The Rise of Snake

by Kinsey Elise

Follow this vigorous journey of a young kit and her siblings born into a dangerous world. Entangled in a web full of deceit, love, hunger, and peril, Snake finds herself on a twisted path. Her parents BloodClan origin makes her a target for enemies and friends alike. What will become of the three?

8. The Final Departure

The Rise of Snake: Chapter Seven

Characters:

BloodClan:

Fallen: Leader of BloodClan; tom; an orange cat with black ears, tail and brown tabby stripes, he has a single white paw and green eyes; lanky but muscular

Lost: Deputy of BloodClan; shecat; blue/gray pelt with silver eyes, has only half her tail; small (resembles a main coon)

Leader's Advisors: (They give out advice to the leader and help with the trainers on assessing and placing a new cat)

Diesel: tom; tortoishell of brown, hazel, and white with brown eyes; average but built

Broken: tom; pale yellow and white tabby with a broken tail tip from a battle long ago, has blue eyes; large

The Guards of BloodClan:

Cathair: Advisor of the guard; tom; dark brown pelt with gray paws and spots along his back and tail, his chest and underbelly are white and he has bright green eyes; massive, but hunched over

Baylor: Captain of the Guard and son of Cathair; tom; white pelt with a gray spot on his neck, back, and flank, he has brown paws and ears. He also has one black spot overlapped by the gray one on his shoulder, his eyes are a bright green; massive and muscular

Hail: trainer; tom; Brown with black spots and silver flecks; large

Sleet: trainer; shecat; silver tabby with one black paw and gray eyes; petite

Fang: trainer; tom; a brick red with a white chest and brown eyes; lanky

Titan: trainer; tom; calico, has ice colored eyes; massive

Jasper: tom; Black and white tabby with turquoise eyes; bulky and decently sized

Jagged: tom; brother of Jasper; Gray and black tabby cat with a white streak that goes down his muzzle, has sky blue eyes; also bulky and decently sized

Owl: shecat; dark and light brown tabby, has a black line that stretches down her back; small

Rose: shecat; sister of Rose; a yellow shecat with a red hue and a white chest and paws, she has green eyes; petite

Fox: shecat; sister of Rose; orange pelt with a red hue, has white paws and a black tipped tail, also has deep green eyes; petite

Willow: shecat; light gray shecat with a dark gray face and back, fades out into a silver under belly and she has hazel eyes; large

Quake: tom; all black with yellow eyes; massive

Stitch: tom; gray with one black paw and crimson eyes, got his name after he was caught by the cutter and released neutered; large

Frostbite (Frost): tom; brother to Ghost and Smoke; silver body with white tipped paws and nose, has ice blue eyes; lanky

Smoke: shecat; sister to Frostbite and Ghost; smoke brindled with a pale gray, has a white chest and tipped ears, also has gray eyes; small

Ghost: tom; brother to Smoke and Frostbite; pure white with a silver tipped tail and ears, gray eyes with flecks of ice blue; large but lanky

Wander: tom; brown and black tabby with a white chest and has orange eyes; massive with lean build

Vic: tom; ginger and brown marbled, has a white muzzle and rings under his eyes; small

Wolf: shecat; Persian cat with a silver and brown pelt, has blue eyes; built but short

Shade: tom; red with a darker red belly and brown eyes; average

Nettle: shecat; sister to Havoc; Siamese, has blue eyes; petite but tall

Havoc: tom; Siamese, has blue eyes; massive

Titus: tom; long black pelt with a red-ish hue, has a white chest, paws, and tipped tail with pale green eyes, large and built (recruit)

Fade: shecat; tawny short coat with a dark brown mask on her face, legs, ears, and tail. Has a white chest with bright sea blue eyes; average and lean, has a longer tail than most (recruit)

BloodClan Cats:

Mags: shecat; a light brown tabby cat with a bobbed tail and strange purple eyes; average and lanky

Butler: tom; deep gray undercoat with a black overcoat (deep gray coat catches in the sun), and a single white paw and light yellow eyes; large and lanky with some build

Salem: tom; pitch black pelt with a gray paw and red spot on his tail and back, has one red tipped ear, has bright green eyes; large and built; mate to Harper

Luke: tom; white with black ears and tipped tail, has bright green eyes, average

Murk: tom; shaggy gray coat with white paws, has light blue eyes; stocky

Harper: shecat; mahogany red with a white face and underbelly, has a black spot over her left eye and on her right forepaw, has tawny eyes; average; mate to Salem

Rogues:

Maple: shecat; a deep mahogany pelt with golden swirls, a white chest, muzzle, paws, and tail with one red spot at the end of it. She has soft blue eyes; petite with long legs

Snake: shecat, daughter of Baylor and Maple; a long golden pelt with darker golden/mahogany swirls, a white chest, paws, underbelly, underside of tail and tip of tail. Also has bright green and lively eyes with silver woven into them and dark brown ears; petite with long legs

Ace: tom, son of Baylor and Maple; has a thick dark brown pelt that darkened into a black as it neared his belly and down his legs, his face is black with dark brown tabby markings strewn across it, has a single white paw and soft blue eyes; Massive like his father

Soot: shecat; daughter of Baylor and Maple; a long silvery smoke pelt with dark gray paws and tipped tail, has white tipped ears and muzzle and a dark gray spot on her shoulder like her father's, one eye is soft blue and the other a green; petite with long legs

Felicity's Cats:

Brumous: tom; Felicity's representative- her right hand man; a light grey pelt with darker grey patches, has white ears and a white muzzle, also has silver eyes; large, toned, and wiry

Blue: tom; silver gray cat with dark gray rings around his eyes and a black patch on his face, has stunning blue eyes; large and lean

Thatcher: tom; dark brown pelt with a sandy brown chest and paws, has white stripes on his face with brown eyes; large and built

Macie: shecat; light golden pelt with a yellow underbelly and light brown ears and tipped tail, has light blue eyes; average and lean

