Me: *looks over at Greypaw and Ravenpaw laughing at Tigerclaw memes* I don't want to know how they even got onto MeowTube!
Rusty: Don't look at me, I didn't let them into my housefolk's den to the light box thingy they always have cats speaking on!
Me: *shrug* Anyways it's trivia time and I wish a Happy Hunting Festival(Thanksgiving) to the our readers over across the sundrawn place.
Rusty: Yum...turkey~! *has long look while drooling*
Me: Ok then...*coughs* Didja know a cat's nose is like a twoleg's finger print? No two cat's noses are alike.
Rusty: *startles pestering his housefolk for turkey*
Me: Um, on with the show?
Chapter 7
Where I Belong
~.~.~
To say the clan was impressed when they returned was an understatement. Between the three of them Flowingpaw, Ravenpaw, and Greypaw had caught quite the large number of prey to bring back. It had taken at least three trips back and forth to bring it all back. Lionheart had just returned with his patrol with Tigerclaw around the same time.
"My, this quite the haul. Well done you three, very well done!"Lionheart purred in praise. "I hear you've been busy, the store is almost full."
"Uh huh. We've been working hard Lionheart."Flowingpaw beamed proudly.
Lionheart nodded his approval. "Very good. Take that to the store then and take some back with you. You three deserve a feast tonight for your hard work."
"Thank you Lionheart!"the three purred as the deputy went on his way.
Flowingpaw looked up as Tigerclaw stopped in front of them, stoic as ever. "I trust you haven't been neglecting Yellowfang with all this hunting?"
"No, TigerclawShe's well taken care of, I made sure of that."huffed the cinnamon tabby impatiently. She was starving here for goodness sake and want the warrior to leave. The tabby tom simply flicked his tail before leaving the trio alone. Eagerly the young apprentices dropped off their catches before grabbing their choice from the pile. Anxiously Flowingpaw rapidly looked all round her, tail lashing before grabbing a rabbit from the pile. Like the Dark Forest was she gonna let Longtail or that annoying duo snatch her favorite prey from the pile again!
She would damn well have her rabbit!
It was her dinner, HER'S!
With a pleased bounce she carried it to the apprentice den and instantly started digging in, claws sunk into the flesh like a hawk protecting it's lunch. "Where are Sandpaw and Dustpaw?"mewed Ravenpaw as he joined them.
"Probably out on patrol."chirped Greypaw, licking his maw.
"Good, cause if they were here I'd claw their ears off if they so much as touch my food!"growled Flowingpaw, happily knawing at her freshkill.
The two young toms laughed at their friend's antics. Ever since Yellowfang's arrival the she-cat had grown some backbone. Some would say feisty even to the point she was growling at anybody that tried to piss her off by taking her freshkill from her. They had even heard that old ShadowClanner laughing from where she had seen Flowingpaw smack Dustpaw for trying to steal her favorite prey from the pile. Even Bluestar had gotten a chuckle out of it. From then on others were a bit more weary about getting between their friend and her dinner.
"That would be a sight to see. No ears are safe from the ear ripper!"teased Greypaw in good humor.
"Want matching ears with Longtail? I can arrange it."mewled Flowingpaw in playful glint in her eyes.
"No, have mercy on my ears I beg you! They're my best feature!"Greypaw mocking begged as he covered his ears with his paws.
All three laughed before they finished up and washed up from their meal and relaxed. Greypaw's ears perked as he remembered something. "Oh Flowingpaw you won't believe this but Ravenpaw actually managed to impress Tigerclaw!"
"Nooo! Seriously?"gasped Flowingpaw as she locked onto her black furred friend at this juicey information. "What in Silverpelt didja do to manage that, Ravenpaw? Sprout wings and fly?"
Ravenpaw fidgeted bashfully, hot with embarrassment. "I-I caught a crow...but it wasn't exactly a young one."
"Color me surprised. Those birds are easily as big as a warrior!"chirped Flowingpaw in awe.
