TW: small death of rabbit/bird (not too in detail)

Part 4

Elpis stirred awake as the first rays of light filtered into the small cave they had taken shelter in for the night. Her sleek black fur shimmered in the light, casting a different hue than it did in the dark. She glanced over to Onas, who was still in a deep slumber, tucked away in a corner where the light couldn't reach him. Elpis noticed he was wincing every now and then, but it wasn't as severe as it was the day before. She padded over to him and carefully removed the cobwebs and moss that had held his wound in place. She examined it closely and decided to soak the fresh moss in the water from a nearby puddle before cleaning the wound gently. Once she was done, she put fresh moss and cobwebs on the wound, allowing Onas to rest a while longer.

As Elpis emerged from the cave, she was greeted with a crisp, icy wind blowing through the trees. She knew winter was on its way, but she was determined to reach the lost clan before the storms hit. However, the thought of getting caught in a winter storm without food or water made her uneasy. She shook her head, trying to push those thoughts aside, and set out to look for something to eat.

Elpis caught sight of a rabbit dashing through the trees and quickly gave chase. Her golden eyes gleamed with determination as she closed in on her prey. With a swift pounce, she dug her claws into the rabbit, taking it down with a quick bite to the neck. But she knew one rabbit wouldn't be enough for both her and Onas. She found another potential meal, a bird perched on a boulder, and skillfully caught it as well.

As she made her way back to the cave with her kills, Elpis spotted a large pond and couldn't resist looking at her reflection. However, she was startled when she saw something approaching her from behind. Her heart raced until she realized it was Onas, who had come up to her to admire her catch. They shared a moment of lighthearted teasing before settling down to eat.

Onas couldn't help but feel a tingle of excitement as Elpis laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. He knew it was silly, but he couldn't help but enjoy the attention she was giving him. His ears burned as he looked away, trying to hide the fact that he was enjoying her playful teasing.

But the moment was abruptly interrupted when Onas saw a cat on the other side of the pound, curiously observing them. His instincts kicked in, and he stood up swiftly, his eyes locked onto the stranger. Elpis followed his gaze, quickly flicking her eyes to where he was looking. It was another cat, and they both knew they had to be on high alert.

The tension was palpable as Elpis tried calling out to the cat, hoping to get a response. But their movements seemed to scare the stranger, who quickly darted away from them, his lithe form moving with ease through the trees. Onas and Elpis exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, they began to pursue the mysterious feline.

The chase was exhilarating, their paws pounding the ground as they tried to keep up with the stranger's agile movements. The male cat was a blur, leaping effortlessly over fallen trees and scrambling up steep boulders with ease. Onas and Elpis pushed themselves to their limits, determined to catch up to the fleeing cat.

But no matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't keep up with the stranger's lightning-fast pace. Soon, they lost sight of him altogether and were forced to come to a halt, their chests heaving with the effort of the chase.

They looked around frantically, scanning the area for any sign of the mysterious cat. But he seemed to have disappeared completely, leaving no trace of his presence behind. Onas felt a pang of disappointment as he realized they had lost their chance to find out more about the stranger. But he also knew that he and Elpis had done everything they could. They had chased the cat with all their might, and that was something to be proud of.

Onas sat down next to Elpis, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any potential danger. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the rustling of leaves breaking the silence. Elpis sat beside him, her fur prickling with nervous anticipation. Suddenly, a noise caught their attention, and they both sprang up in alarm.

Their hearts pounded in their chests as they turned to face the source of the disturbance. A figure emerged from the shadows, and a rough voice filled the air.

"You're looking for the Lost Clan?" the voice growled, its tone laced with suspicion.

Onas tensed, his claws unsheathing instinctively. "Who's there?" he demanded, his gaze narrowing.

The figure stepped forward, revealing himself to be a scruffy-looking tom with matted fur and a scar across his nose. He sneered at them, his eyes flicking over their forms.

"You two don't look like you're from around here," he snarled, his tail lashing angrily. "What business do you have with the Lost Clan?"

Onas exchanged a wary glance with Elpis, his mind racing. They had come too far to be stopped by a random stranger. He stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.

"We seek an audience with the Lost Clan," he declared, his gaze never leaving the tom's face. "We mean no harm, but we must speak with their leader."

The tom narrowed his eyes, sizing them up. Finally, he nodded, his expression grim.

"Follow me," he muttered, turning and padding deeper into the forest.

Onas and Elpis exchanged a glance, then followed the tom, their hearts pounding with excitement and fear. They were closer than ever to finding the Lost Clan, but they knew that danger lurked around every corner. They steeled themselves for whatever lay ahead, determined to see their quest through to the end.