Tall Grass : Fire Leaves, 9 Lives?

“STOP!” Kirsha roared, leaping agily in between the two struggling furballs.

Mouse-brains!

“I thought,” Fire growled, panting, “that we were friends!”

“Friends change!” Kirsha roared back.

Fire, eyes burning with pure hatred, dug her claws into the ground. Then she turned away with a swishing tail and exited Kirsha’s life for the last time.

Kirsha frowned and turned half-angrily to Icemoon.

“What do you think you were doing?” she demanded, pawing the dust.

Icemoon sighed, and sat down wearily in the waving grass.

“Instincts, I guess. In my clan, I am treated with respect, and at least listened to! In my clan, I am deputy.”

Kirsha nodded. Larka was ‘alpha,’ or ‘deputy’ as he called it. The only one over her was Moon, the leader.

“What is your lifestyle in your camp? Who works for you?”

Icemoon laughed, “For me? No one! Every warrior is equal. The elders are respected.”

He drew closer, and the whispery breath came to Kirsha’s ears, “And our leader has nine lives.”

“Ha!” Kirsha scoffed, laughing to herself, “However you may convince me, I know that there will never be a creature with nine lives!”

Icemoon glanced thoughtfully at the sky.

“It is Star Clan that has given him these lives.” Icemoon mewed quietly.

Kirsha’s brow furrowed in wonder. Could it be true? She scooted closer to Icemoon, curious to hear more.

“Long ago, when cats traveled down from the mountains, the a few of the spirits of the mountains followed them down, guiding them. When they settled here, they decided to spend a fragment of their power to help the clans survive. Thus, they gave the leader nine lives. It’s very simple, if you think about it,” Icemoon said, padding around Kirsha, tail swaying lazily.

“Really?” Kirsha mewed.

She raised her eyes to the setting sun. A single star sparkled in the sky. It beckoned her imagination and curiousity. If it really was this simple, she must hear more.