Hey guys! This is Flower1815 here, bringing you a new chapter of Eddswarriors. Guess what? This is another episode adaptation! This chapter will be about the episode "Dudette next door" with a warriors spin, as per usual. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy it! Thank you all so much for your support, I really appreciate it, and I'll see yah all later! ;)
The sun shined brightly in the clear, blue sky. No clouds to be seen anywhere. The day is incredibly warm, causing many of the forest's residents to take cover and shade themselves from the potent sunlight.
Amidst the hot weather, Cloverheart trekked through the dense woods of ThunderClan territory; immensely grateful for the shade the tall trees and foliage provide to his scorching-warm pelt. A cool, soothing breeze drifted by, rustling his whiskers a little and Cloverheart paused to enjoy the refreshing feel against his fur.
"You know, standing there and doing nothing isn't exactly a recommendable hunting technique." Redthorn's dry teasing voice broke through the peaceful moment, and Cloverheart narrowed his eyes at the red-tabby. "Now come on! The sooner we catch prey, the quicker our way back to camp will be."
Breathing in a tired sigh, Cloverheart followed him. The two of them were tasked with hunting prey near the Tallpines for the day. Between the well-hidden prey and the scorching heat, this is no easy task. However, shooting a quick glance in his friend's direction, Cloverheart could tell Redthorn was having a harder time dealing with the weather conditions than he is. Not only is his fur dense, and pretty thick; but also dark red. No wonder he is so insistent in getting the task over with as quickly as possible. Redthorn must be burning up within all that fur.
Thank StarClan Stonewing didn't send them to hunt over at Sunningrocks or Redthorn would've burst into flames by now.
Taking the lead now, Cloverheart decided to take the long way past Twolegplace, so that they could cover Tallpines and the Treecut place as well.
As they padded beneath the thin pine trees, the scents of Twolegplace made Cloverheart uneasy. "Stay alert." He warned Redthorn as he crept along behind him. "Twolegs might walk by here with dogs."
Cloverheart raised his head and sniffed the air; his mouth watering as the prey-scent of mouse filled his nostrils. He crouched and braced himself for a thrilling hunt to distract himself from the awful heat, when Redthorn suddenly raised his hackles and stood bristling next to him.
Cloverheart looked at his friend with bewilderment. "What is it?"
"Kittypet!" Sneered Redthorn, his fur fluffed out and his gray eyes narrowed into slits.
The two cats simultaneously crouched under the trees; wearily stalking forward and taking cover in a fern bush to look at the fences that bordered the Twoleg territory not too far away from where they stood.
"Do you see anything?" Redthorn whispered next to him, trying to peek over Cloverheart's shoulder.
"No. There's no one around." Cloverheart breathed in the scents of his surroundings. "But I can definitely smell a kittypet close by."
They stiffened at the sound of a snapping twig.
They crouched again, hearing the sound of light pawsteps nearing their hiding space. Carefully, Redthorn took a quick peek to see just what exactly they'll be dealing with. The harsh sunlight filtering through the trees clouded Redthorn's vision and he could not make out the intruder's appearance.
All he saw was a single silhouette.
"Good news. There is only one kittypet we'll have to deal with." Redthorn murmured with a knowing grin. He rocked on his haunches with anticipation, his tail lashing behind him.
Cloverheart nodded. "Let's chase this kittypet out!"
"And teach a valuable lesson about trespassing into ThunderClan territory!" Redthorn added.
They remained quiet for several heartbeats; ears pricked and listening intently for the kittypet's pawsteps, and the occasional ringing of the little bell that hanged from the kittypet's collar. When they deemed their target to be at close range, Redthorn flicked his tail in a silent signal to charge.
Together, they burst through the bushes and launched themselves to attack the intruder; only to abruptly stop halfway across the clearing to gawk at the cat they were met with.
The kittypet turned out to be a gorgeous golden-tabby she-cat, with long, sleek, well-kept fur. A blue collar laced around her neck, with a tiny bell dangling from it. The faint stripes along her pelt became more vibrant as sunlight filtered through the branches and shined down upon her pelt, casting an elegant glow onto her; contrasting well with her blue eyes.
Startled by their sudden appearance, the she-cat looked up. Her posture stiff, as if she's prepared to run if worst comes to shove, but other than that she does not look frightened. She faces the two strange cats with awe and curiosity, but still apprehensive of the situation.
Cloverheart expected to feel the familiar rush of aggression at the sight of a stranger on ThunderClan territory, but his hackles stayed flat. For some reason he couldn't understand, he knew this cat wasn't a threat. He was completely mesmerized by her.
Any traces of excitement Redthorn felt at the prospect of chasing intruders left him in thin air. He had been itching for something thrilling all day to distract himself from the awful heat. But as he raked his gaze over the beautiful tabby standing just a few tail-lengths ahead of him, Redthorn couldn't bring himself to bring harm on her.
And, was it him, or did Redthorn feel warmth flood through him the more he stared at her? It was starting to become unbearable at this point.
The kittypet took a step back, eyeing then wearily. "Hello?"
The two ThunderClan cats exchanged a glance, their faces flushed. Momentarily forgetting all about the code, their teachings, and just what they were out here to do, they approached the she-cat; careful not to frighten her further.
Cloverheart smiled, and flicked his tail in a friendly gesture. "Hello!"
"It's alright. We won't harm you." Redthorn reassured with a dip of his head. Sensing the tension ebb away between them, he noted she was slightly more at ease. "I'm Redthorn-"
"And I'm Cloverheart!" The brown-and-white tabby blurted out. He fixed his round green eyes intently on the she-cat. "What's your name?"
The kittypet cocked her head to one side and gazed at each one of them. Her whiskers twitched. "What odd names you have." She murmured, half to herself but Cloverheart and Redthorn could hear her clear as day. "My name is Kim." She mewed at last.
"Kim?" Redthorn echoed. "And our names are weird?" He mrrowed teasingly.
The kittypet fluffed out her fur. "Of course!" She huffed, raising her tail. "I don't think I've ever met cats with stranger names than yours."
"Well, that's probably because you never met a Clan cat before." Redthorn countered knowingly.
"Anyways, you really shouldn't be out here by yourself." Cloverheart stepped forward, interrupting their banter. His eyes flashed enviously at his Clanmate for a brief second before his gaze softened when directed back to Kim. "It's dangerous here in the forest."
Kim opened her mouth, about to protest until Redthorn intervened.
"He's right. The woods are no place for a cat like you." The red-tabby added. "A lot can happen out here."
She narrowed her eyes. "What kinds of things?"
"Foxes. Badgers!" Cloverheart lists. "Big horrid beasts; known to snap entire cats in half with one bite."
"And other cats, like us, who are not as nice and wouldn't hesitate to attack you on sight." Redthorn stated.
Cloverheart suddenly perked up as an idea popped into his mind. "We'll be more than glad to escort you safely back to your home." He suggests.
Kim turned to him joyfully. "You will?"
Cloverheart nodded.
"Why, thank you!" Kim mewed. "If the forest is as dangerous as you say it is, then I will feel much safer with the two of you accompanying me."