Posy: shecat; white with cream ears and tail, has a black muzzle and bright green eyes; average and lean

Amarathine: shecat; Posy's kit; a soft white with light blue eyes and a silver gray stripe that runs down her back, as well as a dark gray spot on her chest and the tip of her tail

Cats from the Past:

Kronos: Previous Deputy of BloodClan; tom; had a sleek tan pelt speckled with black spots, and a single white toe on his left paw, ice blue eyes; descendent of Scourge (his father's grandfather was Scourge's brother aka Quince); massive and built

Vito: rogue; tom; had a typical brown tabby pelt but unusual eyes, one was orange and the other brown; average and lanky

FeatherMist: descendent of the Clans; shecat; had a sleek water tight silver pelt with light gray markings and soft white undertones, her paws, chest, and the tip of her tail were snow white, she had light blue eyes; petite

Snow: Cathair's mate and Baylor's mother; guard; pure white fur with no markings; had blue eyes; petite

A dark figure lurked in the shadows, his green eyes peering out from behind a trash bin. He flexed his claws nervously, what was taking her so long? He flashed a glance to the silver-gray cat next to him, but quickly switched it back to the alley way when the tom pinned his ears back impatiently. The tom mumbled something under his breath, and began to lash his tail.

"Titus, is she coming or not? We can't stay around here much longer." Titus glanced up at the sky, and realized that the tom was right, a patrol should be coming by soon. The moon, the shape of a sharp cat's claw, was near its peak.

"She's coming, just another moment Blue." He reassured him, and received a growl in response. A cold breeze swept through the city, chilling the hot tempered cat's fur. Soon enough, a small blue gray shecat came bounding out of the alley way, panting heavily from the run.

"About time," Blue grumbled as he slid out from the trash bin and started off at a brisk walk to meet the others. "Let's go, and hurry before we run into a patrol." The shecat nodded, and flashed a gentle smile at Titus.

"Does Fallen know you're gone?" Titus trotted after Blue, Lost padding after him lightly.

"I'm pretty good at getting around unnoticed, he won't miss me." She answered confidently, speeding up her pace, brushing pelts as she passed him. His fur grew warm, contrary to the bitter winter weather, and he quickly picked his pace up to match her step for step.

Blue led them into the woods, near the abandoned building. Without pause he started off at a steady lope up the hill where Baylor had allegedly defeated the rogues a few seasons ago. He sped down the hill into a vacant camp, Lost and Titus trailing after him, to join a small group of cats.

A golden shecat, named Macie, jumped up and touched muzzles to him, meowing a greeting and Blue purred softly. "Thought you were caught by the patrol for a minute there buddy, we were worried." Thatcher commented as he stood up from the group and joined Macie, by his friend's side.

"You think a patrol could catch me?" Blue snickered at the thought, and Thatcher batted him playfully. Blue rolled his eyes and scanned the clearing, after a moment a look of confusion formed in his brows, "where's Brumous?"

"Wait, Brumous?" Lost nudge in between the trio, and flashed Blue a heated glare. "You mean where's Felicity, that's the cat I risked my pelt to see, not some 'Brumous'!" she spat angrily in his face. Blue narrowed his eyes at her, his pelt bristling.

He parted his jaws to address her, but a deep voice spoke up before he could. "No one gets to Felicity without first getting through me, got a problem?" The group turned their heads to acknowledge a large cat that walked commandingly into the camp.

Lost pinned her ears back, "yes, I do actually. Do you know who I am tom?" Titus laid his tail across her flank in a poor attempt to calm her down, she shook it off and took a step forward and lashing her docked tail.

"The question is," the tom strolled confidently across the camp, "do you know who I am?"

"I presume you're none other than the legendary Brumous, here to honor me with your noble presence." She stalked up and stared defiantly into his face, gritting her teeth.

"That's right." He coolly meowed, "now-"

"Well I am the deputy of BloodClan, and I will not be brushed aside like some mewling kit." She spat in his face. Brumous cleared his throat, and narrowed his eyes warningly.

"Then don't act like one." Lost growled, but before she could retort he walked past her.

"Blue, these two are the cats you told me about?" Blue nodded briskly, "well then, now that we are done with introductions let's get down to business." Lost growled deep in her chest, her fur ruffling up.; she rejoined Titus, pressing up against his massive frame and staring coldly at Brumous.

The cats looked to Brumous, waiting for his words. "Many seasons of work and preparation has been leading up to a moment we will soon reach," he lifted his chin up pride fully as the cats around him meowed in excitement. "We are now a whisker away from having the number, force, and cunning to over throw BloodClan. For countless seasons cats have been unjustified, slaughtered, and left to waste away, but thanks to our noble and worthy leader- Felicity,"

"Hail Felicity," the cats, excluding Titus and Lost, meowed in unison.

"We will bring an end to this wretched disease, this virus that has seeped into the earth and infected any cat who laid a paw to the soil. It soon will be our time to rise up and run the streets red with BloodClan blood! It is our responsibility, and some our right," he looked to Lost knowingly; she turned her head, "to avenge ourselves and others for being wronged." Brumous gathered himself and leapt onto a boulder that jutted out of the ground, he stood proudly at the top staring down at the cats below him. "So brothers, sisters, I implore you to prepare yourselves, in Felicity's honor-

"Hail Felicity"

"-to prepare for battle, to bring back order, prosperity, and peace to our lives." He settled his gaze on lost and Titus, "Do you two swear to our cause, and to be loyal to Felicity and abandon your roots as BloodClan filth?"

"I swear my loyalty to Felicity," Titus stood up, his tail held high in confidence. Lost looked at her paws silently, and after a moment she met Brumous's gaze. He met it coolly, waiting her response. She sighed and glanced back in the direction of her Clan, her kithood and seasons of work to get where she is now is as part of her as the water is to the river; but Fallen flashed through her mind like a tsunami, followed by a cold shutter and a sense of panic, and her head fell in utter defeat.

