Chapter 13

(I've come to the conclusion that even though everyone, including myself, doesn't like it when I make short chapters, there's a certain disadvantage to long chapters. I always get tired of writing when I reach the end of the chapter, makes for rushed endings.)

Death Trap stalked prey, some rather risky prey to deal with. She was going after an owl. She could tell from the scent. But with how fast the clans were traveling she wasn't too picky about what she was eating.

Death Trap launched out of the bushes. The owl spun its head around, but it wasn't fast enough. She pounced on it. It clawed at her, but she dug her claws into its neck, killing it. Then she tilted her head. She'd been so busy killing the owl, she didn't notice what it looked like. She noticed now. Is this thing . . . blue? Will that make it safe to eat?

Death Trap didn't have any more time to wonder. She heard someone coming. Grabbing the blue owl, she dashed up into a tree.

A brown cat with green impassive eyes wandered into the spot she'd been just a few moments ago. The brown cat, who Death Trap now noticed had some nasty wounds on her, was completely oblivious to Death Trap's presence.

Death Trap might've let her go, but at that moment she got an idea. She climbed down. The cat heard her doing so, and spun around. "I don't mean you any harm." Death Trap said. "I was just wondering if you'd like to share my kill with me." She tossed the blue owl down. "I couldn't possible eat all this myself."

The cat titled her head, but there was still no emotion in her eyes. "Is that owl blue?"

Death Trap nodded. "Apparently."

The cat sighed. "Why not?" she went over and took a bite. She didn't die.

Death Trap knew poison could take a little longer to take effect, but if she didn't eat she'd look suspicious. Plus, if it was poisoned, at least she'd take this cat and her kits down with her. So she sat down and took a bite. It tasted like a normal owl would.

For a while the two ate in silence. Death Trap was the first to break it. "My name's Trap by the way."

The other cat looked up. "I'm Scar."

Well named. Death Trap thought. She knew better than to say it outloud.

Autumnpelt, Twinklepaw, and Redspirit walked through the abandoned twoleg place. Autumnpelt was showing Twinklepaw around, and since Redspirit was knew, it had seemed like a good idea to bring her along.

Autumnpelt came to a stop near the forest. Of course the twoleg place looked a little like the forest now, but there was still an obvious difference. At first Twinklepaw didn't notice and she had to put her tail in front of her to stop her. Twinklepaw looked up at her with her unnaturally big eyes, that really did seem to twinkle. "What is it?"

"This is the border." Autumnpelt explained. "We can't go any farther."

"Why?" Autumnpelt turned around to face Redspirit, who'd asked the question. Redspirit shrugged. "As far as I know, this is the only clan. Who's going to be upset if we cross it?"

"Starclan is." Autumnpelt replied. "They made the warrior code all warriors must follow, and it says not to cross the border. They have these rules for a reason."

"Well yes. . ." Redspirit said, but she didn't seem entirely convinced. "But, these rules were made a long time ago. They might not all apply to us anymore."

Normally Autumnpelt would've been upset by this statement, but Redspirit had a point. One rule was to reject the soft life of a kittypet. There were no twolegs anymore, which meant no kittypets, which meant they could pretty much forget about that rule.

But the border rule still applied, and she'd have to make that clear. Especially with Twinklepaw right there, soaking up all the information.

Autumnpelt got up. "Look, this rule is still important. There are dangers in the forest, my sister lost her first life to a bear. And then there's the rouges. They for the most part stay away from the border, they know they'll lose to us while we're here. But if we leave the territory. . ."

Redspirit had started looking guilty at the mention of the rouges. She dropped her head. "You're right. Forgive me."

Autumnpelt nodded, softening her look. "It's okay. You're new, you're bound to have questions. But we should probably go hunting." She added jokingly, "Springstar will have our pelts on the wall if we come back without anything."

Twinklepaw's eyes widened in terror. "But I don't know anything about hunting."

"I wasn't serious." Autumnpelt told her. "And don't worry" She smiled, starting away, "I'll teach you everything you need to know."

Twinklepaw smiled too and trotted after her happily.

(The blue owl's a Guardian of Ga'hoole reference by the way. It takes place after humans are extinct too so. . .)