A golden-brown tabby watched the sunrise, alone. She had been alone for many, many moons, but she still couldn't get used to the feeling. She was the only cat left of the Tribe of Striking Rivers, neighboring the other two Tribes. Now, she wandered uncharted territory alone, trying to convince herself she was a brave, strong cat.
Sometimes, though, she felt horribly alone and weak. Her Tribe used to be large, with cats helping and relying on one another. It was just her now, hunting whatever prey she could find and hoping she didn't wander into enemy territory.
The sun rose above the horizon as the tabby gazed around at her surroundings. She felt loose grass under her paws. She stared out at the mountain tops. It reminded her of her old home, where-
"Hawk, the past is in the past. You're alone. No other cats are here," the tabby muttered to herself. Moments later, a screech roused Hawk from her thoughts. An eagle had landed on a nearby precipice and was watching her.
Hawk's heart raced as she slowly backed away into a shadow. She had no one to help her battle the huge bird if it attacked her. She thought about trying to catch it as prey, but she was intimidated by the eagle's large wings and sharp talons. She could imagine those talons sinking into her flesh, tearing her apart, making her too weak to even struggle...
Hawk shook herself. Long ago, she had made a decision that changed the course of her life. She had believed in herself then. If she was okay then, she was okay now. Hawk scented a rabbit seconds later and followed the scent trail away from the eagle, being careful so she wasn't noticed by either creature. She spotted the rabbit nibbling on a blade of grass and started to figure out the best angle to approach it from. Suddenly, the rabbit gave Hawk a startled look and hopped away.
Hawk sighed. She had never been the best hunter. When she lived with other cats, she relied on them quite a bit. She sometimes felt guilty that she didn't work as hard as other cats in her Tribe, but she pushed the feeling away. Things were different now that Hawk was alone.
At that moment, though, she didn't feel alone. Of course, there were the Great Spirits guiding her, but Hawk felt the presence of another living creature nearby. She sniffed the air deeply and scented a cat not too far away. She cautiously padded toward the scent, wondering if it could be a former member of her Tribe, one that had left.
The other cat came into view. His fur was darker than the night, and his pale blue eyes glittered with hostility. Snarling, he said to Hawk, "Another trespasser I have to drive away." Hawk stood still, wondering what she should do. She hadn't seen another cat in so long, and she couldn't think straight.
"I-I'm from the Tribe of Striking Rivers," Hawk stuttered. The black cat sharply sighed. "The Tribe of Striking Rivers no longer exists. All of its members decided they wanted to try and impress another Tribe," he said rather casually. Hawk twitched an ear. "I know, I'm the only one left."
The black cat growled. "You expect me to believe that there's still a cat loyal to an empty Tribe? Every cat decided there was something better than supporting a failing group!"
Hawk straightened herself, making her look stronger. She said bravely, "If you're going to criticize my Tribe, you're going to leave here with some wounds." Hawk's amber eyes glowed, reflecting the love she felt toward her once-strong Tribe.
