Another chapter in a different POV! Windy isn't my favourite character, but here is something from his own point of view!

Chapter Seven

Windy stretched, blinking sleepily in the dawn light that filtered in from the open doors. Flexing his claws, he arched his back, glancing over to see if his small visitor was still there.

Indeed, he was, curled up in a ball and twitching occasionally.

Wonder what he's dreaming about. The loner mused silently to himself, getting up and limping on his three paws towards him. Violet wouldn't be pleased to see that he was still there when she woke up.

Sitting down, he reached out a single black paw and prodded the sleeping feline who

jerked awake, his gaze wide with fear for a brief moment before he glanced up, somewhat apologetically.

"Bad dream?" Windy tilted his head, slightly. Having a lot of them back in his youth, he felt bad for the obviously troubled tom.

"Yep." With that, he got up, shaking his pelt in an attempt to get rid of the hay strands stuck in his fur. "Can we head back?"

We? "I was just about to ask you if you could go back soon. I'll come hunt with you later or something."

Confusion flickered in the grey tom's green gaze, "I thought you'd be coming.." His voice faded, obviously embarrassed.

He doesn't know the way back, the tri-pawed tom guessed after a moment. Well, he wasn't about to let this young cat get lost. "I'll come with you."

Raccoonpaw looked relieved at not having to state why he didn't want to go alone, "Thank you." Seemingly reluctant to leave, he shadowed the black tom who tried to move as quickly as possible. He hoped to get back and hunt before Violet woke up.

"What did you think of the barn?" He asked, curiously, as the smaller tom ended up beside him.

"Oh, I liked it." Seeming to snap out of a daydream, his unfocused gaze glanced over. "It's a bit different to what I'm used to."

Windy gave a chuckle, "I could imagine." Though his amused expression melted away to concern as his companion seemed to be lost in thought again. "What are you thinking about?"

"My mentor." The tabby responded, somewhat glumly, "He's going to murder me when I get back."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad. Who is your mentor?"

"Swifteagle."

"Nevermind, you're a dead cat." Windy commented with an amused grin, thinking of the grumpy tom who had never been pleased with his presence in the clan all those moons ago, "Nice knowing you."

Raccoonpaw didn't look particularly amused, especially as they came nearer to the camp, and Windy shut up.

"Feel free to visit anytime." The black tom began to head away as the small camp came into sight. "If you manage to stay alive."

Shoulders hunched, the tabby began heading to the camp and Windy expected that he'd never return to the camp. Violet'll be pleased. Though, to his surprise, he didn't feel that pleased about having the barn quieter again. He missed the busy clan life, and somewhat dreaded when Violet and the kits would leave. The prickly she-cat had made it clear when she arrived that her visit was temporary.

The tom froze as he heard loud voices coming from the camp, despite how he was a fair distance away by now. He winced as he recognised Swifteagle's harsh voice carrying along the moor. Without thinking, his paws turned around and he was heading back to the camp. It sounded like no cat was on Raccoonpaw's side and Windy wanted to tell them that really it was his fault for inviting him into the barn. Running as fast as his three paws would allow, he headed into the camp, ignoring the gazes from other cats burning into his black pelt.

"I think you should know that it wasn't Raccoonpaw's fault that he didn't come back." Staring coldly at Swifteagle, he stood beside the smaller tabby, who looked up, confused.

"I specifically told him to come back by sundown. He should've turned around and gone back like he was meant to." His mentor snapped, his fur bristling, "Anyway, you're just a loner. You have no say on what I do with my apprentice."

"No, I don't. But he was cold, hungry, and-"

"He ate at your barn?" Swifteagle gave a hiss, "Whilst we are all trying to prepare for leafbare, you get all cosy, warm and well-fed in the barn with a loner! Raccoonpaw, you're little better than a kittypet! I'm ashamed to call you my apprentice."

Able to see how he was making everything worse, the black tom shrank back slightly, lashing his tail, "Don't tell me that you wouldn't do the same if you were him! He's a young cat, treat him fairly. He didn't know any better!"

"I knew what I was doing! Don't patronise me!" Raccoonpaw spat, with a glare at Windy who recoiled, startled by his sudden hostility.

"See, he needs punishing! He's an insolent apprentice and needs to learn." Swifteagle was no longer as hostile when speaking to Windy, simply dismissive, "You do not know our clan ways, so stay out of this!"

Wounded by his statement, the black tom lowered his gaze for a moment before retaliating, "I'm twice the clan cat you are!"

With a hostile snarl, the older tabby lunged at Windy, who crashed to the ground under the other's bulk.

Hissing and spitting, the two tussled, though it was clear who would be the victor. Windy was bleeding from his ear and a scratch above his nose, whereas Swifteagle was evading his somewhat clumsy moves.

"Stop!" The commanding yowl of Nettlestar made his opposer jump, and the black tom used that as an opportunity to escape from under him, self-consciously grooming his bleeding injuries whilst gazing up at the spiky-furred leader. "Why are you fighting our visitor, Swifteagle?"

The grey tom bristled, "Visitor? He's a loner and has no clue about how clan law should work!"

"Windy is a friend of mine, and so a friend to the clans." The disapproving glare from the higher-rank feline seemed to bore into the hostile warrior, and the black tom found himself enjoying seeing his opposer squirm. "What are you doing here, anyway?" Though he didn't look Windy's way, he assumed that the question was meant for him.

"Raccoonpaw stayed overnight at my barn and I simply wanted his mentor to know that he should not be in trouble. I was the one who offered for him to stay."

Nettlestar was silent for a moment, "I have no say when it comes to mentors punishing their apprentices. I still see the pair as a good match skill-wise, despite this lack of friendship. Swifteagle may punish Raccoonpaw in any way he sees fit."

"But-" Ignoring the smug gaze of the senior warrior, the tri-pawed feline stared up in shock, "It wasn't even Raccoonpaw's fault! He was cold and lost, and night was coming! Surely you wouldn't punish a cat for finding a way to stay alive."

"I can defend myself." The somewhat fed-up mew of Raccoonpaw broke through the tension, "I don't need protecting like a useless kit!" Not meeting any cats gaze, he turned and stalked towards his den.

"The leader has decided. Stay out of it next time." Swifteagle glared at the black tom before moving through the small crowd that had been watching and vanishing into another den.

Dejected and offended, Windy turned and limped out of the camp. Why didn't Nettlestar, one of his closest friends, understand his point! That poor apprentice didn't deserve whatever punishment was coming his way, but nobody seemed to agree with him. Or maybe they were all too cowardly to stand up to their leader.

The tom scoffed at the thought of those brave and well-built warriors cowering at the sight of Nettlestar, a cat that was probably older than all the young warriors combined.

As the clan once again vanished out of sight, Windy knew that he would never want to enter that camp of mouse-brained warriors again.


I've noticed that there have been very few reviews and though I don't mind, I would appreciate any advice or CC if you can spare a few minutes, either by PM or review.

I'm mostly self-taught when it comes to writing stories and I would appreciate some feedback, and constructive criticism so that I can make my stories better.

Of course, you don't have to, but it would be really helpful, and I would appreciate it.