This chapter is more choppy and fast-paced than I'd like, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to re-write it. I hope yall enjoy, regardless.

Chapter 4: Goldenfur

It was an uneasy night, and Goldenfur had to wrestle the job of lookout from Pinestar's greedy claws. Something in those amber eyes told Goldenfur that the other cat needed a break, that he was feeding off the job.

Empathizing with the tom made Goldenfur feel sick.

By morning, everyone was refreshed, and the sound of kitten yawns and squeals was like warm sunshine in Goldenfur's ears. Though it didn't take long to come back from an early hunting patrol empty-pawed again and have his mood ruined.

"We have to move," he said as he came inside, Goldenlake at his heels. "We'll starve here."

"I agree," said Nightwatcher, "Hawkkit and Cherrykit will be fine, but not if Shadowblaze is too weak to feed them."

His mate looked ready to fix him with that steely gaze, but Nightwatcher bent down and licked her between the ears, calming her into a soft purr.

"Much as I hate to say it, Goldenbutt's right." Goldenlake came to stand at his side, surprising him with the nickname. Goldenfur didn't know whether to take it as an insult or compliment, so he said nothing and let her talk. "I can head the front of the group as a scout. Greyleaf can bring up the—"

"That won't work," Pinestar spoke up, gaining him several hard glares. After a moment's pause, he added, "Your eye is covered, and so is hers. You two need to make up the middle, while I, Nightwatcher, or Goldenfur make up the front and rear."

"You'll lead us right into a trap!" Goldenlake hissed, flexing her claws.

Pinestar just blinked sadly at her. "We need to all stay safe. I don't know the land around here, so I can stay at the back, if need be."

"Just so you can pick us off from behind," Goldenlake muttered under her breath, lashing her tail. Louder, she said, "Whatever we do, we should get going. Daylight's a-wasting."

The others unanimously agreed, and Goldenfur soon found himself carrying Cherrykit in the middle of the pack. Despite Goldenlake's dismissal, Pinestar headed the group because he had the least amount of wounds. It paid to have nine lives.

"When do you think we'll reach the twolegplace?" Greyleaf asked beside him after they'd traveled in relative silence for a while. The ground was softer beneath their paws, now, but sharp stones still occasionally stabbed at their toughened pads.

"I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find some shelter soon. A farm, maybe."

"Precisely," Pinestar said up ahead. "The other cats in BloodClan mentioned a farm along this way." His tail shook a little, and Goldenfur saw the telltale flash of unsheathed and resheathed claws. "Some Fighters were sent to dispatch a rebellious group of cats in a barn. If we're lucky, we'll reach that barn today."

"And if we don't?" Goldenlake's venom floated across the whole group.

"We'll make camp as best we can. But I hope we make it to the barn; there'll be plenty of food."

Shade looked up expectantly at that notion, but as usual, she stayed silent. Her son, however, let out a mewl from his place hanging from Nightwatcher's mouth.

The brown tom gave him an approving gaze as the two locked eyes, their tiredness translating across the distance. They both needed a break from carrying the kits. Thankfully, the others noticed this silent dialogue between them, and Goldenfur let Greyleaf gently pull the kit away from his mouth. Goldenlake did the same for Nightwatcher, and the bright tom fell back to walk beside the new parents.

He cleared his throat. "So… uhm, uhm, hehm—" Nervousness blocked his thoughts.

Nightwatcher laid his tail over Goldenfur's back. "I understand."

Goldenfur smiled, then nodded. He gave Shadowblaze a bright smile, as well. Just like her, he wanted to leave everything from BloodClan behind."

"I'm glad I get to travel with you," he finally said, fixing his eyes back on the cats ahead. The sun's faltering light made Greyleaf's fur sparkle, and the golden tom almost forgot what he was about to say. "I know you'll live up to your name and keep your family safe."

Even though his heart pinched at knowing what the other cat had done to Goldenfur's only family left, the tom knew that his statement was true. Regardless of his residual feelings, Nightwatcher would make a fine father.

Goldenfur almost envied him that.

Up ahead, Pinestar called back, "I see it! The cattle appear to be on the other end of the pasture, so we can make a break for the barn."

Goldenfur quickly caught up to take Cherrykit from Greyleaf's jaws, Nightwatcher doing the same for his sister, and stood between his friend and Sparrowpaw as they all looked down a hill.

Stretching out ahead of them, past the tree-lengths of farmland, was a twolegplace as wide as the eye could see. Monsters' beams lit up the crossroads between the bright dens, and the faint smell of thunderpath already reached his nose.

A twoleg drifted from a large shed to its den nearby, some distance from the red barn, and Goldenlake took that as their signal to move.

The cats slipped through the wooden fence as fluidly and swiftly as time would allow, then snuck their way across the grass to stand at the barn doors.

Blessedly, they weren't challenged.

A gnawed section of the door allowed them a way in, and the warmth and smell of mice and hay overwhelmed the tabby tom. He saw a fat mouse lift beady eyes to his frame, and within moments the mouse was dead.

"Here," he offered to Shadowblaze as they padded towards a secluded space in the corner. "Get your strength up; I'll go hunt more."

The prey was plentiful here, and it was blessedly easy to catch. Especially after all that time spent in captivity, Goldenfur blessed the stars for that. His hunting was way out of practice, and he would have lost several if not for how slow-moving they were. Nightwatcher made his way to the tom's side, and the older cat remarked, "Those cats must have been killed a while ago."

Nightwatcher only nodded, corralling a mouse towards him, and the two continued on in silence.

Goldenlake and Pinestar joined in to rack up an impressive fresh-kill pile. By the time they had all eaten their fill and laid down for bed, the air of peace was almost tangible around them.

It was so nice to finally feel safe.