Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors.

Chapter 10

"Bane!" Tally squeaked in shock as the large gray tom jumped from branch-to-branch carelessly, showing off his long, sharp claws.

"Alright, Bane," Lani meowed, a little worried now, "you'd better come down. You're going to kill yourself!"

Ravenstar heard Barley let out a mrrow of amusement as he stared up at Bane. The gray tom had really outdone himself this morning; he'd caught a finch and three mice. The other four cats hadn't caught nearly as much and Ravenstar could tell Lani was a little disappointed in being beaten. Again.

It had been half a moon since Tally and Bane decided to join EchoClan. They'd had twice as many questions as Lani, though, and Ravenstar thought they wouldn't join the new Clan at all. His jaw had dropped open when they agreed. Bane was a good cat, not to mention a great fighter. Ravenstar and Barley had fought directly with Tally and Bane before, and they would not be a disappointment to EchoClan. The black tom had been taking it easy for this half-moon, not really searching for more cats. But his relaxation would end today, for he had made a promise to Bluestar, and he would not disappoint her.

"Bane!" Tally cried louder this time, and Ravenstar blew out of his trance at a large plop on the ground. His eyes stretched wide as he found Bane sprawled out on the leafy ground, a small sparrow in his jaws. Luckily, he hadn't been too far up in the tree for any damage to be done. He flipped back around quickly, and dropped his catch.

"Sorry for the scare, Tally," Bane was on the verge of laughter, and Ravenstar couldn't blame him. Tally's face was still shock-written, her eyes huge and her jaws gaping.

"Why must you do those things to me?" Tally demanded, puffing out her fur to look twice her size. Bane shrugged and pawed the sparrow over to his own fresh-kill pile. Lani snorted in mock-anger and darted into the trees, in search for more prey. Still upset, Tally ran after Lani to get away from the toms.

Ravenstar wasn't really all that surprised that Lani and Tally had become best friends in such a short amount of time. Other than the fact that Tally worried way too much, the two she-cats had almost the same personalities.

Lani's head popped through the branches again, and she stared at Ravenstar.

"You care if we search out further into the territory?" she asked. Ravenstar flicked his tail signaling she waited. The five cats had left Lani's territory almost as soon as Tally and Bane decided to join EchoClan and they just got to this part of the forest two days ago. If one went to explore, they all had to go. None of them knew if there were other cats in this territory, but there were no scent markers to signify that there was.

"We'll leave as soon as we can stretch out jaws wide enough to gather Bane's catch," he purred in amusement, pointing with his tail to Bane's fresh-kill pile. The gray tom had a triumphant glint in his eye as he shoved two mice in his mouth to carry. Ravenstar picked up his own catch, and waited for the others to gather theirs. Once all prey was gathered, the five cats ventured out further into the forest.

XXX

Carrying the prey was easier now that the cats had eaten. Ravenstar's jaws ached from holding so much for so long. He was already proud of the little group of cats he'd gathered. Ravenstar had figured it would be much harder to convince cats to join his Clan, though if he went much further, he wouldn't see the point in getting more rogues to join him. Surely the Twoleg's couldn't come this far out into the forest.

He shrugged off the thought, if Bluestar wanted him to do this, he would. He wondered how Firestar was; his old friend had left many moons ago. How were the four Clans getting along in the new territory? He also wondered how Firestar and the other Clan leaders would react when he –or if he got there.

"I smell cat!" Barley suddenly blurted out, whipping his head around.

"This way," Lani whispered, flicking with her tail in the direction of bushes and short trees. All the cats set their prey down lightly, and followed Lani into the bushes. Ravenstar's head slid through the leaves easily, and he spotted a ginger she-cat crouching over something, looking scared. He signaled with his tail for the rest of them to stop, he didn't want to be frightening this strange she-cat more than she already seemed to be.

"Hello?" he meowed softly, stepping out fully to reveal himself, the rest stayed hidden. Instinctively, the she-cat bristled and bared her teeth in a snarl.

"Who are you?" she demanded in an unfriendly tone, trying to cover the bundle she was protecting. He noticed another ginger cat, but it was smaller with white patches. The only reason it stood out was because of the red blood streaming from its fur.

"I mean you no harm," Ravenstar meowed, dipping his head respectfully. The she-cat still stood her ground.

