AGAIN! I'VE DONE IT AGAIN! GAH! I'M SUCH A BAD PERSON. SORRY 100,000,000 TIMES. PLZ, DON'T HURT MEH.
THE QUIET ONE
Chapter Five-
{Burn's P.O.V.}
~A Few Moons Later~
A strong, cool breeze tugged at Burn's long creamy white fur as she watched the darkening clearing just outside of the opened grimy window. Her dark amber eyes flickered like a flame as she drifted in and out of thought and awareness.
"Burn?" A gentle voice spoke from below her.
"Mmm?" Her dark brown masked-face looked downward at the gray tabby who spoke.
"You've been awfully quiet lately. I just want to be sure you aren't sick," Storm mewed, easily leaping up beside the small she-cat.
"I'm not sick, just thinking," Burn mewed, ducking out-of-the-way for Storm's wet nose as she went to touch her ear.
"Thinking for the past week? I don't think so," Storm sternly looked at Burn with pale green eyes, worry mixed in.
"Give me a break, will you?!" Burn hissed and leaped down from the ledge in a swift movement. "You're not my mother!" Her dark amber eyes were alit like a raging forest fire.
"Burn, I didn't mea-," Storm stopped when she realized Burn was long gone, the doggy door squeaking on it hinges.
Burn bounded passed the bare crêpe myrtles, tears threating to push their way down her furred cheeks. Blinking them away harshly, the ragdoll took a sharp right and slowed to a stop when a road appeared in front of her.
A strong acidy breeze from a passing car stung her eyes and throat. She fought the urge to cough as a car sped by, something with consistence of water splashing her flank. Burn growled and shook her fur free of the brown slush. A warning hiss made her look up, surprise lingered in her gaze.
There stood, on the other side of the road, a tall, lean black tomcat. His amber eyes held a hostile glare as another cat emerged from the shadows. Her white fur seemed to shine, even in the shadows of the undergrowth. One paw was cleanly socked with gray.
"Rogue!" The tomcat hissed, getting her attention again.
Burn timidly looked into his amber eyes, afraid to be swallowed in its angered depths.
"What are you doing on CrowClan territory?" He asked above the noise of an oncoming car.
"I-I didn't know," The ragdoll flinched as the hot breeze whipped through her fur. "I just went for a walk,"
The black tomcat looked to the older she-cat with a questioning look, black sleek tail lashing back and forth.
"We'll let her be," Her mew was loud enough the be heard by Burn as another car raced by.
The tom nodded and looked back to the she-cat. "Go back home!" The tomcat yowled at her, eyes narrowed sharply.
Burn jumped slightly at the hostility practically dripping from his lips. She turned and scampered away, her tail bushy as she escaped. The trees swallowed her up as the road disappeared behind her. She slowed to a stop and glanced behind her, wondering if they'd follow her.
Seeing no one, the ragdoll sat down to catch her breath. The breeze swirled around her, ruffling her fur as she looked up at the sound of twigs crackling. A muscular ginger form lumbered out from the bush, emotionless yellow eyes staring straight into hers with such invisible force, she backed up.
The fox bared its yellowing fangs and spat at Burn. The she-cat was frozen in fear, dark amber eyes wide as she watched the creature creep forward. It circled her, looking her over and sizing her up. The fox's snout came close to her face, sniffing at her ears as she flinched away, cowering on the ground.
Then it struck, its browning claws tracing a bloody pattern on her face. Burn fell to her side, hissing in pain and fear. The ginger animal loomed over her, lips drawn back in a silent snarl. Burn pressed herself to ground, hoping to be saved by the Earth herself.
An enraged yowl sounded through the clearing, the fox narrowing its eyes. Burn dared a glance to where it came from and saw Storm standing there. Pain leaked from the wound on her face as she watched the fox spit at Storm. The gray tabby hissed and leaped on its bristling back.