"I swear my loyalty to Felicity," Lost looked up, her gaze hardened, "and to abandon my roots." Brumous dipped his head before whipping back around to face the others.

"Now, to honor their oath with blood, if you will Blue." The tom stood up, and walked over to Lost and Titus. He grinned as he flexed his claws in the sodden dirt beneath him. "Reveal your right pads," Brumous instructed them. Titus flipped his over without hesitation, and Lost quickly followed example.

"It's not that bad," Blue snickered, and he sliced Titus's pad open. He grunted in pain as Blue moved to do Lost's. He flexed his claw, wet from Titus's blood, and sliced hers open as well. Her gaze did not waver as a small stream of blood flowed out from the torn pad.

"It is done, welcome Titus and Lost. I feel confident you will be of great service to our cause," Brumous stared at Lost thoughtfully.

"Welcome Titus and Lost," the cats meowed warmly.

"You two will stay stationed in Blood Clan, with Blue's group. You will follow his orders, and report to him any new information you have received… And, Lost- you especially must report anything, being the Deputy," she nodded.

Brumous leapt down from the boulder, landing masterfully with a soft 'thud', despite his stature. Lost stood up briskly "wait- when will I meet Felicity?" He stifled an annoyed growl, and quickly replaced it with amusement.

"You will meet her in time, everyone does." Lost flattened her ears in aggravation, he turned away from the shecat before she could say anything else and padded up to a cluster of his brethren. Brumous's eyes lingered on a beautiful white shecat, with a black muzzle, creamed colored ears, and stunning green eyes.

"Posy, how are the kits?" He meowed unemotionally, forcing down any feeling that churned within his breast. Behind his fixed expression, curiosity plagued his mind.

"Kit, the other was stillborn. And missing her father," She met his tone. Brumous sighed, and shook his head.

"She doesn't have a father, what happened… you know I didn't mean for this. As Felicity's representative and command I can't be a father. " He forced the words off his tongue.

"I understand, but none the less it did." She stalked off, back to her stationed camp in BloodClan, where her kit would be mewling for milk. He fought the urge to call her back and ask what the kit looked like, while he held no true affection for the shecat he couldn't help but wonder if she looked a little like him.

"Ooh, harsh."

"Shut up Thatcher," Brumous switched his attention to Macie, who was talking enthusiastically to the new recruits. He padded over to join in on the conversation, the plan running through his head.

"Come on Soot concentrate on your aim- no not like that. Snake come here, demonstrate how to properly do it," Nook flicked his tail patiently. Snake padded over obediently, and curved her forepaw claws unsheathed, and successfully caught Ace just above the eye, leaving a minor scratch.

"Good, now you try Soot. Ace, don't just stand there, dodge!" Soot gritted her teeth and she lunged at her brother, mimicking Snake's form and swiped at Ace's face. He jumped sideways, her claw just grazing his cheek. "Much better!"

"Why do they always have to practice on me?" Ace whipped off the blood on his face with his forepaw, grumbling.

"Because you throw your weight around like a half dead badger!" Snake snorted, and Soot stifled a giggle.

"I'll show you a half dead badger!" Ace yowled as he pounced at Snake, she darted underneath him and he landed with empty paws. He growled playfully, and swiveled on his hind feet before swiping at her eyes. Snake crouched down lower and lunged at his abdomen, catching him off balance and making him tumble into the dirt. Snake fell with him, and bunched up her muscles to leap off of him but he wrapped his legs around her and rolled on top of his sister.

"Oomph, get off!" She struggled beneath his weight.

"Not until you take it back."
"Never!" Ace put more pressure on her, and Snake gasped for air.

"Ok fine! I take it back!" She heaved in a swell of air as he rolled off of her mrowing good naturedly.

"Alright that's enough, back to training." Nook called over them.

"We've been at it all morning," Soot moaned. Her muscles were growing stiff, the run from last night had taken its toll.

"That doesn't matter, BloodClan cats won't care if you're tired or not."

"But we're not going to fight them, are we?" Snake glanced down at her paws, fixated on her vision. Nook flicked his ear, and played with words in his head until he came up with a good answer.

"I hope not, but it never hurts to be prepared." He finally meowed. "Now, get back to training. Your father will be coming tomorrow with Cathair and if you want to take the day off you need to make up for it today. Am I understood?" Soot mumbled a yes. "Good. Snake pair up with Soot, Ace let's work on your coordination, size isn't everything you know."

"Maybe not but it works for me," he shook out his pelt. Nook sighed and flicked his tail calling the tom over. Ace strolled up obediently, "so what's the plan man?"

"I'm going to teach you a lesson," Nook stood up and stretched out his hind legs.

"Oooh, what?" Ace pricked his ears forward with interests.

"This," Nook lunged at him and Ace stiffened for impact but Nook swerved and barreled into his side, sending him sprawling. Ace began picking himself up but Nook bashed his paw into his cheek sending him back down into the dirt. Nook stepped back as Ace spat out some dirt, and leapt to his paws.

"Okay I might be starting to see your point," he began, Nook charged at the tom again and Ace attempted to leap out of the way but Nook quickly swiveled and head-butted him in the jaw. Ace stumbled back and Nook swiped his forepaw under his feet knocking him down again.

"How about now?" Nook grinned at the battered tom, fur ruffled and matted from the dirt.

"Ok, we'll work on my coordination." Ace picked himself up, and wiped the blood off of his mouth. "You made me bite my tongue."

"A lesson hard learned then; now get into position." Ace shook his pelt out and concentrated on Nook's muscles. "Good, now all I want you to do is try to avoid every blow I make." Nook lunged forward and Ace leapt back just out of reach. "Nicely done." He swiped his paw at his muzzle, and he ducked, the paw barely brushing against the tip of his ear. He leapt to the side, putting distance between him and the tom. Nook charged at him and lunged at his shoulder and Ace crouched down and rolled just underneath Nook. "Much better, to fight effectively you don't only need to wound your opponent but you need to avoid them yourself." Nook switched his gaze to Soot and Snake, who were in the middle of a practice battle. Soot reared on her hind legs and crashed her forepaws onto Snake's shoulder, who rolled on her back making Soot fall. She then shoved her slightly larger sister off with her hind legs and leapt to her paws.

