Tall Grass : Icemoon Meets Fire

“Soooo, do you have any fellow bobcats hanging around here?” Icemoon whispered.

The two companions were crouching in a patch of tall grass. Kirsha’s tail swung slowly in anger. The summer air was refreshing and the twittering birds inhabitted the fields constantly. A deep breath of the fresh air could heal the lungs from dampness and give a spirit of joy. But Kirsha barely noticed. She frowned as she scented a familiar old friend. The bushes rustled to the right. Kirsha bristled, fully prepared for Moon to emerge, ranked by his warriors. Instead, a timid creature emerged. Fire.

“Kirsha?” Fire growled, “I can smell you, but who is your friend?”

Kirsha closed her eyes and pawed her ears and groaned. Fire was no threat to her, but she was quite an annoying tag-along. She rolled her eyes. No use hiding.

She grudgingly stood up and yowled, “Over here!”

Fire, being partly relieved, padded over to the pair.

“Who, or what is that?” Fire growled angrily, narrowing her eyes at Icemoon.

“For your information,” growled Icemoon, bristling his fur to full length, “I am a cat, and my name is Icemoon.” He ended with a flourishing sweep of his paw.

“Kirsha?” Fire questioned, eying Icemoon suspiciously.

“Yeah,” Kirsha drawled, waving her tail lazily, “he’s fine.”

Kirsha gazed into Fire’s eyes. They shot back everything that Fire had been through. Pain, terror, home-sickness. And for all of that, being alone.

“Why did you leave, Kirsha?” Fire raised herself to a sitting position, swipping her tail at a buzzing fly. She was curious. Kirsha spilled it out.

“I was so determined to get away from everything!” Kirsha moaned, squinting in the sunlight pouring down on her, “I wasn’t thinking about what would be best for the future! I didn’t want a friend!”

Fire stared at a rock on the ground. She pawed gently at a passing beetle. Silence filled the heavy noon air. Kirsha felt embarrased. She hadn’t ment to be so rude. She, too, stared up at the sky, silently watching an evening sparrow dart past.

“And you became friends with, this thing?” Fire growled, frowning deeply.

“Yes,” Kirsha murmered, closing her eyes in thought.

Icemoon jumped up from his peaceful nap. He glared scorchingly into Fire’s soul.

“If you dare,” he roared, flexing his long, sharp claws, “call me a ‘thing’ again, I will show you a true warrior of the world!”

“YOU STOLE KIRSHA! NOW YOU WILL PAY!” Fire roared histerically.

“We’ll see,” Icemoon answered cooley, swishing his tail and crouching in position.

“This isn’t necesary!” Kirsha sprung up, trying to part the anger.

Fire growled angrily. A challenge could not be turned away. She felt her battle blood flowing through her veins and muscles. She felt iron hot. Then she attacked.