Okay, for all my faithful reviewers (and hopeful some new ones too) here's the sequel to Lionpaw's lovers. Enjoy the first chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own warriors.
"Lionclaw, we've been traveling for days. Have you any idea where we're going?" Heatherstorm asked.
Lionclaw let out a sigh. The truth was, he had no idea whatsoever where they were headed, only that it was going to be better than the boundaries that once kept them apart.
It had been three sunrises since they'd left the gathering and Lionclaw was feeling slightly homesick. But he knew that the instant they'd left through the horse place there was no going back. Since then they'd traveled towards the mountains, ending up here in the forests of its deep slopes.
"Lionclaw look, paw prints!" Heatherstorm exclaimed breaking the long silence and rushing forwards to sniff the ground. "And they're fresh! There must be some cats near here, let's see if we can find their camp."
Without waiting for a reply, the light brown tabby sprinted ahead, following the scents of cats that hung in the air.
Lionclaw quickly rushed ahead after her. They had no idea whether these cats were friendly or not and they didn't need anyone to get hurt considering there was no medicine cat with them.
Finally, he spotted her carefully creeping up behind some bushes, belly skimming the ground. Going over to her, he crept down to her position, and together they both peered over the small barrier.
Gasping they both whispered, "Cats!"
Just ahead of the barrier were tons of cats, at least twenty-five, and they were all sharing tongues by the looks of it.
"Should we go in?" Lionclaw asked his mate. But the tom looked up in dismay as he realized she'd already pushed her way through the bushes.
Sighing, he padded after her and emerged into the clearing.
"Who are you?" a silver she-cat asked curiously.
Lionclaw was appalled. These cats didn't seem the slightest bit worried that two intruders just walked into their camp!
"I'm Heatherstorm." The golden tom heard his mate meow. "And that's my mate Lionclaw."
The warrior dipped his head to the cats.
"You're not from around here are you?" a black tom meowed.
Both cats shook their head. "We come from the Clans that live by the lake."
"Ha! See Berry, I told you some cats lived by that lake." An old gray tom meowed triumphantly.
"Fine I guess you're right. You get first pick tomorrow then." A cream tom meowed fairly.
"So who are you?" Lionclaw queried, eager to find about this group of rogues.
"Well, there are lots of us so I'll start." The silver she-cat meowed again. "I'm Stream."
"And I'm Feather!" The newcomers turned to see a small white she-kit padding towards them, her blue eyes wide with excitement.
"Hey wait for us!" Lionclaw let out a purr of amusement as four other kits came running after the first.
"I'm Apple. This is my brother Oak." Another white she-kit meowed, flicking her tail towards a brown tabby tom that reminded Lionclaw a lot of his father.
"Well I'm Tiny." Meowed a small black tom. "And my sister is the orange tabby she-kit named Dawn."
Lionclaw nodded.
"There are two more kits in the nursery with Cherry." Feather meowed. "But they're too tiny to come out yet. By the way, who are you?"
Heatherstorm let out a mrrow of amusement before responding. "I'm Heatherstorm and this is my mate; Lionclaw."
The golden tom dipped his head.
"Feather, why don't you bring you den mates some prey while I show the others around." Stream suggested to the little kit.
"Okay!" the white she-kit meowed excitedly before darting away.
Stream let out a sigh. "She's so full of energy. Thorn better give her a patient mentor when she becomes a trainee.
Lionclaw figured Thorn was their leader, and a trainee was like an apprentice.
"Well, there are plenty of cats to meet and only so much time so we'd better get a move on." Stream meowed, padding towards a large fallen log.
THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK THIS IS A BREAK
"Whew. I don't know how we're going to remember all their names." Heatherstorm meowed.
"Well, we did it in the clans, and this is like our new clan so I'm sure we'll get used to it." Lionclaw meowed, giving her assuring lick.
"You're right. So do you think we're actually going to stay here?" Heatherstorm asked, her blue eyes pleading.
"I'll stay anywhere as long as you're with me." The tom purred.
"Thanks Lionclaw. Now lets find out where we'll be sleeping tonight," The light brown tabby suggested, standing up to stretch her muscles.
Finding Stream, Lionclaw meowed, "Excuse me, but where are we supposed to sleep tonight?"
"Oh right, follow me." The silver tabby meowed, walking towards the large log they'd been to earlier.
"Brownie!" The she-cat yowled. "Wake up, we've got visitors that need a nest."
Lionclaw heard a low growl as a Brown tom padded out of the den.
"Hello." Brownie meowed gruffly. "Over there you'll find a pile of moss. Grab some then follow me."
Lionclaw exchanged a glance with Heatherstorm before finally shrugging and padding over to where the tom had indicated. Picking up as much moss as he could carry, the golden tom followed Brownie into the log.
Inside, he had to step carefully over the cats that were already asleep, until they finally came to a stop in the middle.
"You can sleep here. In the morning I'll wake you up and you can come hunting with us." Brownie meowed before settling down in his own nest and falling to sleep.
Kneading the moss with his paws, Lionclaw managed to work it into a nest. Lying down, he curled his tail over his paws and settled down next to Heatherstorm.
"I love you." She whispered into his ear, before falling asleep beside him.
Lionclaw gave her a quick lick before glancing up at the sky through a slit in the den.
Is this really where we're supposed to be? The golden tom wondered. Is this life going to be as good as we hoped? It was those doubts that dwelled in his mind before he finally drifted to sleep in his new home.