"Ok, it's sunhigh that's enough you two. Remember at Sunset we're going to the pines to practice your climbing." Nook padded off to the barn to groom his pelt, leaving the sibling to themselves.

"I won't be able to eat without my tongue throbbing for half a moon," Ace rolled his tongue in his mouth, testing out the bite. Snake grinned and nudged him in the shoulder,

"All you think about it food."

"And you don't?" Ace teased. "I don't know about you guys but I think I'm going to cool off in the creek.

"But its freezing!" Soot padded up, her expression reflecting how stupid she thought the idea was.

"Yeah and I'm hot, see you chicks later." He winked and strolled off towards the creek cockily.

"You know…" Snake smiled at her sister.

"Oh don't tell me you're going to the creek too," Soot flattened her ears in protest.

"Actually it sounds like a good idea. Today is a lot warmer than usual; the water might feel good on my sore pads too." She sighed in disbelief.

"Fine, I guess I'll go too. But don't expect me to get in the water because I won't."

"Don't worry, I don't expect you too." Snake bounded after her brother, followed by Soot.

"Cathair, how are you feeling?" Nook placed his paw on the elderly cat's chest, feeling for any rasps or pauses between breaths.

"Better than you look," the old cat commented. Nook flicked his ear, pine needles and burrs were caught in his pelt from training the kits. "What on earth were you doing?"

"I was, uh-" he flicked his gaze to Baylor, reluctant to reveal the severity of the kit's training. "Teaching the kits how to climb the most efficient way possible." Baylor narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the smaller tom.

"A good use of their time, takes a lot of upper body strength to scale a tree quickly." Nook nodded, and shoved the remainder of his stock of lungwort to the tom.

"Finish these off, and you should be good to travel to the moor tomorrow."

"Ok, father we should be returning to camp. Cats would grow suspicious if we stayed out much longer, and your warm den might be the best thing for your health right now."

"He's right," Nook agreed with Baylor, a warm den would help ease the strain on his lungs.

Cathair rose shakily to his paws, Baylor jumped beside his father to provide support but he shouldered him away, "I don't need your help."

"Meet me here at sunrise tomorrow, and I will help escort you to the barn." Nook shook out his pelt, a few pine needles floated to the ground.

"I can find my own way to the barn, I traveled there and back moons before you showed up. But thank you for the offer," Baylor flicked his tail and turned away from Nook. Nook flattened his ears and bit back a retort.

"If you insist, we'll be waiting at the barn then." And with that he turned and set off at a lope to notify Maple. Baylor and Cathair padded back to the camp, and were greeted by many of the guard with respectful dips of their head. As Baylor padded past Fang, he couldn't help notice that the tom sneered at him, and he also couldn't help but to not care.

Upon reaching the dog house, Cathair nodded to his son, dismissing him so that he could call a meeting. Typically Cathair would join his son in such a meeting, but yellow cough had left him weak and he couldn't muster the strength to address his previous ranks.

Baylor strolled smoothly to the top of the ledge, and yowled. The members of the guard gathered beneath him, his eyes brightened with anticipation. "It has been half a moon since the first patrol departed to explore the new territory, and in accordance to Fallen's order the second patrol is to be sent out before dawn tomorrow. Smoke, Shade, Wander, Fox, and Salem, are you prepared to make this journey?"

"We are ready to serve our clan and seek out the new territory and the first patrol," Fox stood up and confidently answered him. Her patrol joined her and stood up, their eyes glowing from the moonlight.

"I expect nothing less coming from you, sleep well tonight and eat a light breakfast tomorrow. Meet me and Cathair at our den before the sun rises, and then you will depart to Fallen's den just as the sun lights up the sky." Fox dipped her head in obedience and respect.

"Just like half a moon ago, tomorrow we will celebrate their departure. There will be no training sessions or duties, just stay in our territory. If I find out any one of you has disobeyed my orders I will shred your pelt. Dismissed!" Baylor whipped around and padded to his den to join Cathair in sleep, he could hear the excited murmuring of his guard fade away behind them. There was no question that Fallen's new territory was a popular idea, food was scarce in the city and the prospect of plentiful, live, and fat prey intrigued the cats.

The day flew by quickly, cut short by the winter's late mornings and early nights. The trio came back near moonhigh, pine needles and burrs stuck in their fur, but their spirits were high. Baylor and Cathair were due to visit by the time the sun peeked over the tree's canopy and the siblings couldn't wait to meet their grandfather.

"What do you think he'll be like?" Snake tilted her head to the side, making her walk lopsided. "Do you think he'll tell stories like Nook, or play with us?"

"Snake we're almost nine moons old, we don't play." Soot lifted her chin up dignifyingly, priding herself on being mature. Ace scoffed and put on an astonished look.

"Speak for yourself!"

"What if he's bitter and snappy?" Snake meowed worriedly, "I hope not." They paused at the barn door, exchanging glances.

"Well we'll find out tomorrow. Now my pads are aching and my shoulder is stiff, I'm going to take a good bath and go to sleep so will you try and keep it down?" Soot meowed before she walked into the barn and sharing tongues with her mother briefly. Snake and Ace quickly followed, and watched as she climbed the ladder up onto the loft. Snake admired how beautiful she was and how her pelt shone and moved, she could see the shecat's toned muscles through the soft fur. Did I look like that? A pang of envy flashed through her when she realized that she probably looked more sickly and weak due to her size, even though she could catch glimpses of her toned forelegs and haunches of she looked hard enough. Snake looked to her brother, the tom was huge. His fur, in comparison to his sister's, was short. His muscles were not only toned but built, adding to his size. However, his pelt had the same shine as his sister's did.

