Again, thanks to all who reviewed! I'm sorry that last chapter was so short, but remember I'm new. I hope I'm improving, but as for now, we're getting there. Anyway…
Hecobiza: Haha and Thanks!
Shado-Chan: Wow. You seem kinda like an editor. But I'm glad you thought my chapter was good! I'm still learning, remember!
Samredlamb7: Thank you! I'll try to make my chapters longer!
Suntalon1010101: Thanks! I just looked up your story and I'm starting to read it!
Skymist: I don't think you finished your thought… but thanks anyway!
Chapter 3
-Sedgeflower's POV-
It's not hard caring for Graykit. I have everything she needs. Food, shelter, protection. She's quiet and still, not nearly as energetic as kits should be. It's been nearly a moon, and Blossomstem's little bundle of joy seems more energetic than she should be, going so far as managing to befriend Graykit, poor thing.
So far, Graykit hasn't talked to anyone, looked at anything, and done nothing like a kit should. Meadowstar made a major mistake, kidnapping kits. It's been almost a moon, since, and every day, when I wake up, it's the same question.
"Do I get to go home today?'
And every day it's the same answer.
"I don't know, Graykit."
It's been a whole moon, and if ThunderClan is ever going to retaliate, it should be soon. I know the parents will be ever anxious to get their kit back.
-Lilystorm's POV-
My kit. My poor kit, Stuck in WindClan. I'll never forgive them for it. And thank StarClan; we will get her back today. Today.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting" Swanstar's high yowl echoes around the camp.
I start up from where I had been laying in the medicine den and eagerly run out to the clearing, where Cragpelt waits, on his paws, tail lashing and fire in his eyes.
"Today, we take back Graykit from WindClan!" She announces with pride. "And bring her back to where she belongs!"
The Clan cheers, me loudest of all.
"I'll lead the first patrol, taking with me Lilystorm, Cragpelt, Oakpaw, Tallpaw, Flamefur, and Leafprint. Lionfire will lead the next one and take Petaldash, Shinepaw, Flowerpaw, and Tuftyfur. We head out now!"
Swanstar leaps off the Highledge and races up and out of camp, all the other cats and me following close behind her. We skid to a stop right next to the camp.
Swanstar yowls high and loud. "ThunderClan Attack!"
I tear down into the camp, ignoring the brambles. WindClan warriors try to bar my way. I give them a couple scratches they won't forget anytime soon.
Whipping around the camp like a whirlwind, I peer into each den. I look into what must be the nursery and I catch her scent.
I hear her squeal. "Mommy!" and her little gray shape runs up to me. I feel so happy, so happy. I wrap my tail around her and place my head on hers. Then I notice a brown tabby staring at me with a purpose.
My hostility floods back and I growl at her. "What!"
The tabby doesn't flinch.
"Well if you excuse me, I have somewhere to go." I snap at her, picking up Graykit by her scruff and starting to turn out.
"I'm coming with you."
I flip back around to face her.
"What?" I put Graykit back on her paws.
"I'm coming with you." The tabby repeats.
"And leave all of WindClan behind? Just like that?" I ask her.
"Nobody here would care anyway." She says. "So I'm coming, with the only thing that really matters to me, Graykit."
I hesitate. "Such decisions are made by leaders." I tell her.
"Well than take me to her." She says matter-of-factly.
"Fine." I pick up Graykit, who has been watching wide-eyed, and run out of the den, weaving through pairs of battling cats. Cragpelt spots me and gives a victorious yowl, alerting Swanstar.
"ThunderClan, retreat!" I hear her triumphant yowl ring out. Even WindClan should know we aren't retreating out of cowardice.
WindClan watches wide-eyed as the ThunderClan cats they'd been fighting hiss in their faces and run.
I don't hang around to watch what happens. I dart around and out of the WindClan camp, across the moors, and I take the stream in a single leap.
I avoid the trees with ease and am the first one back to the hollow. I slide in the entrance, excited and out of breath.
Thistlethorn and Treesong are on me in a second, Thistlethorn's mews curious and Treesong's triumphant. Whitefrost comes out of the nursery as fast as she can, yet so slow, because she is so close to kitting.
Featherwish is half out of the medicine den when the clearing turns silent and the attention switches to behind me.