The ragdoll watched as the two tumble, surprised to see them about the same size, only the fox was taller. Storm had pinned the young todd to the leafy ground. He struggled under the she-cat as she snapped as his face.
Storm hissed at the fox as he retreated, it glared at the gray tabby before disappearing back into the shadows of the forest. The hostile she-cat turned her gaze to Burn, worry bubbling up in its green depths as she crouched beside the younger cat.
"Are you okay?" She asked, looking to the scratch winding down from her eye to her cheek.
"Could've been worse," Burn mumbled, getting up on shaky legs.
"Let's get you back to the shelter then," Storm draped her fluffy tail over her creamy white shoulders.
They, together, were gulped up by the undergrowth. Burn glanced back into the shaded clearing with conflicted eyes.
{Quietpaw's P.O.V}
They watched as the creamy white she-cat fled from the thunder path's side.
"You did very well, Quietpaw," Ashstep praised, flicking his black ear with her sleek tail. "Let's head back to camp now,"
Quietpaw nodded, looked up at the graying sky. They turned away from the thunder path and loped into the pine forest. The black tomcat easily maneuvered around the bramble bushes, fallen branches, and sink holes littering the marshy ground.
Birds from above could be heard giving warning calls in the dusk sky as the two cats rustled outstretched leafs. The holly's bright red berries marked the entrance of camp as they arrived. Pushing through, Quietpaw flicked his tail to his mentor and headed towards the fresh-kill pile.
He settled down on the nettle patch outside of the yew bush which homed the apprentices. Munching on a small crow, the tomcat watched as camp's activity died down. Rubbleheart disappeared into the elders' den while Lilycloud and Molewhisker slipped into the warriors' den.
Quietpaw finished his crow and grasped the remains. He quickly trotted out of camp and buried them a few tree-lengths away. The sun had fallen in the sky and the moon was rising to take its place. Stars speckled the creamy night sky as the tomcat silently entered camp.
He settled into his nest, near the back of the den. Marshpaw and Shadepaw laid in front of him. The nursery was now accompanied by Grayhawk, who was heavily pregnant with Antblaze's kits. He was glad to finally become an apprentice. The nursery was cold without another body in the spacious den.
He yawned and stopped thinking about being lonely. Curling up into a ball, Quietpaw lolled off to sleep.
~In The Morning~
"He's 'leepin',"
"'O. 'E's do on 'rol,"
Quietpaw heard soft murmuring from nearby and opened his groggy eyes. He blinked them a few times to get rid of some blurriness.
"Why'd you wake me?" He mumbled.
"Good, you're awake," A dark figure mewed.
"No, I'm still sleeping. Just talking unconsciously," Quietpaw sighed, closing his eyes.
"Don't have a smart mouth with me," A sharp voice hissed, making him open his amber eyes.
"Shadepaw, when have you become his mother?" Marshpaw snapped, glaring at her.
Quietpaw looked back and forth as they bickered. He growled and shoved passed them.
"I'll be my own family, thank you very much," He spat at them before exiting the yew bush.
Its soft leafs brushed his black fur as he stepped out into the morning air. He looked around for his mentor, spotting her by the fresh-kill pile. The tomcat trotted over and dipped his head to the deputy.
"Morning, Quietpaw," Ashstep mewed, her blue eyes blinking kindly at him. "Let's head out of dawn patrol then,"
He nodded and followed the white she-cat out of camp, the holly bushes trembling as they exited. The morning light creeped around the thick pine branches that homed prickly nettles. Birds in the distance sung their songs with soft, wispy calls. Everything was relaxing as they weaved in and out of the trees.
"So I wanted to ask a question," Ashstep mewed from just up ahead.
"Yeah?" Quietpaw asked, picking up the pace until he was by her side.
"How is Clan life?" She glanced at him quickly before sidestepping a bramble bush.
"It's more exciting that living by yourself, but it's a pain when your den-mates act like they can push you around," He truthfully answered.