"How'd it go?" Maple greeted her kits, she always asked how the sessions went but never pried on what they did.

"I'll be feeling it tomorrow," Snake commented, flexing her haunches and her shoulders. The muscles were already stiffening up, Snake could relate to her sister.

"You'll be feeling it now," Ace grinned. When Snake flashed him a confused glance he batted his large paw into her shoulder making her straggle sideways.

"Hey!" Snake shook her leg, trying to loosen the muscles back up. She flashed him a playful glare and crouched.

Just as she was about to pounce Maple stepped in between the two, "Not now, it's late and tomorrow is a big day. Get some sleep," Snake opened her mouth to complain but her mother cut her off, "sleep."

"Yes ma'am" Ace ran up the ladder to the loft, leaving Snake to herself. Maple narrowed her eyes warningly, and Snake smiled sheepishly before padding up after her siblings. Maple chuckled to herself quietly, and laid down on the barn floor, paws tucked underneath her. She looked out into the moor through the small opening of the barn doors, watching for Nook to return.

Baylor stretched out on the cool ground, letting it cool his pelt. He sighed peacefully, breathing in the fresh morning air. Suddenly he felt a sharp jab in his side, he bolted up looking around, his eyes straining to adjust. "It near sunrise, you need to address the guard." Cathair's raspy voice dragged him back into reality, he sighed.

"Ok, ok. Im up, Im up." Baylor stood up and stretched out, reveling in how his muscles flexed and moved underneath his pelt.

"'Bout time." Cathair curled back up in his corner, his thinned pelt fluffed up to help keep out the cold. Baylor padded out of the dog house and onto the ledge. He looked down into the camp, the landscape almost seemed peaceful. He knew better though, by sunhigh the sand will be wet with blood and littered with cat fur. The cats loved to challenge each other for whatever reason, mates, food, grievances, fun, you name it and there was no better time to do that than on a free day.

Baylor hopped down from the ledge onto the sand and strolled over to the dens reserved for his guard. He peered in and saw them curled up in the nests, except for three. Fade, Fox, and Salem. They met his gaze, but Fade quickly swept it away and stared at her paws. Baylor looked next to his paw and saw a sizable pebble, and then he switched his gaze to Fang. Grinning, Baylor kicked the rock into the tom's back. "Get up crowfood, time to send our second patrol on their way!" He yowled to the group, cats stirred reluctantly. Fang, however, leapt up snarling, jolts of pain throbbing up his back where the pebble met its mark. Baylor snickered, and bounded back up his ledge. "Come on, we don't have all day and I, myself, am very busy. Don't waste my time!" His orders echoed through the camp, he watched with amusement at how some of the cats jumped at the boom, still half asleep.

Soon enough, his guard had gathered beneath him, staring up at their captain loyally. All except for Fang of course, who held a mask of pure hatred and resentment. "This second patrol, consisting of Fox, Wander, Salem, Smoke, and Shade, will embark on their journey this morning." He waited until the cheers of his guard died down to a low hum of excitement, "Soon enough we will conquer the new territory and all the pleasures with it!" Many of the cats, now wide awake, leapt up yowling their joy. "I will not waste this time giving a lengthy speech, as it does not call for one. The event in its own right is enough; the patrol will meet me outside of the doghouse for final departure presently. Again, let me remind the remainder of you," he stared hardly into Fang's eyes, "stay in our territory and if I discover otherwise I will rip your sorry asses apart. Dismissed." Baylor yowled the command dramatically, his muscles flexed and fur bristled for effect, and whipped around to meet the patrol at the den.

Cathair was sitting in the doorway, waiting to address them. He padded up to his father and dipped his head respectively, and sat next to him. The patrol was quick to make their appearance, Fox acknowledged Cathair first then Baylor, while the remainder of the patrol paid their respects to Baylor first. Most of the guard held more respect and admiration for their current Captain than their old one. It was obvious Cathair's days had long past.

"I believe that there are no better cats for this mission than you, and as diverse as you are I am certain that you will come together and move as one force. May your journey be swift and easy on your pads, may you arrive safely and find the first patrol waiting for you. Your clan will be anticipating the news, and BloodClan will hardly be able to still themselves from joining you in the prosperous lands." Cathair meowed to the patrol, capturing their attention with his words. Even though he was old, he still had a way of commanding respect. Baylor took his turn to speak to the group,

"As my guards I know you will complete this mission, I have high expectations for you."

"We will not fail you Baylor," Fox dipped her head so low it almost resembled a bow, her patrol mimicked her posture. A chill ran up his spine as he took in the odd gesture, pride quickly swelled in his chest, and he lifted his head higher.

"I know you won't, you must be prepared to face dogs, badgers, foxes, and Scourge knows what else. As my father said, you need to work together as one, if you do so you will succeed. I chose each of you for a reason, and some of you might clash against others," he looked at Smoke in particular and she flashed him a playful grin, "and others might be too quick to react or too cautious, but these difference will make you stronger. Now hurry and go meet your leader, the sun will be touching the sky soon."

The patrol dipped their heads once more in the odd fashion, and Salem caught his eye for a brief moment. The two exchanged a knowing glance, and they both realized the trust they were putting into each other. Fox yowled, signaling the cats it was time to go, she lead her patrol out of the camp and into the streets at a steady lope. Baylor looked to his father, "Ok, let's go."

Snake pried open an eye, and in an instant an immediate thought dawned upon her. Dad and Cathair! She sat up, hay stuck in her pelt. She looked around the loft, her mother wasn't in her nest but Ace and Soot were still sound asleep. Snake stood up and walked to the edge and peered down, no sign of Nook. She whipped around and nudged Ace, he groaned and rolled over onto his side, muzzle beneath his paw. Snake flicked her ear, and something caught her eye. Ace's tail, it was twitching just outside of the nest. He must be dreaming, well I can fix that! She padded over and bit into the bushy tail, Ace leapt up yowling. He looked around wildly, panting heavily until he realized what actually happened.

