K.A.K: Warning! There's a lot of emphasis with words in this chapter, just to show how much impact it has, or how much they despise one another :P (Also, thank you for all the reviews! We're glad people enjoy the story, hehe)

ALSO,

NO, Guest, I DID NOT RAPE ERIN. IT'S CALLED USING ROPE TO CAPTURE SOMEONE AND DRAG THEM BACK.

Erin: That's the nice way of putting it I suppose. O_O And you do know we're all girls right? I'm not sure how that would work...

K.A.K: YEAH!

Silver-chan: And I don't get scared that easily! I'm actually quite fearless! *flexes*

Erin: Um. Yes. Well.

Ahem. Anyways,

Enjoy!

Written By: K.A.K

/No Edit/

"Are you sure you heard right?"

"Yes, Derby."

"Positive? Absolutely positive?"

"The Twolegs mentioned their names, for the last time. They're coming!"

"You don't really know that!"

"Why else would they talk about them?"

"Maybe, they, uh, miss them…?"

"Derby, I know you know I'm right, so just accept it. They're coming today, and we are going to stay on this porch until they do!"

Derby could only sigh as Lucy turned away from her, huffing. Lucy had been determined to greet the arriving cats properly, and in the end, made an angry Derby sit with her as well.

The two she-cats were resting on the porch of the Twoleg home, waiting for the Twolegs to bring back Romeo and Magnolia back from the other Twoleg house.

The brown she-cat had vaguely heard of this other home, but not enough to really know what it meant. All she could fathom was that when it was hot and dry, Romeo and Magnolia would come and stay at the Horseplace. When it was cold and snowing, the two siblings would leave and go back to the other home. Derby didn't find it very fair; she had to stay in the Horseplace all year round, only able to huddle with Jet in the barn and shiver as the air slowly began to freeze. But it was still nice in a sense, being able to watch the snow fall gently to the ground from out the barn's window….

"Derby!" Lucy suddenly yelped, making the other she-cat jump, startled. "They're here! Look, the monster is pulling up next to the house!"

Whipping her head around, Derby scanned the solid gray path beside the house, only to see the Twolegs' monster come to a stop on it. Its rumbling died down, and its glowing eyes eventually faded to a dull gray. Something inside it suddenly clicked, and both sides of the beast's belly opened as the Twolegs stepped out.

Followed closely behind them were two trimmed and fluffy cats, tails swishing and heads held high.

As they sauntered over, Derby let out a sigh and muttered, "Glad to know they both still have their tom-pride."

"Magnolia is not a tom." Lucy hissed harshly, whacking her best friend with her tail as a warning. She then turned to the other two cats with a big grin. "Romeo, Magnolia!" the black she-cat chirped cheerfully, sounding the slightest bit false to Derby. "Welcome back to the Horseplace! I missed you guys!"

"That makes one of us." Derby drawled indifferently and then let out a slow breath, making sure to drag it out as long as possible. She caught Lucy's dissatisfied look once she finished, but before the brown cat could open her mouth to defend herself, Romeo stepped forward.

"Three actually," he purred smoothly. "Since Magnolia and I are positively delighted to see you all. And Lucy! Still as beautiful as ever I see. Perhaps we should-"

Derby let loose a loud warning growl, interrupting the tom's sugar-coated words and making him pause. The two cats stared at one another for a few moments, causing tension to hang thick in the air, before Romeo eased it slightly by slowly smiling and asking aloud, "Where's Jet?"

Lucy responded before Derby could. "He's in the barn catching mice."

"Of course! It's his job, Lucy." The she-cat next to Romeo snorted loudly and obnoxiously. "And he does it nobly and perfectly, unlike Derby, who can barely even scratch those filthy rodents."

"Oh, Maggie!" Derby exclaimed in mock surprise, eyes widening as she turned to face the other she-cat; she pushed Romeo and his scheming ways to the back of her mind, suddenly eager to have another stand-off with the snob below her. "I can't believe I didn't notice you before, you're as plump as the cows! What happened? Last time I saw you sweetie, I had mistaken you for a piece of straw!"