"But it was huge Ravenpaw! Not even your mentor could find fault in that catch."pointed out Greypaw. "But he has been rather crankier then usual. I think it's been since you became Bluestar's apprentice, Flowingpaw...u-um actually make that since Lionheart became deputy."
"H-he's just anxious with everything's that's been going on...try not to annoy him."muttered Ravenpaw meekly.
Flowingpaw then remembered, "I'll be right back guys."
"Yellowfang?"she swiftly nodded and dashed off.
Quickly she grabbed a piece from the pile and hurried over and dropped them over before the old she-cat was about to voice her complaints. She then hurried off back to the den, plopping into her nest. She was plain exhausted and sleep did not take long to swallow her up.
By morning the forest was drenched and muddy from the rains that had fallen overnight as the clan slept. Flowingpaw sleeked out from the damp ferns, shaking her slightly wet fur. The storm had made it a rather restless night's sleep, but at least she got some. She felt a little cold which caused her to shake her thick pelt again to fluff it out for warmth. Still she supposed she better go check in on her charge. On the way she snatched up a piece from the freshkill pile and went over to find the scarred persian mix just waking up as she set it down.
"Good morning Yellowfang."she greeted.
"Ugh, my bones are killing me. Has it been raining last night, kit?"huffed Yellowfang as she shook her pelt.
Flowingpaw tapped her paw at the nest, frowning at feeling it was soaked right through. "Your nest is soaking wet, that won't do. You sure you don't want to move somewhere else like near the nursery where it's more sheltered?"mewed the apprentice in concern.
"Ha, and be kept up by those whiny kits? I rather get wet!"spat Yellowfang, earning a sigh from the younger she-cat.
"Then at least let me go get you some new bedding. IT can't be comfortable for you sleeping on this."chirped Flowingpaw persistently.
Yellowfang calmly settled back down, eagerly pawing the mouse she brought her to her. "Thank you Flowingpaw."
Flowingpaw was stunned but also happy as she hurried off but stopped to look over her shoulder. "I won't be long."
"Yes, yes now hurry off."Yellowfang motioned for her to hurry off before she started eating.
Flowingpaw's whiskers quivered in amusement at the prickly she-cat before she bounded out towards the camp's tunnel. Almost crashing into the senior queen in the process.
"Easy there, little one. Careful where you're running Flowingpaw."chirped Speckletail.
"Oh, sorry Speckletail. I'm just in a bit of a hurry."mewed Flowingpaw. "You off to see Yellowfang?"
"Hn, what would I want with such an unnatural creature like that!?"huffed the queen crossly. "No, I was looking for you actually. Bluestar wants to see you."
"Bluestar? Alright, I'll head on over. Thank you Speckletail."Flowingpaw swiftly dashed off for her leader's den. She wondered what it was her leader and now mentor wanted this early in the morning. She slowed down to an easy, smooth stride with ease once close enough to the den with the lichen curtain. Politely she walked to it and stayed outside, "I'm here Bluestar. You wanted to see me?"
"Ah, Flowingpaw come on in."Flowingpaw calmly entered at the invitation.
Bluestar motioned for her to come sit down by her, which she dare not decline and was quick to make herself comfortable. "So how is Yellowfang today?"she mewed, touching her nose to Flowingpaw's in greeting.
"She's doing a lot better. But her joints are bothering from her nest being wet from the rain last night. So I was on my way out to go fetch more bedding for her."chirped Flowingpaw calmly.
Bluestar casually gave her fur a few quick licks. "I'll see to it that one of the queens takes care of it and Spottedleaf give her something for her old bones." the blue-grey leader locked her wise gaze on her apprentice with the greatest of care. "She fit enough to hunt for herself?"
"Hm, I don't think she's quite there yet, Bluestar. But she's defiantly doing a lot better and can walk now."she mewed.
"I see."Bluestar had a thoughtful look to her as she tucked her paws under her chest. "It's time you got back to training. But you'll need to work extra hard, Flowingpaw to make up for the time you lost."
