd prefer you over any of us.’ I didn’t look at her. I was afraid she’d see the pain in my eyes. I nodded hesitantly, though I didn’t want to watch over Blizzardnose. It was my fault he got hurt. I would just be haunted even more by being with him. I watched as Twitchyeye relaxed visibly. I turned away, heading back to the Barn. I wanted to walk slowly, but my paws seemed to go faster than necessary. I soon arrived back at home, my paws breaking into a run as I arrived closer. I skidded to a stop outside, wondering, hoping, no one else was there. I scented the air and found no trace of Jumpingear or Stompingbelly. I made up my mind and stalked in, hesitantly walking over to where Blizzardnose was being kept. His body was laying there, stiff. Twitchyeye had cleaned his pelt, but I could still remember him with blood smothering his fur. I sighed and padded over, curling up beside him.