A/N: Wow, how long has it been since I've updated? 5- no, 6 months? Geez. I really am sorry guys. Plus, I sounded like such a whiny bitch in the last update, I am a complete ass. Anyways, I've found someone/thing that's helped me with inspiration, even if not on purpose. Anyways, onto the long chapter to make up for it! Enjoy!
A small black she-cat curled tight into a ball, shivering in her small nest. Her thin coat was fluffed up to its fullest, but even then it barely protected her from the harsh winds of an unexpected leaf-bare. She let out a small whimper, before sighing and standing up, giving up on sleeping.
The she-cat padded outside, glancing around at what was left of her clanmates. The ever-few pieces of stale prey on the fresh-kill pile, the group of frail warriors sharing tongues in front of the den, the small group of kits outside of the Nursery, feebly pushing around a small ball of moss in an attempt at entertainment. She sighed, before catching sight of a pale tabby tom walking into the camp, a skinny vole in his mouth.
"Nice catch," she purred, rubbing her muzzle against his," That'll feed the kits old enough to digest solid foods."
The tom said nothing, but dipped his head and placed down he vole before turning to her," It's pathetic, it's so small that even a falcon would be starving after eating this."
He flicked it with an unsheathed claw, glaring at it like a poison," I should be able to do more… No, I need to be able to do more. I'm going out again."
"Birchclaw, stop talking like that this instant," the she-cat demanded, all gentleness gone from her voice," You caught something, and right now, that's amazing."
Birchclaw sighed, listening to his mate," You're right… I just… I just wish I could do more."
The she-cat offered a small smile before rubbing her muzzle on his again," You're already doing so much, come on, let's give this to the kits."
Birchclaw nodded again, and followed his mate over to where the kits were playing tiredly," You always know what to say, that's why I love you…"
"Moonclaw."
In the mountains…
Sun blinked her eyes open, sighing at the familiar and now comforting sound of the waterfall. She slowly stood up and shook out her pelt, stretching her limbs before kneeling down a nudging the cat beside her awake.
"Ice, wakeup," she murmured.
"Just a little longer…" Ice groaned, shifting," I'm tired…"
Sun just shook her head before nudging him again," If you don't wake up I'm going to eat the whole falcon without you."
Ice snapped open his eyes," You wouldn't."
"I would."
"Nope."
"Yep."
"Nope."
"Want me to prove it?"
"NO!"
Ice jumped up, and ran over to the prey-pile. Sun laughed at his childish behavior, and followed him to the other side of the cave.
"Wait for me, then," Sun said, breaking into a light trot.
As the two young tribemates shared the falcon, a ragged golden-brown she-cat hobbled out of a small cave on the other side of the larger cave. Hobbling over to them, she sat down with an 'omph,'
"H-hello…," She said, her voice hoarse," S-sunpaw? Do you remem-remember me?"
"Sure," Sun said," And it's Sun, not Sunpaw anymore."
"Wh-why?" Honeyleaf asked, confused," Why would you change your name, why would you run away?"
Sun's formerly monotone expression turned to one of anger," Oh, I don't know, maybe it has something to do with everyone in the clan shunning me and treating me like a rogue."
Honeyleaf shrunk back as Sun drew herself up," Or maybe, it has something to do with my sister being a total feather-brain!"
Sun's angry frown became a snarl, and she growled," I had to change my name, and my loyalty! Do you have any idea how hard that is? Oh, and being an outside-born doesn't really help when you're a to-be!"
By now, a small crowd had formed, and Kit-mothers were pushing their kits back to their nests, to keep them away from the violent crowd.
"I-I'm sorry…" Honeyleaf managed to squeak out those few words, before Sun snarled again.
"Sorry doesn't cut it."
Sun felt hot tears well up in her eyes as she whipped around and ran out of the cave. Always running, never facing my problems… Sun stifled a sob as all the memories she'd ever pushed away came flooding back into her mind. Moonpaw…
They'll never know, they'll always just think that I'm glad to be rid of them. They'll never know how much I truly miss them… Sun ran faster, until she reached the border with the tribe-less. What do I do? Do I go rogue again?