Flowingpaw's eyes lit up joyful surprise as she jumped to her paws, much to the leader's amusement. "Really!?"
"Yes, really. You'll be joining Tigerclaw, Greypaw, and Ravenpaw this morning for a warrior's assessment."the leader informed.
"Warrior assessment?"Flowingpaw tilted her head in confusion.
"It's when we test our apprentices to see how they've progressed in their training. Now run along and don't you threat about Yellowfang. I'll be sure she's taken care of."purred Bluestar.
Flowingpaw eagerly nodded and hurried off with a bounce in her step as she broke into a gallop towards where she spotted her two friends. "Guys!"
"Hm? Oh Flowingpaw morning!"greeted Greypaw.
"W-where you just in Bluestar's den?"mewed Ravenpaw curiosly.
"Uh huh. She said my punishment's over, I get to join you guys for training today!"purred Flowingpaw.
"That great, good to have you back buddy!"chirped Greypaw in delight.
"Bluestar told me we're getting assessed today by Tigerclaw. Those sticks in the mud joining us?"wondered Flowingpaw, earning a head shake from her friends.
"Sandpaw and Dustpaw went off on patrol with their mentors. If I had to guess, he's probably gonna look at them later."shrugged Greypaw.
"We should get going."Ravenpaw stopped pacing long enough to hurry out of the tunnel.
"Fine with me, a little excerice should warm me up."Greypaw swiftly followed after with Flowingpaw right on his heels.
Quickly they made haste for the sandy hollow where the dark brown tabby was waiting for them with an impatient flick of his scruffy tail. "Hn, about time."
"Sorry, my fault. Bluestar wanted to talk with me before we came."she quickly chirped.
Tigerclaw didn't look impressed honestly as he went on to explain their task for today's test. They were to go hunting on their own as they usually would but only this time he would be watching to see how their skills had progressed as hunters and huntress. "...Ravnpaw you'll take the path that goes from the Great Sycamore through Snakerocks. That should be easy enough for your pitiful skills."Ravenpaw practically looked like he'd seen a ghost at this. "Greypaw, you'll take the route along the stream as far as the thunderpath."
"Oh yippy, wet paws for me."grumbled Greypaw sarcastically, earning a silencing lgare from the tabby.
"And finally you, Flowingpaw. What a shame your great mentor can't join us today to witness your performance herself."meowed Tigerclaw earning curious gleam in her eyes. Was that mockery in his tone just now by chance? How odd. "You'll take the route from Tallpines to the woods beyond treecut place."
The trio swiftly began to leave as the warrior's voice reached all their ears, "And remember I'll be watching you all."
"I feel worried Greypaw...aren't adders dangerous? He'll be spending his entire time trying not to get bitten."mewled the tabby anxious.
"He'll be fine. Ravenpaw's tougher then most give him credit for. Meet you back here later?"he mewed.
"Yeah, good luck!"Flowingpaw swiftly bounded off, parting ways for now.
To be honest it felt so odd to be heading towards the boundaries with twolegplace. She wondered vaguely if her old twolegs had been saddened by her choice to leave. It placed some doubts in her as she moved long graceful strides across the pine needle littered forest floor. The moons spent training, the spite and harsh reality of racism her blood faced. She frowned as she scented for potential targets. She perked her ears at finally detecting something. Instinct and training took over as she practically glided across the ground where she spotted a plump magpie. She grinned as she slowly stalked closer soundlessly, effortlessly. The dumb bird hadn't realize the danger it was in until it was too late.
Flowingpaw leaped out and finished the panicking magpie before it could sound the alarm to the entire area. With that she proudly stashed it away in the ground to fetch later. Flowingpaw continued her hunt, catching a mouse and chipmunk along the way. Her doubts still flying about in her little head like a hive of buzzy bees. She had made a few friends in Greypaw, Ravenpaw, the clan's elders, Spottedleaf, Whitestorm, Lionheart, Speckletail, Brindleface, nd her mentor Bluestar. More recently, the clan's prisoner, Yellowfang as well. But despite her front, the words still dug into her like an adder's fangs. She felt angry and bitter and it made her doubt.
