Writing Prompt #1

     "Help me!" A cry emanated from a dip in the forest floor. Turning to face the call, Jasper saw below him a stocky grey cat standing over a trembling tabby. The tabby was scrawny and weak looking while the queen standing over him was not much bigger. She raised a paw high, claws extended, ready to slash the other cat's throat.

     Feeling a rush of dread, Jasper threw himself down into the hollow, on top of the she-cat, grabbing her threatening paw in his jaws as he did so. His weight carried them both away from the cowering tom and they tumbled into the dusty, leaf covered ground. An ache shot up his bad leg as he scrambled to his paws, bristling and sticking his stubby tail as high into the air as it would go. "Back off!" He spat, keeping himself between the queen and the tom she had been attacking.

     The female glared at him, baring her teeth and lashing her tail back and forth as she arched her back at him. "He was stealing prey from my territory!" She hissed, all her claws extending to sink into the earth threateningly. "And you're trespassing!"

     Jasper took a step back with a dismissive wave of his ears, "And now we're leaving. No need to be violent." He glanced back at the shivering tom, thrusting his head in the direction he had come from to indicate which way to go. "Aren't we?"

     Nodding emphatically, the tom started to slink backwards, his belly fur scraping the ground, too afraid to take his eyes from the female. She glared at them both, bared her teeth a little more, then snorted. "Fine. Go now and don't you dare come back, or I'll make your deaths slow."

     Without needing further incentive, the scrawny tom turned and fled, racing along the way Jasper had come from. Jasper shrugged his shoulders and smiled at the aggressive female. "Your loss, sweety." He said with a glitter in his eyes before following after the male he had saved. It didn't take him too long to catch up. He found the male panting and leaning against a tree only a couple furlongs away.

     "Are you alright?" He asked gently, brushing his tail against the other's back in a reassuring gesture. The tom nodded, while catching his breath. "Good, then how about I catch us something to eat and you thank me for saving your hide?" He asked cocking his head to one side suggestively. The timid male stared at him with wide, startled eyes, but Jasper only smiled and nudged him with a shoulder. "It's a joke. Though I will catch you something to eat if you like."

     "That would be very appreciated..." The tom said cautiously. Jasper only nodded with his smile still on his face, before heading into the woods to find something for the poor, scrawny cat to eat.

     "Help me!" A cry emanated from a dip in the forest floor. Turning to face the call, Horn saw below her a stocky grey cat standing over a trembling tabby. The tabby was scrawny and weak looking while the queen standing over him was not much bigger. She raised a paw high, claws extended, ready to slash the other cat's throat.

     Horn watched for a moment, waiting to see how the tom would defend himself. As the female brought her claws down towards his neck, he flinched backwards and her claws slashed across his chest instead. He fell back against the ground in pain, crying out for mercy. The grey female snarled at him. "You're pathetic. Steal prey from my territory will you? Well, I'll make sure you never have the chance to do so again!"

     The tom whimpered, scrambling at the dirt to try and claw his way back to his paws before she could lash out at him again. Horn felt sick, not at the violence, but at the disgusting way the male groveled and cowered. He clearly didn't have what was needed to survive. As the queen brought her claws back down across his throat, Horn didn't even blink. The blood that welled up did not phase her, though his scream that turned to a choked gargling did make her fur crawl across her spine.

     As the male went limp at the grey cat's feet, she glanced up and saw Horn. Hissing, she glared up at the calico. "Are you thinking of stealing my prey as well?" While the grey was much smaller than Horn and puffed up a little in response to realizing that, she still stood her ground and looked ready to fight Horn if she said she was. She had the strength and courage that was needed to survive.

     With a simple shake of her head, Horn turned and left the she-cat to clean up her mess however she planned to. After all, leaving a dead body around would attract scavengers and larger predators. She didn't want to be here when that happened if the female didn't know how to clean up after herself.