The Heatherpaw Vignettes/The Morning and a Large Ginger Snout

This is the first vignette in The Heatherpaw Vignettes series of short stories. It was written on the 12th day of March, 2008. It takes place on the 2nd day of the Moon of Tiger's Wrath (2006).

Featuring

Heatherpaw

Frozenpaw

Gingerfur

Notes

Written March 13th, 2008

This was the first vignette ever written. At first, I planned to write about five short stories that lead up to the death of Frozenpaw, but my ideas just grew and grew.

This is the shortest vignette, at 308 words.

The Morning and a Large Ginger Snout

You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction - George Lorimer

A ginger snout poked its way into the apprentice’s den. “Time to get up and train, Heatherpaw,” it called, “and you too, Frozenpaw. Your mentor will be looking for you.”

A white-furred cat leapt from her nest, bright blue eyes eager for the day’s training. The snout pulled out from the den, probably out to get itself some prey. Frozenpaw nudged Heatherpaw, only half awake, with her nose. “C’mon, get up, Heatherpaw!” she called, eyes sparkling.

Heatherpaw opened her eyes, looking at her sister who was practically quivering from excitement. With an audible sigh, the silver tabby got up and slightly shook herself before emerging from the den at Frozenpaw’s heels.

The ginger snout – which belonged to Heatherpaw’s mentor, Gingerfur – and the rest of the cat was waiting for Heatherpaw by the camp entrance. The large tom was looking very officious, tail curled around his paws as he examined his scatterbrained apprentice. Heatherpaw quickly tried to groom her messy, long fur, but it was no use.

Gingerfur narrowed his eyes in a way that did not mean things were good. “Heatherpaw,” he meowed, his voice low and deep. “Today we are going to hunt. Winter has set in, and with all the queens in the nursery, we need as much prey as we can get. Ibisflight’s kits are growing quickly. Dawnfur had her kits last night, and Shiningcrest could have hers any day now. We must hope that this winter is not harsh.”

At the mention of Ibisflight’s kits, Heatherpaw’s mind fluttered to the thought of those two cute bundles of fur, Oakkit and Ternkit. And there were new kits! How sweet! “What are Dawnfur’s kits’ names? How many did she have?”

“Three. Ask her yourself. After training,” Gingerfur meowed gruffly. “We should get to the hunting.”

With a small nod, Heatherpaw followed her mentor out of camp.