As she turned away to head back the way she came, Cloverheart and Redthorn moved to walk by her side. Together, the trio padded through the woods. Leaves crinkled beneath their paws as they made their way between the trees.
After a while, Kim broke the steady silence that has fallen between them. "Are the two of you wild cats that live in these woods by any chance?" She asks genuinely curious.
"We are. But there a lot more than just the two of us living out here!" Cloverheart replied.
"And is it true that you eat other cats, and sharpen your claws on bones of the dead?" Kim eyed them wearily, as if she was expecting them to jump on her and rip her to shreds.
Cloverheart and Redthorn shared amused glances.
"Now where did you hear that from?" Redthorn asks, faking indignance.
Kim flicked her tail to one-side thoughtfully. "Some cats that live close by warned me about venturing into the forest, because of savage cats living out here." She admits.
Cloverheart nodded in understanding. "In a way, I guess we are." He trailed off. "But not quite to that extent! We certainly don't eat other cats around here."
"But we do keep our claws in pristine condition." Redthorn clawed at the ground, batting at a stray leaf. "We hunt for our own food, and we must fight other cats for what is ours."
The kittypet glanced at both of them. "Your way of living sounds very harsh." She commented. "So if you are expected to drive out any intruders, then how come you two are over here politely talking to me? Aren't you supposed to chase me back over the fence and claw my ears out to frighten me? That's something the other cats say you do."
Redthorn felt a nagging frustration bubbling up inside of him. These other kittypets should do something productive for once, instead of spouting nonsense about us!
Choosing his next set of words carefully, Cloverheart answered.
"We normally would. But because you didn't know any better, and you don't mean to pose us any kind of threat, we thought it would be better to let you go unscathed."
"If you don't mind me asking, though." Redthorn cut in. "Why were you out here in the first place, if you heard so many dreadful rumours about savage cats living in the woods?" He asks. "You would think after hearing a thing like that you would've stayed clear away from this place."
Kim paused for a moment, contemplating her thoughts. "I suppose it was foolish of me to come here by myself." She admits with a small smile. "But my… companion often talks to me about life beyond the fence, and how adventurous it is. I just wanted to check it out for myself, to see what it is like, and maybe tell her the next chance I get."
Redthorn looked at her admiringly, touching her flank with the tip of his tail. "Perhaps. But if you look at it in a different perspective, you are one of the few brave cats from Twolegplace that dared to venture out of their safety zone. That's got to mean something!"
Kim glanced away, a little taken back by his comment. Cloverheart felt a twinge of jealousy hit him as he spied on Redthorn shooting her a smile. He flicked his tail angrily, but did not voice any complaint.
"You said something about a Twolegplace." Kim wrinkled her nose. "What does that mean?"
Redthorn nodded toward the fence, coming into view ahead of them. "Over there, where you live."
"Twolegplace is what we call the area beyond the fence." Cloverheart answered. "It's where kittypets- cats like you, live; together with their Twolegs."
They padded closer to the fence, marking the border between the forest and the Twolegplace. Once they were close enough, Kim turned to face them.
"Thank you so much for showing me the way out!" She meowed joyfully, looking at them with bright eyes.
"It w-was nothing, r-really." Cloverheart stammered, adverting his gaze away when their eyes locked for a heartbeat. He was sure his face was turning crimson at this point.
"I guess forest cats aren't so savage after all!" Kim went on, expressing her gratitude by touching noses briefly with each of them. "I will be sure to tell my friends all about my trip."
"Actually, it would be best if you didn't." Redthorn advised. When she looked at him quizzically, he sighed. "You were lucky we were the ones who found you. Had it been a ThunderClan patrol, or any other Clan cat for that matter, they wouldn't think twice about driving you away for good."
"Redthorn's right." Cloverheart nodded in agreement. "And if you were to try to come out here again, there's no telling what you might encounter. But, if you ever want to take another look around the forest, we would be more than happy to show you around!"
Kim perked up at that. "You mean that?"
Redthorn dipped his head. "As long as either one of us is accompanying you, you should be safe."
A loud yowl sounded from the other side of the fence. Redthorn and Cloverheart tensed but did not move away, as they figured it wouldn't pose a threat to them. Kim pricked her ears and glanced back toward the fence, as the yowling continued.
"That's my Housefolk." She realized. With one swift leap, she hopped on top of the fence and balanced herself on the unsteady planks. "I have to go now. I hope to see you two again fairly soon!" She mewed. "Goodbye!" And with one jump, her golden shape disappeared over the other side.
Watching her leave, the two warriors simultaneously breathed out a dreamy sigh.
They turned away and headed back into the forest, distancing themselves from the Twolegplace. Along the way, Cloverheart glanced back over his shoulder once in a while, shooting wistful glances at the place where he last saw Kim; hoping to somehow catch one last glimpse of the pretty she-cat.
(Time skip)
By the time when they were done hunting for the day, and the two warriors returned to camp, the sun was beginning to set over the horizon and cast the sky in reddish-orange hues.
Redthorn held his chin high as he followed the well-worn path to the gorse tunnel that led into the camp, carrying a squirrel, a thrush, and a mouse in his jaws. Cloverheart followed him, carrying a plump rabbit and a blackbird.
The pale fawn-cream queen, Doespring, lay at the entrance of the nursery, warming her swollen belly in the afternoon sun. Until recently she had shared the warriors' den and kept on with her duties as normal. Now that the birth of her kits is due soon she moved to the nursery with the other queens while she waited for her first litter to be born.
Beside her, Fawnspots is curled up in a sunny patch, her tail curled over her belly as she watched over Fallowflight's three kits as they tussled on the hard earth, scuffing up small clouds dust.
Cloverheart and Redthorn trotted across the camp, dropping their catch on the pile of fresh-kill near the bush where the warriors slept.
"Nice work you two." Shouldering his way out of the warriors' den was the Clan deputy, Stonewing. The pair respectfully lowered their heads as he approached them. "How's the prey running?" He asks after admiring their catch.
"Not much unfortunately." Cloverheart reported with a shake of his head. "It's too hot to hunt in this weather, and all the prey are hiding as well." He added. "Honestly we're lucky we found what we caught."
Stonewing frowned, a mixture of irritation and concern glowed in his eyes. "Figures." He tsked with a flick of his tail. "At least you two caught something. The hunting patrol I sent to Sunningrocks returned early and empty pawed because of the awful heat. There's nothing to be found there as of now."
"Let's just hope that the Snakerocks hunting party have better luck than they did." Redthorn meowed.
After Stonewing dismissed them, Redthorn and Cloverheart each picked something out of the pile and headed for a shady patch between the medicine and the apprentices' den.
On their way, Cloverheart began to reflect on their earlier encounter with the kittypet, Kim. At the time, he had been much too distracted by her breath-taking looks to really analyse the situation. But now that his head is in longer in the clouds it finally dawned on him just how much trouble this could mean for both of them.
"Hey, Redthorn?" He called out quietly, his words muffled by the prey he carried in his jaws. "What happened back there, with Kim and all, you know we can't mean any of it, right?"
The red-tabby flicked his tail. Pricking his ears he shot a brief glance back at Cloverheart. "What are you talking about?"