Doubt she belonged.
Something that shimmered like morning dew caught her attention as she came across a trail the twolegs often treaded through. She looked over and spotted a ghost of the white cat, her fur like mist as it shined like morning frost. Glowing eyes gazing at her as if seeing something she could not. "You again...who are you?"whispered Flowingpaw as she took a step forward. The ghostly she-cat then bounded off, making Flowingpaw squeak as she hurried in pursuit of her. "Hey where you keep taking me!?"
[My Hero Academia Season 3 OST - Battle of Deku]
The spirit then vanished into mist just as the cinnamon tabby skid to a halt, spotting a thin tabby tail. That defiantly wasn't Tigerclaw's tail. The large tom had long dark brown classic tabby fur. She sniffed and let out a very low hiss, "An intruder? not on my watch."she thought. Swiftly she scurried up a near by tree for a better look and soon spotted the cat had lynx-point markings and a black leather collar. Her ears flattened to her skull as she bared her fangs in the shadows.
The damn tom was scaring the prey away with the way he walked and crunched the twigs! She would not gonna tolerate anyone preventing her clan from feeding tonight, especially the elders and Frostfur's tiny kittens. Silent as an owl and agile as the wind she followed the trespasser from the tree tops, mimicking the way she remembered watching Whitestorm move through the trees on their first meeting. The cat below seemed confused and she could just smell the fear as the kittypet frantically tried to locate the source. Before the siamese tom realized it Flowingpaw pounced from the tree with a furious snarl sending the duo rolling across the floor in a spitting ball of fur and claws. Once she pinned the struggling tom though her ears perked as she took a better notice of the face and scent.
[end ost]
"Ollie?"she chirped.
"D-Don't-huh!?"the kittypet blink and stopped struggling as he looked up with sapphire eyes. "No way, Princess is that you?"
Flowingpaw quickly removed her paw to allow the siamese tom to get up, the two of them crouched to the ground as they caught their breathes. "Yes it's me, but I go by Flowingpaw now."
"Flowingpaw?"Ollie snickered in amusement. "What odd taste in names your housefolk must have."
Flowingpaw pouted as she slapped her kithood friend with her tail. "It's not weird. It's a proper name for a clan apprentice! I have no twolegs just to let you know, I can fend for myself."
"Ok, ok no need to pout and bite my ears off."Ollie sniffed at his old friend curiously. "You sure are thin, though. You sure you're eating alright?"
"I'm doing just fine, thank you. I got a whole forest to hunt in and have no need for twolegs."purred the cinnamon tabby happily.
Ollie tilted his head in confusion at the foriegn word, "Twolegs?"
"It's what the clans call housefolk."Flowingpaw then stepped over and craned out her neck to take in his scent. "No wonder I didn't know it was you, Ollie. You smell different."
"Different?"Ollie took a double take of himself and groomed his chest. "I don't see why I would. You're probably used to those wildcats' scent now."
No that logic didn't make sense to the young ThunderClan apprentice. She had known Ollie since they were a moon old. They had arrived at their twolegs' nests not far apart time wise from each other. Ollie was what kittypets called a pure blood-a show cat. It showed in his features and his mannerisms even now. She circled around him taking in his scent trying to figure out what changed. It smelled medicinal and off to her. Then she remembered something Bluestar had mentioned that night, making her eyes glint in realization.
"Ollie, we grew up together so that isn't it. You went to the cutter didn't you?"she chirped.
"Cutter, what's a cutter?"Poor Ollie looked so confused by these new terminology.
"The cutter is what the clan calls the vet."she mewed, earning an, "Oh" from her friend. The two talked for a little longer before Flowingpaw pointed her old friend in the direction of twolegplace. She swiftly went back to her hunt, her doubts being erased from this encounter. Yes she suffered hardships and prejudices but she had many good experiences that out numbered them. Her paw steps broke into a confident run as determined fire gleamed in her watery green irises. She felt an odd sense of peace, confidence, and satification after running into Ollie.
