Chapter One: Rusty Origins

Sooo, this unlucky stranger ended up clicking on my story, huh? Yes, I'am talking to You! There are so few people visiting these day, every opportunity to use my rusty voice must be taken. I feared, I would be gathering dust before someone visited. In fact, I did. Don't look at me that way! I'm not THAT old, just been sitting here for a while. By the way... which year is it?

Well, first of all: If You are like me and don't like to read Author's notes, then You are allowed to skip this part and jump right into it! Just ... Well the usual: Critic is appreciated, my english is bad, enjoy or something like this.

You are still here? Seems like at least somebody enjoys reading those... ah ... Right there was something I wanted to tell You, soo if You haven't noticed yet: English is not my mother language and the little bit english I actually managed to learn is pretty pathetic. And this is - ironically - also one reason I'm writing right now. Because, You know, school - or better high school, or the end of high school?(don't really know what it's called in english) can be pretty tough and I thought, I could practice a bit writing. I started a few stories and then thought about uploading one, so other people could anonymusly (is that even correct?) make fun of me, because my english sucks. Another reason for starting this ... something is simple: I'm bored. Don't really want to actually learn for school and most of my little group of friends are either busy or far away. I'm probably the one and only human who doesn't enjoy holidays. And while I was so bored, I started to reread practically every book I own and stumbled over the Warrior Cats series.

If you haven't read them already, I can only advise You to do so, those are some amazing book and although some might say "ahw that's such a kiddy book, why do you even read this?!" I can only say, that I don't care for whom the book is made, I read what I enjoy.
Sooo I read them for like the thousandth time and wasn't really satisfied, so I stared reading fanfiction.
Does this sound weird? It sure does for me, but maybe You are familiar with It? And that's when I decided to write my own Warrior cats story ... and well, now You are here.
And I'm sorry, I didn't mean to whine about my life like this, it just happend.

There's another thing I wanted to tell You: This is planned to be a pretty long story (it has to be, since it is going to show the main story of the first Books) and this is just the first chapter and some people might expect me to frequently update this story (maybe not, maybe nobody likes it. Or maybe nobody will even click it. I'm pretty passimistic) so I warn You: I'm not going to lie, like some other writers.
You probably know this: You find a decent story, which is written pretty good and is interesting and You read and read and read and suddenly there are no chapter left, even though the story has no ending and the author sais the next chapter will come soon. So You have a look at the date of the last update ... and you see that the author's last update was years ago and he probably forgot the story. So I'm telling you now this: I might not update this because:
A. I've been busy with school and everything
B. My inspiration might fail, so I can't think about anything to write.
C. I might loose interest in Warrior Cats.
But for now I will continue this and maybe somebody spends his precious time, reading not only those annoying authors notes, but the story as well.

So here You find the usual stuff, which You find at most stories: Reviews and critics are appreciated, when You find grammar and spelling errors, it would be really nice if You could tell me, so I can correct them. If You have ideas for my story, You are permitted to share them with us, since I would really like to hear other people on this page as well. (It gets lonely being the only one around)

So Yeah this is it! Puh, those notes really became long, sorry ... didn't plan on that.
So here is the disclaimer: Warrior Cats doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the Erin Hunter(s)

Enjoy!

Dark shadows hung over the twolegplace, the only light source vanished every few moment behind fast moving clouds. The night was silent, it was too late and too dark for most of the twoleg monster too move now and only a light breeze moved the green leaves high in the trees beside the thunderpath.

Then the shadows moved. A ginger furball rushed over the still thunderpath, chased by two others: one pitch-black and one black-white. The trio vanished into the dense maze of twolegnests, running at top speed, while avoiding twoleg garbage and other obstacles. Eyes flashing in the twilight of the alleys.

This chase seemed to never end, until Rusty ran around the corner, hoping to shake of his followers, and nearly collided head first with a stonewall which blocked his way.

There was no escaping now. No way to flee, no place to hide, he was cornered.

This was a dump idea to start with, sneaking into Bloodclans territory to find some food, but this was the only place he could go and it was pretty unlikely for one cat to get noticed or so he thought. I should really stop thinking this much...

But no, he had to be clumsy and draw attention and now he was chased by two bloodthirsty hunters and he was their pray. And he was trapped. He could only turn around and fight now.

He had fought cats before, he had fought over food, over dens, even over water to drink, but now he had to fight for his life and he had to fight alone, plus, most importantly: if he lost he would end up dead. No second chance, no retrying. And they would round the corner any heartbeat now. So the fire colored tom turned around, bend his back and gathered all the courage he had. Fighting in his state was tough, but he had no options.