Cloverheart sighed. "Redthorn, I know what you're thinking. I feel it too." He went on. "But whatever we may want, it can never happen. Having anything to do with Kim goes against the code!"
"What?! Since when?" Redthorn flicked his ear.
They settled down and began to eat their prey.
"The fourteenth tenant of the Warrior Code; a warrior must reject the soft life of a kittypet!" Cloverheart points out determinably, but still feeling a twinge of sadness at the prospect of never seeing Kim again.
"So? It's not like we're turning into kittypets by meeting up with her!" Redthorn argued.
"That's not what the rule means." Cloverheart paced around, his ears dropping. "It's not about us turning into kittypets. This rule is to make sure we have nothing to do with kittypets! We can't be kittypets, nor befriend them, nor anything else."
Looking as if he's about to argue, Redthorn suddenly deflated and backed off. "You're right." He murmurs at last, a hint of regret in his voice. "We really should not get involved with her." He sighs in defeat. "I guess we're just gonna have to forget anything that's happened today, and move on."
Cloverheart nodded in agreement. "She's way out of our reach anyway."
Redthorn smiled. "Let's agree to keep our distance from her. Nothing good can come from this."
With a dip of their heads, the two friends agreed on their promise.
They shared tongues until the moon rose and the coldness of the night drove them into their den. Redthorn was curled up within moments, but Cloverheart felt strangely awake. The image of the golden she-cat kept returning to his mind, and even though he was surrounded by the familiar smells of ThunderClan, her soft kittypet scent lingered in his nostrils. Try as he might, Cloverheart could not shake Kim out of his head.
The next morning, Cloverheart woke at dawn with the image of the alluring kittypet still clear in his mind. He pushed his way out of the den, hoping the routine of the day would distract him. It was another warm, cosy morning. Flamewish and Leopardswipe were waiting near the camp entrance, preparing to leave on patrol. Cricketpelt padded past on her way to join them and greeted Cloverheart with a cheery mew. Flamewish called for Briarleaf, who came racing out of her den just in time to follow the patrol as it pounded out of the camp. It was a scene Cloverheart had watched many times, but for once he didn't yearn to join them as they thundered away into the morning- fresh forest.
All he can think about is Kim. The kittypet's image burned fiercely strong inside his head despite his better judgement. It aggravated Cloverheart to no end.
He lashed his tail, a growl rising up his throat. What am I doing? I can't think like that! He scolded himself. I'm a warrior! I shouldn't be feeling this way toward a kittypet, it goes against the code!
And yet, despite his misgivings Cloverheart came up with a solution to his problem. He'll visit her today! He'll show up, tell her straight they can't see each other ever again, and maybe even scare her back to her nest so she won't be tempted to venture off into the forest.
He padded across the clearing, wondering if Redthorn was awake yet. There was no need for the red-tabby to know about his outing. After all, they agree to stay well enough away from Kim and it's not like Cloverheart is breaking his part of the promise. If anything he is following it through! Or at least, that's what Cloverheart kept telling himself as he surveyed the clearing anxiously, looking for any signs of Redthorn roaming around the camp.
Cloverheart spotted Fallowflight squeezing out of the narrow nursery entrance. Fernkit followed her, with Honeykit right behind. Pigeonkit, a white and gray tom, tumbled out clumsily and fell onto the ground.
Fallowflight picked him up by his scruff and placed Pigeonkit gently back on his paws. The tenderness of Fallowflight's action made fond memories of Cloverheart's kittyhood flood back to him. Breezeshine had probably done the same for him. He knew that after Volekit had died soon after she was born, Breezeshine seemed to love him even more fiercely. And Redthorn too, when she took him in.
Shaking his thoughts away, Cloverheart was just about to leave the camp when he heard Holloweyes' heavy pawsteps behind him. He turned to greet his friend, stretching his head to touch Holloweyes' nose, and asked. "Could you do me a favour and cover it up for me today?"
Holloweyes looked curiously at Cloverheart. "Why?"
"Oh, it's nothing important." Replied Cloverheart as casually as he could. "I just wanted to check out something I saw yesterday."
"Uh, sure, I guess I could-"
"Thanks, Holloweyes!" Cloverheart bounded away toward the camp entrance before his friend could even finish his sentence or ask him where he was going.
As the Twolegplace came into view through the trees, Cloverheart dropped into a crouch. He opened his mouth and breathed in the morning air. No sign of a ThunderClan patrol, and no Twoleg scents either. He relaxed a little.
Slowly he approached the Twoleg fence where he had seen the Kim disappear. He hesitated at the bottom and looked around, sniffing the air once more. Then he leaped, landing on a fence post in one easy jump. No Twolegs to be seen—just an empty garden with its strongly scented plants.
Cloverheart felt exposed on the post. The branch of a tree hung low overhead. Its leaves lush and abundant; it would be easier to hide there. Silently he pulled himself up and lay down to wait, flattening himself against the rough bark.
Cloverheart could see a swinging flap in the entrance to the Twolegplace. He fixed his gaze on the flap, hoping that Kim's face would appear at any moment. The sun rose slowly into the morning sky, but Cloverheart started to feel hungry. Maybe he should've eaten something back at the camp before rushing out.
Thinking that, maybe the Twolegs were keeping her shut in the nest today, Cloverheart licked a paw and wondered if he should go back to camp.
Suddenly he heard a loud clatter. Cloverheart looked up and saw Kim pop out through the swinging flap. The fur along his spine rippled with anticipation, and Cloverheart fought to stop himself from leaping down into her garden straightaway. He is a forest cat, not some friendly kittypet.
Cloverheart waited until she had reached the end of the grass; then he crept to the tip of the branch and slipped down onto the fence. Quietly he jumped into the bushes below.
Cloverheart took a deep breath and crept out from the bushes.
Kim's eyes widened with bewilderment. Cloverheart knew how he must appear to her—lean and wild, with the sharp forest scents on his pelt. "Hey Kim! It's me, Cloverheart!" He smiled and curled his tail, trying to appear less threatening. "From yesterday, remember?"
"Cloverheart?" Kim sniffed the air, wide-eyed and wary. Her blue eyes brightened with recognition and she purred with delight. "Oh of course! How could I possibly forget you?"
Her words filled Cloverheart with happiness and he resisted the urge to purr himself.
Kim skipped over to him and stretched her nose forward, rubbing her muzzle cautiously along his cheek in a friendly greeting. Cloverheart barely managed to contain himself from purring at the contact this time. He felt a twinge of sadness drift over him when she stepped back, looking around wildly. "Is Redthorn here too?"
Ignoring the stab at his gut at the mention of his Clanmate, Cloverheart shook his head. "I came alone."
"Why?"
Cloverheart looked at her in surprise. "Well I-uh was- uh rather am, kind of taken with you." He stuttered nervously, blushing slightly. Surely she must feel something for him too, right?
Kim studied him for a moment. To Cloverheart's relief, her guarded expression lifted. "You're very thin." she mewed critically, changing the subject.
"Thinner than a kittypet, perhaps, but not thin for a Clan — forest—cat." Cloverheart replied cheekily.
