Chapter 11
FearClan/Lion
The sun climbed slowly into the sky as Lion lead her small group through the Twoleg Place. Her amber eyes glinting in the sunlight as she padded confidently. Twitching her ears, she glanced back to Moth who was just a step behind her. His green eyes on look out for danger as he herded her along an unfamiliar path.
"We'll turn after that thunderpath so we can get into the alley there." he murmured to her.
"Very well." Lion nodded, her gaze focused on the thunderpath ahead of her. "Where will it take us?"
"To the Blood Gathering, a place where advisors meet to check on the other fragments." Moth answered her.
"How strange." she grunted, looking up at strange cats that peered from the shadows or behind the odd clear-ice. "And those cats?"
"Perhaps they are rogues or they are of BloodClan. In any case, we have to be careful. BloodClan fragments are highly aggressive, so we have to be on the outskirts until we find a representative to guide us to where their fragment is." he whispered, his gaze flicking to their hostile gazes. "The ones behind the clear-ice could be kittypets for all I know. After Twolegs got tired of us being in the Giant Garden, they attacked, taking many cats, Shards and Shard-Mothers. The Council members, and even leaders and their commanders."
"And none were ever seen again." Berry chimed in, her pale yellow eyes glancing the a ragged looking gray tom, their jaws parted in a warning yowl. Yellow eyes glinting like chipped pieces of ice, much like their yellowed teeth that were missing a fang or two.
Lion matched their stare in challenge yawning casually to show that she still had all of her deadly teeth. With a hiss, the burly tom turned away, flicking his tail in agitation. With a sniff of contempt, she looked back on ahead and lead her patrol. In the corner of her eye she saw Moth looking quiet impressed, shocked even. With a purr, she addressed him.
"What? My aggressive practices back at the Willow Tree have a nice place here." She waved her tail passively. "Besides, he's big, but he's old. If I'm still young, then he knows that you two will be my back up if he isn't careful."
"Perhaps, but it would be a pointless fight." Moth replied.
Berry shook her head slightly, "We could have asked some cat where to find food."
"There is a place nearby the Blood Gathering." Moth reminded her. "We can squeeze in over there for a bite."
"And what is at this place?" Lion asked flatly, feigning disinterest.
"It's a place where Twolegs leave kittypet food for the fragments and other lone-cats and the like." he explained.
"Gross." she growled, flattening her ears.
"It's food. We have to do what we can to not die." Berry reminded her. "Especially if we can't find a group who will answer our plight."
"Perhaps if we say Heather is a she-cat without a mate they might be more interested."
"And get their hopes up like Pounce?" Lion pointed out, "That would just be cruel."
The pale cream she-cat sighed softly. "Not like it would work."
"You never know, now come on, just a few more strides to the thunderpath and we can cross it." the bright ginger tom chirped, starting to take the lead to peer around the corner of a strange den. With a nod, he let Lion and Berry take the lead ahead of him. The reddish-brown she-cat swallowed dryly, padding to the edge of the Twoleg Path. It dipped down and was in some kind of channel of white striped black-stone.
With great hesitation, she listened as the ground beneath her paws rumbled and monsters roared past. The wind they created buffeting their leafbare-thick fur. Narrowing her eyes against the glare of shining colorful hides, she was prepared to run the second Berry decided to. This was their teamwork ever since they traveled deeper into the heart of Twoleg territory. With a flick of her tail, Berry bolted onto the thunderpath. A blaring howl of a monster sounded with a screech.
Lion's eyes widened in horror as the monster swerved before her eyes, slamming into a nearby monster with a thump that shook her body. Berry had somehow outpaced it's round paws and was fluffed up on the other side, pelting towards the alley. Before she could find her voice, Moth nudged her and her flight response exploded inside of her.
Run as fast as you can, Lion! Finch's meow sounded in her ears as she raced into the thunderpath. Moth was close behind her, his pelt brushing hers as they pelted onto the next path and followed the fear-scent left behind from Berry. Moth soon over took her stride and barreled into Berry roughly with a snarling hiss.
"What is the matter with you?" he exclaimed, his eyes alight with rage.
"I thought it was clear." The pale she-cat whimpered, pinned to the grimy black-stone.
Lion padded up beside Moth, her legs trembling despite her effort to look confident. "You could have gotten yourself killed! Forsaken stars, you could have gotten us all killed!"
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again!" she squealed as Moth dug in his claws.
