heyo! More, nother chapter! Okies, review! Review! Review! And thanks!
Firestar, Graystripe and Sandstorm were all listening to Darkclaw as he recounted his tail was what happened in the forest. All of them were quite surprised to hear about these knew cats that they had no knowledge of until now. They took the news shockingly well and it was Firestar who spoke after Darkclaw finished.
"We must find out more about these cats." He murmured, but the other three could still hear him.
"I agree, but who do we ask? I doubt that any of the clans know about these cats." Snorted Graystripe. "And we aren't just going to waltz up to them and ask them if they know of any cats from the 'Silent Moon Tribe'."
"I think your right. But if we are going to rescue Leo Ginger and Taurus Blue, we need more information." Sandstorm said. "We don't know, these cats could be just like Bloodclan, or maybe we could peacefully ask them for Leo Ginger to come back. We don't want to charge in and engage ourselves in an unnecessary battle."
"Then we need to ask those who are closer to them." Firestar said meaningfully. "It may be risky, but worth it."
"But who?" Questioned Graystripe.
"The house cats that live in the two legged village, they are bound to know something." Firestar answered simply. "You may think house cats are soft and untrained, but they know the existence of forest cats for as long as they can remember. There is no reason why they shouldn't on the other side."
"But kittypets? Scum of the feline race? Are we really going to go crawling to them for help?" Sandstorm asked, an angry note could be heard in her voice.
"What else can we do?" Asked Firestar, knowing the answer. "Besides, they aren't scum and some of them are well hunters and good protectors. All cats, even the house cats have a bit of the great clan cats in them."
Graystripe and Sandstorm snorted at this, not exactly agreeing with Firestar. All clan cats thought they were better than kittypets because they were better hunters, and didn't depend on the nasty two legs to survive. It had been many moons before the clan had truly accepted him as a clan cat and not just some stray kittypet.
"Good." Firestar said casting a warning glance at the both of them. "We can leave tomorrow morning. I want Squirrlepaw, Brambleclaw, Dustpelt and Orangepelt ready to go, Graystripe could you inform them?"
"But Orangepelt is nursing her kits, she can't just leave them." Protested Sandstorm. She knew what it was like to be a mother and leaving her kits with others for even a few hours was anxiety central.
"I'm sure Ferncloud can nurse them. We need her to help us with Leo Ginger's scent, just incase we do find something important." Firestar looked at Darkclaw. "I know you probably want to go and help find your friend, but you are weak, you need rest."
"Yes Firestar, thank you." The dark colored tom got up and limped to the warriors den to rest as his leader commanded.
"Legoa?" Hawk asked softly. He saw her white and ginger body curled out beside his den, it was clear that she didn't want to stay with him, but Hawk would not give up. "Ah, there you are."
"Don't call me that." Hissed Leo Ginger, she did not even lift her head to look at Hawk.
"What is wrong?" He asked curiously. "Have we done something to upset you? Can I get you something?"
"I want to go back home." She growled, lifting her head now to glare at him. "I want to go back to Thunderclan."
Hawk shook his head firmly. He would not let her go, she was too beautiful, to wonderful, to strong. She was his perfect match, why couldn't she see that? "No, this is your home now."
"Never." She hissed as she slowly uncurled. "This will never be my home."
"Come." He said ignoring what she had to say. "I want you to accompany me when I go to see King Rah."
She was ready to tell him off when she decided that this might be a good chance for her to get to know the area. Find any possible escape routes. Maybe escape when she was out there. She wanted out, she didn't care which way she went. She was a good tracker, she'd find her way back to Thunderclan. Leo Ginger got up and stalked past Hawk. "Fine, lets go."
Hawk smirked. He knew it, she was a great queen. Proud, firm, perfect in every way. Just like himself. He followed her out to the den where two of the Elite warriors waited for them.
"Storm, Weasel." He nodded to the two toms. "Meet Legoa."
"Leo Ginger." The queen corrected defiantly. Casting Hawk a hard glance. "Let's get this over with."
