OMSC! I haven't updated in like two weeks! I appolagize a million times overs. I was camping with some friends and I'm busy. (Insert other lame excuses here) Anyway, time for another freak out. OMFSC! (Oh my freaking StarClan) 501 REVIEWS! Thank you, thank you, thank you all so many times! :) I was going to make this chapter extra long for y'all, but sadly I have been feeling strangely uninspired for this story lately. :\ Sorry y'all. But I promise I will be trying to destroy this writers' block! Now onto the thanks. :)
PharaohSilver: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! :)
WhiteWinterStar: Yay! I mean, I don't want people to cry, but I'm glad the scene was good. :) I love LionxCinder. Haha I have not idea why... And haven't I already made this clear? I don't care that cats can't cry! Lol my story, so deal with it. ^-^ (Sorry if I sound mean; I'm not trying to!)
oOHawkpathOo: More crying! Aw... sorry, but I'm glad. Lol, does that make sense? I hope so... Haha. Me: Shhh Breezepelt. You can't talk. Just wait till the sequel. *hint hint*
xXJayfeatherXx: Haha thanks. Short and to the point. Lol
Hawkholly: Thank you! :) Lol I hate that pairing too! But my answer (offically and all) is at the bottom! XD
Ravenfur: Personally, I do think he should be single. But I'm a fangirl. Therefore I am required to have a favorite pairing of him. Lol xD Jk, but I like him as a single grumpy cat. And I totally forgot about Half Moon! But for some reason I don't really care for her thank much... Idk why, I just don't. Lol whatever.
fireblaze45: Lol from the stories I've read they do seem cute together. But I ship CinderxLion more... Lol And really? Thank you! :)
Flamebranch01 (x2): 1. Cool. 2. Lol course they do. They're VAMPIRES. Haha xD
Pale-eye: Lol okay. To each their own as I always say. I'm serious, I say that all the time. xD Haha I DON'T KNOW! Lol and RIGHT! I just want Key to be 'sassy'. Lol but as you can see I am clearly failing. I'M SORRY BROKENJAY! *Sobs* Haha... sorry... I'm crazy...
Snowheart: Lol thanks and sorry for taking FOREVER to update! D:
Blossom the Cellist: Lol... OMSC that's so many mistakes... Ugh... I think I'm going to go fix those. (And I'm not kidding! Lol) ? the bottom. :3 AND I KNOW! I think Squirrelflight is IGNORANT! I did not say stupid, I said IGNORANT! I don't think Squirrel is stupid. And okay! Hope your power didn't go out! :)
Guest: Me too! Haha xD And that is a good point... Thanks and yea, probably...
Leopardheart: Lol Berrynose kind of annoys me too... AND ME TOO! WHY ERIN HUNTER, WHY? ^-^
Snowheart: She ate posion. :)
Bluefire: Why Bumblestripe of course! Lol I ship BumblexDove and TigerxDove, but for this story it's only BumblexDove. :)
Warriorcatsrock: Yes! I have two Roblox accounts. My main one is tomboy135. Lol I made it a long time ago. Don't judge the lameness. ^-^ Your question shall be answered if you read the bottom. Lol
Jayfeatherisawesome1712: Ik! :( And i don't know... I think Jayfeather would be horrified by try to comfort Lionblaze. And Hollyleaf's dream? When? What?
Firekirby: Lol it's fine. :) You aren't required to review. Haha. :) And me too! Lol I love that song! (? the bottom) A friends of mine wrote a songfic to it. It's called Safe and Sound. Lol it's by Star of the Moon. :)
Now, onwards!
With renewed energy, the she-cat raced into the forest, not daring to look back.
If she had looked back, she would have seen an orange head with a white star on its forehead peering out the window, watching her leave.
"Good-bye, Dovewing," Spark murmured softly. "I hope you find your friends." Then she ducked back inside and padded into the adult Twolegs room. Exhaustion taking over her body, the she-cat jumped onto the bed and curled up at their feet.
And she too knew she'd made the right choice.
Dovewing followed her friends scent through the trees, not quite running, but not walking.
The scent trail was difficult to follow. It was old and barely there, but using her power she followed it easily
The days lost when she was stuck in the Twoleg den weighed down on her, moving her paws quicker and more urgently.
She only stopped when her stomach wouldn't allow her to keep going. Sighing, she scented the air, this time not looking for cats, but for prey. She could scent a mouse nearby.
Dropping into a hunter's crouch, clumsy from hunger, the grey she-cat tasted the air again.
The mouse was only about a tail-length away, hiding in the brush.
She padded in its direct, her paws barely touching the ground. When she reached the bush she leapt, and grabbing the tiny rodent in her jaw she delivered the killing bit.
The warrior allowed herself a moment of pride, then she bent her head and quickly devoured the little grey creature.
After catching and eating another mouse, Dovewing settled on a comfortable patch of moss and began grooming herself, while silently forming a plan.
She'd lost three days. If she hurried, she could make up for that and reach her friends before they got back to the clan. But that would mean she'd have to travel quickly, only stopping long enough to fill her belly and rest. But she could do it. After all, Jayfeather was injured. The others would have to travel slowly, while she was just one cat. She could go as quickly as she needed. All she needed to do was hurry…
Glad that she had a plan, Dovewing closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
. . .
"So, what are you lot doing out here?" Key asked once they had all filled their bellies.
"We're going home," Hollyleaf explained, giving her paw a lick.