"Well, if you want some food you are more than welcome to come inside and eat if you'd like." Kim offered, gesturing to the Twolegden behind her. "My Twolegs always keep my bowl filled, so I'm sure there is something for you to eat."
Cloverheart gently brushed his tail against her flank and shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm alright." He reassured her, despite the protests of his hungry stomach. Eating kittypet food goes against the Warrior Code, after all.
So is meeting up with her. His thoughts seemed to yowl accusingly, but Cloverheart brushed the thought aside to keep his focus on Kim.
She moved closer to him, pressing her fur against his flank. Cloverheart felt his heart swell with emotion and he felt his cheeks turn warm and crimson.
Suddenly Cloverheart wanted her to know about the life he led. "Do you know about the Clans?"
Kim gazed at him, mystified. "You mentioned a ThunderClan once before, I think?"
Cloverheart nodded. "There are four Clans altogether." He went on, the words tumbling out. "In the Clan, we look after of each other. Younger cats hunt for elders; warriors protect the hunting grounds from other Clans. I trained for eight moons to become a warrior myself!"
Cloverheart could see by her bemused expression that she couldn't quite understand everything he was telling her, yet her eyes brightened with pleasure as he spoke.
"It sounds as if you enjoy your life a lot." She mewed in awe.
A Twoleg voice called from the house. Alarmed, Cloverheart instantly darted under the nearest bush.
"I should go." Kim mewed. "They'll be worried if I don't go back." She glanced back at her home.
Cloverheart looked out from beneath the bush. "Go, then. I have to return to my Clan anyway. But I promise I'll come back and see you again."
"Yes, I'd like that!" Kim called over her shoulder. She was already trotting back toward her Twoleg nest. "Goodbye!"
"See you soon!" Cloverheart called. Kim disappeared from view, and he heard the swinging flap slap shut behind her.
Once the garden was silent, Cloverheart crept through the bushes to the fence. He jumped over it and ran into the forest. His heart raced and fluttered all at once inside his chest, leaving him skipping into the woods with joy and a fuzzy feeling inside the pit of his stomach.
His belly growled.
Or maybe it was just hunger.
He knew he is breaking, not only the warrior code, but his promise with Redthorn by meeting with Kim, but at that moment nothing mattered to Cloverheart. He felt so happy and warm he could burst at any moment.
Cloverheart paused, and sniffed the air. He decided this was a good time as any to take the opportunity to hunt, seeing as he was missing back at the camp and his Clanmates were sure to wonder where he went off to this morning. If he brings back prey, that'll at least make the excuse he went hunting by himself and no one would need to know about his visit to the Twolegplace.
With the plan set in mind, Cloverheart began to stalk through the undergrowth for signs of prey. Completely unaware of the figure, perched high above the tree branches, watching his every move with narrowed gray eyes.
A low growl erupted from Redthorn's throat and he lashed his tail crossly. He watched the entire thing. He saw Cloverheart leave the camp earlier in a hurry, and decided to follow him; only to find his friend getting close with the beautiful kittypet they met the day before.
He'd been a fool to believe Cloverheart would keep his end of the promise. No one, no matter how loyal they claim to be, can faithfully follow the code all the way through. Redthorn knows this better than anyone else.
Carefully managing his balance among the branches, Redthorn shifted his weight and craned his head over to peer at the Twolegplace where Kim resided.
He won't let Cloverheart win this so easily.
(Time skip)
In the very next morning, Cloverheart left the camp in a hurry. He'd been tasked to go on the dawn patrol earlier and couldn't find a chance to leave until said duty was taken care of. But now that it is sunhigh, and the scent markers have all been refreshed around ThunderClan's borders, Cloverheart was free to go by the Twolegplace.
The whole morning he'd been too distracted, thinking about Kim and her lovely golden-tabby form to concentrate on his duties.
The tendrils of bramble and ivy rustled and a mouse came scurrying out, practically running into his paws. Cloverheart delivered a swift bite and quickly killed it. Rather than digging a hole and leaving it buried for later, he brought the dead prey along with him.
I'll share it with Kim. Cloverheart decided, raising his chin as he padded confidently through the forest toward Twolegplace. I bet she'll enjoy having her first taste of mouse!
However, as the Twolegplace loomed into view and he approached the fence, his happy mood and confidence evaporated at once. Cloverheart froze as soon as he spotted Kim, sharing a huge rabbit with Redthorn.
Immediately, Cloverheart backed away into a bush and hid himself from view. Embarrassment burning hot in his pelt when he compared his catch, a measly little mouse, with that of Redthorn's. Cloverheart pricked his ears and crouched, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. He could hear purring and giggles, but the pair is too far off range for him to make out exactly what they were saying.
Peeking out from his hiding place he observed the two. Kim licked one of her paws and drew it over her whiskers neatly, swiping away any remains of rabbit around her muzzle. Next to her, Redthorn watched with fascination and a deep look in his eyes.
Cloverheart stiffened when the red-tabby raised his head to sniff the air with narrowed eyes. Redthorn snapped his gaze toward the woods, and their eyes locked. Cloverheart's breath hitched in his throat, and his muscles tensed. But rather than exposing him as a coward and humiliating him in front of Kim, Redthorn simply shot him a smirk as he shifted closer to Kim until their pelts brushed, and he wound his tail around her.
Cloverheart glared at him, burning with jealousy. His ears flattened against his head and the fur along his spine bristled with outrage. Redthorn is mocking me!
Clearly defeated this time around, Cloverheart turned tail and stalked away, still seething with envy. He can't say Redthorn is entirely to blame in this situation though. After all, it was him who broke their promise first by visiting her so soon after making their vow.
Even so, it's clear that neither of them are willing to give Kim up. Even at the cost of breaking the Warrior Code, and the even greater one of being discovered by another one of their Clanmates.
Only one of them can win Kim's heart in the end.
He won't get away with this! Cloverheart vows.
(Time skip)
Redthorn calmly padded through the forest, making the familiar trek toward the Twolegplace. It's just little past dawn and Redthorn had taken his time, watching the patrols be organized and go along their way before heading out in his forbidden meeting.
Redthorn enjoyed his stroll through the woods, admiring the colours of the sunrise contrasting with the green, lush forest surrounding him. He isn't in any rush or worry to reach his destination. He is up early, and knowing how much Cloverheart valued his sleep, Redthorn knows it will take some time for the brown-tabby to rise.
Or so he thought.
Arriving at the fence that marked the division between ThunderClan territory and the Twolegplace, Redthorn was surprised, and upset, to find Cloverheart already there along with Kim.
Redthorn crouched low into the fern bushes to hide. Mouse dung! He cursed, his ear twitching irritably. He must've left the camp way before dawn.
"Keep both hind paws on the ground or your enemy will unbalance you." Cloverheart instructed, nosing Kim's hindquarters until her paws were firmly planted. "Try that move again."
Concentrating hard, Kim reared up and slashed at a stick that was stuck into the slimy soil; presumably put there by Cloverheart as target practice. With both hind paws steady, her blows were fiercer and stronger and the stick tumbled with the third hit.
