A/N-Thanks to Peacedoveponyta1812, XxshippingsMseddiexX, Tufted Titmouse, IceFire56, Koraki, and AnimeVamp1997 for being the first to review! For IceFire56 and Tufted Titmouse, here are your pieces of pie! *Hands deelishous pie of choice…with Cool Whip of course!* You two were the only ones I couldn't reach by PM, but everyone gets pie! Anyone else who reviews on chapter one will be excluded from this statement, as I have run out of cyber pie. I will not always promise treats, but when I do, you'll be sure to get them! :D Ahem, on with chapter 2 then, eh? Let us begin!
Molly's muscles were tense as she was led by Hazelpaw to the medicine den. She could feel the stares of the other cats burning her new-found pelt and an excited hum begin to rise amidst the clan. They reached the den, which seemed to be a large alcove in which the strong and bitter smell of herbs wafted from. She stepped cautiously into the cool shadow, her guide still beside her. From the shadows in the back Molly saw the light from outside glint off of a pair of Amber eyes. The she-cat walked from the darkness shrouding the back of the cave, revealing her light brown pelt, and her startlingly white chest, and sniffed Molly curiously before turning to Hazelpaw.
"Who's your friend here Hazelpaw? She smells like a kittypet; what is she doing in the forest?" Molly would have felt slightly offended, but she said it in such a kind and simply curious way, she couldn't. Hazelpaw flicked her tale in Molly's direction.
"This is Molly! It sounds like she accidentally fell into the lake and washed up on our territory. She had wandered a bit further in when we found her while on patrol. Firestar thought you and Jaypaw could fix her injuries and then someone could help her find her Twoleg nest." She nodded in acceptance. Turning to Molly, she introduced herself with a respectful nod and a kind mew. Hazelpaw, upon hearing someone call for her, dismissed herself quickly before scampering out the entrance.
"Well Molly, it's nice to meet you. My name is Leafpool, and I am Thunderclan's medicine cat. My apprentice, Jaypaw, should be here soon." As she said this, Jaypaw walked in calmly, a bundle of watery leaves in his mouth. Placing them carefully in the back with others of similar appearance, he spoke.
"I got those reeds you wanted Leafpool." He sniffed. "Who's that cat in here with us?" Leafpool went to inspect some of her stock while she answered.
"This is Molly, she got lost and ended up hurt in Thunderclan territory. We're just going to give her a quick treatment so someone can take her back to her Twolegs." Upon hearing this, Jaypaw walked over to her after wrapping a bundle of cobwebs around his black paw. Molly looked into his unfocused eyes and saw immediately that he had no sight. One of her own friends was born blind, so she was familiar with it. Jaypaw sniffed her right forepaw.
"Lift this one." He mewed a bit grumpily. "It looks like you have a small cut." Molly winced as he applied the webs, but did not allow her paw to waver. Leafpool brought the herbs he would need for a poultice to keep out infection. After chewing thoroughly, he rubbed it gently on her cut and a medium sized gash on her left flank. Molly had been in too much shock to notice any of the pain from these wounds, but now it came on full force. She let out a quiet sigh of relief when, what was his name again? Ja…Jaypaw! Yeah, when Jaypaw had finished applying the medicine.
"Thank you Jaypaw." She mewed.
"Yeah yeah." He grumbled, stalking out of the den. Leafpool gave a backward glance before turning to her work and giving an apologetic meow to Molly.
"Don't mind Jaypaw's attitude. He's just a little tired." Molly shook her head vigorously.
"No no, it's fine. I'm sure it's very hard being blind. I don't blame him at all." Leafpool gave her a curious look.
"How did you know Jaypaw was blind? If you don't mind my asking." Molly gulped a little, shuffling her paws-oh how strange it was to think about paws and tails instead of hands and clothes-nervously.