"Why you little-"

"Shut up, it's too early for this. Go outside and leave me in peace," Soot groaned and covered her ears with both paws.

"No, we need to get it, today is the day!" Ace and Soot looked at Snake unknowingly and she sighed in exasperation.

"You know, the day Dad brings Cathair to visit. He's supposed to be here at dawn," she elaborated.

Soot shot up, full of energy, "well then why didn't you wake me up earlier?! I still have to groom myself, and I won't get a chance to hunt!" She began plucking hay and moss out of her pelt, flustered.

"I just woke up now, and I think we're going on a family hunt together or something. Ace would you help me groom my back?"

"You bit my tail!" Ace growled lowly, clearly still hung over from the rude awakening.

"Well you wouldn't get up, please? I'll get you back," she smiled sweetly up at him, and batted her innocent eyes. Ace sighed and gave in, he had a soft spot for her even thought he would never admit it.

"Fine, turn around you look like you just fought a badger." Soot muttered something like 'what's new' but Snake chose to ignore her. She felt her brother's tongue rasp along her spine, smoothing the fur. However, after a moment sharp pang run up her spine,

"Ow!" She stiffened up and turned around to glare at Ace.

"Oops, my bad," he grinned at her and continued on to groom the fur.

The sun had just begun to light up the sky, adding streaks of orange and pink into the sky. Maple padded into the barn, her pelt neatly groomed and as beautiful as ever. "Oh good you're up and ready, Nook just left to meet them halfway. I told him he should stay but he insisted." Maple beckoned her kits to the barn floor with her tail, and Soot leaped down without haste. Snake finished plucking out one final bit of moss and groomed down the fur on Ace, his pelt shone finely. They joined the other two on the floor together, all grievances forgotten.

"Look at you, all nicely groomed." Maple smiled affectionately at the three. She focused on Snake for a moment, it was hard to believe that this fine, strong, and lovely shecat was the kit that barely made it through the night eight and a half moons ago. Snake sensed her mother's gaze and ducked her head shyly, she didn't like attention the way Soot did. Snake didn't see herself as beautiful and she thought herself dull when standing next to her sister's light. Surely other cats would be comparing her sister's perfections with her own faults.

"Hey mamma, what's for breakfast?" Soot spoke up, her stomach rumbling.

"We are going to go out and hunt together, since it's so early and we have all day. It'll be nice."

"Told you!" Snake couldn't contain herself; Soot flattened her ears at her sister.

"None of that you two, behave yourselves."
"I always behave, don't I mom?" Ace grinned playfully, sticking out his chest. Snake bursted out laughing, and Ace cringed pretending she had hurt his pride.

"Hardly," Maple teased. Soot released a giggle, but followed up with a charming laugh. It seemed like moons before Snake caught the scent of her father, Nook, and a new but oddly familiar scent.

"They're here!" Snake bounded up and raced out of the barn before Maple could stop her. She climbed up an old beam that was propped up the side of the barn and onto the roof. Snake strained her eyes to catch a glimpse of them, and off in the distance she could make out two darker figures, one smaller than the other, and a white figure. "I see them, they're just beyond the edge of the moor!"

"Snake get down here, be presentable!" Maple called out to her spirited kit, Snake hesitantly climbed down.

"What does he look like?" Soot bounded out plagued by curiosity, Ace was not far behind.

"He's darker than dad, doesn't really look like him at all! He didn't seem much bigger than Nook, but I couldn't really see them."Snake informed her siblings, sharing their excitement. Maple could hardly contain her kits until they arrived. Nook was the first to come out of the stalks and greet the family. Baylor's ear tips poked above the grass, and the blades parted as an old cat and their father stepped into the clearing together.

Snake took in the cat's appearance; she could tell that at one point he would've stood above her father. Age had withered him down into a smaller cat, but even now he gave off some sense of awe. His spine resembled a branch, heavily weight down, leaving him hunched over. His pelt was ragged and unkept, but his green eyes had such life and fire that when Snake met them she almost jumped back a little bit.

Baylor padded over to his mate and nuzzled her lovingly, "Father this is my mate, Maple." He moved to her side so that Cathair could take her in.

"Ah, the one I've heard so much about. Your words didn't do her justice, son." Maple grew hot under the flattery and she stepped forward sheepishly.

"Thank you sir, you don't look so bad yourself," she meowed light heartedly. He bursts out into a hoarse laughter, startling Ace. After a moment of silence Cathair cleared his throat,

"I'm sorry about Snipe; he was one of my finest guards."Cathair smiled sincerely at the shecat, remorse fogging up his eyes. Maple bit back a muffle and nodded, Baylor placed his muzzle on her forehead affectionately.

Cathair gave her another knowing smile, and directed his attention to Ace. "And speaking of the devil," the elder squinted his eyes, taking in all the features. "My, he's almost the spitting image, not quite but it's there."

Maple licked her chest, "Yes, that's why we named him Ace."

"Nice to meet you, sir." Ace dipped his head respectfully, and awkwardly. He met the elder's gaze unknowingly. Cathair grinned, joy flooding onto his face.

"Has his father's figure, his kin's coat, and his mother's eyes. Who are these two lovely shecats?" He switched his attention to Soot, who was restraining from jumping up and introducing herself, and Snake, who had her head dipped bashfully.

"My name is Soot, pleasure to meet you." Soot couldn't help herself, she leapt to her paws smoothly and put on her most charming smile and widened her soft blue and stunning green eyes. She knew how to present herself, Cathair chuckled lightly.

"Cathair, pleasure's all mine." She dipped her head and licked her chest before sitting back down. "And you must be Snake." Snake lifted her head up to meet his gaze, and nodded.