"Leo Ginger." Storm said dipping his head. He was a strong looking dark gray tom with silver streaks and blazing orange eyes. "A pleasure to meet you."
Leo Ginger looked taken aback that Storm had called her by her proper name. She blinked then followed Hawk and Weasel out of the camp and down the trodden path. Her head and eyes wandered around as she saw that there were many other paths cut through the tall grass. She could only guess where these places led too and she was about to find out where one went. They turned down a wider path. Leo Ginger could already scent of fresh water nearby. She was right, for they came to a murky looking pond. It was rather big, bigger than any body of water she'd seen before. It couldn't be called a pond really. There were seven rocks. Each one was pretty big, but the third stone was most impressive. It was large, huge. It could fit many cats on it, like an island. She guessed that was were the meeting would be held.
"Watch your step." Cautioned Storm. "It's not very deep, but its hard to get the muck out of your fur."
Leo Ginger nodded but said nothing. Had Hawk also assigned Storm to be kind to her, to make her feel more at home? Every time she thought it was probably true, she just couldn't believe it. Almost like a sixth sense, but why was he so nice? She was an outsider and she hated everything about the Silent Moon Tribe.
"King Rah approaches." Weasel announced. For such a lithe and agile looking warrior, Weasel had a strong deep voice.
Leo Ginger looked on and saw that coming to the rocks on the other side were four cats also. She guessed the large silver tabby was king Rah, behind him was a silver and white she-cat with blue/gray paws, a reddish orange tom and a white and black tom. Leo Ginger watched as Hawk walked forward and touched noses with King Rah and the brown she-cat. Hawk looked to her and she looked back. The dark brown tom nodded to King Rah and she-cat and Leo Ginger knew she was also to touch noses with them. Walking forward stiffly she touched noses with the two cats before drawing back, wanting to wipe her nose on something.
"Lego - I'm sorry, Leo Ginger, this is King Rah and Queen Dream." Hawk introduced the two felines.
"Pleasure." She growled softly. Her eyes blazing fiercely and defiantly. She sat next to Hawk unlike Dream who stood a paw step behind. She smirked slightly as she saw Rah looking at her curiously. She felt Hawk stiffen beside her. When Hawk looked at her, she just peered up at him innocently.
"Firestar, why can't we just ask the other clans?" Squirrlepaw complained bitterly as they headed to the edge of the forest where Firestar and Cloudtail came to see Princess. "It would be so much less humiliating than going to these kittypets."
"You shouldn't talk, its half a your heritage." Dustpelt said cooly as he padded past Squirrlepaw toward Dustpelt. He gave Firestar a quick glance but the tom was already looking at the white fence in front of them.
"Princess might know her way around the village." Firestar said. "It's been such a long time since I've been here."
Firestar bunched together is muscles and easily leaped up on the white fence. Balancing gracefully, he looked around for his sister in her garden. He saw the light brown tabby queen laying out in the sun, her eyes closed , her whiskers twitching occasionally. He didn't want to disturb her, but this was important.
"Firestar?"
Firestar looked up, Princess' eyes were opened as she was looking at him cooly. He had to remind himself that though Princess' instincts weren't as strong they were pretty good and he really wasn't that far away. Grinning sheepishly he said. "Come on, I have some cats I want you to me."
Princess nodded slowly and leaped after her brother. Looking carefully at all five of the cats that were gathered outside of her garden. Her tail flicked nervously as she looked to Firestar who stood encouragingly by her side.
"Dustpelt, Brambleclaw, Orangepelt, Squirrlepaw." He said nodding to each of the individual cats. "This is my sister, Princess."
"How nice to meet you." Princess said politely. Her eyes lit on Squirrlepaw again. "So this is Squirrlepaw."
"Yes, the one and only." Firestar said. He noticed how Princess was looking from him to Squirrlepaw, whom looked exactly like himself only smaller and maybe leaner. He watched in satisfaction as Squirrlepaw dipped her head in acknowledgment, a rare thing for her to do.
