Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

All the apologies in the world won't make up for the long hiatus I put Living in the Moment on, and I am extremely sorry. I had writers block and lost interest for a while but thanks to several people PMing me about continuing this story I managed to squeeze out a chapter even while in the middle of my exams.

I made myself update today because it's a very special day: the one year anniversary of Living in the Moment! I know I'm technically a few minutes past the 27th of May as I update this, but I finished writing it at about five minutes to midnight and if I didn't have so many apologies to make and so many people to thank for all your support, I probably would have made the actual deadline for publishing it.

I am also editing earlier chapters at the moment and tidying them up, just to let you know. No major plot changes, just clearing up mistakes really so don't worry, you don't have to re-read the earlier chapters (unless you want to of course!).

Seriously, I can't thank you all enough for your support and for getting me past 100 reviews! I know this chapter is short but I really wanted to post something, and I promise next chapter will be much longer.

Enjoy.

Chapter Thirteen

~ Waiting ~

Clan cats:

Ivypool/Warrior

Foxleap

Hawkfrost

Rogues:

Rogue

Mauble (Ex-mate of Rogue)

Scuttle

Sacky (Enemy of Rogue)

Flow

Stripes

Mouse

Kitsy (Friend of Ivypool)

Takko

Hunnie (Ex-mate of Rogue)

Purrlow

Snowy

Frond

Wally

Tuner

Duck

Amissa (Ex-mate of Rogue)

Oreo (Son of Amissa and Rogue)

Boon (Son of Amissa and Rogue)

Rose (Daughter of Amissa and Rogue)

Snake (Amissa's brother)

Rosefur (Ex-mate of Rogue)

Missy (Ex-mate of Rogue)

Storm

Jackal

North

Cloud

Dragon

Luna

Zero

Raven's cats:

Raven

Juno (Of Raven's guard)

Wind (Of Raven's guard)

Spike (Of Raven's guard)

Fang (Raven's second in command)

Strike

Normal POV

Silence. That was all that was to be heard after Rogue had left the den. Ivypool looked at Missy and the brown tabby she-cat looked right back. After a long moment Ivypool heaved herself to her paws and staggered, slightly dizzily, towards the entrance to the den.

"Where do you think you're going?" Missy asked, darting forward to block Ivypool's escape. The silver tabby narrowed her eyes.

"I'm going to see if I can recruit some more cats, like I said I would do," Ivypool meowed evenly. "You can come if you want."

Missy didn't blink. "Rogue said you needed to stay here and rest, and he's right. In that state you're more likely to get yourself captured by Rogue's cats," she said firmly.

Ivypool lashed her tail in frustration. "You're not my leader, you can't tell me what to do," she hissed stubbornly.

"No," Missy agreed. "I wouldn't want to be your leader and have to deal with your attitude all the time. I pity whoever your real leader is," she added.

Ivypool growled. Her head was pounding and she didn't feel too good. "Shows what you know," she muttered, but she sat down.

"Good," Missy nodded in satisfaction. Annoyed, Ivypool lay down and rested her head on her paws. She wanted to be out on the streets, helping, not stuck in the den like a useless kit. But her scratches and bruises were beginning to hurt, and the blood clotting in her fur didn't feel very pleasant. She sighed; maybe Rogue and Missy had a point. She tried to lick some of her wounds, but stopped when Missy cautiously approached her.

"Let me do that," Missy offered. Ivypool jerked her head up in surprise. Missy twitched an ear. "Rogue told me to look after you - I'm only doing this for him," she growled, settling down next to Ivypool and beginning to lap roughly at the silver tabby's injuries. Ivypool had to brace herself and try not to flinch away from Missy's rough tongue.

"So you still like him then?" Ivypool muttered, half to herself, as Missy settled into a rhythm.

Missy froze before beginning to lap even more viciously. "I see you've been talking to Rosefur," she spat in between licks. "But no, of course I don't still have feelings for him. He's a cold-hearted bully and I'm not so weak that I'll let him play with me again."

Ivypool blinked in surprise. She had heard bad things about Rogue from several cats, but coming from Missy it was different. Was Rogue really so bad?

Ivypool lay quietly as Missy lapped at her wounds and eventually she drifted off into much needed sleep.