The WindClan tabby.
Tigerpelt hisses threateningly at her. I hear Graykit gasp.
Than Swanstar arrives with the rest of the cats from the attack, thank StarClan, and assesses the situation.
She leaps onto the Highledge. No need to summon the cats, they're all in the clearing already.
We gather into the middle.
Swanstar starts with the good news.
"Our raid on WindClan was a success!" ThunderClan cheers. "But it appears a cat from WindClan has joined us here." Silence. "What is your name, WindClan cat?"
"Sedgeflower." Came the stiff response.
"Well Sedgeflower." Swanstar mews. "Why are you here?"
"I want to join ThunderClan."
"What makes you think we'll let you?" Came a shout from the crowd. "You stole a kit yourself!"
Sedgeflower looked up at Swanstar. "A leader's word is law, so it says in the warrior code. When your leader orders you to do something, you must obey. Meadowstar ordered me to steal a kit. So I did. That's why I'm leaving WindClan behind."
Swanstar looks at her. "I must consult with my senior warriors. For now, you will stay in a nest by the warriors den. Tallpaw, see to it she has a nest to stay in."
Swanstar jumps off the Highledge, the senior warriors going to meet her in her den. I don't. I take Graykit back to the nursery, curling around her and drifting off to sleep.
-Swanstar's POV-
"Do you think she should be allowed to stay?" I ask my group of senior warriors, assembled in my den. There's not many. Only Lionfire, Cragpelt, Tuftyfur, Leafprint, Tigerpelt, and Petaldash. No, not many, but their opinions matter.
A chorus on no's and yes's fill my den with incomprehendable chatter.
"One at a time, please." I say. "Starting with Lionfire."
"No, Swanstar."
"And please tell me why." I add.
"She kidnapped the kit out of her nest, and comes from a different Clan. Nobody will ever trust her."
"Thank you, Lionfire. Cragpelt?"
"No. She kidnapped my kit." He states flatly.
"Tuftyfur."
"I say yes. She didn't resist when Graykit was brought back, and wasn't hostile at all. I think we can trust her."
"Leafprint?"
"I'm with Tuftyfur. She obviously cares for Graykit."
"Ok. Tigerpelt?"
"No. She kidnapped a kit."
"Petaldash?"
"I'm a yes. Sedgeflower cares for Graykit, and is obviously willing to protect this Clan with her life if it means Graykit is safe."
"Ok then." I finish. "It's a tie."
We sit in silence for a moment.
"I'm willing to give her a chance." I say.
More silence.
"She will stay in the nest by the warriors den until she proves loyal. The second she proves she is still loyal to WindClan, you may kick her out. Until then, do not attack her, I will not have that nonsense in our Clan." I say firmly.
Silence.
"I will go announce it to the Clan."
I get up, shake out my fur, and dart out of my den straight up to the Highledge, my senior warriors leaving after me mingle with the cats still waiting in the clearing. No need to call the summons.
"We have decided that we will give Sedgeflower a chance. The second she proves disloyal, we kick her out and she won't be allowed back. No nonsense in my Clan. I peer down at all my anxious and loyal cats. "That is all. Meeting over."
Many cats groan and others watch silently. Oakpaw and Cragpelt look mutinous, while Leafprint nods her head.
I leap down from the Highledge and go over to where Sedgeflower is settling down. Tallpaw is talking animatedly to her, and dropping off moss.
She makes the moss and settles down with a gusty sigh.
Tallpaw says something else cheerfully, flicks his ear and wanders away to the nursery, probably to see Graykit.
I head over to Sedgeflower and sit down close enough to talk to her.
She raises her head and looks at me. "What?" She says, not unkindly, but not kindly either.
"Why were you willing to leave WindClan?" I say bluntly.
She sighs and sits up in her makeshift nest. "Nobody there cares, but maybe my sister. Not my mate, not my brother, and not my father."
"What about your mother?"
"Dead."
"I'm sorry."
We sit in silence. Sedgeflower settles down in her nest again.
I take my invitation to leave.
Sedgeflower seems like am interesting enough cat. I hope she proves trustworthy to ThunderClan.
So what do you think? Is it long enough this time? Which POV do you like best? And as always, what's your opinion on my story so far? Review!
-Graywhisper