Her eyes glowed with satisfaction. "I did it!" Kim meowed. "What did you say the name of that move was?"
"That was the front paw strike." Cloverheart answered, with a hint of a purr in his voice. "Very useful when you're up against enemies in small enclosures."
Redthorn resisted the temptation to snicker. He's teaching her fighting moves? He thought incredulously. Cloverheart can hardly fight off a fox cub!
Rising to his paws, Redthorn decided to end Cloverheart's pathetic flirting attempts, and he stepped out of his hiding place. "Cloverheart! So this is where you've been the whole morning!" He meowed, faking surprise. "I must say, Stonewing won't be very pleased to find you missing back at the camp." His tone sharpened; his gray eyes narrowing. "What are you doing all the way out here anyway?"
As he padded up to join them, he had the satisfaction of realizing that both Cloverheart and Kim were dumbfounded by his sudden appearance. But while Kim's look of surprise turned warm with friendliness, Cloverheart faced him with apprehension; glaring and teeth bared into the beginnings of a snarl.
"Cloverheart came by for a visit." Kim stated innocently, seemingly ignorant to the thick tension lingering in the air between the two toms. "And then he offered to show me some fighting moves!" She went on excitedly. "I feel as if I already learned so much! Cloverheart's a really good mentor."
"Oh really?" Redthorn's ears twitched, faking interest to try and not show just how bothered he really was. No way was he going to give Cloverheart that satisfaction.
"Oh, I know!" Kim exclaimed, her eyes glowing with an idea in mind. "Since the two of you are experienced warriors, maybe you two should demonstrate some moves by fighting each other. That way I get to learn more by watching you!"
Redthorn grinned. "That sounds like a splendid idea! Don't you think so, Cloverheart?"
Cloverheart did not miss the challenge in his voice. He narrowed his eyes. "A demonstration would be a great learning experience for her."
"Then it's settled!" Redthorn's smirk widened and he beckoned Cloverheart closer with his tail. "We should also set up a goal. No sense in needlessly ripping each other's fur off until we're both too tired to function." He meowed, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Let's say; whoever pins the other one down first wins?"
"Sounds good to me." Cloverheart growled briskly.
Readying themselves into position, Kim skipped away and hopped on top of the wooden fence; settling down to watch their "demonstration". With her out of harm's way, Redthorn and Cloverheart circled each other wearily.
Cloverheart crouched in the grass, relaxing the muscles along his spine. A warrior moves with ease, not stiffness. Lavenderstripe's advice rang in his ears. Fight with your wits as well as your paws. Cloverheart made sure his claws were well sheathed and kept his gaze fixed on Redthorn, bracing himself for his Clanmate's first move. "Ready when you are." He mewed.
Redthorn narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you attack first?"
Cloverheart shrugged. "If you like." He wasn't going to let Redthorn unsettle him.
He focused on Redthorn's left shoulder, then leaped for the right. His feint worked. Wrong- footed, Redthorn staggered sideways.
Whirling around to face him, Redthorn's eyes blazed.
Cloverheart shrugged half-heartedly.
Redthorn lunged at Cloverheart. Grasping Cloverheart's shoulders, he kicked a hind paw out from under him. Cloverheart dug his hind claws into the grass and thrust Redthorn backward. Pain ripped through him as Redthorn tugged a lump of fur from his shoulder. Don't let him put you off! Cloverheart leaped to his paws.
Redthorn faced him, eyes gleaming. Cloverheart backed away. Let him think he scared me. He felt a twinge of satisfaction as he saw triumph flash in Redthorn's gaze. Come on, half-breed.
Redthorn sprang.
Cloverheart ducked and fluffed out his pelt. Energy surged in his muscles. He unsheathed his hind claws, digging them deep into the grass, then reared up. Redthorn leaned back and raised his forepaws. Cloverheart adjusted his balance, wrapped his tail around his hind legs, and swiped at Redthorn.
He blinked with surprise as Redthorn dropped and darted behind him. Turning on his hind paws, Cloverheart saw Redthorn's jaws snapping where his tail should've been. "You missed!" With a rush of satisfaction he slammed down on the young warrior, knocking him flat on to his belly.
"I win!" Cloverheart mrrowed triumphantly, standing over Redthorn's pinned down and defeated form.
Kim leaped down the fence, and rushed forward to meet them. "That was amazing!" She mewed, blue eyes glowing. "You fight so well, and you are very quick on your feet it seems."
Cloverheart tilted his head down, bashful as a tinge of crimson surged on his face at her praise. "Th-thank you."
"How did you manage your balance while tucking in your tail like that? That was a neat trick you pulled off back there!"
Cloverheart perked up, growing more confident. "Oh that! Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. At first I could barely stand for more than a heartbeat, but the longer I practiced the more-" He kept on ranting, words blurting out of his mouth in one go as Kim listened with intrigue; completely disregarding the red-tabby still pinned beneath him.
Redthorn glowered with chagrin. He'd never been so humiliated! Cloverheart will pay dearly for this insolence.
(Time skip)
Cloverheart raced after his Clanmates as Palefur led the way out of the camp, feeling a tingle in his paws as he leaped up the side of the ravine. Much to his disdain though, Redthorn was also part of the patrol. It's been well over a moon since their rivalry over Kim commenced, and they have been at each other's throats ever since. They weren't outright attacking each other, otherwise the rest of their Clanmates would get suspicious of their behaviour; however, they were trying to avoid one another as much as possible, and keep throwing insulting jabs whenever they can.
Unfortunately for them today, Stonewing had assigned them both on the same patrol, and they have no choice but to put up with each other until they get back to camp. Joy.
"We'll head for the Sunningrocks." Palefur meowed. "And then follow the border up to Fourtrees. Stonewing wants us to check the RiverClan border for any signs of scent-markings."
"They have been pretty quiet since their last failed attempt of taking over Sunningrocks." Rainblossom commented.
"I wouldn't put anything past RiverClan." Cloverheart growled. "They'd steal the fur off your back if you didn't keep an eye on them." The image of a certain arrogant, tabby RiverClan warrior showed clear in his mind.
He slowed down to a walk as the patrol approached the edge of the forest. Ahead of them Cloverheart could hear the sound of the rushing river.
"We're almost at the border." Palefur meowed quietly. "From here on we have to keep alert. There may be RiverClan cats about."
Cloverheart stopped and opened his jaws to drink in scent from the breeze. "I can't smell any." He reported, secretly relieved. Putting up with Redthorn was bad enough. Last thing he needed was another aggressive confrontation with Pinepaw. No doubt he is probably a warrior by now too.
They stepped out of the tree line and into the open, where Sunningrocks loomed ahead and the river came into clear sight. As the patrol reached the riverbank, Cloverheart thought he caught whiff of a familiar scent lingering in the air; but he disregarded it in favour of scanning the opposite side of the river for any signs of their neighbours.
While Palefur and Rainblossom refreshed the scent markers, Cloverheart grew uncomfortably aware of Redthorn's close proximity. He shot a quick glance in the red-tabby's direction, but he barely paid Cloverheart's presence any mind. Redthorn fixed his gaze into the woods, farther downriver. His eyes were narrowed and he occasionally sniffed the air.
