Disclaimer: Warriors by Erin Hunter

Hurray for more reviewers: Silverstorm of RiverClain, Brackenfurlover (while since you wrote, but great to hear from you), and (a new reviewer) Wolfstar4

Sorry about the long wait. My mother used the computer for a loooong time!

Chapter 24

After the Night of the Colored Stars, Coonie and Darkfire's relationship seemed to blossom like those shapes they'd seen in the sky. Darkfire would see her smiling at him, and more often they'd touch tails in passing.

"She loves you," Ring meowed.

"I know," Darkfire purred watching the brown tabby walk by. It was cleaning time before the rave. The snow had come again that day, but nothing as fierce as the 'blizzard'.

"At first she didn't want to," Ring meowed. "She didn't want to love a roamer that would leave her. She even thought I wanted you, so she didn't want to interfere. She has a sweet heart. So do you. You are meant for each other. I am so happy for you two. You are the best friends I ever had."

"Surely not the only ones."

"Oh, no. But some of the best and that's including you guys, and the band, oh, and Jacolyn and her guards. Speaking of Jacolyn, Coonie wasn't sure she wanted to love you back until she knew you would stay. But you work for Jacolyn now so Coonie feels safe with you."

Darkfire blinked and looked away. "Maybe I will leave. Dewstep. . ."

Ring nodded sadly. "I know, I hear your pain when you speak. I know it's your choice to go, but think about what you'll leave behind. Is it worth going back for something that might not be there?" With that she left him.

Darkfire couldn't concentrate on his task after that. Her words cut into him like a sharpened claw. He wanted to go home, but she was right, he may have nothing. He had Coonie here, that was for certain. Perhaps he could bring her- but why drag her away from the twolegplace and everything she loved. Her band was finally making music.

The band was actually improving. Ring and Plucker had a short thing worked out together, and now Skunk was adding in his chimes. He said Coonie got a solo part and a longer pattern so she got the last practice time. They all had a feeling that by newleaf (rainfall to the cats that live in the Twolegplace) they'd be ready for their first playing. Darkfire wanted to be there for it. And now he had a feeling he would be. Dewstep was either dead or stuck with the Clans, and Darkfire was a killer who couldn't go back to the lake. There was always Tanglewood, but what was there for him? Hollyleaf had left.

Darkfire made his decision. He wouldn't be going back to Tanglewood. He was a Twolegplace cat. He was a part of Jacolyn's guard, and he was Coonie's friend. A very good friend.

-Line-

More days passed. On one occasion Darkfire and Coonie went on a walk. They left Jacolyn's territory to walk down other back streets.

"I came from the High House territory," Coonie meowed.

Darkfire didn't know what brought this topic of conversation up. He didn't even now what she meant. "What do you mean."

She hesitated. "I lived with upwalkers."

Darkfire blinked. He could tell she wanted him to say something. To be scared, mad, or disappointed, but Darkfire wasn't. It had been her life before. She was with him now, and her past didn't matter to Darkfire.

"Was it good?" Darkfire asked after a while.

"Good?" she looked at him with wide eyes.

"Where they kind? Do you miss it?"

She gave him a 'you are crazy' look and shook her head. "I don't miss it. It was a smothering life. I was their precious kitty and they never let me do anything. They took me to these places with other cats. They showed me off. It was horrible. So I ran away."

Twolegs actually treat their cats that way? Darkfire wondered.

"What were the other cats like?" he asked her.

She laughed, but wasn't happy. "They thought they were so good. They thought all other cats were beneath them, especially the ones that weren't pure breeds."

"What do you mean?" Darkfire didn't recognize the term.

"I'm a pure blooded Main Coon," Coonie meowed. "My upwalkers knew who my ancestors are from way back. I don't even know my mother. I was taken from her too soon, but my upwalkers knew everything."

Darkfire looked at her in sympathy. At least he knew his mother. Hollyleaf had taught him many things and he was glad she'd raised him.

"You never got to see her? Ever?"

"They never took me to visit her. They took me everywhere else will all types of cats, but they never let me see my mother."

