Chapter 10
BushClan / Tumbleheart
Sunlight filtered through the branches, waking up the young warrior from her peaceful slumber. Her stomach felt empty as she slowly rose to her paws. The chilly air penetrated her fur, making her shudder. A swift breeze chilling her to her bones as she looked around. The night had felt like it lasted forever, especially when she stretched her aching muscles. She felt she had ran for many moons, when it had only been a single night.
An unfamiliar scent reached her, slowly she crept out of her hiding place to see a russet-colored tom. Slowly, she remembered him. The one who had stayed beside her through the night. Perking up, he rose from where he was basking in the sun to greet her. His tail raised happily as he approached, his greenish-yellow eyes twinkling in the sunlight.
"You're awake at last!" he meowed, sounding relieved. "You kept jolting awake last night, but you settled down. I was worried you might sleep the day away."
"Well, I just needed the rest. I felt like I ran for moons from those foxes. I don't know where they had gone, but I can't stay here." Tumbleheart blinked slowly, "I have to get home so I can let my Clan know I'm alive and the danger they're in."
"I understand that, but we should get some food in you before you go. You look like you need some good meals." he commented, his gaze seeming to be full of worry.
"I don't have time." she tried to protest, but her stomach yowled in hunger. Embarrassed, she curled her tail around her flank. "Alright, fine. Maybe a bite to eat wouldn't hurt."
"Come with me, I know an excellent place where we can eat." the tom promised, his gaze friendly and kind. "Luna always has too much food to not share in leafbare."
"Okay, but who is Luna? And what do I call you? I don't plan on calling you some russet tom I met."
He blinked warmly. "I am called Ruby by many. Luna is a friend of mine I visit from time to time. She is a kind cat with good housefolk."
Tumbleheart widened her eyes. "You mean she's a kittypet?"
Ruby nodded, "She is. Is that a problem?"
Tumbleheart hesitated, looking away. "In my Clan, we are supposed to have nothing to do with kittypets."
"Why not?"
Why not? She mentally echoed, trying to think on why. She never questioned it during her training, but how could she ever explain it to this tom that it was just how it was with no answer? Slowly, she began to speak. "I'm not entirely sure. I don't know anything about kittypets to be honest. Our training is learning of the Warrior Code and how to protect ourselves and our Clan as well as provide for it. We catch our own prey, train other cat's kits when they come of age. Things like that."
"Oh, I see now." Ruby looked to his paws. "Although, does that mean that the food is out of the question?"
"What do you mean?"
"Kittypets don't catch their own food, their housefolk give it to them." he explained.
Tumbleheart listened, tilting her head to one side. "I didn't know that. Maybe it would be fine. It would be better to, only if it's not too far away."
Ruby perked up, "It's not too far. I promise. Luna would let even you have some of her food. Her brother, Timmy, lives with her so he might be the only problem. Although, word on the thunderpath is that he has a soft spot for she-cats. So you should be fine."
"I suppose I could. It doesn't sound like it would be against what I was taught." she relented, looking back to the fence that was her way back home. "They should be fine, even for a little longer. After eating, you have to take me back here quickly so I can go back to my Clan. I don't want them to be in danger any longer."
Ruby nodded as he began to lead the way to the fence. "Maybe Luna and Timmy can help?"
"I don't see how they can, those foxes are vicious and I wouldn't want them to be killed." She fretted, following him slowly. She knew if she went back she would eat prey she didn't work for. Her chest felt tight, wondering if she had hope waiting for her with this decision.
"You never know, Luna's female Twoleg often goes out to leave food for lone-cats. Perhaps, one of them will be there and be able to help." Ruby added in, "Even if there isn't, I will try to find you someone who can help. Maybe that one old cream tom would know a thing or two. I'll see what I can do after I get you fed and back home. It's the most I can do to try and be helpful."
"Oh, Ruby, I don't know how you can be anymore helpful then you already have been. I would have been killed if you didn't help me. Let alone if that strange she-fox had alerted her pack I would have been torn to shreds." Tumbleheart shivered, feeling horrified at the thought of it.