"See that you do." he snapped, lashing his tail. "Your duty on this mission is for safe crossings, take it seriously."
Lion padded up to Moth, shoving him off the she-cat. "She's scared enough, no need to intimidate the poor scrap."
"I'm just getting the point across."
"By being Cedar, Heather, or Pounce?" Lion sniped him, earning a startled stare. "A scolding would have sufficed, if she gets an infection she will slow us down and I will put that on your conscious for as long as you live should she die."
Moth looked away, shamefaced now that she had practically scorched him with her words alone. With a gentle prod, Lion got Berry to her paws. "Come, Moth can find us somewhere to rest for being a feather-brained fool. I'll keep you warm."
Berry trembled, curled into herself like a pathetic kit. Sadness crept over her heart. She felt for her, to have been turned on my someone she thought she could trust. The same pain she felt when they held her back to watch the murder of her mother. Cedar was gone, but Pounce had never shown remorse ever since. He was like a father to her since her real one had vanished.
With gentle strokes, she rasped her tongue over Berry's ears, soothing her as she purred shakily to herself. The wounds weren't deep, even as her tongue passed over them. The tang of blood made her shudder, but she had to do her best for the shock. Hawk had told her to keep a cat in shock warm and to soothe them anyway possible. So, she was working hard for the poor she-cat and putting Moth to work as punishment.
She was upset about almost loosing Berry, hurt feelings or not, Berry was still a friend to her. No matter how far she had to wrench herself free. The she-cat had been nothing but kind and apologetic ever since the incident, only to be shut down and closed off for seasons. Lion's amber eyes looked down upon the very pale she-cat who glanced to her with white-rimmed eyes.
At last, after so long, Lion breathed an answer to long forgotten apologies. "I forgive you, Berry. I forgive you for everything. You only ever try your best and feel that it's never enough. I know you weren't trying to kill us. We're just hunger-mad for the time being, but everything will be better from now on. I promise."
Berry purred shakily, whimpering slightly as she buried her face into her fur. Perhaps she had to take the first step to accepting her pains. Regardless, she knew that Berry bought them enough time to escape the thunderpath and get closer to their goal. She had to be grateful for it, even if it nearly cost their lives. Closing her eyes briefly, she knew what she must do. I have to look at the positive side of things from now on. Just like Hawk.
. . .
The sun was reaching it's peak of sun-high when they were moving again. Moth had scouted ahead to make sure they were heading the right away. Something he made the choice about to make up for acting out. With a twitch of her whiskers, she followed Moth along the path he took. She kept watch for danger while Berry trailed behind, exhausted from the shock she had suffered and was still suffering from. However, she powered through, relishing the weak-sun warmth of leafbare when they padded out into it.
Moth perked up, pausing as there was a few cats sitting about idly. A strong golden brown she-cat laid in a patch of sunlight. The gray-stone covered the earth with a massive stinking den that reeked of crow-food and rotting prey. Lion wrinkled her muzzle in disgust as she took in the other cats she could see.
A silver tabby sat on the outer edges, his blue eyes glinting in the sunlight coyly as he watched calmly, his long fur unruffled. He was slim and appeared to be quite handsome, pretty even. He flicked an ear, which seemed to let a muscular crow-black tom pad over protectively. Their dark amber eyes glowering with distrust while aggression radiated off of him in a thick musky scent.
Curled up together was mottled brown and gray pelted cats who dozed without a care in the world. Leaving one impatient she-cat with a twitching tail sitting in the middle of the stone-clearing. Her pelt was a pale creamy yellow color with cold, yellow eyes that were trained on them. Slowly, she rose to her paws, walking stiffly with a fresh scarred hind leg that looked nearly mangled.
"I never seen you lot around here before." she growled, looking them over. "Who are you and what Fragment are you from?"
"I am Moth." the bright ginger tom introduced himself. "This is Berry and Lion. We are of a fragment that moved into the river-territory many moons ago. We seek help."
"I see," She looked over to the others and raised her voice. "Twoleg Den Advisor, can you spare any cats for their plight?"
"We have lost many, we cannot afford it." the muscular crow-black tom rumbled, his mew like thunder to Lion's ears.
"Giant Pond Advisor, how about you?"
"Negative." the sunning golden brown she-cat answered. "We are busy creating plans to assist what is left of the Twoleg Den Fragments."
"Correct," the she-cat scowled. "Monster Keeper Advisor?"