"How did you leave them?"

"You really are interested? Other cats have. . . well they weren't happy. They're scornful of anyone from the High Houses. I've learned not to tell anyone."

"I am interested. Besides, you brought it up."

"Hmm. Well, they left a window open one night," she meowed. "I clawed the screen open and I left. I didn't want them finding me so I left the house behind. I met other cats. Alleycats. They told me about the system of territories and about Tashi. Tashi is the leader in the High Houses. She lives with her upwalker and with her siblings. So do most of her guards. They all have upwalkers or else they aren't part of her elite and they aren't pure breeds. They might live with upwalkers but they escape often enough to rule. I was afraid that if Tashi knew what I had done she'd send me back home. So I left her territory. I didn't want to be forced into that. I came here. I met Jacolyn and I met Skunk. We started the band together. Plucker came next and then Ring."

She was silent for a time. "You asked if there was one thing I missed, didn't you? Well, there is only one thing. I miss getting brushed. I hate these tangles."

She started licking her fur and at the knots. "My upwalkers brushed me everyday and I was clean then. I guess becoming an alleycat I have to be dirty." Coonie sighed.

"Was your name always Coonie?" Darkfire asked. He knew Firestar had once been called Rusty and so he wanted to know if these cats changed names here.

"No," she gave a small smile. "If I'd kept that name, everyone would know I was from the High Houses."

Darkfire felt it wasn't right to ask her what her name used to be. She had a new life now and she'd shared her past with him. Darkfire had learned it was rare for a cat to do that. When a cat did shared their history, they were either a friend or trusted you with the information.

"Thank you for telling me," Darkfire meowed.

"You don't care?"

"No," Darkfire shook his head. "Being a kittypet isn't bad. You left it and aren't sad. You are a free cat. And I like you no matter what."

She smiled and rubbed her head against his.

"Maybe I can help with your tangles," Darkfire meowed. "In the Clans, we have something called sharing tongues and the cats help each other to clean themselves."

"Thank you," Coonie purred.

They continued to walk, unaware that cruel eyes were watching.

-Line-

After that day Darkfire and Coonie took more walks together and slowly learned about the other. They each had different interests. Darkfire liked the forests and quiet, Coonie like the Twolegplace and music. She confessed she liked it even when her upwalkers had it coming from some small item on a table. When she came to Jacolyn's roof, she'd liked music even then and without hesitating had joined the dancing. She'd learned quickly. That had gotten Jacolyn's attention. The ginger she-cat had introduced her to Skunk. The two got to talking and on one comment of Skunk's the two had decided to become a band and make music together and for seasons later they tried it.

It was then Darkfire learned Jacolyn enjoyed pairing cats. She didn't like cats to be alone. She felt every cat needed someone to help them. So when anyone alone came to her (especially cats she liked) Jacolyn found someone to place them with. Even if it was a temporary friendship. She'd made a good choice with Skunk and Coonie and then later with Darkfire. Even if she didn't know the out come of such parings, she enjoyed seeing cats happy.

She commented once to Darkfire, "Coonie found her place in life. She just needs a tom to spend it with. And her band members aren't the toms for her." Then she winked at Darkfire (which was about the only thing she could do with one eye). "You are just the one. So make her happy."

Darkfire agreed that he would. Jacolyn smiled and left. Once again, Darkfire felt grateful to her. She'd helped him meet Coonie.

Jacolyn was giving in more than one way. As not much food could be brought to the raves anything the guards found, Jacolyn gave generously. But she didn't take from her guards all the time. Mostly she sacrificed her own meals. Darkfire could see her skin hang from her bones. Somehow she remained in good spirits and the cats around her supported her and were just as cheerful.

-Line-

"Come on," Ring meowed. "You have to listen to us. You have to tell us what you think."

Darkfire didn't like this idea. He'd never like twoleg music, ever. He just put up with it and let it happen around him, on occasion dancing to it with his friends. He wasn't looking forward to this, but he agreed to come and listen.

