Chapter 2
Three moons later…
The ice-cold floor froze Scarlet to the bone as she padded through the dark streets. Hunger churned her stomach as the pungent odour of crowfood flooded her nostrils. Three moons it had been since the battle and her group was now living among the twolegs and their monsters at the twoleg place. A flickering street lamp was the only thing lighting her way to the abandoned dump, the place where her group had made home. In her jaws was a scrawny tattered crow, the only prey she had since two sunrises. If only they had still lived in the forest.
Scarlet turned around through a dark alley as strays turned down to look at her, their glowing eyes scorching her pelt as she padded past. Of course they were envious of her crow for prey was scarce in the twoleg place. Scarlet turned to look at a thin and scrawny old brown tom who was looking at her with much envy as saliva dripped from the sides of his mouth. I'm sorry, she silently apologised. I would give my freshkill to you if I could but my family needs it more. She focused her gaze on the path ahead and padded away. The dark and ominous alley soon widened to an abandoned dump. It was well hidden away from twolegs, making it an ideal camp for her group. Around the dump surrounded a wire fence and right in the middle of the fence was a hole, the entrance to their camp. Guarding the entrance was Blizzard and Bleed, the two strongest cats of their group. Despite their strength, their pelts still clung to their ribs and their pelts were matted and yellow. As Scarlet neared the entrance, they dipped their heads, "Hello Scarlet."
"Is that a crow?" asked Bleed as he licked his lips. Bending down, he opened his mouth, wanting to take a sneak bite. Scarlet turned her head away, "Get your own prey!" Bleed hissed with irritation as he stepped away from the entrance, letting Scarlet pass. Scarlet dipped her head and padded into the camp. She turned towards a huge green rubbish bin where her brother had made his nest. Now that they were older, they were allowed to make their own nest. Scarlet heaved a sigh of relief. At least now they didn't have to sleep with their father who had became more hostile and ferocious ever since Clover died. Scarlet bent down to see Thistle nestling on a soft patch of dust and sand under the bin. His eyes stretched wide open the moment Scarlet arrived. He looked at scarlet with annoyance as if she had just woke him up from a nice dream, but his eyes immediately gleamed at the sight of the crow. He purred, "Prey! It's been two sunrises since I've eaten!"
Scarlet blinked, "Well, you can have it then." It's been two sunrises since she had eaten too. She looked down at her paws as her belly growled. Never mind, she told herself. I can eat tomorrow. She placed the crow down as Thistle eyed it hesitantly, "You don't want to eat?" Scarlet shook her head. Thistle took a bite and then wolfed the rest down. Pushing away the bones, he coughed a feather out.
"You don't have to help me you know. I'm the one who is supposed to protect you," Thistle flicked his tail. Scarlet bristled, "I can take care of myself thanks. But if you want, you can always take care of Storm." Thistle flattened his ears and hissed as he squeezed out from under the bin, "Don't talk about father like that! He's just sad that Clover died and he wasn't there to protect her."
"Aren't we all?" Scarlet rolled her eyes. "Who cares about him anyways? We take care of ourselves now." Scarlet lifted up her chin. Thistle shoved Scarlet playfully, "But I still care about you. Come on, Claw asked me to go for a patrol with Sparrow when you were gone." They padded to the entrance where Sparrow had been waiting. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Scarlet, "Is she coming too?"
"What's wrong with her coming?" Thistle raised an eyebrow questioningly. Sparrow answered with a flick of his tail before setting off. They padded through the alley and back onto a path beside the Thunderpath. Just as they were about to cross, a monster zoomed past, filling the air with thick black smoke. Scarlet coughed. Thistle pressed onto his sister, "Are you okay?" Scarlet shoved him away, "I'm fine! Stop getting into my fur would you?" Thistle cast her a hurt look before padding away. Scarlet hissed as she padded after him. Just as they were about to arrive at the Thunderpath that lied between the twoleg place and the forest, the smell of a cat wafted into Scarlet's nostrils. Sparrow bristled, "An intruder!" Thistle unsheathed his claws, "Stay here with Sparrow, I'll go and settle the intruder." Scarlet twitched her whiskers with annoyance as Thistle slunk into the shadows and crept behind the twoleg building. Soon, hissing and growling rang through the air. Scarlet glanced at Sparrow before leaping behind the building to see Thistle pinning a white and ginger tabby tom down. Scarlet winced when she saw a scar cut across his neck. As she padded beside Thistle, she noticed that something about the intruder's pelt seemed familiar. Sparrow padded after Scarlet. He gritted his teeth when he saw the intruder, "What is he doing here?"
Thistle snarled as he faced the intruder, flexing his claws as he pinned the tom harder to the ground. The tom writhed under the grey tom's grasp, his eyes blazing with fury. Sparrow turned to look at the tom, "Well? What are you doing here, Cut Throat?" The tom hissed, "My name's not Cut Throat. You know very well that it's Blaze, Sparrow." Thistle placed an unsheathed paw on the tom's neck, "You didn't answer the question!" Thistle bared his teeth.
"Stop! Don't hurt him!" Scarlet pushed Thistle away. "Being hostile and dangerous won't work. He's probably just making a fool of himself here." Thistle flattened his ears as he watched the intruder stand up. Sparrow frowned and turned away, "Whatever." Scarlet leaned against the tom as he stood up weakly, "Are you okay?" The tom looked up. Their eyes met for a moment as the tom purred, "I'm fine. Why your eyes are beautiful." Scarlet blinked, surprised by his reaction, "Errr… Thanks and stuff?" Thistle rolled his eyes as he poked the intruder with an outstretched claw, "Come on, let's bring you back to your group. Sparrow, bring my sister back." Sparrow nodded as they watched Thistle nosed him away.
"Please, what's your name?" the tom called out, turning around to meet Scarlet's eyes. Scarlet flicked an ear, "I'm Scarlet." The tom purred, lifting up a paw, "Well Scarlet, I hope I can see you again soon. Goodbye, and take care!" He turned around and padded away as Thistle shoved him forward. As she watched the two cats pad away, Scarlet felt as if her head were filled with stars.