"What do you want?" she meowed angrily, her voice shaking with fear. Ravenstar's eyes widened, why was she so terrified of him? Did he look that scary?

"I wont hurt you," he meowed, making sure his claws were sheathed.

"Then what do you want?" The she-cat snarled, unsheathing her claws and crouching, ready to spring. She let out a low growl and Ravenstar stepped back, he was, after all, in her territory. He couldn't fight her; she was terrified and weak with hunger. Ravenstar could see her ribs sticking out; she was in no condition to fight, anyway. Then for the first time he noticed her flank. Other than the ribs showing, they were sticky with fresh blood.

"Are you okay?" he asked without thinking. She obviously wasn't. The she-cat launched herself at him, and he purposefully fell over. He didn't want to hurt her, and her weak scratches did nothing to him. Immediately, the rest of his group shot out of the bushes and dragged her off him. Tally ignored the fight and ran over to the bundle of ginger fur Ravenstar had noticed earlier.

"Stay away from my kit!" The she-cat screeched defensively, clawing viciously at Bane and Lani, who were holding her back from Ravenstar. Tally listened, obviously knowing it was not good to interfere with a she-cat and her kits.

"We wont hurt you!" Barley yowled over the she-cats cries. A few moments later, the ginger cat stopped struggling and gasped for breath.

"Please," she begged, "Don't hurt her!"

"Of course we won't hurt her," Tally meowed gently, "Or you, for that matter." The she-cat wailed quietly, pressing her face into the ground.

"Lani, go find cobwebs." Ravenstar ordered, and watched the brown she-cat race off into the trees. Tally silently slid over to the kit and began licking its bloody fur. Ravenstar noticed a slight raise and fall of its body as it breathed, and realized with relief it wasn't dead.

"Who did this to you?" Ravenstar asked the ginger cat. She looked up at him, her face still in the dust.

"I-I don't know…" And with that, she fainted. Ravenstar's eyes went huge and he told Bane to stop guarding her.

"Will she be alright?" Barley asked, padding up and looking worried.

"The mother will be, but obviously a lot's happened to her. I'm not sure about the kit, though..."

Barley nodded and went to check on the kit with Tally. Ravenstar felt guilty about barging in on the ginger she-cat while she was having a moment, but he could help her and her kit. That much he felt better about.

Lani burst back into the space they were all in with many wads of cobweb in her mouth. How had she found so many that fast? He didn't bother asking questions and tore off a chunk to bring to Tally.

The tortoiseshell she-cat already had the ginger kit looking better when he walked over. Before he could set the cobwebs down, Tally yanked them from his mouth quickly and immediately started pressing them into the kit. Ravenstar studied the ginger bundle. It actually wasn't kit sized; it looked as if it could be an apprentice.

Then it occurred to him. What if these two could join EchoClan? Then he wasn't so sure. The mother had been pretty vicious, but what would she think of them treating her and her kit? Would she be grateful, or would she just hate them more for interfering?

XXX

"Nia!" Ravenstar's head whipped around to find the ginger she-cat awake, stumbling over to her kit that had survived the night. Before she made her way all the way to the other ginger cat, she stopped dead and stared at the group of cats that were few fox-lengths away.

"Greetings," Ravenstar said, dipping his head. The she-cat stepped back, a worried look on her face.

"Don't you think if we'd have wanted to kill you, we'd have done it by now?" Bane spoke up for the first time, and Tally gasped.

"Shut up, Bane! You'll frighten her!"

"No…" the ginger cat meowed slowly. This was the first time Ravenstar had heard her talk without screeching or clawing.

"No. Thank you…" she finished, pointing her white striped tail toward her kit. Ravenstar nodded, staying where he was.

"Is she alive?" the she-cat asked in a small voice.

"Yes," Tally meowed lightly, "She hasn't woken, but we haven't tried to wake her, either. We thought it was best if she rested."

The ginger cat ran to her kit, wincing in pain at her own wounds. Ravenstar still wondered who would do that to a defenseless she-cat and her kit.

"Nia…" she whispered, gently prodding her kit after finding some place not injured.

"Nia, wake up, darling. Its Mother."

Ravenstar was filled with relief as he saw the kit stir, raising her head lightly, "Mother…" she whispered, resting her head on her paws again with weakness.

"Don't try to move, Nia," the she-cat purred sadly, "you'll hurt yourself. I just…wanted to see if you were okay."

