1-22-20 11:22 PM
The patrol of five was walking down the ShadowClan bordered when they heard the yowls. At first it sounded like a small border fight, but then more voices added on. And the screeches said differently as they raced up the trail. Firemoon was in lead when he saw the cats, fighting with tooth and claw.
Behind him he heard Sunfall gasp. The large deputy leaping into battle, his golden pelt disappering into the crowd. Patchpelt also joined the fight, pushing past Firemoon and leaping onto a skinny tabby.
"Well, don't just stand there!" Thistleclaw spat, his own claws lashing out at the ginger tom.
Ducking past the angry warrior he pounced forward. He assumed that it was the cats whom smelled like crowfood that they were fighting, not the ShadowClan warriors. And as he was giving a harsh bit to one of the rogue's shoulders he spotted Dappletail being pinned by a larger cat.
"Hang on!" Tossing the cat he was fighting Firemoon rushed forward. Just in time to stop the rogue from delivering a killing bite. Crashing into the large tom, Firemoon clawed at the cat's ears. Feeling sticky goo between his claws and toes.
Dappletail stood her ground, tail lashing with a bitter look in her eyes. "Thanks," she gasped, turning to him once the rogue left.
He merely nodded. Ears pinned back as pain raced up his leg. Twisting he faced a tortoiseshell she-cat, her yellow orbs narrowed with a look of hatred. "Clanner!" She spat, lashing out at his face.
Firemoon bared his teeth into a snarl. Tail lashing as he leaped forward, claws digging into her shoulder. He felt paws kick into his belly as his teeth sanked into her scruff. The rogue yowled, leaping up and racing off.
"That was the last of them!" Yowled a ShadowClan cat.
Searching the group of cats he saw only three ShadowClan warriors and one apprentice. Small patrol, was probably ambushed by those rogues. He lashed his tail, wincing as he felt blood trickle down his face.
"Are you okay?" Glancing to the side he saw a dark gray-and-white she-cat. "You should get your medicine cat to check that out. Could turn nasty,"
He dipped his head to the she-cat. She had ShadowClan scent on her, and he recognized her as Hollyflower from the Gathering. "I will, thank you." He meowed.
Looking back up he spotted Sunfall and a gray tomcat talking. Walking up to them he nodded to the ShadowClan deputy. "Who where they?" He asked, his gaze lingering over to Sunfall.
"They were just a group of rogues. They've been hunting near our territory, and leaving prey everywhere." The ShadowClan deputy hissed, his ears flicking back.
Sunfall nodded softly. "We've seen the same thing. Good to know that it's not your Clanmates hunting on ThunderClan territory," the golden tomcat meowed, earning a glare from Stonetooth.
"We wouldn't hunt on your land, Sunfall," the gray tom mewed, "we thank you for the help. Now we must go, see you at the next Gathering."
The patrol of ShadowClan cats slipped off into the forest. Leaving Firemoon's patrol to gathering up and go home. On the way they stopped to pick up the little prey they did hunted. Upon coming into camp Featherwhisker rushed up with herbs in his jaws. "What happened?" The gray tabby asked, setting down the strong-smelling plants.
"Rogues," hissed Dappletail. She had a bad bite on her shoulder, and a few more minor scratches. "Apparently they have been hunting on both ThunderClan and ShadowClan territory."
There was a look in Featherwhisker's eyes that made Firemoon freeze. It was a flash of fear, his amber eyes narrowing. "Rogues?" He asked, clearing his throat as he rubbed crushed herbs into Dappletail's wound.
The she-cat nodded. "Yeah, they didn't seem to be weak either," she added flinching as Featherwhisker smoothed herbs onto a cut on her nose.
Featherwhisker raised to his paws. "I'll be sure to take that in when treating the wounds. Now go and rest, be sure not to move your shoulder to much, alright Dappletail?" When the she-cat walked away, he turned to Firemoon.
The ginger warrior stood still as herbs was rubbed onto a large cut on his foreleg. "Stop moving," the medicine cat hissed, his eyes flickering up to Firemoon.
"I'm not trying to move," he replied back, lifting a paw and inspecting the beech-leaf wrapping around it.
