Chapter

Chapter 18

Victor

         After a whole day of searching, none of the patrols can even find a trace of the poor kit.  And if we don't find Honey soon, she won't be the only one in danger.  Flower hasn't been eating anything lately.
I nudge a mouse toward the she-cat.  It's the pest prey we've caught in a long time.
"Flower, you need to eat," I say.  She shakes her head sadly.
"I'm not hungry," she replies. I sigh and look into her eyes.
"Listen, Flower.  Do you want Honey to have a mother to come back to?  Because if you die of hunger or thirst she'll probibly die too!"  I raise my tone a bit.  Obviously Flower won't listen to kind words.  She sighs.
"You're right, Victor," she admits.  "I've been selfish.  You're right."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, please.  Eat the whole mouse and then we'll stop by the lake.  Afterwards, we can go back to the hill and see if we can spot anything, okay?"
"Oh, Victor, that'd be great!"  Flower leans over and takes a bite of her mouse.  It's good to see her eating again.  After she's finished, we walk out to the lake where we both lap up some water.  Now we can head up to the hill.
It's a long way up, but the veiw is spectacular.  The only reason I had the dawn patrol claim the hill is because I can see all  of the forest from up here, and we sometimes meet up here when planning any attacks on other creatures.  Not once have we had to fight other cats.
"I don't see her blonde pelt," Flower says sadly after we've reached the top.
"Don't give up yet," I say.  "You never know where she could be."  But I must admit, the forest is silent, only a few flickers of movement.  No yellow cats.
I look over at Flower, but she's staring at something below.  That can't be good.
"Flower?" I ask.  "You okay?"
"Ffff..." Flower begins.  She's shaking.
"What?" She's creeping me out.  "Flower, spit it out!"
"Fffff.... fooo....  fox!" Flower yowls.  Sure enough, there's an orange pelt below.  But that's no fox.
"Flower, that's not a fox," I say.  She looks at me.
"Then what is it?" she asks.  I take a double glance back at the orange pelt.
"I don't recoginse it, but it's a cat."