Coonie placed him in the front. All of their instruments were close together like with the twolegs. Plucker tuned his strings as the other band members went to their instruments. Finally they were ready. Skunk waved his tail.

Ring started her tapping. Plucker joined her. Then Skunk added his chimes in regular intervals. And last, Coonie started blowing. It was a smooth sound that seemed to weave. She'd actually gotten better since he'd met her. Darkfire let the blowing move him. He swayed with it. By the time the band was done, Darkfire realized he hadn't winced once.

He stared at them. They'd finally done it. They'd made music.

"Well?" Coonie asked, she seemed worried.

"It was wonderful," Darkfire admitted. "You've done it."

The band started cheering. Ring jumped into the air, and Plucker sat and grinned, while Skunk and Coonie rubbed against each other. They'd finally come to success. They even included him in the joy, jumping up to him and playing like kits.

"We've got to tell Jacolyn," Coonie meowed when they were done celebrating.

Skunk nodded. "We should tell her tonight. She'll be sleeping now. What's one more day?"

The others agreed. They hadn't played in front of cats for seasons, one more night wouldn't matter. Besides why wake Jacolyn up and possibly make her mad enough to refuse them?

That night after cleaning, the band met Jacolyn on the roof. They explained to her what they'd accomplished. Her one eye glowed. "Well done," she praised, purring. "I'll have to listen to it some time."

"We were wondering if we could play tomorrow night," Skunk explained.

Jacolyn started to nod, but then quickly shook her head. The band was crushed.

"You only have one song, right?" Jacolyn asked.

Skunk nodded.

"Why waste all that time bringing up your instruments just to play one song? The cats will be impressed for sure, but they won't see you as a real band. Learn at least a few more and then you can play."

"We can do that," Skunk meowed. He'd seen the truth in what Jacolyn had said. So had the other band members. All that night they sat by the 'antennas' and spoke about new songs. all was peaceful until some of Banter's cats came to the roof.

Darkfire recognized Soot and Bleak, the third cat he didn't know, but it was a tortoiseshell she-cat that had come by another night. They walked among the dancing cats. Darkfire could tell it wasn't a pleasant walk. They had a purpose in mind. Darkfire thought they were looking among the cats for something. He looked for Jacolyn, but she'd seen the cats. She watched them, Snow at her side. They were watching the three cats so intently they weren't paying attention to the other cats and were surprised when the fighting started somewhere else.

A very light ginger tom with creamy swirls struck out at another cat. They soon started tussling, clawing into each other viciously. Cats scattered while others took this opportunity to attack Banter's guards. Jacolyn's were too distracted by the first two cats.

"Everyone stay still!" Jacolyn roared.

The cats not fighting stopped from scattering down the ladder. They huddled near the roof's edge in an attempt not to get involved. The fighting cats were quickly apprehended. Darkfire ran to the ginger tom and tried to separate him from the white and black she-cat. Tuffy joined him and they held down the two fighters. Darkfire received a few scratches in the process. Just when he and Tuffy thought the cats were done struggling and tried to relax to give the cats time to get up with dignity, the tom Darkfire was holding, bit his leg.

Darkfire yelled with pain and bit the tom's ear. He released Darkfire's leg to shriek and pull away. He didn't get very far because Darkfire caught up and held him to the roof with his larger frame. He was angry with this tom. His leg ached and he didn't like that this tom had gotten the better of him.

"We demand the cats that started this," Soot growled.

Darkfire glanced over his shoulder. Jacolyn was standing in front of the three guards. Next to them she was a pitiful frame, the cat Darkfire had met was withered in size, but somehow she stood firm. She stood between Banter's guards and the cats who'd attacked them. Backing her were her other guards, keeping an eye on the miscreants.

"You will have them," Jacoyln answered.

Soot seemed surprised the ginger had given in so easily.

"You will have these four," Jacolyn continued, nodding to the cats that had attacked the guards.

"And not the others?" Bleak demanded.

"They weren't the ones who attacked you," Jacolyn answered. "They fought themselves."

"They were a distraction so these cats could attack us," Soot hissed.

