Thanks to Shiningheart of ThunderClan, Animaneya, and Graywhisper for reviewing.

Another quick update, I know. Now to answer a few questions.

Shiningheart: You're right about Star. She prefers not to hurt cats and somewhat becomes a medicine cat for them.

Graywhisper: Yes, Thunder is going to become the leader of ThunderClan.

Chapter 13

While Thunder was up and moving, Star was still twitchy about going out of the clearing. Due to being "confined" to home, she searched the clearing for moss and cobwebs in case any other cat had gotten hurt. Sky and Ian tried teaching her how to fight on several occasions. The black she-cat didn't pick up any moves and didn't have the heart to hurt any cat.

So they went on the defensive to help her defend herself. Like a pro she could evade attacks, barely receiving a single claw mark. Star was so elated while the others sulked around. When Sky saw their behavior, she just about lost it.

"If you feel like giving up, then leave right now! I don't want to watch you starve to death. So get up, and come hunting with me!" she had shouted. Dusk stared at her friend with wide eyes. Never had she heard her friend have an outburst like that. Jasper had experienced it on paw once while the others watched her anger for the first time.

Thunder stood and joined her. From what he had seen of Sky, this had to be an act. She was kind enough to take them in and she treated her friends with nothing but kindness before this.

"We need as much food as we can. If we all hunt, we'll catch more," he meowed calmly. Cautiously, Star padded over to them. After a few seconds, Sky bared her fangs with her claws unsheathed. Only then did the others realize she was serious.

They got to their paws and followed her.

XxX

Sky slumped down, her weak muscles battered. There hadn't been any fresh food for her small group in days. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten a full meal. The last food of any kind consisted of a mouse shared between all five of them. She had come back empty pawed today.

Beside her, Thunder nudged her shoulder with his broad head. He motioned to the partially eaten robin that rested by his white paws. At least he had found something. Smiling up at him, she took a small bite. It took more control than she thought to not devour the bird in one bite. With a growling stomach, she watched as one by one, the group took a bite of the only prey.

"There's a storm coming," Star whispered. Sky glanced up, noticing the dark clouds in the distance. Lightning laced along the sky, brightening it for a second. Thunder followed, booming to the earth.

"We should go out again when it rains. The other cats will most likely be hiding," Thunder meowed. Disdainful looks met him. The thought of freezing in the rain didn't sound pleasant. Of course, neither did starving to death.

"We should all go. We need all the prey we can catch. And then some," Sky added. The others nodded though a flicker of doubt crossed Jasper's eyes. He hadn't fully recovered from the itching, fiery bites along his sides. Maybe the rain will soothe these horrible wounds. Sighing, he knew his sister had a knack for knowing the best thing to do.

"I know of a good technique when it comes to hunting in rainstorms," Thunder meowed. His amber eyes focused on the dark clouds that moved quickly along the horizon. "When I was younger, I figured out that prey becomes confused in rainstorms. If we catch them when thunder strikes, they won't know what hit them." Star smiled at him. She had seen him hunt that way before and it always proved great results.

"That sounds like a good plan," Sky replied. This would be their only chance to hunt. They would need to catch as much prey as possible in a short amount of time.

"Just follow my lead," Thunder meowed with a grin. The rain was his domain. After all, he was named after the legendary noise all storms made.

As the first few raindrops fell, the small group got to their paws. Strikes of lights danced across the sky, illuminating the way as they dashed into the forest.

XxX

The hunting proved effective. The small group of six caught more prey than they could manage. For a few days following, they were full and happy. Everything seemed wonderful… until they grew hungry once more. Jasper and Sky were the first to venture out. They barely made it three tree-lengths before a small group attacked them. Yowling loudly, they turned and fled quickly.

Since then, it was as bad as before. Other groups grew hostile due to the limited land and prey. And while a few had discovered the clearing surrounded by four trees, they were outnumbered. Two against six wasn't a smart move. It was the group's only defense.

Unable to eat, the six sat in their nests, watching the clouds go by. Desperately, they waited for another storm. It was their only chance. Not one day went by without their stomachs growling and their hopes falling. It seemed that rain would never grace them again.

Sky lay in her brittle nest. Even after her outburst about not giving up, she was feeling the pull of dread. The moss had dried from the sunlight and the feathers had frayed. The others' nests looked the same: battered, beaten, and broken. It reflected their bodies and emotions. At least it was currently night. It offered a little relief from the hot sun during the day.

Above, an owl hooted. Sky's stomach growled. She rolled over in her nest and scanned the trees. Bright yellow eyes glared at her from a bare branch. Pushed by the hole in her stomach, she padded to the base of the tree the owl hid in. Another hoot rang through the clearing. At the noise, Dusk twitched in her sleep.

Sky went around the trunk, stopping when she couldn't see the owl. Using all the energy she held, she bounded up the tree. She climbed up higher than the owl, keeping silent as she landed on a branch. Her gaze focused on the owl below. All she had to do is jump and take the brown bird down. Interrupting the silence, her stomach growled.

Just as the owl unfurled its wings, Sky leapt. Her claws tore into its wings. Feathers cascaded to the earth along with spilled blood. Sky kept her grip firm as both she and the owl plummeted. Growling, she twisted to try and bite it. Her fangs grazed its neck, offering only a small wound.

A dark gray blur flashed in her peripheral vision. It rammed into the owl, causing Sky to let go. She collided with the earth and rolled along the grass. Wheezing, she looked up to see a young tom holding the limp bird. He rested it in front of her, his large amber eyes glowing in the small moonlight offered by a sliver in the sky.

"Who are you?" she demanded with a growl. It would have sounded more threatening if it wasn't for her weak frame.

"It's okay," Jasper meowed. Blinking, Sky turned to see her brother walking up to them. Something hung limply off his back. She didn't even notice his absence.

"What?" she asked. She pushed herself to her feet. Jasper rested a rabbit down by the owl. He glanced at the dark gray tom. He was smaller than them and way younger. He was barely older than a kit.

"This is Allen. I found him all alone and offered him a place to stay in return for hunting," Jasper replied. Allen nodded a greeting to Sky.

"Sorry I hit you. I was going after the bird," he muttered. To her, his voice was gruff as if he almost never spoke.

"Uh, it's alright," Sky responded. So Jasper throws a fit when I bring a cat here, yet he can do anytime? Rolling her eyes, she decided not to bring anything up. Dismissing the problem with her brother altogether, she went and woke the others up. She let Jasper explain Allen while she shared the owl with Dusk and Star. Since they hadn't eaten in a while, each bite felt like heaven.

Sky hoped that Jasper slipping out was a onetime thing. Two nights later, he proved her wrong by not only leaving, but returning with two more cats. Of course, he also brought enough prey for all of them. Sky couldn't argue since he was feeding all of them. However, it became more crowded around the clearing. What originally was just a small group of four, turned into six, now held about twenty cats.

At first, it was a giant mess. Cats did what they wanted, complying only slightly because they lived on Sky and her group's territory. Some looked up to Jasper since he had compelled them to live in the clearing. It became overwhelming, so he passed them onto Sky, who in turn asked Thunder for help. Together, the two watched over the whole group. Nothing went by without them knowing.

Things were starting to look up. Until the full moon came and everything fell apart.

Anyone want to guess who Allen is/will become? Hint: he becomes very important in ThunderClan. I will try to update tomorrow before I lose all my time to studying and class starting Monday.

I don't own Warriors, because, well, I don't.