Chapter 27: FearClan

Frost lined the grass and reeds in the early dawn as the reddish-brown she-cat pushed her way through the undergrowth. Close behind her was the long furred brown tabby, the one who was a servant for the kits. Soon, the frost would melt and the warm leaf-fall sun will decide it's finicky fate. She parted her jaws to taste the air, seeking for something they could bring back.

Her mind trailed back, every event she could recall. The trickle of the river had always been her calling. Without thinking twice, she lead the way to the river. It had been moons since she had visited it. The very same place that her heart throbbed with each beat.

Her amber eyes bright as she paused to take in the familiar clean scent of the river. She could pick up traces of water voles and shrews that had stopped by for a drink. This was a place she could remember, vaguely. A place where a russet-colored she-cat took her when she was able to walk and talk. A place that they went to when she was older, around the time BushClan pushed them from the ravaged moors.

She blinked, looking to Hawk who twitched her whiskers in awe. Softly, Lion mewed. "This is the river I was born beside many moons ago. My mother took me further inland when the streams we hid among overflowed into a marsh-like place. So, we hid among the willow."

"So, this was your home?" Hawk inquired.

The reddish-brown she-cat nodded, "Of course. I always loved the river. It lulled me to sleep for moons. We moved up onto where BushClan now resides, but we were pushed out. My mother was upset and tried to reclaim the land here. She lost, but in return of allowing her to live, Cedar allowed us to join and stay. My mother agreed and promised that our support would be hers."

"Who was your mother?" Hawk asked, tilting her head curiously. "What kind of cat was she?"

"A brave cat." Lion murmured, memories dripping into her mind. Each ripple a fresh wave of pain. "A cat who fought to the death many times until she fell. Her hesitation is what killed her. She could have ended our suffering, our pains. Yet, she failed Cedar and thus was punished severely."

Hawk was silent, looking passed her, pale green eyes blank and empty. Her tail twitched, almost as though she was trying to imagine what had happened. Lion didn't try to stop her. No one was allowed to speak of her mother's punishment. Her mother's weak heart. A betrayal that ran so deep that she even felt it. Bushstar stole their home twice and still her mother allowed him to live.

However, Lion still didn't know why her mother let Bushstar live. The orders were to kill, but she disobeyed and it costed her life. Cedar never let her paws get dirty, but that day still made the fur on her back rise. Her anger, her pain; all over again it swamped her. The babbling of the river wasn't enough as she looked to it. Was there something more that she did not know?

"Must have been awful." Hawk finally meowed, padding up to the river bank for a drink.

Lion shook out her fur, reminding herself that they were here to hunt. "It's the past."

"It still hurts, does it not?" Hawk mewed, her green eyes watching her.

"Even if it does, it won't fill any bellies." Lion reminded her with a flick of her tail. "I'll show you where we can hunt water voles, if we are lucky we can catch a few for the kits to eat."

"Right." Hawk mewed, sounding distracted.

Lion turned her attention to the she-cat and growled, "You need to focus on the scents. The river is a bit loud, so you need all your senses to keep safe."

"Of course. Sorry." The dark brown tabby yelped, hurrying to catch up.

Lion snorted, half in amusement. "Such a strange cat you turned out to be."

"You say that, but you opened up to me." Hawk pointed out cheerfully in a soft mew.

"Only because you're an outsider, now hush. We need to keep it down to hunt prey."

Hawk nodded, following her lead. Feeling more at ease, Lion led the way on swift and soft paws. Her jaws were parted to find any trace of prey. To please Heather they had to become excellent hunters. Especially since Hawk and her were the most unpopular compared to Dusk and her growing confidence around the kits.

The timid dusky brown she-cat had proved herself to be the perfect kit-watcher. She was firm, but gentle as though she was their own mother. However, she felt uneasy about the first born kit, Willow. He looked like he was going to be a handsome tom when fully grown. She was afraid he would end up as ruthless and bloodthirsty as Cedar had been in life.

Despite her worries, she had to hurry. If they catch enough prey they could use Hawk as a distraction. The brown tabby had been adamant on gathering plants, herbs, for the kits. So, Lion could bring it in if Hawk deposits the prey into the prey-pile. To prepare for the coming leafbare, Lion would have to sneak into her den and stash it in there to help the kits should they catch a sickness of some sort. Not to mention to be fast in hunting just to try and keep up with the changing orders of Heather and Shadow.