Rogue's POV

I stroll into the Great Barn at a leisurely pace and look around. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, with cats grouped together in pairs, threes and fours, with the occasional game or race going on. As I begin to walk forwards I scan the area, searching for the first cats who are likely to join in the rebellion against Raven. Spotting a couple of old friends of mine, I pad up to them.

"Luna, Zero, how good to see you both again after so long!" I exclaim, trotting up to a pale grey she-cat sharing a rat with a dark furred tom.

The she-cat flattens her ears as I approach and the tom narrows his eyes at me. Well, they seem to be in a friendly mood today. "What do you want, Ginger?" Zero growls.

I give him my brightest smile. "I'm sure you've heard about Warrior's showdown with Raven by now, and I know that neither of you really like Raven…"

"Your point?" Zero askes impatiently.

"You know, I've met rats with better manners than you," I mutter under my breath, casting the carcass at Zero's paws a disgusted glance.

Zero's glare deepens. "What was that, Ginger?"

Meeting his eyes, I shrug casually. "Oh, nothing. And my name's Rogue, not Ginger," I inform him. "At least get that right if nothing else."

"That was an accident, and you very well know that!" Zero hisses, becoming more enraged by the second as he instantly picks up on the incident I was referring to. "You'll always be Ginger to us, after what you did," he adds.

Hmm… maybe I shouldn't have brought up that past incident… Ah well, if he's still sore over it then it's his problem, not mine. "Anyway, I know how much you love to show off your strength and joining Warrior's resistance will-" I carry on, only to be cut off when Zero steps forwards with his eyes flashing.

"No. Luna and I aren't joining anything you're part of. I'd prefer to live under Raven's tyranny than yours any time. Get lost Ginger, before I make you," he snarls, unsheathing his claws.

Ignoring him I turn to Luna. "What about you?"

"What?" Luna sounds surprised that I asked her, and I smirk.

"The resistance are fighting for the rights of she-cats among other things," I meow smoothly, showing her my most charming smile.

"Last chance – leave, now," Zero buts in. I keep my gaze fixed on Luna and she shuffles her paws awkwardly.

"Well, um, I don't know… Zero said we're on Raven's side," Luna murmurs. Inwardly I roll my eyes.

"It's your choice, not his," I tell her, just managing to keep the growl out of my voice.

Before Luna can answer, I hear the sound of claws scraping across the floor and I drop flat just in time as Zero launches himself at me. My patience worn out, I'm back on my paws in an instant and I lunge towards Zero. The dark-furred tom is staggering back to his own paws after missing me so it's not hard for me to knock him down and press my unsheathed paw to his throat.

"Next time you want to attack a cat, make sure it's not a cat who you know you don't have a chance against," I hiss in his ear. Zero's eyes bulge and his chest heaves wildly as he tries to draw a breath. Retracting my claws I whip around and stalk off, lashing my tail. Clearly it was a waste of time to talk to them.

"W-wait," Luna calls after me.

I pause.

"I, um…"

"If you have nothing to say then stop wasting my time," I say impatiently, already looking around for the next cats whom I might be able to persuade to join the rebellion.

Luna scampered over to me, keeping one nervous eye on Zero. "I don't think you'll have much luck trying to convince cats to join you with that strategy, that's all," she whispers. I frown.

"Then what do you suggest?" I ask, flicking my tail.

Luna swallows nervously. "I heard Warrior made a pretty good speech… maybe she could convince some cats," she suggested in a low voice.

I tilt my head as I look at the grey she-cat. "You think I can't convince cats to join my cause?"

Luna backs away nervously. "N-no, that's not what I meant…"

"Warrior's a pitiful she-cat, she can't do any better than I can," I tell Luna before stalking away with my fur bristling. I'll show her… Anything Warrior can do, I can do better.

Hawkfrost's POV

I watched from a vantage point high above the Twolegplace as a group of shadowy forms reassembling cats weaved their way through darkened streets towards the place I knew Ivypool was sheltering.

The wind stirred the air as the fur on the back of my neck rose. Ivypool was in trouble. If she didn't escape from the abandoned Twoleg nest soon, she would be trapped. If she were in fighting condition she would be able to fight her way out like I showed her with no problem, especially since her opponents were only half-trained rogues. But she wasn't. She was injured and weak.