Cloverheart stared at him with suspicion.
"Well, no signs of RiverClan." Palefur announced after he finished checking the area. "Let's go. We shall carry on upstream." The white warrior beckoned the patrol to him, but Redthorn kept looking the opposite way.
"Actually, Palefur, if you wouldn't mind I would like to check out this area a little longer." Redthorn meowed decisively. "I think I got whiff of fox scent. I'll follow the trail; make sure it's out of our territory. I will catch up with the rest of you later."
Despite acting cool and reserved, Cloverheart didn't miss the glimmer of worry flicker in his eyes, or the way he looked around wearily. What's Redthorn up to?
After a moment's thought, Palefur nodded in agreement. "Very well." He flicked his tail, and added. "But take Cloverheart with you. It's dangerous to confront a fox by yourself."
Despite their animosity, Cloverheart for once was glad he'd been chosen to stay behind with Redthorn. This gives him the chance to keep the red-tabby warrior in his sights, and find out what he's planning.
Redthorn's tail twitched with annoyance, clearly displeased that he would be left alone with Cloverheart. But he had no reason to refuse, unless he wishes to rouse their Clanmates suspicions. "Okay." He growled tightly.
As the rest of the patrol set off, Cloverheart waited until they were out of earshot to finally confront Redthorn. When the thundering pawsteps faded away in the distance, and he was sure they were alone, Cloverheart turned back to face his friend. "Well, what is it?" He asked. "I know for a fact there is no trace of fox scent around here, so whatever it is better be important for you to lie to our Clanmates."
Redthorn padded past him, completely disregarding his question. Cloverheart felt a growl rumble deep in his throat as he watched the red-tabby walk away; heading downstream.
"You are correct." Redthorn's reply took Cloverheart by surprise. "It's not a fox I scented. But I am just as worried." Redthorn swung his head around, gazing wildly into the trees.
His panicked expression worried Cloverheart. "What do you mean?"
Redthorn whipped around and met his gaze, his eyes blazing. "Are you dense?" He snapped. "Use your nose! Can't you scent it?"
Cloverheart flicked his tail crossly, but obliged. He opened his mouth and breathed in the scents, tasting the familiar odours of the forest in his tongue. He caught the faint smell of RiverClan in the wind that blew towards them, the fresh scent of vole lingering in the air, and another more recent scent that was strangely out of place, but was no stranger to Cloverheart. He detected this smell earlier, but hadn't paid any mind! Cloverheart breathed the scent in deeper.
A sickening realization suddenly dawned on him.
Kim?! What's she doing so far from Twolegplace?
He kept on sniffing the same area for her scent, disbelief written all over his features. After all, why would she be all the way out here? Cloverheart lifted his head and met Redthorn's gaze. "She can't be- I mean, what for?" He reasoned. "Her scent probably just drifted in the wind that blew toward us all the way from Twolegplace."
Redthorn opened his mouth to reply, but he was stopped by a loud splash in the water.
The two ThunderClan warriors immediately stiffened, and snapped their gazes toward the source of the sound; and sure enough, their suspicious were proven correct.
There she is, perched on top of a boulder by the riverbank on the other side of the border. Her beautiful golden-tabby fur is glossy and wet as she looked at her surroundings with clear interest, completely unaware that she was standing in RiverClan territory.
Cloverheart's heart hammered inside his chest, and he kept looking at the tree line on the opposite side of the river; apprehensive at the thought of a RiverClan patrol surging from the undergrowth to confront the intruder in their land. Cloverheart bristled at the thought of Pinepaw, or whatever his name is by now, laying a single claw on Kim's pelt. If he does, Cloverheart would not hesitate to cross the river, even at the risk of drowning, and fight him off.
"Kim?! What do you think you're doing here?" Redthorn was the first to speak, alerting Kim of their presence.
Kim jumped, her blue eyes round with surprise. Spotting them, her gaze quickly shifted to friendliness. "Redthorn! Cloverheart!" Kim meowed, a hint of relief in her voice. "Ah it's good to see you."
Redthorn's heart fluttered inside his chest. She's glad to see us! He pushed his glee aside. Now was not the time for this! "Get out of there! That's RiverClan territory." He warned her. "They won't hesitate to attack you if they find you in their land."
"Well, now that we're here we won't let them of course." Cloverheart added briskly, shuffling in his paws. "But we would like to avoid conflict with RiverClan today, if at all possible. Please."
Despite the knowledge of danger nearby, Kim did not heed them. She looked around the area, her gaze skimming the tree line behind her. "I came out here to look for my companion." She admitted. "She's been gone for so long- I'm worried something may have happened to her."
"We can help you search for her later. Please, just get over here before a RiverClan patrol catches you." Redthorn insisted, flicking his tail. His gaze shifted to a set of stepping stones, barely visible beneath the river as the waves lapped at the surface. "Here- you can use these to get yourself across-"
Redthorn's words died away as Kim swiftly slid into the water and swam across, unswerving despite the tug of the current, gliding through the water as smoothly as an otter. Cloverheart and Redthorn watched her with clear surprise and admiration. She can swim?! Their mouths were open wide in awe as she padded onto the stones and trotted to their side.
Kim fluffed out her fur and shook her pelt, scattering drops of water everywhere. "What?" She blinked, taking notice of their wide eyed gazes.
"I had no idea you could swim like that!" Redthorn meowed, his eyes glowing.
"You swim so well for a kittypet!" Cloverheart added enthusiastically.
"Excuse me?"
Oh oh. That was the wrong thing to say if Kim's glare is anything to go by.
Quickly backtracking, Cloverheart attempted to fix his mistake. "What I mean is that, considering how often you stay in a Twolegden and the garden, I didn't think you would be able to swim since you don't have that much contact with water."
Cloverheart stifled a sigh of relief as he watched Kim's stance relax and her expression soften. "I suppose you're right." She murmured. "Even so, you two seem greatly surprised. Surely it's not such a big deal? You Clan cats swim all the time, right?"
A long, awkward pause followed her question.
Cloverheart and Redthorn shared weary glances. They are ThunderClan warriors, not RiverClan. ThunderClan cats aren't used to swimming; if anything they do everything in their power to avoid getting themselves wet. So how can they possibly attempt to prove Kim right?
Well, a chance to impress Kim and humiliate the other is always a good incentive.
Cloverheart flicked his tail dismissively and trotted past Kim. "Of course we do!" He meowed, approaching the riverbed. "Swimming in the river is like second nature to us Clan cats." He felt Redthorn's gaze burning on his back as he walked, just waiting for him to mess up in front of Kim. Cloverheart elected to ignore him, and solely focus on the task of taking a short swim in the rushing river.
He took careful steps into the water, letting his paws disappear beneath the lapping waves. The water was cold in contrast to the hot, sunny day and Cloverheart had to supress a shiver from rippling through his spine.
"Cloverheart is a lousy swimmer." He heard Redthorn whisper to Kim, not making an attempt of keeping his voice down just to aggravate him. "Whenever he gets in the water, even if it's shallow, he would start flailing around like crazy!" The false information earned a giggle out of Kim, and Cloverheart gritted his teeth in a flash of annoyance. I'll show him!