"I'll do what I can for you." Ruby promised, jumping onto the fence with grace and leading the way to the other side of the Twoleg den. "Just follow me."
She nodded, leaping up and struggling to find a paw-hold before following in his footsteps. She had to be careful, her tail waving to find her balance. She was never much of a tree-dwelling cat, but she was going to do her best. After all, the fate of her Clan was resting at her paws. Looking ahead, she spotted Ruby's tail held low as though in a hunter's crouch. She followed his example, finding her balance better with it lowered.
Swiftly, she followed him only looking to her sides when she heard the distant bark of a dog. He assured her that they couldn't climb, but she knew that could be a lie. No cat thought foxes could climb trees, but the one she faced surely was able to. Even if it was driven by hunger, a starving fox was just as deadly as a healthy one looking after their kits. Twitching her ears, she could pick up songbirds singing and splashing. Everything seemed to be quiet, a good thing she supposed as the sun climbed higher and higher into the sky.
Soon, Ruby jumped down onto a flat-gray stone that made some kind of path. Unsure, Tumbleheart followed, feeling the way her body lurched unsteadily in her landing. Was she too weak from hunger to take another fall? She looked around carefully, seeing only a few Twolegs getting into the bellies of monsters. Feeling her fur prickle with unease, she turned and followed Ruby closely, feeling safer with the large russet-colored tom.
"What are they doing?" Tumbleheart wondered aloud, her mew trembling against her will.
Ruby didn't bother looking as he answered her confidently. "Going to other places so they can hunt I suppose. The monsters often carry them around and rest like the lazy beasts that they are. Sometimes new house-cats are brought with them from inside. Those cats are found in strange little dens with shiny mesh preventing them from escaping easily on their own."
"How do you know so much about this?" She asked, looking to him in shock.
He hesitated before meowing, "I was a kittypet once." He admitted, "My housefolk left me behind after I went out for a bit at night. They didn't ever come back. Now that I think about it, they didn't even put a collar on me either. It's like they had planned and decided it all along."
Tumbleheart listened, feeling her heart twist uncertainly. "That sounds awful, but at least you are free from them now, I guess."
"Don't get me wrong, I love being out here. It's just, they were like my family. They were all I had left and they left me. I felt alone and betrayed, but after meeting Luna I realized things could be worse. I visit them, but I always travel around and try to get by on my own ever since."
Tumbleheart nodded slowly, trying to understand. However, she found that she could, but only a piece of it. She only had her mother, Leaftail, until that war stole her away. Ever since she felt she didn't belong in BushClan. She felt like an outsider ever since Icepaw changed paths from warrior to medicine cat. Not that she could blame her, but ever since it felt like a vast river was separating them. The most accepted she felt was with Ruby and that was with her fatigue taking over her.
"So, what is your name?" Ruby asked, breaking her out of her thoughts. "I don't believe you have mentioned it."
"Tumbleheart." she answered him softly, padding beside him. "That is my name."
"Tumble...heart... sounds like a mouthful." The russet tabby tom commented, although he sounded thoughtful about it.
She blinked slowly, "Well, I suppose it is. It's just how the Clan works, I guess. My mother named me Tumblekit when I was born. The Clan leader then named me Tumblepaw when I was six moons old and began my training. After my mother's death I became a warrior and the leader gave me the name I have now."
"So your mother had nothing to do with it?"
Tumbleheart looked ahead. "In a way, but it's tradition. When the Clan leader gives you a complete name it's a sign that you have worked hard to be part of the Clan. We have been in war for as long as I remember. I just hope that peace can come at last."
"There is war and foxes, sounds like living far from Twolegs aren't a good idea for any cat." Ruby mused, glancing to her. "What do you Clan-cats even have a war about?"
"There is a group of rogues who call themselves FearClan." Tumbleheart explained. "They have been at war with my Clan, BushClan, for many moons and seasons. I fear that the war will continue and only few survivors will make it through."
The tom listened as they walked, his yellow-green eyes dark with worry and concern. "It's that bad?"