"Well, one of my neighbors was born blind, and they always have this clouded look in their eyes, and never seem to focus on anything. I noticed Jaypaw's eyes were like that too. It's really hard being blind, and my neighbor, Chelsea, was always complaining of no one taking her seriously, and how annoyed she would get. I'm sure he's just frustrated with it, like Chelsea." Leafpool nodded, and led Molly to a small nest in the corner.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Here, lie down, you should get some rest before traveling. You know, I have never heard such insight from such a young kit like yourself. It's very interesting." Molly flicked her tail absently as she felt her eyes get heavy. Or she tried to…it jerked harshly.
"I would listen to my mother talk about things like that all the time. Thank you…Leafpool…" Molly finally let her lids droop and fell into a comfortable slumber. Leafpool stared at the curious young cat found wandering in their territory. Ever since she had stepped foot into her den, Leafpool felt as though something was not right about this kit. Suddenly a butterfly floated into the den and settled softly on Molly's fur. The kit never stirred. Leafpool's eyes widened as she went into a trance like state. Then, she murmured something to herself quietly.
"An enemy in the flesh of cat holds the key to a new spring, as beautiful as the butterfly wing."
Leafpool came out of her haze, right as Jaypaw entered the den once more. She quickly stood and stalked over to him. She rested her tail lightly on his shoulder and he turned his sightless eyes to her.
"Jaypaw, I have to talk with Firestar about something. If our guest awakens, give her something to eat and check for any more injuries. I'll be back soon." Jaypaw nodded as Leafpool had to struggle to keep herself from sprinting to Firestar's den.
*Three cats run across the page chasing a squirrel.*
Firestar lifted his head from grooming his mate, Sandstorm, when he heard a questioning meow from beyond the entrance.
"You may enter." He meowed calmly, not surprised to see Thunderclan's Medicine Cat, Leafpool. "Is everything alright with Molly?" He asked. Leafpool shook her head.
"That young she-cat is fine, but I'm not here about her. I've received a message from Starclan." Firestar immediately sat up from his position lying on the sandy earth. Sandstorm rose with him.
"What is it?" The light ginger she-cat asked, a hint of concern in her mew.
Leafpool relayed the sign.
Firestar furrowed his brow in confusion.
"An enemy in the flesh of cat holds the key to a new spring, as beautiful as the butterfly wing? Is it referring to Newleaf? Newleaf is over!" Leafpool nodded.
"It confuses me as well Firestar. But the first part vexes me the most."
"And why is that?" Sandstorm asked. Leafpool turned her steady amber gaze to Sandstorm with her next sentence.
"An enemy in the flesh of cat, isn't that a strange way to phrase it?" Firestar's tale twitched.
"You are right Leafpool. It is very curious. We should discuss this later though. There are things to attend to in the clan. Leafpool bobbed her head respectfully.
"Yes Firestar." She then walked slowly out of his nest. Sighing, Firstar sank back to the earth. Sandstorm leaned down and gave his ear a comforting lick.
"Don't worry." She purred. "I'm sure everything will be fine."
Firestar could only hope.
*A kit prepares to pounce on a near-by butterfly.*
Molly's eye lids fluttered open to see fading daylight coming from the entrance of the den, and Jaypaw doing something with the various leaves and stems and roots gathered in the back. She stretched, unbending her spine, and let out a loud yawn. She quickly ended her stretching to cover her mouth with a paw, out of human habit.
"Sorry!" She meowed through her fur quickly. "That was rude of me." Jaypaw shot her a glance over his shoulder.
"What, yawning? Why would that be rude?" Molly immediately realized her mistake. She shuffled her paws.
"Well, my, uh, parents always told me it was rude to yawn in front of others without covering your mouth. I just guess that, um, things are different here in the forest." Jaypaw snorted. Then, remembering what Leafpool had told him to do; he made his way for the entrance.