"Yes sir" was all she could bring herself to say. Cathair's gaze hardened as her studied her, she was different from the other two. Yes, she was smaller but that wasn't it. Her bright green eyes were like his own, while his son had green eyes they weren't as bright as his. He noticed that she had built up more muscle than Soot, and she seemed to carry herself in a more poised manner, as if ready to defend herself at any point, like a coiled snake. Like Viper. Something else was drawing himself to her, and he couldn't pinpoint it.

"Well… Maybe we should go hunting before the mice retreat into their burrows." Baylor's deep voice broke Cathair's thoughts and brought him back into the present time.

"Yes, of course. I can't wait to see how well these kits hunt." Soot could hardly contain herself, she was a superb hunter and couldn't wait to show off her skills. Ace and Nook flashed Snake a confused look, she shrugged indicating she was just as confused as they were. She sighed, didn't even spend half a sun with him and he already hates me. She stood up and breathed in the morning air. The cool and brisk air felt good, and eased her anxiety. Snake trotted up to Nook's and Ace's side, taking her place in between them. Nook flicked his ear, his odd little quirk, and Ace flashed her a grin. She forced a soft smile, covering up her worries.

By the time the group had reached the field, Maple's favorite hunting grounds, the sun had reached above the trees casting its light out onto the world. Soot spent the trip buzzing around Cathair in her own endearing way, taking every opportunity to strike up a conversation. The elder found he enjoyed talking pointlessly. His favorite topic was Baylor as a kit, and his mate Snow. Snake tuned into the conversation, but stayed silent. Her ears pricked up as he began an old tale about a peculiar cat he met when he was about their age.

"Now, if I remember correctly- I was nine moons old and I left camp to prove myself to my father. You know, well you don't, but I could never be good enough to him. There was always something, so I set off to hunt down the infamous white hare. According to every cat that has seen it, it was the biggest, fastest, most cunning, and whitest hare there ever was. I thought if I could kill it and bring it back, my father would surely be proud of me." He chuckled at the memory before continuing.

"However, little did I know that I wouldn't come across the hare, but a strange cat who spoke of strange things. So I set out early one morning, before my dad woke up the guard for the day's training-including me. I must've walked six suns straight, taking short naps at the most, before I reached the alleged hare's territory. I had never seen such a place, great vast plains with towering trees and enormous mountains on the horizon. When I climbed the biggest oak tree I had yet to lay my old eyes on, I could almost make up a diverse piece of land in the far off distance- planes, thick forest, a river, and a swamp, all surrounding what seemed like a lake. It wasn't much longer after I saw this when I can across a brown tabby tom. He was much smaller than me, despite being about the same age. At first he was very defensive, like he was protecting some great secrete. It took me some time, but I eventually managed to convince him I was just here to hunt the white hare to prove myself to my father. Interestingly enough, he was here to catch it as well- to prove himself to his leader. He held back what he belonged too, but he told of something called 'starpelt', and the starry cats that lived up there," Snake stiffened, she recognized Starpelt and the StarClan cats.

"I thought it was peculiar, how could cats live in the sky? The sky is for birds, not cats. But he insisted that when a good cat dies they will join their ancestors in the vast ocean of stars, to guide the next generation. He never told me his name, and we parted ways after a sun of talking. There was no hare scent to be found, and you better believe that when I came back without the prize to cool my father's wrath I was made to do recruit duties and extensive training for two moons." Cathair chuckled, and Soot weaved her soft laughter in with his. Nook gave Snake a knowing smile, she didn't catch it. She couldn't believe it, they might still be out there!

The group walked on for a while before Baylor led them into a clearing, the field right behind it. "This is where we meet up after a hunt, so if you want to wait here while we go hunt that'll be fine." Baylor cut into a more embarrassing tale of him as kit, his first time at the creek, to coax his father into resting.

"I want to see how well you've trained your litter to hunt, I will follow at a distance." Cathair huffed.

"You just got over yellow cough, and-"

"I said I will follow, don't forget I was once your Captain son. I led some of the most brutal battles, following them will prove no difficult task." The elder growled in aggravation, his ragged pelt spiked up. Baylor sighed in defeat, and muttered something under his breath.

"You could make it difficult," Nook whispered in Snake's ear. She recalled the many night sessions she had where Nook had pushed her to her limit. I would make it impossible. Snake grinned.

"Ok, well let's do something different then." Maple shouldered her mate playfully, loosening up the tension. "Toms against shecats," she narrowed her eyes challengingly.

"Oh that wouldn't be fair, dear." Baylor cooed, smirking smugly.

"For you, it wouldn't be." Maple retorted with a winsome appeal, swaying her tail cockily.

"It's on, come on dad we'll show em!" Ace lashed his tail excitingly. Nook nodded in agreement with the young tom.

"Ok, fine. Nook, Ace, and I will take the west side and you, Snake, and Soot take the east. Meet back here in a quarter sun. You're just going to follow at random, correct?" Baylor questioned his father, trying to form a basic idea of the tom's intentions in his mind. Cathair nodded his briefly, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

"Ready, set, go!" Baylor called out the order, and the two groups split and ran into the designated hunting grounds. Snake kept up a steady and trained lope, while Soot bounded ahead. Maple trotted behind her kits, ears pricked and senses on alert.

After a few moments Soot slowed down to a walk, and then completely stopped. She stood erect, ears pointing towards a cluster of rocks. Snake halted just behind her, and she could sense her mother stopping at her flank. Soot flashed a confident grin at them before leaping into the brush lightly and out of sight. Snake strained her hearing but couldn't pick up her sister's movements. This is what made her an amazing hunter; Soot had the incredible ability to be completely silent. A thud followed by a choked out speak rang out, Snake knew she had caught a field mouse. Her sister slid out of the brush, the rodent hanging limply from her jaws. Maple dug a small hole for Soot to lay her kill in, and she scraped the dirt back over it.