"It's awful. We are expected to fight and fight for our beliefs." she told him, stopping herself as she realized she wasn't sure where she stood on that topic either. Did she truly believe in StarClan at all? Were the rules they set up pure cloud-fluff? Was it even worth fighting for?
"That might make it even harder then." Ruby mewed softly, "I mean I'm sure we can find someone to deal with the fox problems, but with the war itself... I think you both need a talk with one another. Deal with it without tooth and claw."
"But how?" Tumbleheart looked at him in dismay. "We don't share the same beliefs and they bully us about it. They call us mouse-hearts and that StarClan doesn't exist-"
"Look, I'm not a Clan-cat or those rogues. All I can tell you is what I think you can do. Whether it's right or wrong, succeeds or fails, what's the harm in trying?" Ruby scolded her lightly, "What does it really take for you to be a warrior? Sensitive feelings about your beliefs or more understanding? You can only learn to understand if you talk it out. It's what she-cats have their kits do so they get along better. I'm sure your mother had done that with you and your siblings."
Tumbleheart slowed to a stop, Ruby stopping a few paces away, confusion in his gaze. Staring at him, she realized what she had missed out on in her kit-hood. "I was an only kit." she whispered, her heart feeling heavier and heavier. "Any denmates I had as a kit were younger than me."
Ruby took a step towards her, blinking apologetically. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know-"
"That's right you don't know." She growled softly, "I shouldn't be asking you about any of this. You don't understand anything. I should just go back to BushClan." Slowly, Tumbleheart turned around to leave, knowing she could find her way back.
"Now, now." Ruby began again, padding to her side. "Don't be that way. We have to get you some food. I'm sure if we did you will feel a bit better and we can find help for the fox problem. Whatever happens, you have to remember: I may not understand everything, but I do understand that you need help. I will do everything I can to, even if you don't like my suggestions. There is many ways to solve it, I'm sure of that much."
Tumbleheart looked to him, feeling a pull back home, but an even stronger one for Ruby. He just wanted to help her and she was struggling to figure it all out on her own. With a soft sigh, she gave in. "I'll leave the war for the Clan leader to handle. I'll focus on the fox problem with you."
"That's better, one step at a time. Let's go see who could be visiting Luna's place." The russet tom turned and began to swiftly lead the way at a steady trot.
Feeling a bit better, she followed at his pace. Her ears flicked back as she listened for any danger. Wherever the foxes had gone, she knew they had to be careful. Even a wayward dog could take them off the path they needed to take. Slowly, her tail rose as she relaxed more and more. The further they traveled, the more she began to let her worries go.
She couldn't stop or fix everything, let alone answer her own questions. For all she knew, this could be the way to find her father and have the knowledge. After all, he had his reasons to not join the Clan back then. She just had to keep her faith in Ruby until she could come to her own conclusions. Even if it meant leaving the Clan behind her forever.
.
The sun was approaching sun-high when Ruby hopped up onto a stone-fence. He flicked his tail to follow him as he leaped into the garden gracefully. Tumbleheart followed his lead, her green eyes wide in surprise as she looked around. The garden was neat with Twoleg things all over the place. Little wooden things that a cat can hide under and find shelter from the rain or even the snow. Swiftly, she landed into the short-clipped grass and picked her way after him.
The russet tabby was making his way to a clear-ice entrance that shone with the light of the sun reflecting off of it. It was like water, only still and not shimmering. Her eyes dazzled by the brightness as a thick-furred black she-cat with a plump belly slipped out from a crevice between the clear-ice and wall. Orange eyes bright with excitement as she approached them.
"Ruby, you have brought a new friend?" she mewed welcoming, before she seemed to notice the scars and patches of missing fur. "Oh, dear, what has happened to this poor darling?"
"This is Tumbleheart, she is one of those Clan-cats who lived in the forest." Ruby introduced her, looking to her with a warm gaze. "Tumbleheart, this is Luna."
"A pleasure to meet you Luna, I think." Tumbleheart murmured, unsure what kind of name that was.