The cats shot around the corner and struggled to a stop, roughly a fox length from him. For the first time could Rusty take a look at his opponents: he recognized the black and white tom with the strong, black shoulders, a white tail-tip, a torn ear, a scratch from his right brow to his mouth and glowing, amber eyes. He was Smudge, the two toms had met before, they were still small back then, barely two moons old, they had been close friends. Those were better days, where the world was still all right. But he was pretty sure that Smudge didn't even remembered him. And that saddened him a bit.

His companion was a pitch-black she-cat with a white nose and frontpaws, she was a bit smaller then the two toms and had just a few marks on her body. But she looked as dangerous as Smudge beside her. They were still two fox lengths away, but Rusty could see the muscles under their pelts and could only imagine how he had to look: Dirty fur, sticking tightly to his body, rips showing under his skin; he hadn't eaten properly in days and running half a day didn't help his situation. He was a strong cat for his nine moons, he had to, since he had to run away and hunt and fight all his life, since his mother was killed. That was about 4 moons ago. But those cats smelled of crowfood and the she-cat seemed around his age. Pretty young for a fighter.

He was broken from his thoughts by Smudge. "You know the punishment for crossing our border, don't you kittypet?"

Rusty knew.

Everyone from the whole twolegplace knew and they all heard the stories about evil cats, killing every intruder for only shifting half a paw over their border. But he was neither a stupid defenseless pitiful kitten, nor was he a kittypet! And They would pay for what their kin had done to him.

The Bloodclan had slaughtered his mother and torn apart his family and he wound make every bloodclan cat pay until he found the one responsible. Even the most horrible nightmare couldn't be compared the punishment this one will receive.

The she-cat took his silence for fear "Whats the matter Kittypet? Fox got your tongue? Well, a fox is your least problem now, cause I'm gonna shred you to pieces!" She snarled at him pugnaciously .Smudge turned to the she-cat "We are attacking together, Shadow!"

Bloodlust blocked her ability to listen. "No, i'm attacking him now!" And without waiting for Smudge response, the she-cat jumped at Rusty.

But he was ready.

Too Slow He thought, as he was already prepared for the attack and jumped to the left will kicking Shadow with his hind leg in the side, sending her crashing into the wall. But before Rusty could attack her, had Smudge already jumped and Rusty wasn't fast enough to dodge this time. The Black-White tom landed on Rusty's back. He acted out of instinct and threw himself back first against the wall and heard surprised grunt from the tom, who let go of his back to steady himself. But Rusty was faster. He turned around quickly and scratched the other tom with this frontpaw over his old scare on the face. He struck again and Smudge tried to jump out of his range but the wall, which blocked Rusty's escape route, blocked now his opponents movement. Rusty's claws hit Smudge face again, this time only a whisker length over the eyes.

Blood ran into them, effectively blocking Smudge vision. He swung his paws in Rusty's direction and although they only hit cold air, this got him the time he needed too shake his head and clear his vision. Rusty jumped this time. But he had underestimated the older tom, who mad a small back step, and Rusty's didn't land on the toms shoulders, as he intended to, but rather in front of Smudge claws. The next moment had he claws stuck in his shoulder and an angry hiss in his ear. He hadn't have to think about what to do, he was in this situation many times before and instead of attacking the other tom with his paws, he turn swiftly around, effectively ripping the claws – with a bit ginger fur still stuck under them – out of his shoulder and throwing Smudge of balance. Still turning, Rusty used his hind paws to kick, the still dazzled Smudge, in the side, knocking him over. He sensed his chance and completed, turning and jumped at Smudge, before said tom could even react. He bit down on Smudge foreleg and slashed his claws down his exposed, soft belly, drawing pools of blood with every strike. Smudge counterstrikes grew weaker every heartbeat and his eyes show the pain he was suffering.

Rusty was about to finish him – not to kill him but rather to scare him of - when he was interrupted by Shadow crashing into his side.

He had totally forgotten about the she-cat, which now held him down and scratched his side with her hindpaws. He felt the burning pain with each kick and saw his blood being spilled on the hard floor. Although he knew we might die on this spot, he felt not the smallest bit of fear. He enjoyed the thrill of battle and the energy rush in his system, he wasn't a kittypet, he was a fighter! And he would show these cats what he was made of.

And with these thoughts in mind he kicked Shadow with all his strength, throwing the she-cat off and jumped to his paws. Although it was a hard kick, which probably knocked the air out of shadow, the she cat managed to stand up and turn around before Rusty jumped at her. They both went down and clawed each other. Rusty saw his chance and bit down on Shadows forpaw how hissed in pain and began attacking his shoulder over and over again. So Rusty jumped a bit out of reach, with Shadows paw still in his jaws. He heard a his of pain as she was dragged along a small distance before she could rip her paw out.