The mottled gray she-cat looked up, blinking sleep-bleary eyes. "We have nothing to contribute. The coyotes have destroyed us and took over the Monster Sleeping-Place. They killed our leader and I am staying with the Wander Fragments."
"And they cannot send support?"
"Not since those vicious mongrels have targeted us thanks to the scent-trail these pigeon-brains gave them." the mottled brown tom growled.
"It is not my fault! They have tracking noses like dogs!" She sent a glare.
"Shouldn't she be demoted then?" the pale tabby sneered. "Do the Wanderers have weak-minds too?"
"What about you then?" The crow-black tom hissed, lashing his tail. "Can the Giant Garden send any cats?"
"I would let you know if I was the advisor." she hissed back.
"You're not an advisor, then why are you here?" Moth challenged.
"Our Advisor is very busy and helps all cats. That is what the Giant Garden Fragment does. We are the heart of all fragments." She glared around. "Ever since the decline and separation, we have to do something for you idiots."
Lion felt her fur rise. "Well I'm not surprised you aren't an advisor. You're the third haughtiest cat I have ever seen!"
"Lion!" Moth warned her.
Lion pushed her way to the front. "We didn't travel all this way to have you be high and mighty. Unless you're the leader than you can crawl back to whatever hole your mother birthed you in!"
"How dare you come to ask for help and insult me!" she snarled.
Lion glared back. "No, how dare you act like you're leader and better than everyone else! These cats need help, but they don't bother with you with it, do they? It's a wonder why when your nose is so far up your own rump you can't see a thing!"
Moth shoved her aside. "I'm sorry, she isn't a true Fragment."
Berry blinked, "What are you talking about Moth? She is right. We don't need that mange-pelt!"
He turned, his green eyes hard. "No, if Lion can't control her temper, then she has no business on this mission."
Lion stared back, feeling cold deep into her bones. "Is that how it is?" she meowed coldly, rising to her paws.
"You are going to get us killed." Moth tried to reason with her.
"She is not!" Berry stepped up to him. "You're only saying that because we're with Fragments."
"And in the Fragments we show respect."
"If you call being a mother's-kit showing respect, then you have been the prime example!" Lion snapped, her body quivered with rage.
"What is that supposed to mean-"
"You should have let me die trying to save my mother." she snarled, her claws unsheathed. "At least then I would be with the only cat who cares about me!"
"I do care about you." he meowed softly.
"Then show it!" she seethed, "Which is more important to you, Moth? Your past or your future?"
"We have to show respect." he reminded her, his mew turning gentle, as though she was a kit.
She shook her head. "Respect is to be earned. If she cannot show a lick of respect for anyone else, then we can go elsewhere."
"Help is right here."
"No, I refuse to speak to another cat that was anything like Cedar or Heather. You already betrayed me twice now. Now prove it. Are you going to ask this she-cat for help despite her no need for respect or are you coming with me?"
Berry stepped up to Lion's shoulder. "If he wants to be dumb, let him. He is a tom after all. They don't think, they follow their mouse-hearts."
"I don't care if he is a tom or not." she snapped. "If he is loyal to the Fragments, then he can stay here for all I care. We are not even a fragment, we're FearClan to mock others."
"You accepted this mission, Lion." she whispered, her pale yellow eyes wide.
Lion stared at her, feeling hollow inside. "I didn't have the choice, Berry. Right here I do. We can leave him here if he wants to. The choices are simple. We wait for a proper and respectful cat or we leave for our own territory just as Finch has done."
The pretty tom lifted his head. "Finch? You know Finch?"
"Yes, she was my mother. And you?" she growled. Was this tom even listening?
"I'm Shimmer." he meowed, excitedly. "Finch used to watch over me and my littermates when I was growing up. We found an abandoned Twoleg nest for shelter and met Jackdaw's fragment since they also needed it. Is she still doing well?"
"She's dead." she snapped, making him recoil.
"I'm sorry to hear that." he murmured, "I wish we could help you."
"It's fine." she curled her lip. "She's been dead for moons so what should it matter? You weren't there."
"Like we of the Giant Garden would want to help with no-kin cats like her." the pale tabby looked to Moth. "If you need help you have to wait for the advisor to come back."
"I can wait."
Lion listened, seeing his green eyes turn to her, but she looked away. "He's made his choice. Feel free to stay with him, Berry. I have no place here." she murmured, feeling old and tired for the first time in moons.
"I won't leave you."
"I can find food on my own." Lion retorted lifelessly.
