Chapter 2: FearClan

"Lion, the hunt was successful as always." mewed Moth, the bright ginger tom swiping his tongue over his jaws for the last traces of rabbit.

Lion glanced across the border they often crossed. Flicking her tail dismissively, she stretched, belly full. "Could have been better if we didn't need to watch each other's backs." she commented, lounging in the shade that dappled her reddish-brown pelt with sunlight. Newleaf had been giving way to greenleaf as the sun's rays grew stronger and stronger.

A creamy brown she-cat stalked to them, holding a pair of mice by their tails in her jaws. She dropped them with a growl. "Lion, Moth, get up and hurry. Timber and Frost are bringing prey back for the others to see what we need to fight for."

"Come on Heather, we have plenty of time to catch up. The rabbit was filling after so many moons of water voles." Moth complained, rolling onto his back without a care.

"Moth," she sighed exasperated, "Stay any longer and your full-bellies will only attract those mouse-hearts who believe dead cats are in the stars."

Lion groaned, getting to her paws. "Fine, fine. We're coming."

"But, Lion."

"No buts," she mewed crossly, "Heather has a point, remember because of her level-head she is second in command for us."

"I hate it when you speak like those clan-cats." Moth grumbled, rolling over and heaving himself to his paws.

"Well, I wouldn't have to if you used that lump three mice-lengths above your paws." she snapped as she started to stalk away.

"Grouchy-paws." Moth sniffed, padding after her.

She flicked her ears, ignoring his words as she lead the way back to their hiding place. They all hid among the brush and reeds, their ragtag group small, but strong. Soon, Heather raced ahead, taking the lead on the Twoleg Bridge. Moth grumbled again as Lion bounded after the creamy brown she-cat. Timber and Frost were hard on their paws, carrying their own catches.

The gray and white tabby and white and ginger she-cats each had a squirrel and a chipmunk respectively. In all, it was a good haul to keep a cat fed well. Lion huffed and puffed as her thoughts raced away with her paws. Of course, for a single cat it was a lot. For their cats it was hardly enough to feed everyone. Water voles and shrews didn't feed them well enough since they hunted whenever they were hungry. There was no real reason for them to keep prey around like those clan-cats had.

Soon she slowed to a stop, blinking as they reached their hiding places. Heather dropped her mice, nodding to Frost and Timber to drop their's as well. As though summoned, the cats crawled out of the brush and reeds. Fur sticking up in odd angles with leaf litter and moss stuck to their pelts. The only one well-groomed was the deceptively beautiful she-cat who stalked to inspect the prey.

"Well done, Heather." she praised, her voice thick with pride, bright green eyes shining. "I take it this is from those so-called BushClan cats territory?"

Heather nodded, "Of course. I figured we would like prey that we haven't eaten in forever." She flicked her tail casually.

Lion bit back a stinging complaint, her tail tip twitching furiously. Heather always got all the praise like it was her idea to hunt there. Moth suggested it and Lion, herself, agreed if they had more cats for a successful hunt there. She growled low in her throat, angered that the creamy brown she-cat took all the credit.

Of course if they spoke out, the brownish-gray tabby would turn her claws onto them. Sometimes she didn't even have to lift a paw, the rest of the group would turn on one of their own if she so wished it. Moth shifted beside her, obviously no happier than she was about this. No cat liked it, but Cedar's word was always truth and law among them. Ever since the remnants of BloodClan fell apart, she took control until the tom who became Bushstar left them.

"Someday, we will have a fair say." Moth murmured, "But not today."

"I'd rather claw out Heather's tongue and eyes." Lion added in, her voice soft and dark.

"Hush, Frost and Timber will hear you."

"Do I look like I care?" She hissed softly, slapping her tail against him. "Heather takes all the credit like she is the greatest cat ever and for what? For first pick of the pile? For the best sleeping place? Just look at her plump belly. She and Cedar are the only ones well-fed around here."

"Lion!" Moth hissed back just as softly, "Quiet!"

It was too late, Cedar was stalking up to them, her green eyes searching and cold. "Lion, Moth. Do you have something to share with everyone?" Her voice dripped like the coveted scent of juicy fresh-kill.

