The young cat crept through the tangle of heather. She scented the breeze as it ruffled her fur, making her shiver. Her tail flicked the sharp smelling branches as the wind rustled them.
She had to hunt for the Clan. But she couldn't. They all hated her. Why should she work for them? She already knew what Smoketail would say: 'You should always hunt for the Clan, not yourself. You should follow the warrior code.' But how could any cat do that when they were an outcast within their own Clan?
Then… there! Rabbit! Maybe Smoketail would leave her alone if she actually caught something. She crept up on the unsuspecting creature.
Suddenly a twig from the heather snapped under her paw. The rabbit darted away without hesitating. The cat cursed herself. Mousebrain! This is why everybody hates you!
The she-cat stumbled suddenly as a gust of air brought a new scent to her nose. Cat! But not a cat from her Clan. And this cat had the smell of sickness all over it. The young cat hissed as the foul stench wove its way into her head.
Then there was a yowl. It was almost to faint to be heard, not really a yowl but a whimper. The she-cat froze. This other cat had a deathly illness, she could tell. She should turn back now, and tell Onestar and Smoketail. But she couldn't. She knew deep in her soul that she had to help this cat.
Slowly the young she-cat padded across the windblown hill up to a clump of heather and trees at the edge of the territory. ThunderClan scent washed over her, and she flinched. Why did ThunderClan smell so horrible? The sickness smell made it seem even worse.
The cat finally reached the heather. She pushed the branches aside with her head. The smell made her feel terrible, maybe as sick as the cat who was actually in trouble.
Then she stopped. A pale queen was hidden in the tangle of twigs. She raised her head helplessly as the young she-cat approached her, moving the stems.
"Who are you?"
They both said it at the same time. The pale queen's flanks heaved as she fought for breath.
"Star. I'm Star." She motioned with her tail slightly to two small shapes beside her. "Sun and Moon. My kits. Please –." She broke off, coughing. "Please help us. We can't hunt, we will die here… the sickness…"
"Quiet," murmured the she-cat. "Don't speak. It's fine. I'll help you." She blinked. "I'm Rainpaw. From WindClan."
"Please, Rainpaw…" The queen fell silent. Her head fell onto the ground.
The kits, Sun and Moon, wailed pitifully. Rainpaw stretched out her head to lick them gently. "It's okay. I'll help you."
They stopped mewling and looked at the she-cat. She nodded and backed out of the heather. "Wait here, I'll get you food."
She didn't need to say it. They weren't going anywhere.
That was a really demented prologue. Sorry! And just so you know, you weren't supposed to know the Rainpaw's name until the end when she tells Star, so please don't review it saying that I didn't use her name in the beginning! Hopefully the next chapter can come SOON!