Soot continued to catch field mice, and Maple had succeeded in killing a quail, but Snake had not caught anything. "Mom," Maple swiveled her ear back to catch her kit's words, "I'm going to hunt solo for a bit… I thing I might do better by myself." She flicked her tail, and Snake turned into the thick bunch of stalks slipping into them. She trotted a ways towards the west half, until she felt like she had distanced herself enough. Snake stretched out her haunches and shook her pelt out, gathering her focus. She scanned her surroundings and parted her jaw, tasting the scents that swam through the air. She sensed a variety of prey including voles, quail, mice, squirrels, and rabbits. A lesser known scent wafted into her jowls, but she knew it by heart: hare. It was a rarer find, and she had only caught one once before two moons ago. If I catch a hare I might impress Cathair. His story flooded her mind, about the white hare, it would be appropriate. Snake fluffed up her pelt hopefully, and pinpointed the source of the scent beneath a scraggily bush. Her mouth watered, she remembered the sweet and tangy flesh of a hare; it was her favorite prey animal.

She traced the scent through the vast field, thanking StarClan that it remained on her side of the hunting ground. It seemed to take moons until she started picking up fresher and fresher scents the animal left behind, she could feel it in her bones that she was getting closer. Snake suddenly stopped, one paw into the air and crouched low. Something inside her told her to be still, and it wasn't until after a few second she heard the shuffling of dried grass and dead leaves. She swiveled her ears and determined that the noise was coming from her left shoulder. Snake turned her head, and saw the two points of brown ears. Her pelt shook with anticipation; she fell into a hunters crouch and stalked forward cautiously. The animal remained oblivious to the cat creeping up on it, until it was a few tail lengths away. The hare squeaked in fright and bolted away, Snake stormed after it. She gathered all of her muscles into her haunches before she launched herself forward, keeping an even pace with it. She knew it was a matter of who could out run who, and she paced her breathing into even huffs.

The hare started turning and darting from side to side, trying to throw off its pursuer. Snake managed to keep up with it, pulsating behind the animal like a machine. In desperation, the hare pivoted sharply towards a ditch, darting down it without hesitation. The shecat threw her weight into her left side, allowing herself skid until she got a grip into the earth and launched herself after the hare. Snake hurtled down the ditch, landing on the ground with a light thud. The hare tried to jump a log that laid in its path, but its hind foot hit the top and the animal lost its balance, tumbling into the dust. Snake flew over the log, crashing into the fallen hare. She struggled to get a grip on the flailing and panicked creature, she could feel its sharp claws scraping against her pelt. Snake pierced her long and sharp fangs into the hare's haunches, and pinned its head down with her forepaw. She readjusted her position so that she could free her mouth and deliver a killing bite. The hare squealed feebly as it felt its life drain from its throat.

It didn't take long for the hare to go limp, and its eyes glaze over. Snake released her grip on the animal and sat up, she was panting heavily from the run. Pride flooded through her as she looked down at her kill, and she licked the blood off of her muzzle.

Cathair nodded approvingly from up in a tree, he had watched most of the fiasco play out. The hare was as nearly as big as her. He couldn't help but wonder what her fighting skills were like, she could be useful in battle. But that was just the Captain of the Guard in him.

He slid from the branches to head back to the clearing, and wait for the others. He had seen all he needed too. Snake beamed over her hare, she grabbed its scruff and drug it along as best she could to the clearing to deposit her impressive kill. It was past sunhigh, she knew everyone would be returning from their hunt.

By the time she reached the clearing both hunting parties were waiting for her. "There you are! I was getting worried," Maple trotted over and groomed Snake's forehead. She ducked from her mother's tongue bashfully.

"I'm fine , Mom."

"I'd say! Look at that hare, it's as big as you Snake." Baylor padded over and nudged his mate away lovingly, smiling down at his kit proudly. Soot sat behind him gawking, she couldn't believe that Snake had not only managed to successfully kill the hare but that she had stolen the attention away from her. Ace cuffed Soot's ear playfully, and winked at Snake. She grinned gleefully, but her smile faded when she caught Cathair's stare. It was intense, like he was trying to pry her open. She looked down at her paws.

"Well I'd say its official, the toms win." Nook said exasperatedly. A roar of disapproval from Maple and Soot rang up. Snake quickly forgot Cathair's stare and launched herself at Nook, she rolled him on the ground until she was beneath him and threw him off of her. He skidded in the dust laughing, "Ok ok, I was just kidding. Shecats win!" Snake jumped up and shook out her pelt laughing along with him. Nook picked himself and padded up to her, nudging her shoulder with his head. "You finally got that move, we'll go to the next one tomorrow," he muttered. Snake smiled excitedly.

Cathair let a grin slip out, and he hobbled over to his sun. "Let's eat, I'm starving." Ace licked his mouth hungrily, nodding his head.

"Yeah, we can't let this prey go to waste! Come on kit, lets dig in." Baylor called out before he chose a plump vole he caught. Snake shared her hare with Nook and Ace, and Soot started on a juicy quail while Maple chose a thrush.

By moonhigh, Baylor took his father back to the camp and Maple sent her kits to the loft for the night. Baylor led Cathair towards the dog house, meeting Fang's heated glare with a smirk. Fang gritted his teeth, he noticed a new scent and stiffened. He concentrated on the scent and identified that it was cat, but not from BloodClan. No, wait- multiple cats. Some shecats and a tom... two toms? Where in Scourge's name did they go? He narrowed his eyes at them suspiciously as they disappeared in their den.

Sorry it has taken so long for me to get these past two chapters out, but they're finally here! Also, the illustrations will eventually be released, my computer crashed (the one I'm currently using to post this isn't mine) and I haven't had the chance to get it fixed yet. Anywho, leave a comment down below (with your username so I can reach you, whoever wanted to do Maple I wasn't able to reach you because of this) if you have a question/request/or anything of that nature. Chapter eight and nine are planned to be released by June at the MAX, but who knows what might happen.