Thanks to xXEnigmaXx for reviewing.

Chapter 6

The sun shone through the trees, dappling the ground below. Leaves fluttered in the breeze. Branches swayed as birds called to one another. Sky smiled as she bounded along a dirt path. Dusk ran beside her through the forest. The two were mostly exploring, but had plans of hunting on the way back.

Prey scurried through the bushes, tempting the she-cats. They could stop and hunt, but the prey would only be for them. Shard's words echoed in Sky's mind. It would be selfish if they just hunted for themselves.

The two forced themselves past the tantalizing prey. Hopefully the creatures would remain there on the way back. If not, then the hunt would become more fun.

"Where do you want to head?" Dusk asked. Sky came to a stop, not knowing what the forest held. She spotted a tall pine with a few barren branches. Her eyes gazed up the bark. She bunched up her haunches before springing up the tree.

Sky's front claws grazed a spindly twig. She climbed higher then hauled herself onto a branch. The territory exploded below her. In all directions she was able to see the forest. A babbling river flowed near her home before crashing into a waterfall. Vast moorlands appeared near a line of mountains past the waterfall. Across the road she saw a dank field with skinny trees.

"We should go that way," Sky called. She pointed her tail in the direction of the mountains. Dusk turned to face it and waited for her friend to join her. Sky jumped from the branch, her claws skimming the tree as she ran to the ground. She slowed down in order to land on the grass.

"Your ability to jump amazes me," Dusk meowed. Sky smiled sheepishly before licking her chest fur. She earned her leg muscles from her mother.

"Just as your ability to hide amazes me," Sky purred. Dusk flicked her friend's ear with her tail. The she-cats then changed their path, heading in the direction of the mountains.

They bounded through ferns. Wind rippled through their fur, bringing forth new scents. The warm breeze felt nice, but Sky knew that soon the weather would grow colder. Along with the cold, prey would become scarcer. Shard had told her and Jasper that already. Only they would experience it for the first time themselves.

Sky shot in front of Dusk, leading the way. Happiness filled her veins as she raced along the earth. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so carefree. Instantly a sliver of guilt and disgust entered her heart. How could she act like this? Her mother's death wasn't that long ago.

But mother would like seeing me happy. She'd want me to not let her death control my life. A sigh of defeat escaped her. She let her thoughts go, focusing on the path ahead.

Her paws skimmed a bramble patch. No thorns pierced her, so she kept on running.

A foul scent flooded to her nose. She skidded to a stop, trying to detect the scent. Dusk dug her paws into the ground to stop from barreling into Sky.

"What is it?" Dusk whispered. Sky stalled and parted her jaws. The stench of carrion overwhelmed her. She coughed on the stink and closed her mouth.

"I think there's something dead near here," she answered. Dusk took a step closer and sniffed the air. A ripple passed through her dark fur.

"Ugh, it's horrible," she meowed. Sky nodded as her claws unsheathed. Another scent was laced with the carrion. The faint trace of cat hung in the air. Sky turned to tell Dusk, but was interrupted.

Ferns rustled, drawing Sky's and Dusk's attention. Figures slunk out, their fur bristling with fangs bared. Four strange cats formed a line with one in front. Their glares pierced Sky's fur, sending a chill along her spine.

"You're trespassing," a golden she-cat hissed. Dusk took a step backwards and her claws unsheathed. Sky snarled and stared at the cats standing behind their leader. Even though they were outnumbered, they could still win.

"We didn't smell your scent markers," she growled. The golden she-cat lowered her head and snapped her jaws. Sky forced herself to remain still. A white tom stalked forward, placing one huge paw in front of another.

"That dead rodent over there is our scent marker," he snapped. Sky glanced in the direction of his tail. Scraps of mole fur rested by a patch of blood-spattered bracken. The sight sickened her. Surely it would lead foxes or badgers here. Are they stupid?

"Well, I would advise you to use a better scent marker, but I guess that's not any of my business. Can we leave?" she meowed with a calm voice. The white tom smirked before baring his teeth. He was missing his right fang, showing that he'd experience battle. The missing tooth made him seem fiercer than the others.