"But the reason we are here is because two of our cats were stolen." Firestar said gravely. "All we know is that they live on the other side of the two leg's village. Do you know anything about them?"
"I've heard of them." Princess said softly. "But I don't know much, I think I can lead you to some cats who do though."
"Alright, lead the way." Firestar glanced at his cats, nodding. They looked uneasy at going through a two legged village, but would not act afraid. He followed his sister, Squirrlepaw right behind him with Brambleclaw next and Orangepelt following, Dustpelt at the end.
Firestar followed Princess slowly as they crossed yard after yard. Finally she stopped and turned toward a white fence. She pushed her head against one and it flipped up, while she scurried in. Firestar was about to go after her when the other side came flying down, he backed up just in time before it swung to a close. Nervously, he pushed himself through, followed by the others. Princess was waiting for them by the house.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just go over the fence?" Complained Dustpelt. He'd gotten smacked it the bottom while he was taking his merry time to get through.
"Why waste the energy?" Princess said. She knew that Dustpelt looked at her with pure dislike and so she wouldn't satisfy him in anyway. "Come on, in here." There was a small rectangular window that led into the basement of the two legged house. Princess slipped through, Firestar followed. With barely any hesitation then went Squirrlepaw and Brambleclaw. Orangepelt and Dustpelt were the only two who hesitated for a minute or so before slipping in.
It was dirt, holding old pieces of furniture, rags and clothes. It wasn't anything the clan cats would want to call home, but it didn't reek of two legs. It reeked of cats. And they appeared too. Heads out of drawers, from under towels, from cracks in the walls. They just seemed to melt from the place as they noticed the new cats. A fat gray and black tabby was the first to waddle up to them.
"Princess? You haven't been down here in a long time." The tabby had a cool, deep voice, almost sing-songy. "And who have you brought, here?"
"Tabbs. You don't remember him?" She indicated Firestar.
The tom's eyes widened and as he peered closely at Firestar. "Well if it ain't young Rusty finally come back to see us. A course he ain't so young now, is he?"
Firestar's eyes widened considerably. Tabbs, Tabbs...oh, Tabbs. His mom used to always bring him and his siblings down here to meet the cats. These were the wild cats of the village. They'd probably accepted into the clan more than a normal kittypet. But by the way Tabbs was looking, something had defiantly changed.
"And who is that lil' sweety right there?" Asked Tabbs looking at Squirrlepaw now. "I'm thinkin' she's a kin to you an Miss Princess?"
"My names Squirrlepaw." She said defiantly, lifting her chin to glare at Tabbs. But Tabbs understood.
"Well now, Squirrlepaw it is." He nodded slowly. "Ya, should be proud of this one ya should, she's got pride, plenty of it, makes a strong cat."
"Rusty!" Mewed a another voice. A small, strong looking white cat with orange splotches bounded up beside Tabbs. Seeing his confused look she said. "It's me, Cream–."
"And Sugar's still goin' strong!" Another voice yowled. A lithe calico she-cat strolled up behind her sister, a small smirk on her face. "Long time no see, but I 'spose you'd like to meet the mate and kits?"
"Well actually —." Firestar tried to explain. He really wanted to sit and chat with these cats but he had a mission to complete.
"Chase! Zoom! Raven!" He meowed loudly. Three kits came bounding forward. They looked to be about five moons old, strong and healthy. "You know where your father is?"
"Nah, mom." Zoom sighed. The she-cat was light tan with a gray face. "'e went off with Blake and Jazz."
"Not them again." She swung her head toward Cream. "And you calls ya self a good mother."
Firestar looked quickly at the other cats, pained. They sighed, all had settled into sitting positions. He looked to Princess who gave him a sorry look. Princess understood they hadn't come for all this and she hadn't mean for it to happen. Firestar looked up at all the cats, remembering faces. But then he saw one that almost made him jump.
"Bane."