Sweltering heat burned up Wishpaw's pelt. She licked it in discomfort, trying to stay quiet as the scent of hare wafted by on a warm breeze. Scanning the grasses, she saw the creature was sniffing at the ground, nibbling at leaves innocently. She was sweating madly through the pads of her paws.
A glaring light from the east made it hard to see, but she caught the edge of Shadepaw's raven pelt. She was out hunting with him and Hiddenpaw, and so far they'd caught two hares, and lost a third. Wishpaw chalked the mistake up to her own overconfidence. She'd have to work on that.
The wind picked at her fur as she watched the dark-furred tom pounce, claws extended. His catch was neat and clean, and he lay down in exhaustion immediately afterwards.
Hiddenpaw showed up behind her, holding a bit of broom in his mouth. The grey apprentice wasn't all too skilled at hunting. His fur was unkempt and covered in soil and bracken, and he had a cut on shoulder.
"Did you literally catch nothing, Hiddenpaw?" Shadepaw hissed incredulously, tail waving. The grey tom hunched his shoulders meekly. "Consolation flower?" He asked hopefully, laying the yellow broom at his friend's feet. Shadepaw just blinked. "Whatever." He stalked off. They were in the far northeast part of their territory, and the acrid tang of the monsters on the Thunderpath filled the air. Across the dark, flat surface lay highstones, a sacred place she felt a longing to explore. More likely than not, though, she wouldn't get there. But it wasn't too much of a loss.
Shadepaw stiffened. "Hiddenpaw, Wishpaw" His voice was a low hiss, and he dropped into a crouch. "Cats." He flicked his long, dark tail forward, and Wishpaw narrowed her eyes, following suit. A thorny plant pricked at her underbelly, and she felt weak in the sun's feverish glow.
Shadows crossed the boulders ahead as three skinny forms passed on the edge of the stony trail. They were wary, and two kittens trailed behind, tumbling in the grass. Their tails sagged and, and all but one walked with their heads down. The kit's mother kept hers high, keeping her family close by her side.
Wishpaw took a small step forward, forepaw crunching on the heather. The strangers froze, ears pricked. Shadepaw glared at her, and Wishpaw winced. "Sorry." She mouthed quietly.
"Who's there?" The mother called out, poised aggressively. She pushed her kits behind her, and her yellow eyes glowed protectively.
The three apprentices slowly stood up. "What are you doing on WindClan territory?" Shadepaw hissed, but the calico could smell his fear-scent. The trespassers were covered head to tail in horrid scars, even the kits. A golden she-cat appeared to be the leader, and a speckled ginger tom and the dark grey mother fell in line behind her. Their ribs were clear through their sagging fur, and their eyes were defeated and clouded.
"We're just passing through. And you'll let us, unless you want your fur clawed off." The tom directed this statement to Hiddenpaw, who had advanced on him. The grey tom sprang backwards like he'd stepped on an adder.
"Oh- no thanks. That's like, number one on my list of things I don't want to happen, actually." Hiddenpaw's is voice was light, but Wishpaw caught his gaze searching the landscape for help. There was no one in sight. They were on their own.
Shadepaw shook his head furiously at them. "We protect our home." His voice was low and hostile, and he seemed disappointed in his clanmates. His dark, striped tail lashed against the ground, creating a cloud of sand that made the calico cough.
"Who are you, and why are you passing through WindClan?" Shadepaw turned to them, his gaze boring into the ragged group steadily. The golden molly met his gaze, unflinching.
"I'm Sunny, and this is Acorn, Greyspeck, Lostkit, and Mossykit. Make sense? Great. Can we go now?" She spat her words like poison.
"Sunny...fern?" The dark tabby apprentice backed away. "Like, SkyClan's deputy?"
She nodded. "That was who I was. Now, I'm just Sunny. There is no SkyClan. They're all dead, they're all gone." Her meow gave way to a sob, and the ginger tom gave her a comforting lick. She glanced gratefully back at him.
"Where are you going to go?" Wishpaw asked carefully, feeling sympathy for the former clan cats. Sunny shrugged. "Wherever we can. Does it matter?"
"Well..." Hiddenpaw searched the faces beside him. "You can come with us?" It was more question then anything else.
To both their surprise, Shadepaw didn't rebuke him. In fact, he seemed to contemplate the suggestion. "It'd be safe."
Sunny glanced at Acorn, then to Greyspeck.
"Would your leader be okay with it?" The grey she-cat asked hopefully. "I want to raise my kits as clan cats, but not where they're not wanted. They will be great warriors." She nuzzled her son and daughter lovingly, and they returned the gesture before tumbling to the grass in a giggling heap. Wishpaw felt a wave of affection rise up within her, although she'd never said a word to them.
"We can ask her." The calico molly meowed warmly. "Please. If she says no, we'll disappear." The ginger tom replied, whiskers bouncing as he nodded. "We'll try." Shadepaw replied.
The three apprentices left their prey on the fresh-kill pile, and Cloverfang nodded his head in approval. "Well done."
"Thanks!" Wishpaw chirped back instinctively before remembering her mission. "Have you seen Cloudstar?"
Cloverfang tilted his head thoughtfully. "I believe she's talking with Morningcloud."
The calico had only met the spirited queen once or twice, but recognized her name. She purred in thanks, before dashing off the the nursery with Shadepaw. Hiddenpaw got stuck bringing a rabbit to Bluecall.
"Wishpaw. Shadepaw." The leader meowed, expression bright. A pair of kittens lay slept at their mother's belly as Morningcloud curled her tail over them. "How may I help you?"
Wishpaw shifted her paws, suddenly uncomfortable. "We met with three lost SkyClan cats. They have nowhere to go... and were wondering if they could live with us." Her voice was quiet. She was afraid that the snowy-furred she-cat would call her disloyal.
Morningcloud looked up to her friend. "Don't be indecisive, Cloudstar. I know that look- and don't apologize either." Cloudstar opened her mouth, and closed it. The Queen looked smug, but worried.
"Sorry-" "-Cloudstar-" "-Okay, okay. Well, I need to meet up with these cats. There are only three? What happened to the rest?"
Shadepaw wasn't the type to mince words. "Dead." His tone didn't change.
"Stripestar- killed an entire clan?" She choked. "Except for those three." Morningcloud murmured. "It's likely there was quite a toll, but most probably escaped on their own. And keep in mind, it's not just Stripestar. It's all of ThunderClan."
Cloudstar closed her eyes and nodded. Light fell on her pink nose through the shield of gorse overhead.
"They can come. Just for a bit, however." Cloudstar's voice was semi-assertive, but had that constant tone of uncertainty. "And where will they go afterwards?" Morningcloud's mottled brown pelt rippled as she stood.
"You're right. WindClan needs all the warriors it can get anyways."
Cloudstar looked up to the sky, her eyes out of focus. Speaking to the skies above, she whispered "Guide me now. Because StarClan knows I'm lost."
Update on my second story to those interested: I've been working on trying to make some well-crafted characters, and trying to plot it out! I sort of jumped in headfirst with this one, and I'm struggling to give a lot of these cats an in-depth and detailed personality. I don't think I'll do live updates for it, though, I'll just post it when it's finished. Anyways, still love this story and will still be continuing it! Today is my second to last day of summer, unfortunately. Hope that won't affect anything too much!
Anyways, that was very, very rambly. Love you all, and thanks for reading! Please leave a review to tell me how to improve!