They stared at each other for a few heartbeats. Rusty knew he was lucky. Although he was faster then Smudge and stronger then Shadow, those two together could really have been a problem.

But Smudge wasn't able to fight anymore and Shadow was loosing. He knew it and Smudge, who was still watching through pain filled eyes, knew it as well. But Shadow was too stubborn to admit the fact.

And so she jumped again.

And Rusty had learned, he used the same trick Smudge had shown him just a moment before: He jumped back a little and the she-cat had a confused look on her face as her claws landed on the hard ground instead of the dirt and blood crusted ginger fur. She looked even more confused as sharp claws tore her right ear apart and a mighty paw-strike hit the side her face. She stumbled a bit backward but couldn't escape Rusty's furious attacks, which slashed her nose open and tore deep gashes over her black cheeks.

She finally jumped back a good distance away and Rusty could catch his breath. Blood dripped from his many scratches but he had no time too acknowledge those now.

Suddenly Smudge began to speak.

"Let it be, Shadow, you lost too much blood, you will only get yourself killed!" In his voice lay despair; Rusty knew that Bloodclan had no use for old or hurt cats and those, who couldn't take care of themselves would be left to die; he needed the younger she-cat.

But Shadow wouldn't listen. "I am going to finish this pitiful kittypet now, he doesn't deserve to stay here!" Rusty's ears lay flat. This cat spoke with so much venom in her voice, and was so full of herself, Rusty couldn't stand it

For the first time in there encounter, he opened his mouth to speak

"Shut up now, will you? You lost already and you will lose again! Don't make me kill you out of your own stupidity, go ahead and treat Smudge instead of wasting your stinking breath and blood in a battle you cannot win!"

He was exhausted and wanted to end this as quickly as he could. But he hated them, he hated their whole clan and he couldn't stop himself from adding:" And call me Kittypet one more time and I make sure not even the crows would dare to taste your rotting flesh!"

Rusty crouched down, ready to jump, and hissed dangerously.

But the she-cat had set her mind and only snarled back: "You pathetic kittypet think you can threaten me? I wanna see how you do this when you are dead!"

With this she jumped. And this time Rusty jumped as well.

And they clashed. A claw ran down Rusty's flank and he answered with some strikes over the black cats shoulder. They traded blows and kicks some time until Shadows jaws closed around his tail and her paws found his belly. Pain shot through Rusty's spine and his belly felt like set ablaze. Thinking fast, he pulled his legs close to his body, gathered all his strength and kicked with as much force as his body could manage. It was a strong kick, which threw the she-cat off. Shadow landed with a thud on the hard ground, about a tail length from him. He expected her to jump on her paws and attack again, but this time she stayed on the ground.

Her body twitched and as Rusty looked over to Smudge, he froze. The tom's face was pale, his eyes wide from shock and fear. Rusty padded over to Shadow and he saw it. His kick hadn't only kicked her of, but his claws had hit her throat and ripped a large hole from her chest to the chin, with blood pouring out, washing over Rusty's paws.

Even though she was his enemy, his entire being being screamed at him to help her, but he knew: There was nothing that could be done. It was a lethal wound.

He could only watch the she-cat struggle in pain. Shadow tried to say something but all that came out was a choking, bubbling sound. He and Smudge watched as her eyes lost there terrified glance and her body stopped to twitch.

Shadow was dead.

And Rusty was a murderer.

He never killed a cat before and it felt terrible to watch the life leave the beaten body.

He hated her, her and most of her clan.

But no cat should die such a horrid way, not even them.

And what's done is, is done. No going back.

Then the clouds broke up, revealing the shining moon and the crimson liquid around them turned into fluid silver. Even Shadow's black pelt got a silvery gloss. She no longer looked like a beaten, bloody, dead cat. Rather was she lying in a tiny silver lake, enjoying the night. She seemed almost, almost peaceful.

But as fragile the moment was, it broke heartbeats after it's appearance, with the vanishing of the moon. What was left was a dead cat, pools of blood and bad memories.

"Goodbye Shadow" A voice spoke softly from behind, barely audible "May you find peace, wherever you go" One could easily forget, that they just fought for their lives, hearing those tender word.

But Rusty couldn't. Smudge eyes went wide as Rusty walked slowly toward the beaten tom. He felt pity; Smudge had nowhere to go and seemed to realize, that he was at Rusty's mercy and how high his chances stood to follow Shadow's path. He could smell the black-White toms fear.

