Starvation

by cleana

When two loners are chased out of the Clans, they live alone and face famine and the birth of newborn kits. What will happen if the father of the kits, Raven, cannot find food for his mate? What will happen to his kits? Only time will tell.

Author's Note: This is an odd story. It's placed in the Warriors category because it has something to do with Warriors, but it is based on two loners. It still uses Warrior terms etc. so it's still a Warriors story. Please review! Thanks!

Prologue

The full moon twinkled in the sky above, setting the Island glowing. Cats gathered beneath a huge tree where four cats sat, their heads drawn up in a proud pose. One was a flaming red tom cat, the other a dappled golden she-cat, another white with black paws tom, and the last one a striped brown tabby tom.

The golden she-cat dipped her head, as if she had just finished speaking. Flicking her tail, her gaze switched the white tom. When he began to speak, every cat turned to look, at full attention.

"We have recently chased out two rogues in our territory. One is black with a white chest and paws; the other is a brown tabby. The black one said that the she-cat was going to have kits, but I didn't believe it. They were taking our prey! We advise you not to take them in. Though," the tom's gaze slid to the fiery red cat. "Some might enjoy the fact of loners joining their Clan."

Furious hisses came from the cats of ThunderClan, and the red tom spoke up. "Blackstar, what if the she-cat really is going to have kits? She could die without a Medicine Cat to help her give birth." His gaze shifted to Graystripe, his best friend, who had made the mistake of being mates with a RiverClan cat. When she had her kits, there was no Medicine Cat, and she had bled her life out on SunningRocks giving birth to them.

Silence wreathed the Gathering, and Blackstar didn't speak. His fur bristling, he turned his gaze towards his Clan. "Her belly was not swollen." muttered the leader, but for once, he didn't sound so sure.

On the edges of the island, two sets of eyes peered out, watching. One was completely melded into the shadows except for his bright white chest and paws and his curious green eyes. The other was a light brown tabby with hateful amber eyes, as if disbelief for Blackstar made her furious.

"Stripes," meowed the green - eyed tom. "We cannot stay here. If the leader of ShadowClan will not help you, we must make it on our own."

The tabby dipped her head, sighing. "Okay, Raven, as long as you promise me that our kits will be healthy." she meowed.

The tom turned to her, his eyes flickering with doubt. But when he spoke, his voice was confident. "I promise, Stripes."