Thanks to Shiningheart of ThunderClan, Graywhisper and Loudpelt for reviewing. I know I'm updating rather soon. Well, I am typing as much as I can before I start College on Monday. I'll update as much as I can before then.
Chapter 11
Lowering her head, Sky felt a knot grow in her chest. She knew her father was just doing what he thought best, but it hurt to see him head to his death. She'd never see him again. And she'd be the last one to ever see him. Hopefully, the others wouldn't find his body. If they did, she'd be forced to experience the conversation in her head repeatedly as she questioned why she didn't stop him. Never could she have laid a claw on her own father. The thought seemed too wrong.
Holding back a sob that desperately wanted to escape, she picked up the pigeon. Its warmth radiated as she could smell its fresh blood along with a trace of Shard's scent. Dusk would need this more than the others. If her friend was going to survive the cold, she needed meat on her bony frame. Quickly, she rolled the bird in the snow. The wet mush helped wash off her father's lingering smell. Tearing her eyes away from the forest, she headed back to the others.
"What was it?" Dusk asked. When she saw the bird, her stomach growled.
"Just a pigeon searching for food. I got it with its back turn," Sky replied. Lying wasn't something she liked to do. But she couldn't bring herself to tell them about Shard.
Dusk just smiled, oblivious. Putting on a fake grin, Sky rested the bird by her friend. The dark she-cat needed to eat more out of the three, wait four, of them. Sky didn't know if Ian was staying when his injuries would heal, but right now she enjoyed having another cat here.
Once Dusk was full, she went to sleep. Sky looked over her as Ian too felt the pull of unconsciousness. That left only her and Jasper. Every time she glanced at him, she felt a tug on her eyes. He deserved to know what had happened. It was his right since they were Shard's only children. But her father did tell her to stay silent.
Would it be better to be oblivious and ignorant? Or would he want to know the truth? Mother always said that the truth was the best route. And Father wanted me to stay quiet…. What to do?
Ultimately, she decided to honor her father and stayed silent.
XxX
Several days passed. Ian, who could now stand on his own, was asked if he wanted to stay with them or head on his way. As he glanced over the three cats in front of them, he saw sadness in all three of their gazes. Jasper realized that Shard wasn't returning. He had spent a few days searching their territory for his father's body. He hadn't found it and gave up on ever seeing him again.
"I'll stay with you guys," Ian had vowed. Sky smiled and properly welcomed him to the small family.
Once Ian was fully healed, the quartet went hunting for the first time together. They hadn't made it far when a calico she-cat attacked them. Apparently, they had crossed into her unmarked territory. Jasper tried to talk their way out of the predicament, but only got injured. Before more cats, or a predator smelling blood, could show up, the small band of four hightailed it out of there.
They tried hunting again the next day. A different group of cats went after them, leaving more wounds on more than Jasper. Left hungry, they retreated home. At least no cat went after them there. Not much prey traveled by the small clearing, leaving them no option but venture out once more.
This time, Sky stood look out in the trees above. Out of the four, she felt more at ease running along branches as she searched the forest. The others could climb branches. It was only Sky who could fly like a bird through the trees. She effortlessly bounded from one tree limb to another, avoiding the snow covered branches in the fearing slipping and falling.
Dusk smiled as she took down a sparrow. The bird was small, yet it was the best she had seen in days. Above, Sky witnessed Ian crouch on a rabbit. A little further, Jasper stalked a mouse. A few fox-lengths away, three cats wrestled over a dispute. Concerned, Sky bounded across a few bare, pine limbs. She stopped above her brother and waited for him to take the mouse down. She could wait a moment, because they needed food badly.
"Don't go any further. There's a few fighting cats up ahead," Sky hissed. Picking up the mouse, Jasper nodded before turning around. He headed in the direction of Dusk and Ian.
Carefully, Sky jumped to a different tree. She stalled when two cats came into her view. Even from the height, she could see one was injured. Carefully, she slid down the trunk, her claws barely nicking the bark. Dusk got to them first, her fur raised at the strangers.
"Who are you?" she demanded. Sky reached them as the large ginger tom spoke.
"-got caught. We're just trying to find a place to stop until my wounds heal," he explained. His companion, a black she-cat with white speckles across her flank and chest, glanced up at the others with soft blue eyes.
"Please, we don't want any trouble," she pleaded. A shudder went through the ginger tom, causing more blood to stream from his wounded shoulder. Hissing, he sunk into the thin snow.
Ian glanced at Sky, waiting for her opinion. Since when have I become the leader? She asked herself. A second later, she found her brother and Dusk staring at her. She had been looking out for them while hunting and she came up with the idea to keep them safe. That still shouldn't give her all the power in making decisions.
"We can't really support any more cats. We're having a hard time feeding ourselves," Sky meowed calmly. Pain flickered across the speckled she-cat's face.
"I can hunt for both of us. We just need a place to stay," she pleaded. The breath in Sky's chest stalled as she tried to think of what to do. Quickly, her eyes darted around her friends, searching for any help. Jasper offered none whereas Ian gave her a hopeful glance. Of course he would; she saved him. Sighing, she faced the two strangers.
"Very well, you can stay."
XxX
Sky sat next to Star, the speckled she-cat, and offered her a bite of the robin she had caught. The small hunting group had just returned with plenty of prey. Their system of look outs really helped. Today, Jasper had been searching the forest while the rest hunted. Soon, Sky would have every cat take a turn as an overseer.
"Thank you," Star whispered. Sky shot her a small smile. A few mouse-lengths away, Dusk placed a mouse in front of Thunder. The tom had woken up when he heard the others approach. So far, his would was healing, but not quick enough.
Star was having a hard time adjusting to the new surroundings. Both her and Thunder were chased out of the Twoleg place. When they made it to the forest, they were attacked by a small group of cats. Thunder got the majority of the beating until they managed to escape. The two managed to travel along the forest before finding Sky and her small group.
"Tomorrow, you can go hunting with us. Ian will stay and watch Thunder," Sky meowed. Nervous, Star nodded. Hunting in the forest didn't suit her. There were too many things to remember and she kept worrying about a cat attacking her outside of the clearing.
Of course, every cat was worried about unknown threats. Even Sky feared for her safety every time she ventured from the security of her home.
"Don't worry, you'll be with me. Dusk will be the lookout," Sky assured. Star's mouth twitched. The black she-cat knew she should be happy for a place for her and Thunder. However, she had been frightened of the forest from the moment she saw the trees. It held the unknown. The only reason she agreed was because of Thunder.
"Okay," Star whispered. Confused, Sky tilted her head. She didn't know what Star was thinking, or why she seemed so scared.
Shrugging, she decided she'd ask about it when they were alone tomorrow.
I don't own Warriors.
Yep, Thunder and Star have made their debut. It won't be long until the Clans are formed. Check out the poll on my profile please!