"You don't know that. If I do find that out, then I will personally escort them to Banter. But for now you have these four and I will question these other two."

"Then we'll go now," Tory, the tortoiseshell, meowed. "Take them." She whipped her tail to the three cats. They now looked worried and frightened. Attacking Banter's guards hadn't been the smartest idea. They must have believed they'd win, that more cats would join them to throw off the tyranny. Instead they'd failed. Now they faced the consequence.

Soot and Bleak surrounded the cats and Jacolyn's guards walked out of the circle. Tory nodded to Jacolyn and then led the way from the roof. As they walked, the tortoiseshell looked around the roof as if warning the other cats away, but when she met Darkfire's eyes directly and held his gaze, he knew she'd been looking for him.

As the prisoners were escorted down the ladder, she looked away. Darkfire hoped the prisoners got away at some point, but he had a feeling if they'd tried, Banter would hunt them down.

Once they were gone, Jacolyn walked to Darkfire and Tuffy. She stood above the cats who'd started the fight.

"Target and Eric," the she-cat meowed. She frowned at them, a displeased gleam in her eye. "You can't tell me this was just a lover's quarrel. What are you doing fighting on my roof?"

"She said she was going to leave me!" Eric, the tom with the creamy swirls, yelled.

"He keeps trying to make me stay with him. I'm a free cat that can do what I want," Target meowed.

"Lies," Jacolyn waved her tail dismissively. "Were you working for those four cats that attacked Banter's guards? Were you their distraction?"

"No," Eric and Target meowed together. They started meowing over each other after that. It was hard to make sense of.

"Quiet," Jacolyn hissed. "Snow, Gray, take these two to my den. We'll question them in the morning. Let's get back to dancing. We can't waste this fine night."

Snow took Darkfire's place as he reluctantly let Eric up. Tuffy released Target and let Gray take her. The two guards quickly took the roamer cats from the roof.

"Get back to dancing," Jacolyn ordered as she took up a spot near the food. The cats reluctantly came back to the roof middle. They slowly started dancing. Many were unsure and were afraid another fight would start. Darkfire limped over to Jacolyn. He could tell she was angry, she wasn't speaking to anyone nearby and her effort to calm everyone wasn't working.

"You're worried," Darkfire meowed.

Jacolyn looked up at him. She seemed surprised he'd come to her for once.

"I haven't had a fight like that before," she confessed. "It looked like the guards were hoping that would happen. They were looking for a fight," she sighed. "Those three cats who attacked were just taking out their frustration. They weren't at fault, but I couldn't refused them to Banter. Whatever concerns him or his guards, he gets or presides over."

"What about Eric and Target?" Darkfire asked.

"They did that on purpose," Jacolyn growled. "I know they planned that attack. I'm beginning to think Banter's guards put them up to it. They started it all. I know that if I give Eric and Target to the guards, they won't get punished for obeying orders, but if I don't, Banter will ask for them and for what excuse they gave me."

"Why did they start the fight?" That was what Darkfire wanted to know. Did Jacolyn have suspicions and would she be willing to share?

"They had a purpose," Jacoyln growled. "I think they were testing my control or if I'd listen to them."

"And will you?"

"What's Banter's is Banter's," Jacolyn meowed. "What happens on my roof to my cats is mine. But the place where those two things meet is what Banter wants control of. I don't know if I want to give him that. There might be a time I actually need it. But I think Banter wants it. He wants to do something real soon. That's why he's testing me."

Darkfire now knew why she was worried. She wanted to know what Banter wanted. She was the leader of the roof, but she could be losing her spot to Banter if he pushed.

"You should do something for that paw," Jacolyn meowed.

"Nothing I can do," Darkfire replied. "It'll heal on its own."

"No other herbs to suggest? No? Well, don't get it dirty in the trashpile," she sighed and then went to walk among the dancers and sooth them. Darkfire watched her go. As she left, he thought she would have made a great Clan leader.

See, Wolfstar4, more guards did come. You were right. Now, what did they want? . . .