Losing all traces of fear, Cloverheart felt a surge of courage course through him. Without hesitation, Cloverheart launched himself forward and slipped into the water. His paws kicked out the stones from the bottom of the river, propelling him forward as he did his best in keeping his head above water.
I'm doing it! He thought with surprised delight. Cloverheart risked a glance behind, pleased to see that Kim was impressed, while Redthorn looked less than thrilled.
Batting his paws in the water, Cloverheart stirred himself in a wide circle and made his way back around. He shot a quick look over his shoulder to make sure no RiverClan warriors were watching or present. It would be hard to explain the situation to a RiverClan patrol if they were found there.
Stepping onto the pebbly shore, Cloverheart shook his pelt to dry himself. He shot a smug look toward Redthorn; silently challenging him to do better.
"Cute. But I can swim a lot farther than that." Redthorn scoffed, flicking his tail dismissively. "And for longer too." He approached the shore and crouched, ready to spring into the water. However, Cloverheart wasn't about to give him the chance to show off and risk losing Kim to the arrogant red-tabby.
Just as Redthorn braced himself to dive into the river, Cloverheart came up behind him and gave his rump a hard shove. Losing his footing, Redthorn staggered forward and slipped into the water where he slammed the side of his head against a rock, knocking him out before disappearing beneath the water.
"Ops! Clumsy me." Biting down his tongue, Cloverheart stifled the laugh bubbling in his throat.
"Redthorn!"
Kim pushed past him, catching Cloverheart by surprise. He watched in bewilderment as Kim launched herself into the river, paddled through the strong current with churning paws to grab a hold of Redthorn's scruff, and began to haul him back to shore. Cloverheart could hardly believe that such a slender cat like Kim could swim with such a weight holding her down.
With a great amount of strength, Kim heaved Redthorn's soaking and motionless body out of the water and dragged him to the safety of the riverbank.
A prickle of worry for his friend's wellbeing nagged at Cloverheart, followed by guilt for his own actions. But that was quickly shoved aside when Kim bent over Redthorn's body to check his breathing, and relief flashed in her eyes when she noticed the slick red flank rise and fall.
Redthorn coughed and spat out a mouthful of river water.
"Redthorn!" Kim meowed urgently.
"I'm okay." Wheeze Redthorn. His mew was breathless but reassuring.
Kim quickly dried herself and sat down, her sides heaving as she got her breath back. Water streamed from her glossy golden fur.
Redthorn craned his head to look up at her. "Thanks."
"That was a pretty bad hit. Are you hurt?" Kim gently touched the side of his head with her muzzle, checking him for bruises.
"It was nothing. I'm fine really." Redthorn reassured, his gaze solely focused on her. He leaned closer to Kim, appreciating the warmth radiating off of her despite the both of them being soaked.
Ignored by two of them, Cloverheart watched the scene unfold before him with seething jealousy. So much for being the best swimmer!
(Time skip)
Redthorn crept forward and peered around a young oak. Kim was crouching beneath a tangle of brambles, well-disguised among its shadows. Redthorn could just see her tail moving as it twitched from side to side.
After witnessing Fallowflight's litter become apprentices early that morning, Redthorn left the camp in a hurry and came by the Twolegplace to visit Kim. They chatted for a while, before Kim requested he'd teach her how to hunt. Of course, Redthorn was more than happy to mentor her. Now he watched Kim put everything she learned into practice.
Kim had her eyes fixed on a wood mouse that was scrambling around the roots of a tree. She was taking her time. Good. Thought Redthorn. He watched Kim draw herself forward, one step at a time. The leaves beneath her paws hardly made a sound. She was as quiet as the mouse itself, which continued to hunt for food, suspecting nothing. Redthorn watched breathlessly, remembering his own first hunting mission.
Kim closed in. The soft rustle of her paws on leaves melted into the background sounds of the forest. Redthorn found himself willing her on. Kim was only a rabbit-length away from the mouse now, her body pressed flat against the forest floor. The mouse scampered onto a root and looked around. It froze. Something was wrong.
Now! Thought Redthorn. Kim sprang and landed on the mouse, grasping it in her front paws. The mouse didn't have time to struggle. It was over in a single bite.
Kim raised her head, the mouse dangling from her jaws. "I did it! I caught a mouse!" Her blue eyes glowed with joy. Redthorn saw the satisfied expression on Kim's face as she breathed the scent of her fresh-kill.
"That was great catch, Kim!" Redthorn praised with a purr. "You're a quick learner. With a bit more practice you could turn out to be a fine hunter."
"You think so?" Kim approached him, carrying the mouse with her. Side by side, they returned to the Twolegplace border and jumped on top of the fence. "I admit, hunting was exhilarating! I certainly wouldn't mind practice some more."
Redthorn perked up. "Are you considering leaving your Twolegs?" His heart soared at the thought.
Kim's eyes widened with surprise. "I love them too much to leave them, and they would be so upset if I did." She protested. Redthorn narrowed his eyes. He'll never understand the kittypet's loyalty to her Twolegs. Kim went on. "I am happy with the life that I live. It may not be as glorious or adventurous as yours, but I like where i am."
"If you say so." Redthorn's ears flicked. He tried not to let disappointment seep into his voice.
"But thank you for teaching me how to hunt." Kim meowed, stepping closer to him. "I hope I can impress my companion when she returns. It's a useful skill to have, even if I am a kittypet." She leaned in and gave his cheek a swift lick.
Redthorn purred hoarsely, unable to contain his glee. His face heated up, the fur along his spine stood on end, and his whiskers quivered with barely restrained excitement.
In the undergrowth, Cloverheart was hidden from sight and watched them with searing hot jealousy. But as soon as he saw Kim affectionately lick Redthorn's cheek, he erupted. His rage took hold of him, and Cloverheart burst out from the clump of ferns and charged at Redthorn with bristling fur.
"You mangy piece of fox-dung!" He yowled, leaping with outstretched forepaws.
Redthorn did not get time to react before he was thrown off the fence by a powerful force colliding against him. Cloverheart and Redthorn fell into the garden, on the other side of the fence. Upon landing they immediately leapt to their paws and unsheathed their claws; both ready to fight.
Redthorn's gray eyes glowed as though victory was already his.
Cloverheart circled Redthorn. Redthorn folded his ears flat and let out a hiss. He reared and slammed his paws down on Cloverheart's spine. Cloverheart rolled over with a low growl, heaving the red-tabby to the ground. Wrestling him close, he sank his teeth into Redthorn's shoulders. Redthorn screeched and struggled free, turning like a snake and darting forward. Cloverheart sprang on to his paws. Redthorn snapped at his forelegs. Cloverheart reared up, batting him away, but Redthorn caught a glimpse of his soft, white belly. He lunged, claws swiping. Cloverheart shrieked and fell back, and landed with a grunt.
Redthorn lunged again, but Cloverheart was on his paws and rearing to meet the red-tabby. In a flurry of claws they slashed at each other. Blood sprayed the grass. Shrieks filled the air and sent a flight of starlings fluttering up in the air.