"Oh, no. We're going to teach you a lesson that you'll never forget." He lunged at her. She jumped backwards just in time to escape his claws. The golden she-cat joined in on the attack as the others went after Dusk.

The white tom dug his one-fang jaw into Sky's shoulder. She kept her mouth shut as blood dribbled down her leg. His companion joined by dragging her claws into her back. Sky was forced to the ground as the two tore into her. Snarling, she pushed upwards. The golden she-cat flew to the side but the tom held his grasp.

Sky's hind leg shot out, striking his face. With a yowl, he let go. As he tried to wipe the blood out of his eyes, Sky barreled into him. She slashed along his fur, turning the snow white a light pink with his blood. She left the tom and went to help her friend.

Dusk was being torn to shreds under three cats. Despite the pain, she stayed strong and refused to scream. Sky thought she was the bravest cat she'd ever seen. Her claws outstretched and dragged one of the cats away. She bit into their scruff, drawing blood. Free of one burden, Dusk began to fight back. It was easier with just two enemies.

Her claws and fangs tore through fur, leaving their mark. Once enough blood was spilled, the two fled.

"That's right! Run with your tail between your legs," she snarled. A smile formed on her face, pleased with her victory. It was short lived as she heard Sky squeal.

The golden she-cat kicked Sky into the air using her hind legs. Sky tried to right herself, but failed. Her head crashed onto a rock, causing her to fall to the earth. Blood trickled out of her open mouth as her eyes fluttered close.

Dusk froze. She had never seen Sky hurt before. Nor had she ever felt this helpless.

"That's your warning. Never cross our territory again!" Dusk stopped herself from attacking the golden she-cat. She needed to get Sky back home. Growling, the she-cat slunk into the shadows, leaving her. Shaking her head, she went to Sky.

"Can you hear me?" Dusk whispered. Her friend didn't move, causing fear to rush through her veins. Carefully, she grasped Sky's scruff. Dusk started to carry her friend home.

xXx

The trek through the forest was weary. When Dusk spotted the four trees that marked her home, she was relieved. She hoped that the others had caught something, because their hunt had ended in disaster. Free from the fern barrier, she laid Sky in her nest.

Her friend hadn't gained consciousness from hitting her head. She worried about the damage done to Sky, but wasn't an expert on medicinal matters. At least the bleeding had stopped. Unable to do anything, she gently stroked Sky's fur with her tail. It comforted her as well as gave her something to do. Every few minutes she'd look up to see if anyone was coming. After a while, she gave up and focused only on Sky.

"What happened?" Shard demanded. Dusk jumped at his voice. She didn't hear or scent him approach. Behind the tom were Jasper and her father.

"Well…" She quickly told him the story. Her voice faltered when she described Sky being injured. When she finished, there was no difference is Sky's condition. Dusk hoped that Sky would wake soon, but the future was looking bleak.

"We'll watch over here. Any sign of consciousness will be reported to the others," Vic meowed softly. He bent down and licked Dusk's ear. She smiled at her father.

"Alright. I'll watch her now and let Dusk rest," Shard muttered. Dusk nodded and moved away from her friend. Shard sat next to his daughter. Once settled, he began to eat his sparrow from earlier.

Seeing the prey, Dusk's stomach growled. Sheepish, she licked her chest fur. I forgot all about eating. Vic gave a small chuckle before nudging his rabbit towards her. She tentatively took a bite. Since she didn't catch it, she didn't want to eat the majority of it.

By nightfall, Sky hadn't shown any signs of improvement. Dusk volunteered to sleep by her. The two had been sharing a nest for a while now. Without her, Dusk probably wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. Shard gruffly agreed and left his daughter. Dusk noticed the coldness in the tom's expression.

She can't see it, but Sky's father hates her. Dusk sighed and placed her head on her paws. She felt sorry for her friend, but didn't know how to help. No matter what, Sky would always have her.

Yeah, we'll always be together. It'll be us against the world.

I don't own Warriors.