"Oh?" His mentor pushed as they came close to the DoveClan border.
"Shadepaw and Marshpaw woke me up to tell me I had patrol. I got up and said a smart remake. Shadepaw hissed at me like she had a thorn in her pad," He gazed out over the plains that made up DoveClan's territory.
"Oh," Ashstep sighed. "She is very protective about you," She mewed, marking a patch of heather.
"That's good to know my 'sister' wants to be my 'mother'," Quietpaw growled, flattening his ears.
"Don't be so excited," Ashstep laughed, leading him down a small Twoleg path.
The black tomcat huffed and walked along with her. A small breeze picked up some fallen leafs, swirling them around the two cats. Quietpaw never really noticed how soft Ashstep's blue eyes were as she watched the oak leafs in amusement. He shook his head clear of the thoughts, startled he think of something like that.
"Quietpaw!" She snapped, pushing him out of the way of an oncoming Twoleg's small monster(a bicycle).
He yelped in surprise as he tumbled down a small slope into a ditch, a splash of water made him flinch. Water soaked his pelt, making mud coat him.
"Ashstep!" The muddy tomcat hissed in annoyance.
"Run!" She yowled at him as she fled into the shaded pine forest.
Quietpaw watched her leave with confusion before pulling himself out of the ditch. He shook his fur free of the dark water and some mud. A cool breeze made him poof out his black pelt. He took a look around for Ashstep, seeing that the Twoleg was long gone. What was she running from? He thought, glancing into CrowClan's land.
Screeching of something, may the tomcat flatten his ears in disapproval. A large monster with drawings on the side was now in front of him. Twolegs jumped out of the car and slammed its side mouths(doors). They opened its stomach and pulled out strings with loops at the end.
Quietpaw backed up, amber eyes wide as they approached him. He hissed and growled at the Twolegs as they stood at the edge of the ditch.
"Come 'ere little kitty," There voices were surprisingly soft.
How can I understand them if I'm a cat? The tomcat thought taking another step back. He was getting closer and closer to the pine forest's edge, where he could hopefully slip of unseen.
"Stay here," One said, stepping into the ditch and then getting out.
A disgusted look was now on his face, but he still kept his eyes on Quietpaw. He reached out his string and dangled the loop over the tomcat's head. Quietpaw hissed and stepped back, jerking his head away. I should run, but what if they follow? He though, snarling at the Twolegs.
The Twoleg did something with his paws(hands) and Quietpaw stared up at him confusion. Suddenly, he felt something around his neck.
"No!" The tomcat yowled out, thrashing around.
The other Twoleg had snuck around and caught him easily. Quietpaw slumped down and made himself limp so they'd have to carry him. Though he was wrong, they just dragged him along the ground and into the watery ditch. The tomcat coughed as he was being choked by water and the string.
"Let me carry him," The other Twoleg said, reaching down.
"Don't get attached," He snapped as Quietpaw was lifted off the ground.
The black tomcat let himself be carried as he stared at the line of pine trees, searching for Ashstep. Maybe she didn't leave. He thought, but to his luck, no soft blue eyes blinked back at him.
Quietpaw's amber eyes squeezed shut in fear as they closed shut the stomach, still in the Twolegs arms.
Big thanks to Tealfeather123, ScipioPB, PikaBolt101, TheOrdinaryAdventuresOfHarley, Flight of The Snowy Owl, Gamblers Are Never Happy, Liliana Dragonshard, Brightpool of DreamClan, TIGER OF SPIRIT, Illuminastro, and Mapleheart of RiverClan for the reviews! Also, thanks to the few that favorited and followed the story. C:
Sorry again for the really bad delay, no legit excuses besides laziness and rewriting this over 'n' over. I just wasn't happy with this, but oh well! Screw my pickiness! :P Can't say an exact date when the next chapter will be up, but let's pray to StarClan not in a month. ._.