Kim hopped down onto the grass and watched the two toms battle helplessly. They were shredding each other apart, and for what? A chance to impress her? Kim rolled her eyes with a flash of irritation. Do they really think she'll choose either of them? She already told them time and time again that she has a companion already! Not to mention of her lack of interest in toms in general.
Kim's ears twitched as the sound of a soft, familiar mew echo above her. She looked up and froze. Standing on top of the wooden fence, a white she-cat with short stubby tail and green eyes stared back at her. Her fur is matted and dirty, her ears had nicks and cuts, and she carried a large trout in her jaws.
Kim felt a shiver of anticipation ripple through her at the sight of her companion. "Katya!"
The rogue she-cat hopped down onto the grass neatly on her paws. Kim rushed forward to meet her, burying her muzzle in Katya's white pelt longingly. Katya nuzzled her back with closed eyes, breathing in each other's scent.
Kim pulled back. "Where have you been?" Her blue eyes glimmered with a mixture of worry and relief as they skimmed over Katya's form. "I was worried sick when you didn't show up to see me like you usually did, and-" Kim's breath hitched. "Oh Katya! What happened to your beautiful ears?"
Katya bent her head forward and gently touched Kim's nose with hers. "Kim, I'm fine. I'm so sorry for making you worry." She meowed deeply apologetically. "I went to fetch a trout for you from that mean old Twoleg, when he spotted me and started to give chase!" She paused with an indignant huff. "That greedy old Twoleg! He had more fish than anyone could eat, and he wouldn't let me take one measly little trout!"
"Well, this trout is anything but little." Kim observed teasingly, prodding the rather large fish with one paw.
Katya ducked her head, as if embarrassed. "I got lost by accident. I didn't see where I was heading during the chase and I ended up in a place I've never been before." She admitted. "I wandered around aimlessly to try and find my way back to you. I bumped heads with a bunch of other rogues who wanted to take my trout, but I showed them!" She flexed her claws, her green eyes shone triumphantly. Katya paused, her expression softening. "I am really sorry for taking so long, Kim. I had all the intention of coming to see you later that day; Moonhigh at most!"
With the tip of her tail, Kim traced Katya's spine in a soothing motion. "It's alright. I understand." She murmured, her gaze cast downwards. "I just- I was afraid you found someone else and didn't want to see me anymore."
Katya purred. "Leave you? Never. No one out there could possibly match your wit and kindness." She vowed. Her voice held a serious conviction to her words. Katya rubbed her muzzle along Kim's jaw and she lifted her chin happily. Then Kim stood on tiptoe and wound her slender body around hers in an embrace.
Redthorn was on his hind paws now, striking out fiercely, one swipe after another, driving Cloverheart back. His face welled with blood that ran into his eyes.
Redthorn drove forward, forcing Cloverheart toward the edge of the garden. Then Cloverheart struck back. With a yowl he plunged forward, rearing up at the last moment and meeting Redthorn head on. He sank his teeth into Redthorn's shoulder and pushed him down, his wide shoulders rippling. Redthorn squirmed beneath him, shrieking, but he couldn't fight free. Cloverheart pressed his paws to the red-tabby's throat, pinning Redthorn to the ground as though he were a mouse.
A loud purr snapped both toms out of their stupor. They looked up and their eyes widened in surprise at the scene presented before them.
Kim's golden-tabby shape wound around the white she-cat, as they pressed close to one another and nuzzled. Kim purred loudly as Katya pressed her muzzle against her cheek and gave her a lick.
Incredibly confused and bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Cloverheart stepped back and allowed Redthorn to scramble to his paws; both warriors bearing the wounds they've inflicted upon each other during the tussle.
After a couple of heartbeats of silence, Cloverheart was the one who broke the tension. "When Kim mentioned having a companion," he began, putting the pieces together. "Do you reckon she meant her mate?"
Feeling his heart break inside his chest, Redthorn nodded stiffly. "I guess that's the case." He gulped. "That must be the kittypet term for mate."
Embarrassed, out of place, and sensing they were interrupting a private moment in the reunion of the two she-cats, Cloverheart and Redthorn leaped over the fence and returned to the woods. The Twolegplace disappeared from view as they trekked their way back to camp.
(Time skip)
"Ouch!"
"Hold still!"
"But it stings." Redthorn retorted crossly, lashing his tail as he observed Gingerpelt treat the wounds along his shoulders, and back. "And smells pretty awful, too." He added.
Gingerpelt spat out the poultice he prepared onto his paw. "Well, perhaps if you and Cloverheart weren't mouse-brained enough to challenge a badger on your own, you wouldn't need the stinky poultice in the first place." He argued, applying the poultice on a nasty gash on the red-tabby's side.
"It can't be helped, Gingerpelt." Acornshell looked up from where she was treating Cloverheart, and meowed knowingly. "Warriors have the same mouse-brained sense as new-borns at times. They always think they know better than any cat."
Cloverheart slumped at her words, but kept his mouth shut. Returning to camp littered with bruises after their humiliating and pointless fight, they had to explain to their Clanmates what had happened. Of course, they couldn't just tell them the truth; that they were attempting to court a kittypet who turns out already has a mate. So they made up a story about encountering a badger near Twolegplace, and got wounded as a result. They got scolded for their foolishness nonetheless, but it was a far better outcome than if it had been the truth.
When both medicine cats were done treating them, and resumed with their usual tasks, Cloverheart turned to Redthorn. For the first time since their rivalry begun, he saw the red-tabby as a valuable Clanmate and a close friend. His heart twisted with guilt for his own actions.
"We messed up big time, huh?" Cloverheart meowed quietly. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Acornshell wasn't eavesdropping on their conversation.
Redthorn chuckled dryly. "Guess we did." He paused, his gaze drooping to his paws. "How could we let some random infatuation with a kittypet drive us apart like that? Maybe Acornshell has got a point. We do have the sense of new-borns."
Cloverheart ducked his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry for the way I acted, Redthorn."
"It's not your fault." Redthorn rebuked with a low sigh. "I was just as much of a stubborn jerk as you, and we both broke the Warrior Code for meeting with Kim behind the Clan's back."
"Yeah, but I broke the promise first." Cloverheart pointed out. "If I hadn't, especially after I insisted on it so much, we wouldn't have gotten into this mess."
"It wouldn't have mattered, to be completely honest." Redthorn admitted with a shake of his head. "I don't think either of us was willing to let go of Kim so easily at the time; promise or no promise. Still, I am sorry for acting the way I did."
With a small smile, Cloverheart stretched out his head to touch Redthorn's shoulder with the tip of his muzzle. "Let's agree to not let something similar drive us apart again in the future, okay?"
"Sounds good to me."
Confined in the medicine den until their injuries were healed, Cloverheart and Redthorn slept soundly that night; side by side, and their friendship restored.
Meanwhile, Kim and Katya watched the glimmering stars and the rise of the crescent moon in the night sky together. Kim's long, bushy tail wrapped around Katya. The white rogue pressed closer to her side. They are perched on top of the wooden fence, and in the comfort of the Twoleg garden, they stood in silence.