"That really doesn't answer my question," Key pointed out. "Why are you away from your home?" She eyed Jayfeather's leg. "He shouldn't be walking on that."
Jayfeather stiffened slightly, knowing Key was talking about him. "It isn't their fault I'm hurt." He said.
Key narrowed her eyes, and for a moment her electric blue eyes flickered to Lionblaze. "I don't know," She said with a glare. "Maybe it is."
Lionblaze ground his teeth together, determined not to the give the sassy she-cat the satisfaction in knowing that she'd bothered him.
Hollyleaf looked like she was going to say something, when a rustling from behind her made her pause.
"Who's there?" The black she-cat called, standing and unsheathing her claws. Key rolled her eyes.
"Relax. It's only Chi." Just then, a small grey kit bounced out of the brush.
The kit skipped to Key's side, her already big blue eyes wide.
"Who are you?" She asked the group.
"Chi, this is Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Cinderheart," Key said, pointing with her paw to each cat in turn. "I offered them a place to rest and some prey."
"Why?" The kit asked suspiciously.
"Because that one is hurt." Key said quickly, pointing the Jayfeather.
Chi turned to stare at Jayfeather. The tom squirmed uncomfortably under the kit's intense look.
"Don't stare; it's rude." Key scolded. Reluctantly, the kit looked back at the other she-cat. "Are you hungry?" Key asked.
Chi grinned and nodded, bouncing happily as the white she-cat gave her a mouse to eat.
"Thanks!" The kit squeaked before picking up the prey and disappearing into the bushes.
The clearing was silent for a moment, then Key cleared her throat. "Yes. Well. That was Chi. We sort of live together."
"Sort of?" Hollyleaf asked, slightly confused at the other she-cat's choice of words.
"Yes. She doesn't always stay. She comes and goes."
"She's a kit!" Cinderheart said in disbelief. Kits were meant to be protected and kept safe. They shouldn't be allowed to roam around the forest whenever they liked!
Key shrugged. "That's just how it is. Chi can take care of herself."
Hollyleaf and Cinderheart exchanged an exasperated look. What kind of cat lets a kit run around when they could be hurt?
"Drop it," Lionblaze muttered. "It isn't important."
The two she-cats sent Lionblaze a look that clearly said they disagreed, but listened to him and dropped the topic.
"So," Key said after a moment of awkward silence. "Is there anything else you need?"
The group looked at each other, then Lionblaze said, "No, we're fine. Thank you for the prey."
Key shrugged. "It's not a big deal."
"But it is!" Hollyleaf insisted. Cinderheart and Lionblaze nodded in agreement.
Key shrugged again. "You would have caught some if I hadn't come in." She said nonchalantly.
This it me Cinderheart shrugged. "We still appreciate you helping us."
Key waved away the thanks again, and before any of them could argue she said, "Rest. I'll be back in the morning." Then she disappeared into the bushes, in the same direction Chi had left in.
The cats exchanged looks, and slowly they each made a nest for themselves and fell asleep.
Lionblaze was the last to sleep. He stared at the stares for what seemed like forever, wondering if they really should trust Key.
Sighing, he laid his head down on his paws. Where's StarClan when you need them? He thought sadly as he closed his eyes.
. . .
The next morning, Hollyleaf woke before the others.
The first thing she noticed was the scent of prey in the air.
Curious, the raven colored she-cat opened her eyes and sat up, yawning.
"Morning." Key said pleasantly.
Hollyleaf blinked. "Good morning." She answered instinctively. Then she noticed the pile of fresh-kill that lay next to Key. "Did you catch all that?" She asked in surprise.
Key smirked. "What? You don't think a loner can catch this much at once?"
Hollyleaf shook her head. "No, that's not it. It's just... Well to be honest I didn't expect to see you again."
Key rolled her eyes. "Hollyleaf, I fed you guys. I want to make sure my efforts don't go to waste."
"Go to waste?" Hollyleaf asked skeptically. Key nodded.
"I want to make sure you at least get out of my territory. I don't want to find out you got killed right after I spent my time and energy feeding you."
Hollyleaf snorted. "I think we'll be okay. We got this far."
Key glanced at Jayfeather. "Looks like just barely."
"Stop it," Hollyleaf said, stepping into Key's line of vision. The white she-cat blinked. "Listen, you don't know what happened. Just leave it."
"Fine," Said Key, sitting down. "Tell me about it. Why does he look like he's been tortured?"
Hollyleaf glanced at her brother hesitantly. Then she took a deep breath and said, "Because he was."
What Warriors pairing do you hate most? I hate hate hate JayfeatherxStick too. I also hate FernxDust, only because I think it's creepy. I mean, Dustpelt was Ferncloud's MENTOR! IT IS WEIRD! Lol, although I'm weird too... Oh well. I hate it, but I can live with it. Haha :3
If you could be one rank (like kit, leader, warrior, apprentice) for your whole life and never really go up in rank, what would it be? Medicine cat. Lol that's actually what my main OC (Spottedpool. Duh lol) is in a clan I made up forever ago. (MoonClan. Yay! XD)
Favorite pairing? I think... probably FirexSpotted becuase I think they're adorable! lol
What's your favourite song? Forever Unstoppable by Hot Chelle Rae! :)
Honored reviewer:
-Jayfeatherisawesome1712-
because they're the 500th reviewer! Yay!
Okay, sorry for any mistakes, but it is almost one am, I got little to no sleep last night and my mom might come in at any moment and ground me from the computer, so I'm trying to hurry. Okay, I'll see y'all later! :)