"Stay here. I'll be right back." Molly stared curiously as he padded out. She then turned to her frantic thoughts. I had no idea cats were so smart! And they've got such a complicated way of doing things, it's the exact opposite of what you learn in school. Animals are sentient, we just can't understand them! They act just like humans do! Oh no! What would they think if they knew I used to be human? People are racist, what if cats are too? I'm sure I heard somebody out there whisper kittypet as though it were a curse. Like how people used to call blacks negro. If they even have a special word for people's pet cats, and they use it in such a bad way, then what do they think of humans? Oh-She was thrust from such worries by the smell of something delicious coming from Jaypaw's muzzle as he re-entered.
"Here." He mumbled, placing a juicy looking mouse on the ground in front of her. "Leafpool says you need to eat before someone takes you back to your Twolegs." He pushed the fresh kill closer with his paw, and waited for her to take a bite. Molly had never been a fan of dead things, and these cats wanted her to eata dead mouse?She gulped.
"Um, thank you for the mouse." She mewed nervously. Then bending down, allowing the wonderful smells to hit the scent glands on the roof of her mouth, she took a bite. She had always been told by her family that it was rude not to eat food offered to you. Decline it politely if you can, but she was fairly sure that wasn't an option here. She was extremely surprised when warm, amazing flavors she had never even thought existed filled her mouth. After chewing and swallowing the meat, she dove in for more.
Jaypaw grinned when he felt her anxiousness vanish as she devoured the mouse. He wandered over to his nest, and closed his eyes. He was tired of being blind for today, so he'd got to the only place he could see; his dreams.
Molly found herself purring after she had finished the mouse, and felt glad that cats couldn't burp. She was just about to go back to lie down in the nest, like a good little Human-turned-kitty should, when two more cats entered the room. She realized one of them smelled familiar-ish, and turned to see Firestar, with a grey tom she didn't know. She bobbed her head, as though it were instinct, in greeting. Firestar and the tom did as well.
"Hello Molly, are you feeling better?" She nodded again. "Yes I am, thank you, and your, um, clan, so much for helping me." He flicked his ginger tail to the cat beside him.
"This is Ashfur; he will be escorting you home. Do you remember where it is? Or the general area?" Molly thought about the wonderful view she had seen yesterday morning. Had it really only been a day?
"Yes, there was a road separating it from a horse ranch, and then a big moor that met the lake. There was a marshy area with pines on one side, and on the other, there were, really far back, some trees, like the ones here actually." Firestar looked confused by something.
"A road?" He meowed curiously. "And a horse ranch? You mean the small Thunderpath between the Twoleg nest and the horseplace on the moor?" Oops.Molly thought. They call roads thunderpaths, I think I remember Hazelpaw saying something like that.She nodded.
"Yes, sorry, I guess we all call it different things." He twitched his ear.
"Of course. I think we know where that is. It's not too far, I'm afraid though, that you wouldn't be able to make it until Sunrise tomorrow. Would you mind staying here for one night?" Molly shook her head vigorously.
"Of course I wouldn't mind! If it's not trouble!" Firestar dismissed it with a wave of his tail.
"No, of course not. Would you be okay with staying in the apprentices den?"
"Sure!"
"Alright then, Ashfur will show you there now, if he doesn't mind." Ashfur shook his head no before rising and gesturing with his tail for her to follow. She stood up and padded after him silently. He stopped in front of a group of ferns that smelled strongly of cats going in and out. Molly was proud to realize she recognized Hazelpaw's scent a moment before her head popped out between the leaves. Ashfur looked to her.
"You'll be staying here tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll have someone wake you up and give you something to eat. Wait for me to find you and then we'll leave. Got it?" Molly nodded.
"Yes, thank you, uhm… Ashfur." He stalked off without another word. Hazelpaw came out of the bushes fully and licked Molly's cheek happily.
"So you're going to stay with us apprentices tonight? Cool! Come on in and I'll introduce you to everyone!" Molly couldn't help but smile at her energy. She followed her in with the smile still on her face. There were only two other cats inside the den, though she suspected there were more. One had a black pelt with dazzling green eyes, while the other sported an amber like color, with eyes to match.
