Leafstar leaped from one rock to another, and her slender paws scraped gently against the grass. This was the last slope before the gorse entrance to ThunderClan. Some Tribe of Rushing Water cats were having trouble keeping up. After all, they have been weak from travel and hunger.
"Are you all alright back there?" she called to the ones that were still climbing the steep hills the others passed five minutes ago. She heard grunting in response.
But Leafstar was considerate. She signaled for everyone to stop. And she waited, paws tucked underneath her. There were quiet hisses from the Tribe, mewing encouragement to the cats still at the back.
As the elders finally reached their spot, Leafstar nodded to the group. "Good. Everyone's here. Let's get a move on." She made one last check-up glance at all the cats behind her.
The travel back was only a few fox-lengths away. As they all neared the gorse tunnel, Leafstar paused. She sniffed. "Everyone, this is ThunderClan's entrance. All of you step in quietly. The Clan will chase you out before I could introduce any of you." She smiled.
Blackfortune purred and dipped his head to her. "Thank you. We cannot thank you enough for your kindness." He twitched his tail. "You heard what Leafstar has said," he meowed to his Tribe. "We must enter cautiously."
His cats nodded.
"Good." Blackfortune padded beside Leafstar. "Are you absolutely sure we can stay? This is a lot to ask of you."
"Yes, you can. I understand how it is like to lose a home." She narrowed her eyes sadly and lowered her head.
Blackfortune became curious. "What happened, Leafstar? How do you know how this feels?"
That was when Leafstar's fur surged upwards. Her eyes bolted from sadness to fury, and her teeth became bared. "I don't want to talk about it. I never want to talk about it." Her eyes stabbed his, and Blackfortune felt alarmed.
"I am sorry I questioned you. But, I was just wondering."
"Enough of this! Do you want to enter my camp or not?" she hissed challengingly.
"Yes, of course we do!" Blackfortune yowled nervously. Was he losing her trust already? "Please! Don't take this personally. I mean not to hurt you."
Leafstar calmed down. Her hackles fell. Her fury vanished. "I am sorry. It is just…" she looked at the ground. "Come on. The sooner I tell the Clan about you all, the better it will be for the rest of us."
Blackfortune nodded quickly. "The Tribe of Rushing Water is in your depth. We thank you." The rest of his Tribe nodded.
"We thank you too." they meowed in unison. Perhaps the Tribe of Endless Hunting was right. They had a great future ahead of them all.