"Is he coming back?" Nia squeaked, her voice rising with every word. She let out a pitiful cough and buried her head in the ground. Ravenstar had seen them both do that when they felt defeated. Why?

"No…no, I don't think so. Not for now. You're safe with me."

Nia shot her mother a doubtful glance, and then her gaze flickered over to Ravenstar and his group.

"Who are they?" she asked quietly.

"They're…friends, I guess," The ginger cat meowed uncertainly, "You need to rest some more. I'm sorry I woke you."

Nia looked back at her mother, and then obediently closed her eyes again. Ravenstar was glad to hear that the she-cat thought of them as friends. He guessed she trusted them now. In a few moments, Nia was asleep.

"Are you hungry?" Lani asked, stepping aside to reveal the fresh-kill pile. They'd collected their prey again when the two she-cats were sleeping. They'd all noticed that these cats could use a good meal.

The she-cats eyes were ravenous, but she hesitated.

"You don't even know my name, yet you're doing all these kind things for me. Why?"

"Because we can't stand to see a cat suffer, that's why." Barley meowed, pointing with his tail towards the prey.

The she-cat pressed her face in the dirt. The third time Ravenstar had seen that.

"Hey," Lani meowed, "You don't have to do that, we're not going to control you."

The she-cat looked very doubtful, but lifted her head. "I am Caddie," she mewed, "Thank you."

She padded over to the fresh-kill pile and took the fattest mouse. She tore hungrily into it and ate every scrap there was to it.

"You can have more," Tally meowed, but it sounded more like a question.

"No, thank you very much for your kind offer. I am more full than I have been in a very long time."

"Do you mind telling us who did this to you…?" Ravenstar countered, wondering if Caddie would snap at him.

"His name is Ring." Caddie meowed very quietly, glancing around nervously. "Nia's father. He…he's a very controlling cat. I don't want to live in fear every day of my life…but he just keeps coming back. He doesn't let us eat more than half a mouse every other day, and when we don't abide by his rules…this happens." Caddie signaled to Nia, and sighed.

"Will he come back today?" Barley asked, on the verge of growling.

"Yes. I lie to Nia to protect her mind, but he always does. Almost every day."

"We'll take care of him," Bane growled, unsheathing his claws. Caddie gasped, "Oh no! He's very powerful, he could…he could kill one of you!"

"You'd be surprised," Lani mewed, half to herself.

"Then we wait." Tally meowed determinedly, unsheathing her claws to match Bane's.

XXX

The sun was falling, and Nia was still asleep. Lani and Tally had moved her to a shady spot by some trees and put a mouse next to her for when she woke. Ravenstar hoped she was still sleeping when her father arrived. Caddie waited nervously with the group for her ex-mate to arrive. She still insisted that they don't try to fight him, but Ravenstar assured her that five cats against one wasn't really something to worry about.

"He's close," Bane growled, sniffing deeper. Ravenstar opened his jaws to taste the air, but he didn't need to smell to know Ring was there. Caddie was bristling with fear, and she couldn't stop shaking.

"It's alright," Ravenstar murmured to the she-cat, letting his claws slide out of their sheaths.

Ravenstar saw a golden-brown tom saunter into the clearing. When Ring noticed the group, his fur bristled and he let out a snarl.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, taking a step forward. Caddie shivered and let out a small cry.

"Who are they?" Ring yowled angrily at Caddie. The she-cat wailed and shoved her face into the dirt. So that's why they do that, Ravenstar thought. He was surprised that Nia was still sleeping, too.

"One step forward and we'll shred you for our bedding," Bane snarled, swatting a claw in Ring's direction. The golden-brown tom hesitated, taking in that there were way more of them than there were of him.

"This is none of your business," he growled, and then glared hatefully at Caddie.

"It would be wise to shut your mouth," Ravenstar meowed calmly, stepping forward.

"Oh you think so?" Ring meowed in mock-amusement, "Well I think it would be wise to get your flea-bitten pelts out of here!"

Ravenstar snarled and launched himself at the huge tom. Ring gasped with surprise as he was bowled over and Ravenstar slashed at the tom's flanks. Without signal, the rest of the cats yowled out battle cries and started attacking Ring. The tom yowled in outrage and clawed at any cat he could. Ring struck his claw in the direction of Ravenstar and left a gash in the new leaders forehead. Blood streamed down into his eyes, making him more mad than he already was. The black tom spat angrily and leaped on top of Ring. No cat would get away with doing what he did to Caddie and Nia.