Magnolia snarled at the heavily implied sarcasm, her mottled cream and brown fur standing up stiff. "I see that you still have the same sick attitude as the last time I was here." She jeered. "And you still haven't groomed that ugly, matted fur of yours! Typical Derby."

"Well of course." Derby sneered, leaning her head down so she was face-to-face with her enemy. "Who has time for messing with their fur when they have to chase off mice constantly and make sure the horses stay where they're needed to be? And guard the farm when the Twolegs leave? Unlike you, darling, I actually have work to do."

Magnolia merely spluttered angrily, unable to form proper words at the sudden accusation; beside her, Romeo chuckled lowly in poorly-hid amusement. At the same time, Lucy sighed tiredly from her place on the porch, knowing that the conversation was now beyond her reach. Leave it to Derby to mess things up again.

Eventually the cream and brown she-cat composed herself, a scowl etched onto her face. But right as she opened her mouth to retort, one of the Twolegs hollered from inside the house; they were shouting Lucy's name repeatedly, growing louder each time they spoke. Derby and the others couldn't understand why they did that. They all heard the first time anyways! And there was no need to be so loud!

Upon hearing the call, however, Lucy stretched her legs and jumped into 'leader mode'. She announced loudly, "Okay! I'm going to head inside now. While I'm gone, you're free to do the usual. However, due to almost being killed by a horse during the last visit, I think it'd best if Magnolia sticks with…"

Please be Romeo, please say her brother. Derby pleaded in her mind desperately. As if reading her thoughts, Lucy shot her a sympathetic look and finished quietly with:

"…Derby."

The said brown she-cat wailed angrily, feeling betrayed. "I knew it!"

Magnolia was just as upset. "I don't take orders from a stupid she-cat like you!" She shrieked at Lucy, eyes wide. "I simply refuse to walk around and be monitored by this sorry excuse for a cat!"

"Excuse you?"

The pregnant she-cat huffed and ignored them both, choosing to walk away and slip through the 'cat flap' on the Twolegs' door. She chirped a goodbye to all of them as she departed, though it was barely noticed by the two other female felines, who were now spitting insults at each other's faces.

But once it was processed that Lucy was truly gone, silence settled down upon the remaining cats. It wasn't awkward, however, rather filled with the crackling tension of Magnolia and Derby's glares. Romeo, growing the tiniest bit weary of the two she-cats constant arguing, gave his brown fur a quick lick before speaking up to catch their attention.

"I'm going to go chat with Jet now." The tabby told them casually as he began trot away. It was rather uncharacteristic of him to leave without some kind of flirting, Derby noted, but then swiftly tore up the thought when the tom turned around and added slyly, "Play nice with Magnolia, Derby. You should save your fire for me, after all. Later today, maybe.", then winked.

The brown she-cat hissed lowly under her breath once the tom was out of sight. Oh how much she hated him; a no-good player he was.

And as much fun as it had been to see Magnolia shriek in terror and run from one of the Horseplace's agitated stallions, Derby could only hope that it was Romeo this time that would maybe- just maybe -get attacked by a horse.

~oOOo~

"Ugh, this place is soooo dull, just look at it! It's just grass and dirt and horse dung! How do you manage to put up with this boring place everyday, Derby? Ah! How will I manage?"

"Quit your whining.", Derby snapped at the she-cat next to her, tail lashing. The two cats were wandering around the farmland, trying to decide where to go first. "Just tell me where you want to go so I can escort you and we can get this over with."

Upon hearing this, Magnolia perked up slightly and smirked. "Well, let's see….how about the barn where Je-"

"We're not seeing my brother."

"Why not?", Magnolia let out a high-pitched growl, upset at being interrupted and rejected.

"Because you're creepy when you're around him!"

"Creepy? It's called love, you brutal tom!"

"Tom?! Do you want me to claw your stupid ears off?!"

"At least I'd still look more beautiful than you!"

