Chapter 23

"They smell like rogues…and a bit of kittypet." The young tom mewed, his white fur showed faint markings of blue-gray stripes. Wayne stood beside Ember…a bit too close.

"Should you send a patrol to scare them away?" Wayne suggested, his gray fur bushed.

Talon snarled, his amber eyes glaring at the gray cat as he stood too close to Ember. Wayne didn't move, instead he held his gaze equal to his leaders'. The brown-and-white tom snorted and shook his long fur.

"I'll call a meeting." Talon meowed. The tom bounded onto the top of the highest metal container and yowled aloud, calling his clan. Soon, all of BloodClan was gathered beneath Talon.

"Cats of BloodClan!" He called. "It has come to my attention that we have cats wandering too close to our borders. Though it doesn't seem like a serious situation, I will send out a small patrol to keep the cats away."

Talon stared down at Ember with a light in his eyes.

"I shall send Ember, to test her loyalty to the clan." The cats of BloodClan cheered…they seemed fond of the new girl…the one who killed two cats in her first days here…

"I will also send Butch, Finn, and Wayne." Talon called, the three toms moving their way forward. Ember couldn't wait to find these intruders and teach them a lesson! "Go out and find these cats and keep them away from our clan."

The cats cheered them on as the four cats left the clan and headed out in search of the mystery cats. Butch was in the lead; he was a muscular tom cat with a pelt that burned like fire in the sunlight. Ember padded forward too focused on her mission to notice Wayne walking beside her.

"Hey beautiful." He smirked. Ember narrowed her green eyes and scoffed.

"What do you want?" she mewed impatiently.

"Just checking up on you." Wayne purred with a smile, his white-tipped tail was raised high. Ember snorted and flicked her ears.

"So you're Ember, huh?" A young voice mewed. It was the white tabby, the one with the blue-gray stripes. His amber eyes were curious. "My name is Finn!"

Ember frowned. "Okay."

Finn looked a bit stunned but kept walking, his tail raised high. Butch slowed his pace to keep up with the three of them. His yellow eyes were soft, and a warm smile was planted on his face.

"I'm Butch." He mewed with a friendly wink. "I assume you've already met Wayne."

"Yeah…" Ember mewed flatly. Wayne purred and nudged her flank softly. Ember scowled and padded faster until she was walking beside Butch.

"Ignore them, Ember." Butch smiled. "They just like to kid around."

"What's wrong with kidding around?" Finn laughed, bouncing like a rabbit until he jumped in front of Butch and Ember, his amber eyes were beaming with energy. Butch smiled and flicked his tail.

"Come on, we're on a mission." He meowed. "Let's hurry up."

"Alright, fine!" Finn sighed.

The four cats walked on through the forest following the scents of the strange cats that were just up ahead. Butch and Ember still kept lead as Wayne and Finn trailed behind and talked about nonsense; Ember couldn't help but notice Wayne staring at her.

Am I blushing!?

Ember snarled and stomped ahead, leaving Butch behind with the two toms. The flame-furred tom cocked his head and looked over at Wayne; the gray tom was blushing under his fur as Ember saw him staring at her. Butch smiled and nudged Wayne on the shoulder, whispering in his friends' ear so that Ember couldn't hear them.

"She-cats are tough to get used to." Butch smiled. "Especially this one…don't beat yourself up if this doesn't work out."

Wayne frowned and flicked his ears, embarrassment washing over him, Ember could smell it…The gray tom shrugged Butch off and padded up to Ember, his green eyes never meeting hers. Ember could smell the scents even closer now, they were close…too close.

"Hide…" Ember crouched down and stalked into a pile of thick brambles. Wayne crouched down and motioned for the others to do the same, his eyes were focused and his ears were pricked, swiveling to hear the cats.

Ember listened carefully and was almost blown away by what she heard…

"Did you hear that, Rose?" A familiar voice meowed.

Daddy….?

"I hear someone," Timber snarled. "Be careful…"

Wayne wriggled his haunches and unsheathed his claws, his muscles were tense and ready for battle. Ember tried to stop the gray tom from attacking her family but it was too late. Wayne jumped from the brambles and screeched loudly.

"Attack!" He screeched as he latched onto Timber's back.

Butch and Finn bolted from the foliage and roared in attack. Finn rammed into Rose's side and pummeled her with his claws. Spark and Marie dove into battle screeching in fury as they swiped at their attackers. Finn wailed loudly when Timber sliced his long claws across the young cat's face. Blood splattered from his wound and the little white tom cowered to the floor, raising his paw helplessly in defense.

"STOP IT! STOP FIGHTING!" Ember screeched leaping from her spot in the brambles. She jumped between Timber and Finn to keep her father from hurting the little tom. Timber's eyes widened and softened in a matter of a few seconds.

"E-Ember…." He whispered, lowering his paw. Ember smiled slightly and nuzzled her father with intense force. Butch, Wayne, and Finn watched with wide eyes and tilted heads.

"Ember!" Rose meowed with misty eyes. The fiery-pelted she-cat nuzzled her daughter with a wide smile. Spark, Dusk, Mouse, and Marie crowded around her and nuzzled her, welcoming her daughter. Dusk and Marie took a minute to stare at the studded collar around her neck before noticing that the three toms had studded collars too.

"Ember….what's around your neck?" Marie whispered with haunted eyes. Ember swallowed and shook her pelt, not real sure how to explain her killing two cats…

"Um…a collar…." She mewed, backing away to stand beside Butch. Finn whimpered and crawled to hide behind Wayne. Dusk curled his lip and padded up to Wayne with icy eyes.

"What have you done with her?" He hissed. Wayne's green eyes widened in defense and a snarl formed on his face.

"I've done nothing to her!" Wayne snarled. Dusk's blue-green eyes averted to Ember's collar…his eyes were haunted…much like Marie's.

"Where did you get those teeth…" Dusk meowed shakily, his eyes never moving from Ember's collar. Ember looked down…guilt rising in her chest as her family looked at her with questionable eyes.

"Who did you kill, Ember?" Marie whispered, her eyes were icy blue. Ember watched as Rose's eyes widened…her brother's…her sister's… Rage filled Ember to the tip of her tail.

I'm a grown cat! She snarled. I can do what I want!

"Come on you guys," Ember whipped around and headed back to in the direction of the clan. Butch and Wayne looked confused, but slowly turned around to follow Ember. Finn never moved, he was still crouched on the ground with wide amber eyes.

Dusk roared…that didn't sound like Dusk…It sounded…different.

The black tom raced forward and pinned Butch to the forest floor…

How did he do that! Ember whipped around. Butch is twice his size!

Dusk grabbed Butch's collar in his jaws and ripped it from his neck, spitting it to the floor and jumping off of the tom. Butch stood, his yellow eyes wide in astonishment; Dusk padded forward with a snarl on his face.

"Tell your leader," Dusk hissed to Butch. "That I'll be waiting for him!"

Oooh...Dusk is a mad little kitty! ^^

I hope you guys are still into the story, I'll make sure to be a bit more active on here! 3

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