Leader: Mothstar
Deputy: Sandstripe
Med cat: Poppyleaf
Warriors: Rushfur
Stonepool
Appleclaw
Cherrynose
Bouncepelt
Dustwing
Spiderstep
Thornpool
Palefire
Wildflower
Seednose
Lionclaw
Queens: Tallpelt
Kits: Sunnykit (Tallpelt and Thornpool's)
Smokekit (Tallpelt and Thornpool's)
Elders: Brackenfoot
Loners: Wolf (later Wolfsong)
Wolfsong Saves Thunderclan
"Here's your prey. I'm sorry I crossed your border. I didn't notice until I had already caught it." Wolf inwardly cursed. The mouse was only the second thing she had caught all day and she needed it to stock up for leafbare but she couldn't win a fight against two warriors and two apprentices.
"Thanks for the offer but you keep it. You probably need it more." The yellow tabby mewed.
"No. You're wrong." She pushed the mouse towards the patrol " I only have to feed myself. You have elders, queens and kits."
The yellow tabby narrowed his eyes "What's your name?"
"Wolf."
"Well. Thank you wolf." He turned to the grey tom. "Stonepool, make sure she leaves. I'll take the apprentices back to camp."
Stonepool flicked his ears in acknowledgement as the yellow tabby turned and disappeared into the bushes with the two young cats trailing behind him.
Wolf turned to leave but Stonepool stepped I between her and the border. "Why did you give that mouse to us?"
Wolf rolled her eyes " I caught it on your territory. Or I might've done it out of the kindness of my heart. You'll never know."
Stonepool cocked his head.
"What? Not all loners are selfish and greedy." The lie felt bitter on her tongue. Loners had killed almost everyone she had known.
"I didn't say that" Stonepool defended himself
"You were thinking it"
"Ya I was" he admitted "how old are you anyway?"
"Almost ten moons. Why?"
"You're smart for your age."
Wolf nodded "my mother taught me well."
"Where is your mother?"
Wolf dipped her head "she died of greencough in leaf-fall We had a whole group of cats. We lived in the forest behind your territory. We had a decent camp but a family of foxes found it and destroyed it and killed most of us. When the cold came the remaining cats were still wounded and the cough came and killed the rest of them. Now it's only me. I didn't catch the cold because I wasn't injured. I wasn't injured because I didn't fight. I hide in the dens like a coward. I can't spend enough time regretting that day."
Stonepool opened his mouth shocked "I'm sorry."
"That's alright."
"Ok. One last question. How did you know we were clan cats?"
"My mother. She worshipped the clans. She wished she had been born into a clan. Cats helping each other survive; hunting for each other, risking your live for each other, care for the elders... It sounded like dream to her. That's why she set up our camp. It was the closest thing to a clan she could make. She even put a 'star' on the end of a name because she was our leader. She taught me how to hunt and how to fight. She wanted me to be the perfect warrior even if I wasn't in a clan. Ever since I was born that's what she wanted for me so naturally, I began to agree with her."
Wolf closed her eyes at the thought of her mother. Pangs of grief and guilt racked her every time she pictured her mother tabby face. She should have been able to save her.
"Alright." Stonepool was beginning to understand. "Why don't you have a warrior name then?"
"I thought you said that was the last question." Wolf smiled, distracting herself from her mother.
"Oh ya, sorry."
"That's ok. It's because as much as I want to be, I'm not a warrior. I'm not brave or loyal. I haven't risked my life for my clan. My ancestors don't run in silverpelt. I'm not worthy of a warrior name."
"Yes you are!" Stonepool shouted the words before he could stop himself. Talking to this stranger he forgot she wasn't clan born. If he didn't know she was a loner he wouldn't be able to tell.
"What?"
"I...uh... You gave us that mouse that's all. Some warriors wouldn't even do that."
Wolf blushed. "Thanks...uh, I should get going. It'll be sundown soon and I need to find that sparrow that I buried back there before a fox gets it." She gestured to her territory.
"Alright. I'll leave you to that."
"Goodbye Stonepool."
"Goodbye Wolf."he stammered but she had already gone.
"But she can fight! And hunt. And we need more warriors. Plus she's going to die out there in leafbare! She would be an apprentice if she was in the clan. Would you want an apprentice living alone the whole leafbare?"
Mothstar sighed. "No but Wolf is not an apprentice. She's a loner."
"The first snow will be here in less then half a moon. If we don't do something quick she..."
"No. End of discussion. Now go hunting. Clear your head"
Stonepool stormed out. He shivered as the cold air touched his nose. It was getting colder everyday. He thought about Wolf all alone in her den and a plan formed in his head. He would bring her some prey and some catmint, the only cure for greencough.
It took him until sun-high to get enough prey for Wolf and his clan mates and find the catmint. He brought a vole and three mice back to camp and headed towards Wolfs forest with a squirrel and the wonderful smelling herb. He jumped as a frightened magpie flew out from behind a bush. This forest was dark and unfamiliar, nothing like his thunderclan home. "Wolf?" He called out uncertainly.
There was a rustle in the bushes and her silver tabby head appeared from the undergrowth. "Stonepool! What are you doing here?" She didn't sound happy to see him as Stonepool had hoped. " We can't be friends. You're a clan cat and I'm not. You can't be here. You should be helping your clan mates prepare for leafbare not sneaking off to meet me!"
"I've hunted for my clan mates already" he explained quickly, surprised by her outburst. "Now. Where's your camp? I brought you some stuff."
"Fine. You drop off your 'stuff' and then leave right away." She turned and beckoned with her tail. "Follow me."
She lead him though dense undergrowth, twisting and turning, probably so he couldn't find his way back. At last they arrived at a clearing. It was small and unprotected, no barrier or entrance. Stonepool imagined living here all leafbare, cold, vulnerable and lonely. "This. This is horrible. You're not going survive out here."
"I'm going to have to. Unless you have a better idea?" Wolf asked.
"Listen. I tried to convince Mothstar to let you join the clan but she won't even hear me out."
"You tried to get me into your clan?" Wolf asked in awe.
"Yes. You are the most loyal, committed, tough cat I know."
Wolf laughed. "I've known you for two days."
"Exactly. Listen Wolf I like you. I like you a lot. Ask any of my clanmates there are not that many cats that I 'I like a lot'. I don't make friends that easily. You're special Wolf. And I know that you think that I should be spending all my time hunting for my clanmates but you're just as important to me as they are and I won't leave you on your own all leafbare. I'll be here to check on you. I'll bring you prey." Stonepool let out a shaky breathe relieved to get all that out in the open but scared of what her reaction would be.
Wolf purred and rubbed up against his cheek. He breathed her forest scent in. She smelled of leaves and mint, not at all like his musty thunderclan scent. He wanted to keep smelling her freshness forever but she turned away and faced him. Her eyes, filled with fiery blue flames, looked at him in wonder. "You don't have to do this for me."
Stonepool nodded. "I know. I want though."
Wolf smiled "Stonepool?"
"Yes." He answered.
"I think I like you too."