"Nothing more than we should have brought back more prey to satisfy you." Moth answered, his mew forced to be in a cheerful sound. Lion glared at her own paws, silent and allowing Moth to speak. She didn't dare trust herself to do so. If she did, she would only get her fur clawed like the others. Mange never caused the hair loss, it was the scars they inflicted when someone went against Cedar and Heather.

"I see, well no need to worry. I will lead Pounce, Reed, Berry, and Falcon out to bring back more." Cedar mewed as though she was speaking to dumb kits.

Lion dug her claws into the soil. no matter how Cedar spoke, fury bubbled beneath her pelt. She looked up to Cedar, who was watching her expectantly. Her bright green eyes taunting her, daring her to speak out against this injustice. Finally, the rogue-leader looked away, padding back to Heather to pick out the plumpest pieces of prey.

The others stared hungrily, their eyes begging for a morsel. Lion had to stifle a growl as she got up, heading to her sleeping place. She couldn't stand it. She ate, but now it felt heavy in her belly. Her emotions were mixed around and tumbling inside her. Her chest felt tight and her claws itched to dig into flesh. Her tail lashed as she flopped down to release her agitation. She needed to calm down before she started a fight and lost because of her emotions running so high.

Closing her eyes, she imagined herself to be stalking through the forest in the night. A time where she felt at peace among the moonlit forest and river. Where the stars glittered along the winding river sparkling silver. It's babbling and trickle granting her peace long enough to finally get some sleep. Like a warm cloud, she was released from the pain and agitation. Her dreams welcomed her with the same moonlit river so she could watch the water sparkle in the silvery light of the moon.

Her tail was wrapped around her paws, her reflection a shadow among the running river. Feeling at peace as she crouched to drink from the clear waters. A soft scuff of paws caught her attention, her head shot up and her ears pricked. A shadowy figure stood on the far bank. Their long fur whipping gently in the wind. Despite appearing as a shadow pale green eyes glowed vividly in the night.

"How dare you trespass onto this territory!" She hissed, rising to her paws, fur fluffed out.

Yet, the shadow-cat only tilted their head, blinking their glowing eyes before turning and effortlessly leaping over the shiny mesh-fence. Lion followed, racing along the stepping-stones. Her paws slipping on the slick surface, claws scraping the smoothed stones with each bounding step. Once on the other side, she jumped, her paws just reaching the strange-shaped holes. Her paws hooking into it jarringly.

With a gasp, her paws gave out on her, she couldn't hang on and fell back with a weak yowl. She jolted awake in her nest, sprawled out and panting heavily as the sun was setting. Her ears pricked as she glanced around wildly, scenting the air carefully before licking her chest fur. No one had come to check on her. Embarrassment flooded her, and yet the shadow-cat was in her thoughts. Pale green eyes that were glowing, a cat who was able to jump a tall shiny mesh-fence in a single bound.

Lion waited until her heart settled back down. Sighing softly, she made her choice. She had to investigate there at night to see if she can find such a cat who matches the description. After all, she had never seen a cat with that exact shade of eyes before. Shaking her fur out, she decided to go and hunt. As long as she told Heather she would be allowed to. After all, the raiding party might not be as successful as any of them would expect this time.

Author Note:

A kit who is solid white unlike her parents and littermates
and now a rogue who is also a female protagonist!? The audacity of me!

All jokes aside, I have no reason other than I liked Lion's name and chose her out of all the rogues. I use Untold Legacy (brought to you by the maker of Untold Tales) to randomly generate cats and then I filled in the blanks myself. Meaning she was randomly generated and I fell in love with her.

With warrior cat names, I can think of the type of cat they are. With Lion, it sounds regal, proud and loyal, maybe even good leadership skills and strength. Yet, this does not mean her fate and destiny is sealed. Just because the name brings up those qualities to my mind doesn't mean she is going to have a future at the top.

Ice sounds like a cold, hardy, and possibly aloof kind of cat. Yet, Icekit is so far being the shy and timid kind of cat. I feel warrior cats give names based on more than pelt, they also give it in hopes the kit will grow into their prefix. What about the last cat? We will see when we get there.

As always, let me know if I am doing well or if anything should be improved into this world. - NightSky