"If you find a clearing like this one, but smaller, stay away. You are not a fragment and is not for you." the she-cat snarled.
Shimmer sent a glare. "Breeze, kindly close your jaws before we give you a reason to."
Jackdaw nodded with a grumble. "Agreed. We out number you and will risk a battle if it means knocking you down a few pegs."
"Well if she is alone then the coyote's will be busy ripping her apart." Breeze snarled.
Berry's pale yellow eyes flashed. "How dare you. I'll protect her. We don't need your help. Even if we don't return to FearClan, then at least we won't have to follow that cruel ruler."
"Why would you follow an outsider!" Breeze accused.
A soft scrape of paw-steps sounded behind Lion, followed by a soothing deep mew. "Breeze, darling, why are you being so cruel to guests who have come for help?"
Breeze froze, her yellow eyes wide in alarm. "Oh, Jasmine, I wasn't expecting you so early, you said closer to dusk you would be back."
"Well, I have received news about the foxes who killed Rat's entire litter." Jasmine meowed, walking into the clearing. "They are hiding in the place where the forest once was. I have to head back to the Giant Garden and suggest a patrol to track them down."
"Then we will have no cats left to help Moth's group." Breeze mewed haughtily.
"We need a helping pair of paws to turn the tide into our favor." Moth explained. our leader, Heather, has sent us here to find help."
"I wouldn't pay any heed to their problem." Breeze told the cream and white tom.
Jasmine ignored her, his blue eyes trained on Moth. "Who is the leader of your patrol."
"I am." Moth answered eagerly.
"And the she-cats?" he prompted.
"They were deciding to leave me here so I am the patrol."
Jasmine searched his gaze, before shaking his head. "There is no help to give then."
"What do you mean?"
"I heard the fight before I walked in here. Breeze, I am disappointed in you. I told you to swallow your pride, Advisor's are above The Council's horrible ways. As for you, Moth, you should have sided with the she-cats. Never feed the pride of a cat. You groom that and they will only get worse."
"That doesn't matter." Moth assured him.
Jasmine flicked his tail. "I said there is no help I can give you. If you buckle under Breeze, then that shows me enough that your group is beyond saving. Cats with no respect have no place to be helped by the likes of us. If you wish to prove otherwise, then deal with the coyotes before newleaf. Only then will I consider telling your plight to our leader."
"Great and about those foxes?" Breeze purred, her yellow eyes glinting in the orange light of the sun setting.
"We'll see what Quail has to say about that. Fetch him for me, like a good little kit." Jasmine meowed coldly before padding into the center. "Since you misbehaved in my place, you owe me that much."
"Right away, Jasmine." she mewed softly, lowering her head as she slunk her way out of the clearning.
Lion watched, her tail tip twitching before slipping away as well. The Twoleg Place was a dangerous place, but she wasn't going to wait anymore. Moth was never meant to change his ways she supposed. After all, how was she going to compete with his loyalties when she only ever pushed him away. She hardly noticed that Berry was following her, how could she ever ever forgive Moth verbally if he kept putting her far behind his loyalty.
Perhaps, I could never become part of FearClan or anywhere else. Maybe I should never go back. Nothing is binding me to it. She mused, padding carefully. Looking to Berry, she saw the darkness inside those pale yellow eyes. A darkness she wished she could understand. Was she worried about Moth? Were they closer than she ever imagined? Glancing over Berry's figure, she felt colder.
Are they what I think they are? She thought in horror.
Never once had she considered that she was tearing two mates apart. Guilt clawed at her as she started to pick up the pace. Her tail twitching in irritation. How could she be so blind? Finally, she looked to Berry, opening her jaws to speak, when Berry shook her head.
"Forget Moth. He has one paw for you and one paw for FearClan and the fragments." Berry told her. "Once he decides where his loyalty should be, everything will be better."
Lion nodded numbly, trying to take comfort in her newly made friend. Or perhaps she was always a friend, they just saw each other different. With a steadying breath, she padded on, hoping that somehow Moth will decide his path and even have a way to help with the coyotes that plagued the Twoleg Place.
Author Note:
After a writer's block, this finally came to mind. I knew what Lion's journey was going to be, but I needed the middle ground. So I found it, they will be on a quest to earn the right to be helped.
Also, yes, this chapter happens at the exact same time as Tumbleheart's. So this is another thing that will happen, where they can share the same time period so the story moves much more smoothly! Hope this does wonders to help move it along better.
Thank you for reading! - NightSky
