I'm posting another chapter because this one is kind of short and is about Jackdaw's Cry in TC.
Jackdaw's Cry squeezed out of the crevice where his nest had been made. In a small crack between two boulders. If he wasn't so skinny he would be uncomfortable.
Yet I can't stretch my legs, he thought mutinously.
The camp was bustling with activity as usual as if ThunderClan weren't holding a cat hostage. Fine by me. He wondered if Thunder felt like a prisoner without actually being one during his time in ThunderClan.
He settled down near the medicine den, eyes darting around. His belly rumbled, but he didn't dare ask for anything to eat.
I'm doing this for my Clan, he kept telling himself. Everything will work out and then I can go home!
He already missed his mate and kits. And Fire Heart and Jagged Peak, his best friends. Were they wondering what had become of him?
He shivered as a breeze blew by, promising rain if the gray clouds in the sky were any indication.
He spent the whole day practically hidden behind the medicine den. No one bothered him. It unnerved him.
As he curled up to sleep, he felt himself starting to regret staying.
Or coming.
Fire Heart sat with Dappled Pelt, Shattered Ice and River Ripple outside the camp. "I can't help RiverClan anymore," he meowed. "My best friend is being held prisoner….I shoulda been with him."
"Me too," Shattered Ice meowed guiltily.
"I understand," River Ripple said. "I'll pass on the message to RiverClan." He turned to leave before pausing and turned to look at them. "Y'know if you ever need help, I'll be there."
Dappled Pelt smiled, but her insides twisted anxiously. Was Thunder right? Is this Thistlestar's first way of getting back at them?
"Jackdaw's Cry will be okay," she assured the two toms. "After the meeting he'll be home free."
The other two exchanged doubtful looks.
Dappled Pelt didn't even believe herself.
All she could see was blood, screaming, and ghost cats.
Jackdaw's Cry awoke early the next morning. The sun was just rising, turning the sky blue like a robin's egg. It would be a fine day.
If only he felt fine inside.
He could hardly get any sleep when Thistlestar always posted a guard (always Darkstripe) who practically spied on him while he slept as if he would try something. And he hadn't eaten for a whole day so far! He wasn't sure he could go on longer with no food.
SkyClan, SkyClan, SkyClan. That was his number one priority. He was here for his family and friends' safety.
He took a deep breath and stepped out of his crevice, stretching well for the first time all night.
He sat outside and began to groom himself as the Clan went about their normal life all around.
He moved further into the clearing until he found a sunny spot near the elders' den. He knew he should take the chance to be comfortable for a while before it was time to sleep again.
He closed his eyes as the sun rose, warming his black fur and he thought he might stay there for a while.
Suddenly, a tiny paw jabbed him in the ribs and his eyes flew open to see a speckled gray kit with blue eyes, staring at him mockingly.
"Intruder!" He hissed, puffing out his fur. Jackdaw's Cry would have been angry if he weren't more amused. Another speckled gray kit with green eyes stood behind the bigger one, watching him curiously. "Get outta our camp!"
"I would if I could, believe me, kit," Jackdaw's Cry sighed, rolling his eyes.
"The camp entrance is right there," the she-kit pointed out.
"Really? Thanks," Jackdaw's Cry couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice, but her being a kit, she didn't pick it up.
"Your welcome," she nodded.
Her brother, meanwhile, took it upon himself to pounce on his tail and dig his teeth in.
Keep calm. He's just a kit. These thoughts were the only things keeping him from turning on the tom-kit.
"Kits!" A voice yowled and he looked up to see Brindleface storming over. "Get back to the nursery!"
The she-kit immediately scampered away, but the tom-kit growled at his mother, who gave him a stern glare.
He gave in, tail drooping and ran after his sister. Brindleface sent him an apologetic look before she left as well.
Jackdaw's Cry sighed in relief that he was alone again.
He spoke too soon.
As soon as he started to doze off he felt a pelt brush his and nearly jumped out of his fur.
He looked to see a white kit with bright blue eyes by his side, staring at him curiously.
"Um, hello?" He meowed.
The kit blinked, but stayed silent.
Oookay…?
The kit continued to stare at him and he decided to just go back to his nest. Before he could move though, a hunting patrol returned, setting their prey on a stump.
His stomach growled.
Graystripe, who was at the rear, holding two mice, noticed him and blinked sympathetically.
Jackdaw's Cry watched as the gray tom looked around warily before he edged along the clearing. The black tom pricked his ears as the big gray cat neared them.
Just as Graystripe stood in front of them, Tigerclaw was there.
"What's this?" He growled. "Thistlestar ordered no one to feed the prisoner!"
"Um…these were for me," Graystripe stammered. "I was really hungry."
"Is that so? Then eat them now!"
Jackdaw's Cry watched worriedly as Graystripe started to eat them. He finished the first one rather easily, but struggled through the second one. Jackdaw's Cry wouldn't have had a problem eating them himself since he was actually starving.
After he finished, Tigerclaw grinned at him. "Satisfied?" Graystripe nodded. "Good." The deputy stalked away.
"Thanks for trying," Jackdaw's Cry murmured. "At least you thought of it."
"Of course," Graystripe muttered, looking sick and stumbled to the medicine den.
Maybe they're not all bad… Jackdaw's Cry thought.
The white kit beside him had curled up and started to doze when a pale tabby queen appeared.
"Ugh! There you are Snowkit! You had me worried!" She eyed Jackdaw's Cry with surprise and…nervousness? Before she snatched her kit up and stalked away to the nursery.
Does she think I'd hurt a kit? I have kits! He thought angrily.
Or…was she really nervous of him?
He felt his fur prickle when he caught Darkstripe glaring at him nearby.
He turned to see Tigerclaw also watching him.
And atop the Highrock, Thistlestar's gaze burned into him.
He'd never felt more uncomfortable in his life.
They want me dead…oh please hurry up and get this fiasco over with already!