I glanced behind me. I was looking down over the Twolegplace from the depths of the dark Forest and if I left I would risk Tigerstar finding me out. But no-one was watching me, so I turned around and followed the path through the murky trees until I crossed over into the world of the living, where I wasted no time in slipping through the shadows to where Ivypool was sleeping.

When I reached the Twoleg nest, I hesitated in the entrance. The scene that met my eyes was so peaceful: Ivypool was lying on the ground surrounded by wisps of straw, her flank rising and falling evenly as she slept with a look of content on her face, and the cat with her, a brown tabby, sat nearby watching over Ivypool while keeping a careful eye on the entrance to the nest. She couldn't see me, of course, but I guessed she was keeping watch for intruders. Unfortunately for her, by the time she heard the group of cats approaching here it would be too late.

I walked towards Ivypool with the intent of waking her and alerting her to the danger, but as I studied the contented air surrounding her I reconsidered my options. I had never seen her look so at peace before. It was then I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time; guilt. Every night she spent training in the Dark Forest was a night she lost sleep. She had to be on her guard not only during the day but at night as well, whereas out here… Out here she could rest properly.

I looked back at the other cat, and made a split second decision to reveal myself to her. Since she was on Ivypool's side I would have to trust her if I wanted to avoid disturbing Ivypool.

"Missy," I spoke her name as my body solidified and I stepped out of the shadows.

The tabby she-cat whirled around, her expression alarmed and her fur fluffed out. "Who are you? How did you get in here?" she spat, unsheathing her claws.

My whiskers twitched. As if this half-trained rat could actually hurt me. "Calm yourself. I mean no harm," I told her.

Suspicion flared in her eyes. "Who are you?" she repeated. Despite her unfaltering voice, I heard a twang of uncertainness. She clearly had no idea how to handle the situation.

"I'm a…" I hesitated, glancing at Ivypool. What was I to her? Now wasn't the time for pondering that question though, so I continued quickly. "I'm a friend of I-Warrior's," I corrected myself quickly, remembering this cat knew her as Warrior and not Ivypool. "I came to warn you that Raven's cats are heading here in force."

Missy paused indecisively. "How do I know I can trust you?" she asked.

I curled my lip. "There's no time for that," I hissed. "I need you to create a diversion to lead Raven's cats away from here before it's too late," I told her impatiently.

"No, I'll wake Warrior and we'll-" Missy began stubbornly.

"Warrior needs rest if she's going to recover. Look at her injuries – they need time to heal but time is one thing you don't have. Do as I say," I ordered her, walking towards her until I was looming over her.

She flattened her ears. "And if I don't? You can't force me, Rogue wanted me to watch over Warrior so that's what I'm going to do."

I narrowed my eyes. "We don't have time for this. But Rogue won't thank you when he gets back and you and Warrior are little more than smudges on the walls of this den, which is what you will be by the time Raven's cats have finished with you. This is your last chance before I drag you out there and sacrifice you to Raven's cats. Go and cause a distraction to lead Raven's cats away from here, now."

I sneered at her, showing her my sharpened teeth and claws. She hesitated for a second as if debating whether a fight was worth the risk but when I flexed my shoulders she skittered backwards.

"Fine I'll do it," she snapped, her eyes glowing defiantly even as she slunk out of the den. "But I'm doing this for warrior, not you," she added as a parting comment.

I ignored her and turned back to Ivypool, sitting down and taking Missy's place. I let my physical form fade into shadows until only my eyes remained; blue orbs of ice the only visible evidence of my being there.

I waited until I could hear Raven's cats outside the Twoleg nest. I waited until I heard them yowling as Missy caused her distraction. I waited as I heard their voices fade into the distance as they gave chase after her. I waited until Ivypool was safe before returning to the murky depths of the Dark Forest, leaving no trace behind of my ever being there.

Author's Note: I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed; I was trying my best to make LITM's anniversary deadline - and technically I did make it, if you count me finishing it on the 27th of May as having made it. As it is I'm only 7 minutes late for physically publishing it.

I hope I've not lost too many reviewers because of my hiatus, but I understand if I have - I really am sorry about how late this is :(

Thanks to everyone still reading,

~ Jay