So, so sorry for the long delay in updates! Finals hit pretty hard, and I had a big stats project on procrastination I had to finish.

In other news: I'm planning on uploading this story to Archive Of Our Own to include some story art, so look for that in a couple of days under the same username. Thanks for sticking with this, if you did, and enjoy!


Chapter 7

"Wow," was all Tikipaw had to say when she looked at the inside of Fresh Market. "Just… wow."

"Yep," Skyfeather said, smirking. They had hidden behind some stands and boxes in the corner next to the doors, and now they were staring at the inside of the supermarket. Shelves towered high under pronounced rafters, stocked to the brim in various human goods. Stands littered an open space, filled with baked goods and deli foods.

"So, why are we here again?" Tikipaw asked nervously, stalling for time. Truthfully, she knew what they were doing here, but she couldn't fathom why they were here. What use did cats have for stuff in a grocery store?

"Well, as mentioned, we need supplies," Skyfeather said. "Also, it's a rite of passage for every new apprentice. Their first day, we take 'em down here, let them see Quarry, and then walk them into Fresh Market for a raid. That's how they learn. You'll be doing it at least three more times in your apprenticeship, so better get used to it," she said wryly.

"Three times?!" Tikipaw squeaked. "What could that be for?"

"Organized raids happen once every one, two months. About four or five warriors go down and bring their apprentices with them. Skyfeather's sent down a lot," Stonewing interjected. "Me, not so much. Taikapaw's training will involve more border patrol and defense, he's got the build for it."

"Sweet," Taikapaw said, grinning. "Scars are cool." And he winked at Tikipaw. She glared at him.

"Alright, we've got to hurry," Skyfeather said abruptly. "We're out of stock of the stuffers and towels, so let's reconvene on aisle twelve. That's stuffed animals and paper towels," she added, responding to the silent question in Tikipaw's gaze.

"What d'you need stuffed animals for?" Taikapaw questioned. "I kinda get the paper towels—insulation, right?"

"Got it in one. We need the stuffed animals for the kits, and for their fabric and stuffing. Bedding."

And then they were off. Skyfeather and Stonewing split apart, veering right and left respectively. Tikipaw followed Skyfeather to the back of the store. Freezing cold air greeted her, and her fur rose. She couldn't help but shiver at the freezer shelves stocked full of butchered meat as well as the temperature. The sight strengthened her resolve to not get caught.

Skyfeather and Tikipaw wound around the aisles, taking careful note of all the customers browsing. Tikipaw looked at them in awe, seeing all the different faces. Her people were not the only variety of human out there, it seemed. Some of them were short, some were tall… some were pale, others darker. It was a larger world than she could have imagined.

Eventually, Skyfeather led them to the ending aisle, and, upon finding a lone human browsing there, ducked into a shelf to hide. Before long, Skyfeather nodded her head outwards and Tikipaw followed her out warily. Upon seeing Stonewing and Taikapaw waiting for her, she relaxed somewhat.

"Good, you made it," Skyfeather said, relieved. "Now, let's gather what we need. I'll handle the leaps for the stuffed animals, you guys get a few rolls of paper towels."

"Alright," Tikipaw said nervously. "This is insane," she muttered under her breath once Skyfeather had walked away. "Oh, jeez, this is a terrible idea."

"Relax," Stonewing said. "We do this all the time. We've only been caught a couple times, no biggie. Now c'mon, we've gotta hurry if we want to be on time with Skyfeather. That she-cat's a menace."

Tikipaw gulped and followed Stonewing, trailing behind Taikapaw. There wasn't anyone down this aisle, thank goodness, but she kept nervously checking behind her to look for humans. Stonewing motioned with his tail to the shelves. "Any of these will work. Pick a package."

Taikapaw eagerly ripped a plastic-wrapped bundle from the shelf, and Stonewing nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Tikipaw? We'll expect you to do some choosing eventually. You're part of this team."

Chastised, Tikipaw could only nod shyly and approach Taikapaw, who was looking at the package with confusion in his eyes. "How do I open this?"

"Let me," Tikipaw said, unsheathing her claws. "I've gotten into more bags of cat food than I can count." She ripped a line straight down the plastic wrapping with one claw and watched as it split apart. Tikipaw grasped part of the plastic in her teeth and tugged, causing the small rolls inside to spill out.

"Nice work," Stonewing said. He neatly picked up a roll in his teeth, gesturing with his head for the two apprentices to do the same. Tikipaw awkwardly grasped it in her mouth, the dry texture raising the fur along her spine as she shivered. A snarl startled her, and she whipped around to see Skyfeather, three small stuffed bears dangling from her jaws, hurtling down the aisle towards them, a broom-laden human male hot on her tracks.

"Move out!" Skyfeather yowled, muffled around the fabric. Tikipaw darted down the tile away from the incoming broom, streaking away behind Taikapaw. It was slightly awkward to run with a paper towel roll in her mouth, but soon she could see red-orange sunset light through large, glass-paned windows.

The group darted around shopping carts, various food stands, and human heels, narrowly avoiding being stepped on. Tikipaw flattened her ears, hearing shrieks of surprise and anger. The group approached a door next to a large red box, and it slid open, enabling the cats to run through it. Nobody was chasing them at that point, but they still didn't stop until they had reached the field that they came from. A trilling sound marked their arrival, and a small brown tail streaked into a burrow, but none of the cats were interested in hunting at that moment.

Tikipaw dropped her paper towel roll and panted, shaking out a paw that she had stepped on weirdly. "You do that all the time?!"

Skyfeather and Stonewing chuckled breathlessly, grinning at her. "It's not always that exciting. We don't get caught often," Skyfeather laughed. "Humans aren't very perceptive."

Taikapaw looked over at the warriors, flicking an ear up at the darkening sky. "It's almost night-time. Isn't it more dangerous out here after dark?"

Skyfeather afforded the sky a contemplative, nervous look. "Yeah, it kind of is. We better get back. At least we can call this mission a resounding success!"

Tikipaw smiled tremulously. "Does that mean we pass?"

"Heck yeah," Stonewing said, laughing. "You're pretty badass—for housecats, that is."

"When we get back to camp, we'll report to Sparkstar, and first thing tomorrow you'll be sorted into your factions," Skyfeather interjected, a smile on her face. "I think we've had enough proof of your skill." She looked at Stonewing and winked.

"Factions?" Taikapaw asked. "What're those?"

"It's how we divvy up the work," Stonewing said. "No sense in making a cat do a task they're not suited for. That's what this trip was all about, so that we could find out what you were good at."

"Will Taikapaw and I be separated?" Tikipaw asked nervously, sharing a glance with her brother.

Skyfeather smiled sympathetically at her. "Not wholly. Pouncenight teaches all the apprentices at once, as the senior trainer. So you'll be together during that."

"Each of you will have to be trained individually in your factions, though," Stonewing said. "So you won't share that." Skyfeather leveled him with a glare.

"Ixnay on the overshare-ay," she hissed. He looked sufficiently cowed.

Taikapaw sighed, but smiled at Tikipaw. "Hey, we'll still share some things. Nothing can break us apart, right?"

"Yeah, I guess," Tikipaw murmured. She sighed. "You know, I thought you were crazy for doing this. I was really only doing it for you, but… I think I'm gonna like it here. You know?"

Taikapaw laughed. "Aw, Tikipaw, finally becoming wild? Never thought I'd see the day."

"Shut up."