Until the next chapter. -Quiet
Disclaimer- I don't own Warriors, just this story and characters.
UPDATED ALLEGIANCES
CROWCLAN
LEADER-
Darkstar- a strong, dark gray tomcat with piercing green eyes
DEPUTY-
Ashstep- a lithe, white she-cat with one gray paw and soft blue eyes
(Apprentice- Quietpaw)
MEDICINE CAT-
Brokenleg- a slender, ginger she-cat with a permanently broken white leg, and yellow-green eyes
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE-
Fallowspeckle- a chubby, light brown she-cat with white speckles and dark blue eyes
WARRIORS-
Ebonystream- a stocky, black tomcat with light amber eyes
Hollowfang- a tall, dark brown tomcat with green-yellow eyes
Petalstream- a slender, jet-black she-cat with light blue eyes
Adderthroat- a slender, black-and-white tabby tomcat with dark blue eyes
Antblaze- a muscular, ginger tomcat with white tabby stripes and golden eyes
(Apprentice- Shadepaw)
Ivylight- a stocky, silver-white she-cat with black patches and dark green eyes
Jaysong- a swift, silver-gray she-cat with black-and-white tabby stripes and pale blue eyes
(Apprentice- Marshpaw)
Lilycloud- a small, cream-and-brown she-cat with large green eyes (Warrior Name by GlimmerIcewood)
Molewhisker- a chubby, light brown tomcat with dark green eyes (Warrior Name by GlimmerIcewood)
APPRENTICES-
Marshpaw- a tall, dark brown tom-kit with lighter speckles and deep green-gold eyes
Shadepaw- a slender, jet-black she-kit with dark gray spots and midnight blue eyes
Quietpaw- a tall, slender, jet-black tom-kit with dark amber eyes
QUEENS-
Grayhawk- a swift, gray she-cat with darker tabby stripes and yellow-amber eyes {Expecting Antblaze's kits}
ELDERS-
Rubbleheart- a sore jointed, gray tabby she-cat with ginger patches and green eyes
Clawpelt- a heavily scarred light brown tomcat with one green eye
DOVECLAN
LEADER-
Branchstar- a tall, light brown tomcat with darker tabby stripes and dark green eyes
DEPUTY-
Breezepetal- a slender, black she-cat with white paws and sky blue eyes
MEDICINE CAT-
Swiftwing- a stocky, white tomcat with black patches and blue-green eyes
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE-
Birdpool- a small, dark gray she-cat with white-tipped ears and dark blue eyes
WARRIORS-
Buzzardscar- a large, brown-and-white tomcat with black-tipped ears, paws, and sharp green eyes
Dewberry- a chubby, gray she-cat with bright green eyes
(Apprentice- Jumppaw)
Gorsenettle- a fluffy, light gray tabby tomcat with green-gold eyes
Frostwhisker- a muscular, pure white tomcat with pale blue eyes
Runningbrook- a slender, blue-gray she-cat with blue-green eyes
Haretuft- a swift, dark brown tomcat with dark green eyes
(Apprentice- Sedgepaw)
Mintleaf- a small, light gray-and-white she-cat with bright green eyes
Seedflight- a short, pale ginger she-cat with light green eyes
Raventalon- a tall, black tomcat with amber eyes
(Apprentice- Sorrelpaw)
Marigoldsong- a lanky, golden she-cat with pale green eyes (Warrior Name by GlimmerIcewood)
Oatleap- a small, light brown tomcat with amber eyes (Warrior Name by GlimmerIcewood)
Quickthorn- a chubby, white-and-dark brown tomcat with yellow-green eyes (Warrior Name by GlimmerIcewood)
APPRENTICES-
Sorrelpaw- a large, tortoiseshell-and-blue she-kit with pale green-blue eyes
Sedgepaw- a fluffy, blue-gray she-kit with white-tipped ears, paws, and blue eyes