He glanced up to see Bluefur rushing towards them. "What happened?" She demanded, her tail lashing and bristled.
The ginger tabby leaned forward, giving her head a brisk lick. "Don't worry about it, Bluefur, just a quick skirmish with some rogues." The warrior blinked down at Featherwhisker, the medicine cat standing up.
"You're all done. Eat and get some rest now, that cut on your leg could get bad if it re-opens," the gray tabby ordered, his amber gaze narrowing onto Firemoon.
"What? I'll rest!" Firemoon grumbled as he got to his paws. His mate helped him into their nest, curling up to his side as the wounded warriors went to their nest.
...
Bluefur awoke to the sound of yowling. Blinking open her blue orbs she glanced outside, seeing flashes of fur. What's going on? Careful not to wake Firemoon she climbed out their nest. Paddling outside to see Snowfur chasing after a tiny furball of gray.
Dropping into a hunter's crouch Bluefur got ready to pounce. Leaping out and carefully catching the kitten in her jaws, making sure not to roll onto it. "Hey!" Tornkit wiggled in her grasp, his yellow eyes narrowing as he glared up at her.
Snowfur trotted over to them with a stern look on her face. "Tornkit! What did I say about going outside of camp?" She mewed, cuffing him over the ears.
Tornkit merely slipped out of Bluefur's hold. His tail high as he raced to tackle down one of his littermates. The white queen sighed heavily, licking down her chest fur. "Thanks for the help, Bluefur, I didn't think kittens would be this much trouble!"
Bluefur chuckled. "It seems that Tornkit is causing the trouble, Snowfur, he'll be a pawful," the blue-gray warrior paused, "how is Shadekit and Doekit? Their not causing trouble, are they?"
Her sister shook her head. "No, actually I think Shadekit is a little shy. He's staying awfully close to me or the nest. Maybe you should try getting close to those two, you're the one who found them."
Taking a second to think she glanced over at Snowfur. The white she-cat was watching her kits with a look of love, her icy gaze never leaving them with a faint smile on her maw. "But aren't you happy taking care of them?" Bluefur asked, worry suddenly making her stomach go into a knot.
"Of course I am, Bluefur, but I don't think they see me as their mother. I was just think maybe since you and Firemook don't have kits yet.." Her sister started to kneed the ground, her ears flicking back uncomfortably.
Bluefur sighed inwardly. "Go on, Snowfur," she pressed, her eyes trained onto her sister.
The young queen shook her head. "Look, just try to get close with them. Maybe they'll warm up to you. Anyways, Firemoon already acts like their father. He plays with them, gives them little toys and treats."
"So? He plays with all the kits, doesn't mean fox dung!" The warrior lashed her tail, getting to her paws. "But I'll try, as long as you keep them under your watch. They need someone to nurse them and stay in a warm nest at night," that was her biggest worry. What it Snowfur was trying to let Bluefur be the 'mother' of these kittens so she didn't have to take care of them?
Purring, Snowfur nodded happily. "Okay, it's a deal then," she meowed, just as Firemoon padded up to them.
The ginger tomcat dipped his head to the two sisters. "How is everything?" He asked, his gaze traveling to where the kits played.
Snowfur smiled, giving her a sideways glance. "Oh, nothing, but I should be going.." Getting to her paws the white pelted queen trotted away.
Flicking an ear he blinked at Bluefur. "What was that about?" He asked with a slight chuckle.
Shaking her head Bluefur sighed. "Just Snowfur being..well Snowfur, " Bluefur paused, her gaze fixing onto her paws.
Firemoon nudged her shoulder, his emerald gaze filled with worry. "Is everything okay, Bluefur?" He asked softly, touching his nose to her cheek.
"Do you think we'll ever have kits?" Bluefur blurted out before quicking fixing her eyes onto her paws, stealing a glance at her shocked mate.
Firemoon had a calmer expression than she thought he would think. His green orbs wide, yet soft. "Of course, Bluefur," he murmured softly, "but we have Shadekit and Doekit to think about right now. Even if they aren't ours, we still have a duty to them."
She sighed. "I know," but now a burden seemed to be off her shoulders. They did have the two kittens, even if they weren't by blood, they were theres. "And Snowfur agrees with that too." She added outloud.