She was right where she belonged.
Flowingpaw entered the clearing tail first dragging in a plump raven that was as big as her. The dumb bird had been stupid enough to try and go for her mouse only to meet her fangs. She was a bit scratched up but she was beaming with pride as she took it to the center of the hollow. Just as she set it down she saw Tigerclaw coming over to her.
"Hm, seems you're the first one back."he mewed.
"Yeah, but I got a lot more I have to go back out and get. Now if you'll excuse-"Tigerclaw swiftly blocked her path, lips curled back in a low growl.
"I know what you did, I saw everything."hissed Tigerclaw.
Flowingpaw simply stood her ground and glared right back and was about to hiss her own retort in a very Yellowfang like fashion when the bushes rustled. Announcing the arrival of Greypaw with his own catch, a fluffy red squirrel by the tail. He spat it out, letting it drop into the pile. "Bleh! I swear squirrels have too much fur on them!"
"Then don't carry them by the tail, silly furball."teased Flowingpaw playfully.
Tigerclaw simply ignored the grey apprentice's displeased mumbles as the apprentice made a weird face as he spat out more fur. His amber eyes gazing out into the brush in his usual stoic fashion. "Ravenpaw's late. We'll wait a bit longer before heading back to camp."
The two friends exchanged silent glances of concern for their friend. Flowingpaw let out an excited chirl at scenting the black tom's familiar scent. Not long after the lithe black apprentice came in with his white tipped skinny tail held high and proud. For what he had made Greypaw and Flowingpaw's jaws drop.
Ravenpaw caught an adder!
"Ravnpaw you ok?"mewed Flowingpaw as she ran over, inspecting him like a frantic mother hen. "It didn't bite you anywhere did it?"
Ravenpaw set his catch down with a proud purr. "Nope, I was too quick for it. It didn't see it coming."
"That's hard core Ravenpaw, seriously!"praised Greypaw.
Ravenpaw shrunk once more as he caught his mentor's piercing amber eyes. They gathered up their prey and fetched whatever catches they stored away along the way. It did not take long for the group to reach the bramble tunnel as they hurried inside and out into the camp's clearing. Some kits looked up from their mischief and she instently knew the litter. So after setting her raven down she plucked a few jet black feathers.
"Hey Flowingpaw's back!"squeaked the tabby kit.
"She's coming over here, yay!"chirped the little black one.
"What's that she got in her mouth?"wondered the tortie she-kit.
Flowingpaw purred in amusement as she set the feathers down in front of the kits. "Here you go, I believe I promised you guys and the other kits some feathers yes?"
The eyes of kits turned wide in sheer wonder and delight at the sheer size of the feathers that were as black as night. They gave off a violet hue in the sunlight. Eagerly the kits began to play with their new feathers, playing hawk and mouse as they tried to chase and steal the feathers from each other. Flowingpaw purred as she went back over just as Lionheart came over to her two friends.
"And adder, huh."mused Greypaw.
"What do you think we should do with it? It's not really good for eating by the foul taste it left in my mouth."mewed Ravenpaw as he poked his catch.
That was when Flowingpaw got a look in her eye as she snickered mischieviously. 'Oh I have an idea what to do with here."
Greypaw and Ravenpaw inched away knowing that look all too well. It was what was quickly being dubbed the avoid-the-prankster-at-all-costs look. Last time she got that look Darkstripe and Dustpaw had stunk of skunk for weeks. It had left Yellowfang practically howling in laughter when the two warriors had returned from patrol when she found out it was Flowingpaw's handy work. They had no clue how their friend had managed it either.
"Sh-she's got that look in her eye..."Ravenpaw was swift to hide behind Greypaw.