"This," Hazelpaw meowed, gesturing with her paw. "Is Hollypaw and Lionpaw. There are some more apprentices, Mousepaw, Cinderpaw, Honeypaw, and Poppypaw, but they must be out doing things now. And recently, Berrypaw was given his warrior name and he's Berrynose now." Molly nodded, though she was thoroughly confused by all of these new names. Let's remember the names of the ones her now, hmm?She thought to herself. Hollypaw stood and padded over to Molly, sniffing curiously. Lionpaw did the same. Suddenly, he spoke up.
"Are you really a kittypet?" He asked. Hollypaw batted his ear and muttered the word "rude" under her breath. He smiled sheepishly. Molly nodded though. To them, she was the same age, but in reality, well, as a human anyway, she was nearly an adult, and knew how to handle kids. Or, at least she felt like she did.
"Yes, I'm a, a kittypet." Despite herself, Hollypaw's eyes widened.
"Really? What's it like?" The three apprentices stared at her in awe as they awaited an explanation. Her ears twitched nervously.
"Well, Twolegs aren't that bad. They, um, feed me and give me water everyday, and whenever I get bored, they play with me. They tie something that makes a lot of noise onto a string and let me chase it around the house, well, nest. And when I'm itchy, the rub my head and my cheeks, and they let me come and go whenever I want, because they know I'll come back." Molly thought this was a good answer, seeing as several of her friends had pet cats and this was how they took care of them. Lionpaw snorted.
"I thought kittypet's Twolegs kept them locked in their nest and gave them dried pellets. Is it true you have to make dirt in a box full of sand?" Molly nodded.
"Not many Twolegs actually keep their cats locked up unless it's storming, or they're just barely kits. And yes, we, uh, have to make dirt in a box, but it has some special herbs in it that keep it from smelling, and they clean it out very often. The pellets they feed us are flavored, but they aren't as good as mice." Molly didn't really mean to add that last part, seeing as she had never had kitten food, but it slipped out. Hazelpaw stared at her in disbelief.
"Is life as a kittypet really that good?" She mewed. Molly realized that it probably wasn't the best idea to get it into their heads that being a house cat was "all that." She quickly tried to correct her mistake.
"Well, it is for me, but some Twolegs are abusive. Really, I think it would be better for cats to live in the forest. Most kittypets are very dependent, and wouldn't be able to survive very long without Twolegs. That's what my mother told me anyway. It must be great living in the clans, but I don't want my parents to worry about me, or my Twolegs, because they're very nice, so that's why I want to go back so badly." Hollypaw nodded.
"Yeah, they must be worried sick about you! And I'm glad we live in the clans, your life sounds nice, but I don't think I'd be able to eat those pellets!" She joked.
"Or make dirt in a box!" Lionpaw added. "Even if it did smell fine!" Everyone laughed at this, and then decided to go in for the night. As Molly settled next to Hazelpaw and Hollypaw, more cats treaded into the den, giving a curious sniff or a quick glance at her before wandering to their own nests. She was glad she hadn't "poisoned" the apprentices minds with visions of a perfect life as a housecat, she had a feeling the clans wouldn't much like her for that. She felt the soreness in her muscles, and decided she was done thinking. Before she lost consciousness though, a brilliant blue butterfly landed before her on the ground. The design was amazing, a stunning pair of eyes shown on either wing. They seemed vaguely familiar as she stared into their depths, and they blinked.
But she was already asleep.
Not very long, but who could resist a stopping point as perfect as that? Please leave well thought out and written reviews, and inform me of any issues or mistakes. Last minute thanks to Enyo14 for reviewing my story, she has also received pie. :D She is the author of a simply AMAZING fanfiction called"A Girl's Pawprints"that I suggest you all read, if you haven't already. She did get the last piece of pie, so no more! Though you may still review chapter one if you wish. :3 Reviews are always accepted. Thank you!
And remember,
Embrace the Madness. It's all we have left.