Derby snarled, her brown pelt standing up stiff with anger. "Looks are all you got, horse dung!" The cream and brown she-cat in front of her gasped in horror at the accusation.

"Well," Magnolia shot back, stuttering slightly. "I-I bet you've done absolutely nothing worthwhile lately! You've probably just slept the day away while your poor, darling brother caught you food and did your job! He probably still is! U-Useless Derby!"

Derby spluttered at her, fuming. If there was one thing the brown she-cat hated, it was being called either useless, unwanted, or a waste of time; and Magnolia knew that! How dare she? Derby thought, before inhaling deeply to try and compose herself. Be calm, she chanted. Be calm. Don't let her provoke you any further.

A heartbeat passed by before her breathing evened out, allowing her to manage, "I have done something! I went into the forest by the Twoleg House to catch Lucy food but met a group of cats called WindClan!"

The Horseplace cat was going to end it at that, to add some suspense to it, but once she saw Magnolia start to gape, she felt a surge of confidence. She then began to boast. "I was almost caught, but then I ran away and met an apprentice from another clan called ThunderClan! And I was taken hostage by them, before being released and escorted home by some arrogant Warrior named Ashfa-"

Suddenly Derby halted, realization smacking her harshly in the face. I probably shouldn't have mentioned Ashfall. Or any of this. Ah, geez! I let my temper get to me. Maybe I could take it all back…?

But it was a bit too…late for that. Magnolia's interest had been peaked, and now she wanted to know more.

"Ashfa?" The older she-cat repeated, leaning in close to Derby's face. "Is it a tom? Is that his real name? What does he look like? Tell me more!"

Disturbed by the sudden invasion of space, Derby quickly pushed Magnolia away with her paw and muttered, "Confidential."

"Ehhhh? Tell me now!"

"No."

"Then take me there!"

"No."

"Now!"

"No."

"Then I'll go myself!"

"No!"

Frustrated and fed up with their petty argument, Magnolia suddenly snarled, and tried to shoulder past Derby to enter the forest behind them. Seeing this, the other she-cat acted on impulse and moved a bit to the side to block the way. The cream and brown cat, more irritated than before, pushed harder against her; but Derby kept her paws rooted to the ground. Tension was building up between the two at a rapid speed, and finally hit its peak when Magnolia shoved her.

Derby stumbled backwards from the impact, tripping over her own paws before landing face-first into the dirt. She could feel her nose smash flat, and a prick of pain shot through her head.

Eventually, the brown she-cat managed to stagger to her feet; by then Magnolia was a few mouse-tails away, trying to escape into the trees and go find the 'clans' Derby had been boasting of.

"Wait a minute!" Derby yowled angrily. "Stop!" She took off after Magnolia on shaky but determined paws.

"Stop!", she screeched again, her voice now firm and much louder. The older cat, though hearing her yells, ignored her deliberately and continued to saunter away. But just as she was about to slip through the bushes, Derby put on a burst of speed and tackled the she-cat's side, sending both of them rolling.

They continued to slide across the ground, hissing and spitting all the way. When they finally stopped, Magnolia kicked Derby off and swiped at her with unsheathed claws.

The Horseplace cat managed to dodge just in time, the claws only snagging and pulling off small tufts of her fur. She glared at Magnolia and growled deeply in her throat (I've had enough!, she spat inside of her head.), before letting out a bone-chilling snarl and lunging at the other.

Magnolia yelped as Derby's teeth sunk into her shoulder. Desperately trying to fight back, Magnolia twisted her body and batted Derby upside the head. The force of the blow winded the brown she-cat and made her let go; while she was still dizzy, Magnolia made a move.

She raced over to Derby's side, only to land another painful blow on her; this time, it was her flank. Her claws had been out, so when she pulled away, blood dribbled down Derby's fur. Derby retaliated, latching onto Magnolia's back leg with her teeth until blood flowed in smalls streams. It stained the pure green grass below.

The fight was irrational, but becoming very bloody very fast. Every one of Magnolia's attacks left blood; on her fur, on Derby's.