They watched as their kittypet born friend snatched the adder and took to the apprentice den and placed it on the stump. The playful, spiteful glint in her eyes as she walked back over with a purr. Thank StarClan they were her friends and not the poor souls that crossed the cinnamon tabby apprentice.
"Sandpaw and Dustpaw payback I'm guessing?"asked Greypaw.
"You know it."purred Flowingpaw, playfully sticking her tongue out.
Their attention was turned when Tigerclaw walked over them, grumpy as ever it seemed. "Bluestar wants to speak with you Flowingpaw."he growled.
"Um...ok?"Flowingpaw waved her tail at her friends and made her way to the highrock.
Bluestar was sitting just outside her den, tail flicking restlessly. Flowingpaw felt nervous but she also knew her mentor and leader was one she could trust. Politely she bowed her head before sitting down in front of her, draping her silky tail over her snow white paws. Bluestar's sapphire gaze was stern as she looked down at her apprentice.
"You wanted to see me, Bluestar?"mewed Flowingpaw politely.
Bluestar nodded as she sighed, "Tigerclaw informed me he saw you with a cat from twolegplace today."
"He wasn't lying there,"began Flowingpaw nervously shuffling her paws. "He was a kithood friend from my days as a kittypet."
Bluestar closed her eyes for a moment and gave her chest a few swift licks as she seemed to be pondering something. They then looked down at her apprentice, strict but still wise. "Do you regret the choice you made in joining us?"she mewed not in anger but concern.
Flowingpaw shook her head quickly before looking at the vast bright blue expanse of sky as birds flew by over head. Why would her mentor question her loyalty right now? The more she thought about it she understood why. Bluestar was surprised when burning watery-green eyes locked with her blue ones. The words coming from her apprentice held not a single drop of regret to it, "I do not."
"Oh?"
"ThunderClan is my home. Meeting Ollie, i-it's hard to explain but it made me realize something."mewed Flowingpaw as she looked to the hustle and bustle of the clan.
Bluestar quietly looked at her apprentice, her eyes gleaming with interest. "This would be what exactly?"
Bluestar was taken aback when she suddenly felt the little tabby she-cat nuzzle up to her, purring soft, "I'm finally where I belong...you gave me a door to escape and I thank you for it." Bluestar's surprsie softened into a gentle warmth of a mother. With a soft purr she licked the apprentice between the ears and whispered, "I believe you."
"I spoke to Yellowfang by the way."Flowingpaw's eyes lit up with excitement at Bluestar's words. "She's a wise, old cat. She thinks a awful lot about you, you know. I suspect she wasn't always so bad tampered...actually, I think I'm growing fond of her myself."
"I really like Yellowfang, she reminds me a lot of my sister. I don't think she's a bad cat, Bluestar."mewed Flowingpaw.
Bluestar nodded in agreement with the younger she-cat's words. Flowingpaw was quickly showing to be a cat with a good judge of character and insight. But the leader couldn't shake something that was bothering her about their rather prickly guest. "But there's something about her I still can't trust. For now she'll remain here in ThunderClan in the care of the queens. You my dear, must focus on your training."
"I will Bluestar."purred Flowingpaw as she hopped to her paws excitedly, earning an amused purr from her leader.
"Good girl."Bluestar touched her nose with Flowingpaw's in encouragement. "You showed poor judgement talking to that house cat today, but Tigerclaw was very impressed with your hunting skills today. Now run along and inform Greypaw and Ravenpaw they'll be joining you for the Gathering."
"Reallly!?"squeaked Flowingpaw. She felt like she could faint from how happy and excited she was.
Bluestar purred in a soft laughter, nodding. "Yes really, now hurry off."
Bluestar watched her apprentice dash away, looking like a kit that was allowed out of the nursery for the first time to her two friends. She could see the news went over well as before her satisfied eyes Flowingpaw and Greypaw had started to wrestle. But to her surprise she a ghostly figure appear by them but only for the briefest of breaths. Gone just as fast as she blinked.
Had that been Snowfur?
To Be Continued...