He had no idea what to do about him, but he knew he couldn't let him lay there. As much as he disliked the older tom, he couldn't murder another cat, especially one in this state.

Although he wasn't even sure if Smudge could survive long enough to escape with him, he had to try.

But before he could ask him, Smudge beat him to the task: "What are you going to do now?" he asked, his voice shaking. Rusty guessed the tom's curiosity won over his fear. He thought for a moment, although he knew his answer already. He noticed the first rays of the sun to rise above the twolegnests and he felt terribly tied. I ran half the day and the night and fought the rest of the time, I need rest he realized and he too he added with gaze on Smudge.

He took a deep breath and decided.

"I'm going to take you with me and see if I can do anything for your wounds." His tone wasn't questioning, but rather forcing the brown tom to agree.

Smudges eyes shot up and met his, disbelief and confusion was shown

"You wont kill me?" Rusty felt hurt by this comment.

"I am not a coldhearted murderer, who kills defenseless cats from bloodlust, I hate killing. I killed someone today-" he nods towards Shadows body "-And I don't plan on doing it again. And if I let you lie here and run away alone, you would end up the same way. Either to a lack of blood or food, but nonetheless dead. So I have no choice. Can you walk?"

His ears twitched, he didn't have the time to chat long, other Bloodclan cats could find them and he was sure, he had no energy for a second fight.

Smudge seemed still confused "I don't get it, we tried to kill you and now you want to save me ?"

But Rusty didn't have the time to spare "Yes, but if you keep wasting my time, I might just as well change my mind. Move now, otherwise you will end like her" He pointed his nose at the broken body of shadow - Smudge wince, probably out of fear and grieve.

"I thought so, now move, we got to get out of here!" and with this he helped Smudge to his paws.

He knew the way out of the twolegplace, but Smudges heavy injuries slowed them awfully down. Smudge did help, by telling him about the routine paths Bloodclan patrols traveled along. It upset him to learn that, if he had crossed on particular thunderpath just a few moment earlier, he would have avoided Smudge and Shadow, it would have never come to a battle and Shadow would be still alive. But he knew he shouldn't think about this too much. They didn't talk other than that and Rusty was thankful to have some time to think.

And finally, after hours of sneaking and running, they reached the outer twolegplace and left the territory of Bloodclan.

But Rusty was still weak from exhaustion and hunger and he knew that Smudge couldn't go much further on with his wounds. He needed treatment.

He had to half support, half carry Smudge on their way to the abandoned twolegnests at the edge of the woods.

It was the place Rusty had lived in, since his mother was killed. He found it when he was around 3 moons old, it was right beside his mothers old twoleg nest. He wasn't allowed to go out on his own to this time, but sneaked out anyway. Twolegs build this thing a long time before Rusty was even born, but for some reason just left it seasons ago. Now the invisible walls on the nest-sides where gone, leaving giant open spaces to walk in and some parts of the wall where falling apart. Sometimes even water was lacking through sections of the roof. But it was the best place Rusty had to offer.

After he put Smudge carefully on the ground, on a soft material which had once been white, he tried to figure out how to treat Smudges wounds.

When he still lived with his siblings, their injuries and diseases were always treated by the twolegs, but one of his brothers – Lumpy (strange Twolegs with their strange names...) - never liked them and hide his injuries to treat them himself. It was much more like a real warrior to take care of himself he said. His adoration on becoming a real warrior got him killed in the end; shortly after Nutmegs, their mothers death, the siblings got torn apart, with Rusty ending up on his own on the street and Lumpy running head on into the forrest. He was found about half a moon later at the edge of the woods, his body marked with several, half healed claw marks, with different length and depth. They never had the chance to heal. He died silently without anyone noticing, probably sliced up by one of the cats he tried to be, but no one knows for sure, because trees don't talk.

Rusty shook his head to clear his thoughts; he didn't have time for the past. He remembered Lumpy swearing on some leaves and cobwebs for his special, self care taking and luckily the abandoned nest was full of spiders. He spotted some on ground level and limped though the empty room, to harvested a thick layer with his right-front paw and hurried back to Smudge. His own wounds could wait, as Smudge was much worse off and there where more then enough webs in this nest. Finding and harvesting them was the easy part, actually using them to treat wounds was much harder.

They were sticky and the fur on both his and Smudges body wasn't helping the slightest. When he was finished, the last bit of strength left him.

His legs gave in right beside Smudge. He didn't even hear the sound of his body colliding with the ground, as he surrendered to the darkness.

And yeah, that it for now, I really hope at least somebody enjoyed my Idea and I hope we will see each other again ... until then, have a nice time!