Circle of Life: Book 2: Paths Not Tread
A/N: Wow, it's actually on time! :O Well, happy belated Father's Day! I had fun last night with family, and hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10: Leaf's Best Friend
Silvertail winced at Splotch's yowl.
"Quiet!" she hissed. "My Clanmates will be running like their tails are on fire if they hear a cat scream like that!"
"Sorry!" Splotch said hurriedly. "Look, I don't want to get you in trouble, so go ahead and chase me back over the fence."
Silvertail nodded and let out a yowl, leaping at the kittypet. Splotch looked surprised that Silvertail's attack had come so quickly, but he turned and dashed back over the fence just as Shadowleaf came barreling out of the undergrowth.
"What happened?" he demanded of Silvertail.
Silvertail turned back, panting. "Just a kittypet on our territory. I chased him back over though."
Shadowleaf nodded. "Good. We don't need kittypets on our territory. Are you okay?"
"Fine," Silvertail said. "Go back to hunting. We can meet back here in a while." Shadowleaf nodded and left again.
Splotch's head poked up over the fence. "How about we meet later? Tomorrow, maybe?" he suggested.
Silvertail hesitated, and then nodded. "Okay." She turned to bound off, but Splotch called her back.
"Wait!" he said. "What's your name?"
"Silvertail," she said hurriedly. "Now get out of here!"
The next day, Silvertail assigned Ravenpaw the task of getting a nest ready for Rosetail, who was further along than Featherstorm and Lillypelt had thought at first and would be moving into the nursery the following day.
"Where are you going?" Silvertail froze at the sound of Stripefur's voice. He and Stormstar stood side by side. She had never realized how much alike they looked. Though the brothers' pelt colors were night and day, they had the same shape of their faces and bodies.
"I..." Silvertail couldn't tell them the truth, that she had been sneaking out to meet Splotch by Twolegplace, but she didn't want to lie to either of them.
"You're too hard on the young warriors, Stripefur," Stormstar said, flicking his tail at his brother's shoulder. "She's just going for a walk."
Silvertail nodded. "I thought I could get some extra prey as well."
Stripefur flicked his tail. "Go ahead, then, Silvertail. And you better come back with the fattest mouse in the forest! I don't want our warriors slacking off!" Though his words were harsh, his eyes were playful.
"Yes, Stripefur," Silvertail purred. She dipped her head to Stormstar, and then turned and hurried out of camp.
She headed straight for Twolegplace, and stopped when she reached Splotch's fence. She hesitated, unsure of what to do now.
But then Splotch's plump black and white face appeared, as did the rest of him. He sat on the top of the fence. "Silvertail!" he greeted.
"Hi Splotch," Silvertail said warily. "Why did you want me to come?"
"We need to talk," Splotch said. "About Leaf and Sky, and their kits. But not here. Your Clanmates could find us."
"Then where?" Silvertail asked.
"Over the fence," Splotch answered. "In my yard."
Silvertail backed away. "I can't. The Twolegs!"
"They'll never know you're here," Splotch promised. "We'll hide in the bushes just inside. Neither your Clanmates, nor my housefolk will find us. I promise."
Silvertail hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
She glanced back at the forest. What would her Clanmates think if they caught her?
But she shook it off. She had to find out more about Tanglepath's parents!
"Okay," she said finally.
Splotch's face lit up. "Great. Come on." He jumped back down to the other side of the fence, and Silvertail followed him.
They quickly settled down, hidden in the bush. Silvertail swept her tail around her paws as Splotch got comfortable.
"So," she said once he was in place.
"So," he echoed.
"You knew Leaf," Silvertail prompted.
"Yes, I did," Splotch said, a touch of pain in his voice. "As well as her mate, Sky. I... I can't believe they're dead."
"I'm sorry," Silvertail murmured.
"It's not your fault," Splotch said, turning his head away. "When they left, I knew... I knew that they might not last long, especially with the kits."
"They lived here?" Silvertail asked.
The kittypet nodded. "Yes. For a while."
"Tell me the story," Silvertail said eagerly. "Tell me everything."
Splotch watched as the tom dashed for the fence yet again. The tom's housefolk yelled something, and ran after the tom, scooping him up and putting him back inside. The she-cat who had come with the tom shook her head.
"He just doesn't get it," she murmured.
"I guess not," Splotch said from his place on the fence.
The she-cat started and turned around. She leaped to her feet, hissing and baring her teeth.
"Relax." Splotch jumped down from the fence. "My name's Splotch. I live next door. What's your name?"
The she-cat relaxed, but kept a wary look. "I'm Leaf."
