Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors series!
Title: Little Pawsteps And Lion Roars
Summary: Those Who Walk Strangely have destroyed the Tribe Of Rushing Water's home, sending them scrambling to ThunderClan for help. Lion, a loyal cave-guard to-be, is content with her life even after all that, but everything changes when she meets excitable apprentice Littlepaw.
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MagaNerd- Headcanons are opinions you have about a character- OC or canon- that hasn't been proven. Like, 'Littlepaw's father was from a different Clan' would be a headcanon, just as 'Jayfeather actually enjoys playing moss ball with kits, he just won't admit it' could be one as well.
...
Lion felt a stab of irritation as the mouse she was stalking darted into the undergrowth. Quiet padded out soon after, looking puzzled, before catching sight of her.
"Sorry." She called. "I didn't know it was your prey."
"It's okay." She mumbled, shifting her admittedly bulky paws. "I'm surprised I got as close as I did, really."
"I didn't know you were out hunting." The prey-hunter commented, turning to her with curious eyes. "I didn't know you could hunt."
I can't. "I thought I'd give it a try." She shrugged, eyeing the grassy floor of the forest. The Tribe's forest, she reminded herself, with a glimmer of satisfaction. "Moss likes fresh-kill best when it's warm."
"Don't we all?" Quiet purred. "I know it's not really a cave-guard's thing, but I could give you a lesson, if you want."
"No, that's okay." She twitched her whiskers dismissively, hoping she wasn't coming off as too rude. "I should go check in with Cold."
What she really wanted, Lion admitted to herself, scrambling up the ledge to their new home, was some alone time. She'd been so busy helping out with getting the Tribe settled in that she hadn't had a second to herself in almost a moon. She wanted some time to properly think, the breeze in her fur.
I want to have enough free time to mope around, more like it. She sniffed. I can't start laying around just because I miss Littlepaw. I have a job to do.
Littlepaw. Lion felt her heart break even more at the mere thought of her name. She shook herself. We'll meet again. Until then, I have to focus on keeping the Tribe well and happy.
"Ah, Lion." Stoneteller purred, appearing at the entrance of the cave. The healer made frequent trips to the Waterfall Of Stars to consult the Tribe Of Endless Hunting. "Just the to-be I wanted to see."
The only to-be, she thought, flexing her claws. "What do you need?"
"I need you to take a break." He nudged her inside. "You've been working hard, and you need rest."
Lion whirled around. "But-"
"I know you miss ThunderClan, Lion." He rumbled. "I'm not above admitting that I miss it too. It's not often that the Tribe Of Rushing Water has company. But your family misses you terribly. Just yesterday Tall mentioned he missed going on patrols with you."
Tall said that? She wondered, mystified. Her brother was loving, but far from openly affectionate. They left that up to their mother, who was more than happy to lick ears and brush pelts.
Lion looked at her paws, suddenly feeling ashamed of her wish to distance herself for a bit. "I'll share prey with them."
"Good." He dipped his head. "Make sure you get plenty of rest tonight. I know you've been sneaking out to practice your guard moves."
Embarrassment burrowed its way under her thick pelt. Everyone's treating me like a helpless kit, just because I had to leave Littlepaw behind! "Yes, Stoneteller."
The healer nodded his dismissal and disappeared down the rocks. Lion hesitantly grabbed a vole off the pile- something she'd gained a taste for in the Clans, despite it being more rare in the mountains- and headed for the prey-hunter's den, where she knew her mother and brother would be sharing their meal.
"Moss? Tall?" She poked her head inside, feeling a rush of pride at the heat that floating around the room from the combined cats and their warm nests. I helped make that happen! "Can I eat with you?"
Tall stood up to greet her. "Of course." He shuffled over so she could lay down next to him. "It's been a while since we shared prey as a family." He commented.
"Too long." Moss sighed wistfully. Lion passed her the vole and took a bite of mouse.
"It's been a busy time." She agreed.
Moss fixed her a keen look. "You miss her, don't you?"
Lion tensed. This was exactly why she'd been avoiding her Tribemates. Everyone is so nosy these days! "A bit." She murmured. She silently congratulated herself for keeping the longing out of her voice and took a bite out of her prey.
"I know how it feels." She continued. "I still miss him, you know."
Falcon.
Lion forced herself to swallow. "What was he like?"
"He was all heart." She purred, eyes glazing over with memories. "That tom would spend days alone in the mountains looking for prey, but he'd almost never eat any. He was paws down the skinniest of us during the cold moons."
"Sounds amazing." She said, and meant it. I hope I can be half as good a Tribe cat as my father was. "Was he hunting, the day he..."
"Fell?" Moss finished quietly. They tended to avoid talking about the mountain lion who'd sent him hurtling to his doom. "Yes, he was. He told me he'd get the biggest bird he could catch, just for me, and Falcon never backed down from a promise. He always said he'd be the one to catch your first real piece of prey, just like he caught Tall's." She gave a rusty purr. "To be honest, I'm glad he got to pass away as bravely as he did. Falcon was the kind of tom who couldn't even begin to comprehend the idea of letting others takes care of him. He never would have settled into the Olders den."
Lion gulped down her prey, quietly processing the information. Does Tall remember Falcon at all? I wish I did. I couldn't imagine such an amazing cat just being forgotten.
"She-cats." Tall snorted, breaking the silence. "Always so sentimental. This is exactly why I'm never going to have a mate."
She turned to her littermate, surprised. He'd never told her that before. "You don't want a mate?"
He hesitated for the briefest of seconds before shaking his head. "Between you and Moss, I think we have plenty of mate issues in this family as it is."
Littlepaw isn't my mate! She wanted to hiss at him, squashing down a small spark of happiness. It wouldn't be right for her to just say she was. She can't be until we've talked about it. It's not a one-sided thing.
"Speaking of." Moss said, mouth open to taste the air. "Do I smell ThunderClan?"
"What?" Lion jumped to her paws. "I'll go check!"
Most of the Tribe had gathered at the front of the cave, having caught the scent before them. Lion pushed her way through, bushy tail raised.
At the foot of the ledge stood Brightsky and Littlepaw. The warrior's head and tail were high and proud, whereas the apprentice was staring at the mountain wall, eyes glinting with a strange sort of determination.
"We need to speak to Stoneteller." Brightsky called up. "Or, at the very least, Littlepaw needs to speak to Stoneteller."
Author's Note: The next arc had begun!
Also, one quick note; Newpath's story has started! It's called 'A Brittle New Path.' It only has a few chapters on it, but it's there. Check it out if you're interested!
-Mandaree1