"Likewise." Luna replied, twitching her whiskers before looking to Ruby. "I take it she is here for some food and water?"
"Of course, her stomach hasn't stopped yowling for food like a starving kit." He teased openly.
Embarrassed, Tumbleheart flattened her ears. "I prefer to hunt for my food. Is it too much trouble for that?"
"Of course not, I hunt occasionally too, it's just harder when it snows." Ruby grunted, padding up to Luna. "Anyway, may we come in for a quick bite?"
"It would be no trouble." Luna promised, "My housefolk are mouse-brained to think I can eat all the food on my own, but if it helps others I don't mind it being filled to the brim for the less fortunate."
"Is anyone here?" Ruby asked as the she-cat began to squeeze back inside. "Tumbleheart is also looking for help for a fox problem."
"Well, Timmy was about to head out and he has Jasmine here to collect news from other cats." she replied.
"And Timmy is?" the young warrior asked.
"My brother." Luna purred warmly, "He has been grumpy for moons and moons now, but I think it's because his housefolk took him to the Vet."
"Jasmine is an odd cat who comes by once a moon." Ruby explained. "He knows almost every cat and he could find you help if needed."
"Oh, I think that would be helpful." Tumbleheart meowed, relaxing as she padded after the two.
Ruby squeezed into the den carefully while Tumbleheart forced herself to. It felt wrong for her to go into a place that reeked of Twolegs, but she could smell something delicious on the other side as well. Carefully she crept in, unsure if she would be welcomed. Before her was a long haired black tom curled up in a patch of sunlight, his green eyes in slits as he watched them enter. Closer by the strange craters was a cream and white tom sitting patiently.
"Feeding the strays again?" the black tom grumbled.
Luna glared at him with a soft growl. "Well it's my home I can do what I want."
He looked away, his tail twitching irritably. "If you say so."
"That's Timmy." Ruby explained, "I wouldn't pay him no mind."
"Jasmine, this is Tumbleheart, she has come to eat, but also has a fox problem. Perhaps you know of some cats who can handle it?" Luna spoke to the cream and white tom.
The tom blinked, his blue eyes seeming to be frosted along the outer edges. "Is that so? Quite the name she has too. Depends on the fox problem though." He turned his gaze onto her.
Her fur rose slightly. "W-well, there was a pack of foxes that chased me. I just wondered if some cat could lend a paw for my Clan."
"Clan?" Timmy snorted, seeming to be amused. "And why would a Clan-cat come to ask for help of some strays, let alone come to eat here? Is the prey not running for your foul breed?"
Tumbleheart looked to him, jolted from the mocking tone. "Prey runs fine in leafbare, I just want my Clan to be safe."
"Maybe your Clan doesn't deserve to be safe, ever thought of that?" he snapped, his green eyes glowering with hate. "A Clan has no place anywhere, remember that."
"That is no way to talk to my guest!" Luna hissed, lashing her tail angrily.
"I can speak to those wretched Clan-cats however I want!" he snarled.
Jasmine stepped between the siblings, his gaze unreadable. "Timmy, this young cat has come to me with her plight, not you. So stay out of it."
The tom hesitated, before turning around with a huff. "Fine, but it's useless. They only think about themselves and no other cat."
"The Fragment is like that as well." Jasmine pointed out gently. "Although they put a leader's kits ahead of everyone else and the first born is taught to be a new leader. Regardless, all cats can be self-centered for anything. Even you are self-centered with your own anger, Timmy."
"I didn't ask your opinion." he snapped.
Tumbleheart lashed her tail. "Well, I wasn't talking to you, that's for one thing!" Timmy looked at her, shocked that she had spoke to him. He opened his jaws to continue, but Tumbleheart beat him to it. "I don't know what your problem is and I don't care. I have been taught to fight better than you, kittypet!"
Ruby stood up beside her. "And I will give her a helping paw if needed."
The black tom clamped his jaws shut and looked away, his tail tip twitching in his loss. He stayed quiet at least, which was all that mattered to Tumbleheart as she looked to Jasmine and spoke more calmly and gently. "I'm sorry for my outburst."