Sun shook her head, and sat down. No more running. She breathed heavily, exhausted from running the whole territory. At the sound of footsteps, Sun whipped around to face the oncoming cat.
"Are you okay?"
Ice stepped into her sight, approaching carefully.
Sun sighed before replying," Yeah, I'll be alright. It's no big deal."
"Didn't sound like it wasn't a big deal," Ice mumbled.
Sun cast him a sharp glance, and Ice shrunk back.
"Gee, you've never acted this scary before," Ice said," Was the clan really that bad?"
Sun nodded, her face emotionless. Nothing changed in her face, not even when Ice came forward and sat next to her.
Shaking her head, Sun spoke up," Let's go back to the cave."
Ice nodded and followed Sun as she stood up and started walking away.
*Timeskip*
As the pair of cats walked into the cave, they were approached by a grey tom with white paws.
"Where have you two been?!" He exclaimed," You just ran out of here without telling anyone where you were going!"
Sun flinched, and looked at the ground, shuffling her paws," I'm sorry, Fog… I was just upset…"
Fog sighed, and shook his head," Just… Don't do that again. Ever."
Sun nodded and walked over to where Honeyleaf was, frozen on the spot from earlier.
The second Honeyleaf saw her, she flinched away and flattened her ears," I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
Her voice got quieter the more she spoke, causing Sun to pause for a moment.
"Honeyleaf, don't be afraid…" Sun gently placed a paw on the shuddering she-cat's shoulder," I'm not going to apologize, that's just how stubborn I am, but I will help you with whatever's wrong. What is it?"
Honeyleaf looked up at her with wide, tearful eyes," R-really? Okay… The-the clans are in trouble, we-we need the tribe's help."
Sun's eyes narrowed," Why are the clans in trouble?"
"I-I can't say… Because we don't really know… All we know is that cats are dying. Randomly. They keep saying that a Dark Forest warrior is killing them, but they have no wounds until after they're dead. It's like they're going insane."
Sun nodded slightly, a look of concentration in her eyes," Have you told Stoneteller this yet?"
Honeyleaf nodded, just as said leader stepped out of the Cave of Pointed Stones. She jumped up on a stone at the end of the cave, and the tribe gathered around her.
"Tribe of Rushing Water," She called," As you all know by now, yesterday this she-cat was found by a hunting patrol on our territory. She is from the clans, much like Sun that shines bright. The clans are in trouble, and they have come to us to ask for help. I have selected a patrol to journey back with her, to help the clans just as they helped us generations ago."
"Branch that reaches High, you will be a part of this patrol. Next, Willow that hangs over Creek, you will also be a part of this patrol. Ice that covers Stream, you will go with them. Fog before the Morning, go too. Dark sky before Dawn will be joining you. Lastly, Sun that shines Bright. Though your history with the clans is poor, you still know the clans better than anyone else here. You will be leading this patrol."
There were a few hushed exclamations of surprise, a few whispers.
"But… But, she's so young!"
Sun glanced over to the source of the voice, and saw Wing. She sighed. Wing had been really friendly when Sun first arrived, but over time, she had become cruel and harsh, teasing and taunting her because of her heritage.
"I bet you of all cats would say that!"
Sun's head turned again, and she saw Ice sitting there, his ears flattened against his head.
"Enough!"
Stoneteller's voice rang through the cave, causing Wing to flinch back.
"Wing, as I recall, you were one of the cats cruelest to Sun as a to-be, so I find it hard to believe that you are complaining just because of Sun's age. Ice, I understand that you feel the need to defend your friend, but not in the middle of a meeting!"
Both cats shuffled their paws and stared at the ground, ashamed of being humiliated in front of the whole Tribe.
"The patrol will leave at dawn. Get ready."
