AAH! I'm SOOOOOO SORRY I haven't updated! really, I am! ug, bad spiritwind, bad! teehee. sorry. I've had time management issues. sorry this chapter isn't too long, but I wrote it all today, go me! hope you enjoy:D

Disclaimer: Why on EARTH would I have Warriors characters pop up randomly in this? oh, well, I don't own Warriors (duh).

Chapter 8

It seemed like no time had passed as Miakoda was drowning in her own thoughts. She was finally ascending the steps to Rosie's house, and, checking the lights inside, it looked like the generous woman was out. It was starting to get cold outside, and the sky was almost completely dark now. Only the faintest fringe of light was visible through the trees of the wood nearby. When the girl began to shiver, she decided it would be safe to transform right there on the porch. In no time at all, the human was a shimmering cat, matching the night sky.

"That was risky," growled Foxtail, narrowing his eyes at Miakoda. "Anyone could have seen you."

"I don't think anyone's around tonight," the she-cat replied. "None of the lights are on, and it's early for them to be sleeping. Perhaps there's a meeting or something."

"Maybe," Foxtail mused, tilting his head to one side slightly. "Are you okay?"

Mia flinched. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

The ginger tom narrowed his eyes again, which were glinting ominously in the gathering moonlight. "Why are you lieing to me?"

The girl turned her head away from her friend, lowering her glowing silver-gold eyes to the ground. She felt guilty as ever for not telling him the truth, but she was afraid that he would not understand, as he was so straightforward.

"I can't tell you the truth," she mewed almost silently. "I can't tell anyone. It'd be a burden."

"I don't mind burdens, as long as my knowing will help you."

"It's stupid. Just forget about it."

"How can I?"

"Just forget it, okay?" Miakoda hissed, flaring up at Foxtail and taking out all her confusion on him.

"Don't hiss at me, I'm trying to help you!" Foxtail spat, and the girl could see a faint glimmer of hurt in his emerald eyes. It only made her angrier.

"I don't want any help! I don't need any!"

"Yes you do, I've seen you like this before, when you were worried about other things like your parents!"

Boiling with fury, Mia's eyes burned a deep gold. She reared up on her hind legs, and with a yowl struck out at Foxtail's face with unsheathed claws. He barely dodged out of the way in time. "Don't use that against me! I have enough to think about already! I regret telling you anything, you just blackmail me with all the bad things that happen to me in life! Everyone's against me! Everyone! You, Adahi, Cloud, my parents, everyone!" By now the she-cat's voice had grown into a shriek that echoed around the empty houses.

"Mia, stop!" Foxtail meowed, leaping on top of the screaming girl. "Stop!" His voice wasn't angry or commanding, but concerned.

"I hate you, I hate you!" she cried, batting at her attacker, but now she had resolved herself to keeping her claws safely sheathed, and she was too weak with sorrow to fight back. Finally, she sagged into a shaking pile of fur.

"Calm down, it's okay," Foxtail mewed, rasping his tongue gently over Mia's ears. It was only then that the girl realized she had been crying, and she huddled closer to the ginger tom, letting her tears soak into his fur.

"I'm sorry," she murmured after she had regained control of herself.

"It's okay," Foxtail repeated. "Everything will be okay, I promise."

"I cried a lot," Mia remarked, purring as she gazed up into her friend's eyes. The tom purred in return.

"Yeah, you did. I'm sorry for bringing up your parents."

"That's alright. I was being mousebrained."

"Yup, you were," Foxtail mewed, a glint of mischief flashing across his eyes. Mia narrowed her eyes to slits and cuffed him playfully over the head, but they both purred in amusement at their fight.

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Miakoda had had time to wash her face and turn back into a human just before Rosie returned to the house.

"Goodness, you must be freezing! Why didn't you go inside?" the woman scolded, not unkindly.

"The door's locked," the girl replied.

