Tall Grass : Banished

"What should I do, Larka?" Thistle whispered, her eyes flashing in fear.

"Stay strong," Larka hissed, "and everything will pull through. The danger is almost over."

Gently Thistle placed her kitten on the ground, the survivor of the original litter of three.

"I can't bear to lose my last cub, Larka," Thistle whispered tenderly.

"Well," Larka growled curiously, "what is her name, Thistle?"

After gazing at the spottled kitten for a moment, she mewed quietly, "Kirsha."

Moons later, Larka's amber eyes glinted evily at Kirsha as she yowled, "You are to blame for this! Thistle is dead!"

"Well what are you going to do about it, Larka? It was you who could not assist my mother!" Kirsha shot back, determined to win this unfair fight.

The pack howled in disruption.

"Larka is right!" yowled Stripe, a leading male in the pack.

"You don't know a thing!" Angry voices filled the air.

"You're right, Kirsha!" a voice meowed inoccently, "Who knows what the sneaky little scrap of fur could have done!"

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

"SILENCE!" Larka roared.

The pack fell silent suddenly.

Menacingly, Larka growled, "Who said it?"

The pack cleared a circle around Fire.

"Fire."

Larka's eyes shot hate and the urge to tear Fire and Kirsha both apart was almost unbearable.

"There is no need for violence, Larka," Moon commanded.

"Of course," Larka smoothed her voice to honey.

Eying Larka proudly, Moon answered the pack, "It is simple. I believe that Larka would not do something like this. Her record of good deeds in the past has run clear for moons. Kirsha, However," he said, eying Kirsha with distain, "is known to create trouble for the pack. I therefore announce that Kirsha be banished forever from this forest, and Fire, for penalty of her unforgivable behavior."

Kirsha raced out of the pack gathering, giving Stripe a mean scratch on her way out.

Fire, sensing Kirsha's want to flee immediately, glanced around warily before taking off after her.