Jumppaw- a long-legged, white tomcat with blue-gray speckles and dark blue eyes
QUEENS-
Sparrowsong- a plump, brown tabby she-cat with green eyes {Mother to Duskkit, Dustkit. Mate to Gorsenettle.}
KITS-
Duskkit- a muscular, smoky gray tomcat with brown-tipped ears and pale green eyes
Dustkit- a small, dusty brown tomcat with green-gold eyes
ELDERS-
Softdusk- an old, stormy gray she-cat with patches of white and blue eyes
OWLCLAN
LEADER-
Talonstar- a slender, gray she-cat with deep scars on her shoulders from a hawk attack and deep green eyes
DEPUTY-
Sweetbreeze- a tall, pale ginger-and-white she-cat with deep blue eyes
MEDICINE CAT-
Thymecloud- a dark gray she-cat with white patches and dark green eyes
WARRIORS-
Acornwhisker- a small ginger tomcat with pale green eyes
Bouncefoot- a stocky, pure white tomcat with deep blue eyes and deaf in one ear
Cedarflame- a tall, dark brown tabby tomcat with ginger patches and dark amber eyes
Poppycloud- a tall, golden-and-brown she-cat with green eyes
Daisystream- a petite, white-and-blue she-cat with yellow-amber eyes
(Apprentice- Fernpaw)
Emberfeather- a ginger-and-black tomcat with green-gray eyes
Flowerthorn- a tall, brown-and-white she-cat with dark green eyes
Ivycreek- a silver-white she-cat with black tabby stripes and green eyes
(Apprentice- Brackenpaw)
Mudsplash- a muscular, white tomcat with brown splotches and blue eyes (Warrior Name by Aria Aquila)
Nutflight- a plump, light brown tomcat with darker paws and green eyes (Warrior Name by Aria Aquila)
APPRENTICES-
Brackenpaw- a bulky, light brown tom-kit with darker tabby stripes and pale green-amber eyes
Fernpaw- a tall, pale brown she-kit with golden-brown rings around tail, legs and pale green-blue
QUEENS-
Aspenblaze- a slender golden she-cat with brown spots and green eyes {Expecting Aconwhisker's kits}
ELDERS-
Sootstripe- a cranky, dark brown tomcat with one white stripe running down his back and blue eyes
GOOSECLAN
LEADER-
Wildstar- a sleek, gray-and-white she-cat with one blue, one green eye
DEPUTY-
Beetleclaw- a muscular, black tomcat with bright green eyes
MEDICINE CAT-
Creekwhisper- a slender, gray-and-white tomcat with murky green eyes
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE-
Duckflame- a plump, white-and-ginger tomcat with yellow-amber eyes
WARRIORS-
Heronflight- a tall, white-and-gray tomcat with black patches and amber eyes
Nightbrook- a muscular, black she-cat with a white muzzle and dark blue eyes
Ottersplash- a sleek, dark brown tabby tomcat with dark green eyes
Pebbleheart- a gray-and-black she-cat with green-blue eyes
Reedstrike- a tall, brown-and-black tomcat with pale green eyes
(Apprentice- Icepaw)
Ripplepetal- a slender, silver tabby she-cat with green-amber eyes
Songsky- a small, blue-gray she-cat with green-yellow eyes
(Apprentice- Rushpaw)
Tansyfire- a muscular, ginger she-cat with yellow-amber eyes
Driftshadow- a sleek, black she-cat with green-amber eyes
Larkflight- a small, brown-and-white tomcat with black markings and pale blue eyes
Mumblespots- a black tomcat with white spots and blue eyes; one is lazy
APPRENTICES-
Rushpaw- a sleek, dark gray tom-kit with bright blue eyes
Icepaw- a sturdy, pure white she-kit with black rings around her tail, legs and ice blue-gold eyes
QUEENS-
Shimmercloud- a tall, silver-white tabby she-cat with blue eyes {Expecting Ottersplash's kits}