"Oh." Rosie's face took on a surprised look that quickly disappeared as she hurried to open the door. Inside the white house it was a bit warmer, but it still wasn't enough to be called completely comfortable. "Hold on just a moment while I turn on the heat." She bustled out of the room and into the hallway nearby, and Miakoda heard the old fationed heaters go into action. Almost immediately the air felt warmer, and the girl and Foxtail settled themselves on an old squishy, flowery white sofa. Not long after, Rosie returned. She looked at her guest and the cat, and she knew something was going on. "Did you want something, dear?" The way the girl was staring at her made Rosie feel uneasy.

Miakoda hesitated. "Yes…" She let her voice trail away for a moment. "You might want to sit down."

Taking the statement as an order, the old plump woman slowly lowered herself into an armchair with creaky joints. When the girl stayed silent, she prompted, "Go ahead, dear. What's troubling you?"

Mia tried to swallow, but there was no moisture left in her mouth. Only now did she realize what a big risk she was taking.

"I have a big secret…" she began, then everything came tumbling out, the whole story of what had happened to her ever since she was orphaned. Her finding the Tribe and Clan, being accepted, transforming, training, Blackmoon's treachery, Cloud, Silverfire Darfire, and Whitefire's deaths, her leaving to live in the Clearing, the battle, completely transforming, and now what was threatening the forest. The whole time, Rosie sat blankly silent. Mia wasn't sure what to make of it.

When the story was finally finished, and the girl was left with an even dryer mouth, the silence dragged on for seconds, minutes, until she began to feel uncomfortable. "Will you help?"

"What?" Rosie croaked, as if she had been asleep.

"Will you help me protect the forest? My home?"

The old woman stared at her for a long time, then the creases in her face cracked into deep lines as she broke into a smile and began laughing disbelievingly. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Mia's heart sank. Maybe this would't work. "No," she persisted. "I'm not kidding."

Rosie stopped laughing and her smile slowly disolved at the feral girl's serious look. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "But I just can't believe it."

Miakoda stared at the ground for a moment, her eyes swirling with silver in thought. Rosie seemed intrugued by this, but she said nothing. Taking a deep, steadying breath, the girl made up her mind. "You might get a heart attack from this."

Standing lightly from her seat, the shape shifter lowered herself onto all fours. Closing her eyes, she decided to make things small, and transformed into a cat first. She waited a moment, looking up intently into Rosie's shocked eyes. She twitched her whiskers and tail to show the woman wasn't dreaming, then changed into a wolf. At this, Rosie froze, and slowly moved her hands to her breast, clutching at her heart. Mia quickly blinked as if to say, "See?", then turned back into a human.

"Are you alright?" she asked, concern hardening her deep brown eyes. Rosie didn't respond, only took in quick, shaking breaths. Mia gingerly stepped forward, afraid that she would scare her host to death. The ticking of a clock's pendulum was tick-tocking away in the background, and the sound alone seemed to calm both the humans.

Rosie began to nod slowly, then more quickly and she lowered her hands to her lap. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Will you help?" Miakoda repeated.

The woman paused. "I think I need to sleep. I'm tired," she replied blearily, and, without blinking, stood and hauled herself up the stairs with the help of the railing. When Foxtail heard the door to their host's room close, he hopped down from the couch.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he meowed, looking up expectantly at his friend.

"I don't know." Mia still stared after the woman, up the stairs to where the hall took a bend to her room. A chill began to creep up her spine, making the hairs at the back of her neck bristle. Something bad was going to happen. Something dreadful. For some reason, the shape shifter felt she needed Flowerpetal and Snow now more than ever. Where were they? What were they doing? "I have no idea what it means, but I don't think it's good."

Ooo, forshadow. Yay! I finally made a cliffie! Next chapter will be on the wolves and Flowerpetal, as they continue their journey to catch up with Foxtail and Miakoda. Will they succeed? ((dun dun dun!)) wow, I feel like a summary writer! you'll find out next time on ((deepens voice)) The Outer Limits! teehee. sorry, I'm really hyper. R&R, please! really, I NEED reviews! I LIVE on reviews! hehehe. –Spiritwind