"It's quite alright." he meowed, "You should eat first and then tell me about those foxes. I'm sure you have a reason to ask for any other cat for help."
Tumbleheart looked to the crater, the unappetizing brown bits had an interesting scent to them. However, she didn't feel interested in them as she mewed softly. "Our Clan has kits, kits who haven't honed their skills. We have a blind she-cat as well. I know the mothers would fight for their kits, but I don't want those kits to become as heartbroken as I was when my mother died. Sure they will have their father, but what if they loose both parents? I just want to have help to save them."
Jasmine listened patiently, nodding. "That is a big worry for such a small cat."
"Please, our Clan has been at war since before I was born. I don't want any of those kits to feel they don't belong." she begged.
The kind tom pushed the crater towards her. "I will think on this matter for a solution. Just eat and if you can remember if this is one fox or-"
"It was a pack of them. One of them threatened to eat me alive." Tumbleheart mewed softly.
"Foxes don't speak cat." Ruby pointed out, "You must have just been exhausted by your long run."
"I know what I heard." She looked to the russet tabby before looking to the cream and white tom. "You believe me, don't you?"
The tom was silent, his blue eyes focused on his paws before he meowed. "Those foxes have the taste for cat-flesh. Unlike most foxes, who just kill their hunting-competition, these ones have eaten kits before. These ones know that cats will make a fine meal. You will need more than just one or two cats to help. You will need the whole of Twoleg Place on your side."
"Then can you help?" she asked, hope starting to surge inside her chest.
Jasmine blinked slowly, then admitted, "I don't know if your leader would like that. my Fragments are not like Clan-cats in many ways. Many condemn them for killing the very first leader known as Scourge. There is no chance they will want to help. However, I will do what I can to get the ones who know of such things to join your plight. Eat and head home. I have to report back to my leader and tell them where the foxes have run to. If anything, we will be able to fend them off."
"Are you all mad? These are foxes, they could kill any of you." Timmy suddenly blurted out.
"We are well aware of that, you may stay home with your Twolegs, I know of cats who lost everything to those mysterious foxes. So we will get our revenge for the sake of all cats." Jasmine growled, rising to his paws.
"Please be careful." Luna murmured, affection and yearning in her orange eyes. "I will miss seeing you."
"All I have done is sit around and hide." the tom told her, "I cannot promise that we will meet again, but I can promise that I will fight like I am with my mate again. For the sake of all kits who had been killed by those vicious brutes."
Ruby looked to Tumbleheart, warmth in his eyes. "Seems like you found all the help you need."
She nodded slowly, finally starting to crunch on the bland pellets. Her green eyes drifting to the tom who leered at her with flaring nostrils. She wished she knew what his problem was and what made him so prickly about the Clan-cats. Curiosity flared inside her. If Jasmine knew every cat, then he must know about her mother and perhaps her father. Looking ahead, ears flicking forward, the cream and white tom glanced to her.
"I just have one last question." she meowed, hope making her heart thrash inside her chest. "Do you know who Leaftail is?"
The second the question left her lips, she saw the black tom's eyes widen in the corner of her eye. The tom before her looked thoughtful, perplexed even. She held her breath, knowing that there was a small chance. After all, he looked like an old tom, he would definitely have been alive when her mother was her age or even a kit. She had to hope, even with the darkness creeping on those magnificent blue eyes.
Before the tom could answer, the black tom answered in a question. "Who are you to ask about such a thing?"
She answered, her mew soft. "She was my mother before she died." The black tom looked away, his gaze unreadable before she looked back to Jasmine whose blue eyes glittered with knowledge. Knowledge she began to fear.
Author Note:
This is the longest chapter I have written (I think).
So, Timmy and Luna have finally been introduced as well as Jasmine.
Also, yes Luna is a black cat. Why? Because Luna is a popular name for female black cats. So, that is why her name is that.
So, who wants to make some guesses on what kind of cat was Jasmine's mate?
Thank you for reading and see you all again later! - NightSky