Splotch laughed. "That's a strange name. Is that the name the housefolk gave you?"
"Housefolk?" Leaf echoed. "Oh, you mean the Twolegs."
"Yeah, I guess," Splotch said. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No," Leaf said. "Sky and I are from the forest."
Splotch's eyes widened. "The forest? Isn't that dangerous?"
"No, not if you know what you're doing," Leaf said. "The forest is a wonderful place... But right now, it's safer for us here."
"Why's that?"
"I'm going to have kits," Leaf quietly said, looking down at her paws. "There are too many dangers in the forest."
"Like what?" Splotch sat down, staring curiously at the newcomer.
"Clan cats, rogues, even other loners," Leaf told him. "Badgers, foxes–."
"Clan cats? Rogues? Loners?" The forest had always interested Splotch, but he'd never dreamed he'd meet an actual forest cat.
"Clan cats live in large groups called Clans," Leaf explained. "There are four groups of them: NorthClan, AmberClan, LightningClan, and TreeClan. Rogues don't live in Clans, but they're just as dangerous. Anyone who trespasses on what they think is their territory is in for it. Loners, like Sky and I, are more peaceful. We travel, usually not staying in one place. It's unusual for us to be traveling in groups. Even couples are strange."
Splotch devoured the information Leaf gave him. When the housefolk let Sky back out, he was frowning.
"Who are you?" the tom demanded. "Leaf, what's going on?"
"Don't worry, Sky," Leaf soothed. "This is Splotch. He lives in the garden over. I was just telling him about the forest."
Sky sat down, glaring at Splotch suspiciously. "I think you should go."
Leaf rolled her eyes. "Ignore him, Splotch. He may seem like a meanie, but he's really a big softie."
Sky didn't take his eyes off Splotch, and the kittypet gulped. "My housefolk are probably looking for me. I should get going."
Leaf sighed. "Very well. If you have too. Goodbye, Splotch."
"'Bye," Splotch echoed.
"Good!" Sky jumped back, panting. "Keep that up and you'll be a forest cat in no time."
Splotch's eyes gleamed. "You think so?"
"I know so," Leaf called from her shady spot under the large, leafy plants at the edge of her garden. "You're looking great."
Splotch beamed. For the past two moons, Leaf and Sky had been teaching him to hunt and fight. Leaf hadn't been able to participate for a few weeks; she was too close to kitting.
"I have to admit," Sky said, still trying to catch his breath as he collapsed next to Leaf. "I didn't think you would do this good. But you did."
"Thanks for the faith," Splotch joked, laying down across from them. The two former forest cats had quickly become his best friends. He couldn't wait until their kits were born.
"Sky!" Leaf yowled.
"I'm here!" Sky crouched as close to Leaf as he could. "Remember what that Clan cat told us! Breathe, stay calm–!"
"How am I supposed to do that?" Leaf screeched.
"You know what to do," Sky soothed as best he could. "Just stay calm."
He crept out to where Splotch was waiting, having heard the whole thing.
"Is she okay?" Splotch asked worriedly.
"Fine," Sky said tiredly. "This is her first litter, so she doesn't really know what she's doing, but..."
"She'll be fine," Splotch assured him. "I'm sure she will. And you'll have beautiful kits."
Sky shot him a kind glance. "Thank you, Splotch. Do you mind staying here while I go fetch some water?"
"Not at all," Splotch said. "Do what you have to do."
Sky nodded. "Thank you. So much." Then he disappeared over the fence.
"Splotch. Wake up. Splotch?"
The kittypet blinked sleepily and looked up into the face of Leaf, who was standing over him.
"Leaf!" Splotch jumped to his paws. "How are the kits?"
Leaf purred in amusement. "They're only a few days old, Splotch, calm down." Her face turned serious. "There's something I have to tell you."
"What?" Splotch asked.
"We... Sky and I... We're leaving, Splotch."
Splotch blinked. "What?"
"We're leaving," Leaf repeated. "We can't stay here any longer. The Twolegs will take our kits away, and we can't let that happen."
"You can stop them!" Splotch wailed.
Leaf's eyes gleamed sadly. "I'm sorry, Splotch. We can't." She rubbed her muzzle against him. "The kits would have loved you. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Splotch whispered, his voice choked. "I'll always miss you, Leaf."
A/N: Poor Splotch. I think I might have to give him a cameo in the next book, because I just love him so much. :3 Maybe he'll get his own story... Hm. You never know. Well, if you liked it, review! If you didn't... Still, review! I want to know how you felt! And I promise I won't snap at you! ...Maybe. XD
But still, review!
Off to take over the world,
Crazy Girl