Derby, however, had yet to reveal her claws. She stuck to biting and distracting. Admittedly, the two tactics were what she was best at.

The battle was starting to look like some twisted, dark dance; a whirlwind of teeth, claws, and (some) blood.

Finally, Derby managed to slip behind Magnolia, swiftly bring a paw to her head, and smash her forcefully to the ground. The brown she-cat then plopped down on top of her and placed a heavy paw onto her throat.

"Stay," Derby panted heavily, blood leaking down into her eyes. "You…hah…can't go."

Magnolia, eyes wide, croaked angrily, "I can do what I want, tom."

Derby couldn't believe what she was hearing. After all of…this, she still wants to go?! Is she that stupid? Does she really want to die over something so pointless? Suddenly Derby jolted, realizing what she had just thought. She had been talking as if she was planning to kill Magnolia!

Anger and discomfort churned wildly in her belly. Sure, she despised the other she-cat to the point it hurt, but never would she kill her! The brown Horseplace cat didn't even want to fathom how it would feel to know that for the rest of your life, someone's blood was on your claws.

She then shook her head, and turned her attention back to an exhausted but still-furious Magnolia. "Don't mess with me," Derby spat; she added a little pressure to her paw on Magnolia's throat, making the other gag slightly. "This is stupid! We're fighting over stupid cats that live in the forest! What do they even matter to you? To... me? I'm never going to see them again, so. It. Doesn't. Matter!"

The fluffy she-cat beneath her gaped, before getting over her shock to Derby's rant and snarling, "You-!"

"Derby! Magnolia!" A cat's voice suddenly yowled, interrupting Magnolia and surprising both she-cats.

They called out to them again, sounding shocked and furious. "Guys! What on earth are you two doing?!"

Derby was confused at first as to whom it was, but when it clicked, she flattened her ears and muttered, "Gah! Lucy heard us!"

"Well duh," Magnolia spat harshly. "Who wouldn't have? We were yowling our lungs off."

"Oh shut it you stupid-"

"For the love of Twolegs!" Lucy screeched next to her suddenly, making Derby cut off her sentence and leap off of Magnolia. "Is this blood?!"

"Lucy!", the brown she-cat tried to plead with her best friend. "It was just a bit of a misunderstanding, nothing big!"

The black she-cat before her looked like she was about to faint. "Misunderstanding?! How is this a misunderstanding?! Derby, please-"

"I'm sorry!" Derby blurted abruptly. "Okay?! I'm sorry, it just happened!"

By then, Lucy had calmed down, and was now simply regarding Derby with disappointed eyes. The look hit Derby hard. It's like Lucy expects no less than for me to start a bloody fight for no reason. The thought made Derby whither; she crouched low to the ground, her whole body practically sagging.

Suddenly, Lucy spoke up. "Well, I guess it's not as bad as I had made it out to be. Come along, Magnolia." She sighed, trying to gently lead the injured and reluctant cream and brown she-cat away ("Like I'd willingly go somewhere with you!" She had spat; she followed Lucy anyways.). "I'll get the Twolegs to fix you up. You come too, Derby."

But Derby's feet wouldn't move. She felt like there was a mass of lead inside of her, weighing down her body and her heart. That… look she had been given had hurt her more than she thought it would have.

It was strange, however. She had seen that look many times in the past; not just from Lucy, but from Jet, her mom, and on some occasions, the Twolegs. Usually Derby would brush it off, or shoulder it and move on. So why did she care all of a sudden…?

The brown she-cat heard Lucy say her name again, but she didn't budge. Instead, she croaked loudly, "I'm fine, I'll manage, go ahead without me.", before settling down onto the crimson-dotted field by herself. She laid in silence, listening to Magnolia's whines and Lucy's soothing words from up ahead.

It was the first time Derby had ever truly felt alone.

K.A.K: Uh-oh. Seems Derby is having a bit of sudden self turmoil. I wonder how that will play out...haha, just kidding! I ALREADY know, and you do not. HA! Um...ah..ahem, anyways...

Review please! :D