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Chapter 9

Sky stood to her feet, disturbing Dusk. The battered black she-cat was in a fragile state. Just as Sky had nightmares of her mother's death, Dusk now experienced those with her father.

Dusk bolted upward, scared that her dream came to life. She looked around wildly, only relaxing when she saw Sky. The white she-cat watched over her with a soft gaze, keeping her tail around Dusk.

"You're safe with me," Sky whispered. Her mother used to do that when she was a young kit. The memory of her mother still stung, but weren't as violent as she's experienced before.

Dusk's bony frame quivered against Sky's pelt. It had been almost half a moon since the tom's death. She refused to eat, resulting in a rapid weight loss. Sky was beginning to worry more for Dusk's mental state. If she could show her grieving friend something beautiful in this world to look forward too, maybe she could help her gain some strength. She should start off with some food then work her way up.

"I need to find some food for you. Can you wait a while for me to return?" Sky asked. Dusk's eyes widened bigger than the moon.

"Y-you can't leave me. What will I do?" she stuttered. Sky smiled softly and licked her friend between her ears. Jasper had left along with Shard. Where they were, Sky didn't really know.

"It won't be long. And I'll have something nice for you," Sky meowed. It took a little coaxing, including several promises, before Dusk finally allowed Sky to leave.

As her mother promised her, the snow proved the best hunting conditions. Her white fur melted into the surrounding area so seamlessly, a bird didn't notice her until she stood right over it. The bird didn't know what hit it, resulting in a swift kill. To ensure no predators found it, Sky buried the bird in the cold, marking the spot with a few dead leaves. The stench alone would repulse anything.

Hoping to find more, she searched through the frosty undergrowth. Most mammals were asleep in their dens. The only prey she'd find would be birds and maybe a fish if she reached the river. Knowing that it would probably be frozen over, she kept scenting for birds. Instead of prey, she picked up a different smell.

Blood along with fox reached her. Though painful memories resurfaced, she pushed them away and bounded to the scents.

An angry yowl rang the air. It sounded eerily familiar, but Sky didn't know why. The pain etched in their scream pushed her legs to run faster. When she leaped over a wall of snow-covered brambles, a scene way too familiar flashed in front of her.

A dark gray tom lay crumpled underneath a crimson fox. The cat's stomach and chest were bleeding heavily, spreading the blood down his legs to his paws. His blue eyes flashed when he saw Sky standing there.

Sky's gaze swept over the fox. Scars littered its flank and face. A gasp escaped her chest when she realized the marks mirrored the ones her mother had given a fox not too long ago. I-it's the same one. The same fox that killed her. Fury laced through her veins.

Without glancing at the tom, she jumped at the fox. Her front claws slashed along the tattered fur, opening the skin. Blood welled in the slashes, beading before falling down the fox's pelt. The fox threw its head back with a bark-like sound. It stumbled on its paws, causing the tom to move out of the way. Though he was weak, the tom clawed at the fox's belly.

Sky climbed up the fox's back and bit down on its ear. Her claws dug into its neck to keep her from being flung off. Realizing she was still on, the fox threw its head from side to side. Sky held back a yowl as her stomach churned. Her claws lost their grip and she flew through the air.

The soft snow broke her fall. Quickly, she stood and shook her head. Her sudden tinnitus ebbed away as well as her shaky vision. The tom snarled at the fox and backed away a few steps. Sky rushed back at the lanky creature. Like a lightning flash, she bunched her legs and bounded into the air.

She turned in midair and dragged her claws down the fox's stomach. A whine of pain escaped the creature. Sky landed and the fox took off through the forest.

"W-who are you?" the tom whispered. He limped over to Sky, gasping for breath with each step.

"Though I should be asking that first, considering you're on my territory, I'm Sky," she answered. The tom lowered his head and frowned.

"I'm Ian, and I didn't need your help," he meowed in a low tone. Sky fought back a laugh. She knew that he would have died if she didn't show up when she did. Her dream from moons ago confirmed it. She was just glad that he didn't die.

"Sure, and I'm a badger. But, if you don't have anywhere to stay, you're welcome to come with me. I can clean your wounds so they don't get infected," she replied. Ian finally looked up at her. He could see sincerity in her eyes.

"Fine," he muttered.

XxX

After stopping to collect her earlier catch, the two slowly headed back to Sky's home. Ian left a blood trail, which Sky tried to clear with her tail. The scarlet snow only smudged and spread. Sighing, she made the tom stop. The longer they stayed in the snow, the better chance there was of a predator coming after them. But with a trail, they were sitting ducks.

Sky searched through the snow covered fauna to find something to clot the blood. She found drenched leaves and spider webs. Knowing that she wouldn't find anything else, she decided to use them.

"Easy!" Ian hissed. Sky flattened her ears and paused in cleaning his chest.

"Sorry," she murmured. With her tail flicking in annoyance, she resorted to a different method. She grabbed a paw full of snow and placed it on the wound. Like a magnet, the snow soaked up the blood. Once the crimson frost was removed, she placed the drenched leaves on the gash. Then she wrapped his flank with the cobwebs. Surprisingly, it stopped the blood.

Ian breathed a sigh of relief and sank deeper into the snow. Sky smiled at her fruitful efforts. Now, she just had to get him home. That was easier said than done.

After letting him rest for a little while, Sky continued on with him a few steps behind. Whenever the gap increased too much, she slowed down and waited for him to catch up.

Finally, though the sun was past midday, Sky reached her home. Ian's eyes widened when he saw the shimmering clearing and frosted trees.

"Wow, you live here?" Ian asked. Sky nodded since her mouth held her fallen bird. At sound of Ian's voice, Dusk jumped in her nest. Her head whipped over to see Sky standing with the tom.

"There you are! I've been so worried," she fretted. Sky smiled sheepishly and went to her friend. She placed the bird by Dusk's nest and licked her friend's ear.

"Sorry, but I got caught up in something," Sky meowed. Dusk side glanced at Ian. Confusion danced across her face.

"Um, hi?" she meowed. Ian nodded curtly then lied down in Sky's nest.

"Don't mind me," he muttered. He curled up into a tight ball and rested his tail over his nose. It wasn't long before he drifted to sleep.

"Please explain what happened," Dusk whispered. Sky lowered her head and took a small bite out of the cold prey. Dusk did the same, but made a small face at the taste.

"While I was hunting, I smelled fox and blood. I came across Ian, the tom, fighting against a fox. It was the same one that killed my mother. So, I helped him drive the fox away. He was wounded and I told him he could stay here. That's pretty much it," Sky explained. Some of Dusk's confusion vanished, but a small sliver still hung in her eyes.

"What are you going to tell Jasper? He might have forgiven you, but he may not like another cat here," she asked. Sky opened her mouth, but stalled when her nose twitched. She turned around to see her brother standing over Ian.

"Yeah, what are you going to tell me?" he demanded.

I don't own Warriors, Erin Hunter and her amazingness does.