"Stop!" Ravenstar suddenly yowled, and all the cats leaped off Ring. He was surprised that they were actually listening to him, when he wasn't necessarily their leader yet. But Bane stayed closer to Ring.

"Why, Ravenstar?" the gray tom questioned curiously, still panting heavily from the short battle, "We should kill him."
"Indeed we should," the black cat meowed, "But I think it's up to Caddie to decide that."

Ravenstar took a sidelong glance at the ginger she-cat. Her white striped tail swept in the dust nervously, and she shook her head.

"I can't,"

"Yes," Bane meowed, "yes you can."

"No. I can't get hurt more than I already am…you see," Caddie meowed, "I'm carrying kits."

Ravenstar's group all gasped in unison. But she'd seemed so skinny. How could she already know? He figured Ring had been starving the poor she-cat, so how could the kits still be alive anyway?

"I hope you die!" Ring growled viciously to his ex-mate, "You and the kits you're carrying. Nia, too! You can all die."

"Ah," Ravenstar meowed, purposely in an annoyingly wise voice, "But wasn't she already dead? What life is worth living when you can't live it the way you want to?"

Ring snorted and turned away.

"Oh no you don't," Lani snarled and closed the gap between her and the golden brown tom in one large leap. She bit down hard on his neck and Ring cried out in pain.

"She-cats are so weak, are they?" Lani taunted, raking her claws down the toms flanks. Ravenstar glanced at Caddie. The ginger she-cat looked mesmerized, yet terrified at the same time. His gaze whipped back to Ring and Lani when he heard the loudest yowl in his life.

"I'll kill you all!" Ring screeched, dizzily swatting claws at where Lani was. He was losing so much blood he was beginning to move around distortedly, shrieking out random thoughts.

"Say the words, and I'll make him leave forever," Lani meowed to Caddie, her unsheathed claws aiming for Ring's head. The tom looked at the threatening paw and let out a snicker.

"Kill you…all…" Ring slumped to the ground and squeaked happily. What was wrong with that cat? Without saying anything, Caddie stalked over to Ring.

"You may want to flip those last words around, Dear." She meowed cruelly and swatted a killing blow towards the tom.

XXX

Nia woke with the sound of her mothers wailing. Again, Ravenstar was surprised she'd slept through the battle, but that didn't matter right now. Wincing as she stood, she made her way over to her mother and gasped at the scene in front of her. Ravenstar stared sadly at the small she-cat. Nia looked blankly at Rings bloody dead body.

"Father!" she cried suddenly, bounding up to him and ignoring the pain of her wounds. Ravenstar expected her to bow and wail to her father's spirit, or whatever he was now. But instead, Nia let out a snarl of outrage and slashed at Rings face. Ravenstar bowed his head to the small she-cat. She'd put up a lot with that tom, and it was time she got her revenge. He watched as Nia clawed at her father's dead body over and over, finally she stopped and lay down, letting out a small moan.

Caddie had said nothing while she watched Nia's performance. She walked up to her kit and licked her between the ears.

"You're safe now, my sweet Nia."

XXX

For the third time, Ravenstar told the story of EchoClan, and how it was soon to be. And again, for the third time, the cats that were asked weren't sure. Caddie and Nia joined after some persuasion, but Ravenstar was sure they'd say no. The biggest issue was StarClan.

Caddie had bristled and almost yowled at Ravenstar, but he'd explained that not all great warriors believed in StarClan. He used Cloudtail for example, Firestar's nephew. He'd also mentioned that for a short time, even Bluestar herself didn't believe in her warrior ancestors.

Ravenstar couldn't believe not a cat had said no yet. He thought the warrior code would be the most difficult to explain, but it turned out that that was the easiest. He struggled most with the leadership discussion. He didn't want any cats to be getting any ideas. Caddie hadn't seemed the least bit interested in that part. She just wanted to know more about StarClan, her position in the Clan, and what her kit's position in the Clan would be.

Despite her sometimes-prickly attitude, she was really a nice and gentle cat. They really needed her.

Maybe there was some home for EchoClan, after all.

*grin* I hope you enjoyed :D!
R&R if you want ? It sure would make me happy.~