.

It was sun-high when Lion crept back into camp. Hawk dropping shrews, minnows, and even a starling that had been tempted by the river for a dip. Lion carefully made her way to her den, hiding the herbs in Hawk's nest to protect it from being detected. Although, their sharp scents would let every cat know anyway. She shook her fur out, slipping back out with some removed pieces of moss from their nests.

The dry, musty bits were her excuse. The only way they could keep bringing herbs in. She disposed of it by the time Hawk padded up to check on her. So far, nobody had noticed. Yet, she knew that it wouldn't take long until someone noticed and told someone.

"So when should we go?" Hawk mewed casually.

Lion blinked, lost before remembering their previous plans. "Oh, I think we can get new moss for the nests tomorrow after hunting. Maybe do night hunting at half-moon."

Hawk nodded, "I hope Shadow and Heather would let us. With the cold season approaching we could use some extra prey to fatten up the kits and other cats."

"It'll be good for our reputation, I'm sure. I'll try to ask right now, you go check the nests to make sure I didn't leave anything too dry behind."

"Okay." Hawk dipped her head before padding off.

Lion sighed softly, looking ahead once more and padded to the willow den. Heather was sitting outside of it with Dusk, Willow was between them while his siblings played. His eyes were full of longing, making the reddish-brown she-cat feel some sympathy for him. She didn't have siblings to play with, but he did and he wasn't allowed to play.

Heather paused her lesson when she noticed Lion and flicked her tail. "Willow, you can go play now."

"Finally!" Willow squeaked, rushing to join his brothers and sisters.

"Lion, what do you want?" she growled.

She dipped her head respectfully. "Pleasure to see you too, Heather." she grumbled before answering her. "I wanted to ask if it was alright that I look for moss with Hawk tomorrow after hunting. We're preparing to gather bedding so everyone has a fresh nest to sleep in. Perhaps we can make nests for everyone, if you so desire."

Heather blinked, seeming to be satisfied with her suggestion. "Go right on ahead, I expect that you will make up for the lack of hunting you two will be doing."

"Of course, we know we will be done in a day's time, but we do plan to try night hunting on the half-moon to make up for our half day's worth of hunting. Of course, with your permission."

The creamy brown she-cat blinked slowly, almost as though she was considering what was being said to her. "In a moon you can do that."

"A moon?" Lion mewed, surprised.

"We need every cat here until the kits are two moons old. I mean, when did you start hunting for yourself?" Heather asked, though it seemed to be a genuine question.

"My mother taught me when I was around three moons." Lion explained slowly, feeling a bit nervous, "It was mostly bugs and prey she stunned."

"And what would Hawk recall of her clan days? You two do talk with one another a lot." Her eyes narrowed.

Lion felt her skin prickle, but shook it off. "Well, she says that clan-cats train around six moons, but she isn't sure on why exactly."

"So, if we were to start training them to hunt at three moons the way your mother had, then by the time they are six moons they will be excellent hunters." Heather concluded.

"I suppose." Lion relented, unsure, but not wanting to speak against her leader.

Heather looked to Dusk and told her, "They will be two moons next full moons. So you have to speak with every cat and see who would be up for the challenge to bring stunned prey for them to practice on. Once their five moons we will decide who they will shadow and let them practice that way before letting them do hunting on their own."

Dusk nodded, "Alright, but don't expect too much of them, they're still only kits."

"They are Cedar's kits." Heather reminded her, "If she was able to lead us well, so will Willow."

Lion slowly stepped away, looking to the silver tabby who had a white belly and chest. He looked like any other kit to her. However, she already knew. He wouldn't survive for much longer. With Heather obsessed about him taking her place, there was no doubt that he might end up far worse by being taught that way.

Silently, she padded back to her den, Hawk sorting the herbs to be nice and neat when she slipped in. Hawk asked her the obvious coded words, so she answered bleakly. They shared a look, but Lion was no longer in a cheerful mood. There had to be something they could do to save the kits from being trained into bloodthirsty cats.