Woot woot! Chapter 7 is here bishes!

Thank you for those who had read this far for taking the time to begin reading this fanfic. It's much appreciated :D

ON TO THE STORY! }:O

"There's enough time later to explain what happened with you four. You," the grey she-cat turned to Rainbowheart. She looked the warrior up and down, eyes steely as she spoke. "You're going to help us. And we're not taking 'no' for an answer."

Rainbowheart seemed a bit taken aback by the sudden command from this cat whom she didn't even know. "Excuse me?" Her fur fluffed out.

"Meera, that's not how we planned to ask." The large brown tom hissed to the grey she-cat. His gaze was disapproving, and mildly irritated.

"It was to-the-point, and I don't grovel for help." The grey cat flicked her tail, turning her head to stare at a dirt wall.

"Forget what she said," the tom stated, addressing Rainbowheart with an apologetic look. "Introductions first. My name is Buck, this is my brother Apple," he gestured with his tail to the red tabby, "and this flea-pelt is my sister Meera."

When he pointed to the grey cat, she hissed at him. "Adopted siblings, you dog face ."

"Don't mind her attitude, she fell off of a fence this morning." Buck ignored Meera, simply dipping his head to Rainbowheart. "I'm sorry we've intruded on your den."

"You've also been following us around like stalkers I believe," Rainbowheart noted.

"That too." Buck shrugged.

"Why, is what I want to know. You knew Streak, so you didn't need to sneak around," Rainbowheart pointed out.

Buck seemed to consider the warrior's words. "We had to be sure."

Curiosity pricked at Rainbowheart's mind. She allowed Buck to continue.

"We have been searching for so long, trying to find the one to help us. When we went searching for Streak and Jade, we came across you, a cat with blood red eyes and a set of skills-"

"We need you to teach us how to fight," Meera said, cutting off Buck, to get to the point.

The large tom gave her a disdainful glare, but proceeded on. "Yes, we were wondering if you might teach us how to fight, is what I was leading to; I mean really fight. You see at first we were thinking of going to these so-called clan cats that you spoke of-"

"But then we learned that you yourself were a clan cat, and knew how to already fight." As she spoke, Meera didn't acknowledge the sore Buck, who lashed out his tail.

Rainbowheart thought carefully before she spoke. "Yes I am a former clan cat, but maybe you should explain to me more, the situation you are in. I can't just teach anyone how to fight, without knowing what they will be using it for."

Buck nodded, understanding, "Of course, but perhaps it would be better if everyone else were here." He turned to Apple, who nodded at him curtly and then ran out of the tunnel.

"Everyone?" Streak was now sitting beside Rainbowheart. "That's a lot of cats, Buck. I thought we were all leaving together, not fighting." She looked distressed, and the same look could be found behind her on Jade's face as well.

Rainbowheart gave Streak a questioning gaze. "Okay, what exactly is going on around here?" Obviously Streak and Jade knew what was going on too, so the warrior was in the dark.

"All will be explained after the others arrive. Don't get your fur in a twist Patchy," said Meera who was now lying down on all fours. She looked a bit exhausted along with Buck. Rainbowheart could only wonder what exactly was wrong, and it ate at her mind like a starving dog.

At the comment about her fur pattern, Rainbowheart fluffed up. She was about to comment back, but had caught the cheeky look Meera sent her. Instead, the black-and-white feline stalked over to look over Jade once more. There was no need to acknowledge the insult.

It didn't stop her from cursing the stranger in her mind.

A little bit later, after Rainbowheart had checked Jade's wounds, noises could be heard outside. She looked at Buck and Meera who were now up and heading for the exit. Streak, who'd been chatting with Buck, was now on her paws but didn't follow right away.

Sensing hesitancy, Buck looked over his shoulder at Rainbowheart and the others. "Follow us warrior, and everything will be explained. Then you'll see that you have to help us."

When the two cats disappeared outside into the early night, Rainbowheart gazed at Jade and Streak who just shrugged their shoulders. Sighing, Rainbowheart motioned for them to follow her. I hope that this will not take too long.

Rainbowheart could hear many voices outside, and was amazed when she and the others were finally outside. There were enough cats here to be counted as a clan in itself. The clearing that was next to the burrow was filled up with what looked to be a mix of kittypets, loners, and rogues.

When all five of them were in view, the cats had stopped conversing with each other and were now looking at them. Rainbowheart felt a little uncomfortable with their stares and was reminded of her first time at the gathering. She could hear the whisperings of the cats that time too; she knew it was her eyes that they were talking about. It seemed though, that these cats were also whispering something else to each other too, but she couldn't catch it before Buck stepped in.

"Friends and acquaintances, it has been a hard life these past moons, especially with 'him' and his followers. I promised you that I would find a solution, and today I have brought that. I have found someone who has the capability of fighting; someone who can teach us to fight and take back our home." Buck motioned to Rainbowheart, who took a step small step forward.

"I have heard tales from this young cat; tales of others who live in the wild and fight for survival. She is one of those cats, and from what my friend Streak has told me, she has even driven off a fox. I believe that with her help we will be able to fight back against Bloodstorm and his Peace Reapers."

Rainbowheart had been listening impatiently, waiting to be informed on what was happening, when Buck had said that name.

Bloodstorm.

The warrior could hear Foxflower's voice as clear as if she were here herself. In fact, she might have been.

Beware the blood that falls before the storm. Rainbowheart shook her head, and hissed over at Buck, who turned to look at her questioningly.

"Excuse me Buck, but I think I should be filled in on what the heck is going on. Who's Bloodstorm, and who are these Peace Reapers?" Rainbowheart looked around at the cats that were in the clearing. She noticed that some seemed battle-worn, even the kittypets. That didn't seem right.

All stared at her and a few shifted in place not really wanting to be the one to speak.

Buck was taken aback by Rainbowheart's tone, but he shook it off, motioning for a cat in the crowd to step forward. A she-cat that was in the back of the crowd padded forward to sit in the middle of the clearing. She had a pretty blue-grey pelt with a white face and paws, and weirdly enough her right eye was yellow and the other was blue.

Buck leaned toward Rainbowheart's ear, "That's one of the local loners called Star. She's a peculiar one, but she has great wisdom of much."

"And who is this enemy?" Rainbowheart questioned aloud.

Star cleared her throat, "The enemy is Bloodstorm, a ruthless cat with purple eyes. He leads a group of cats that he calls his Peace Reapers. Their sole purpose it seems is to rule over the entire twolegplace here. We are attacked constantly each day and scared to the point of not even being able to leave our homes. Even those that live with the twolegs are attacked and many have had to stay inside and no longer come out."

"We are threatened into giving them food and are on the verge of starving to death if nothing is done. Many of us have been injured and are weak. We are tired of doing as they say, and want to put a stop to it."

Star stopped and looked intensely at Rainbowheart, "From what we've just been told, it has been concluded you are a warrior; a fighter. Is this true, can you fight? Can you teach us how to fight?"

Everyone's eyes were on Rainbowheart now, pleading and judging. Now she knew what a leader felt like when making decisions. She looked at Buck, Apple, and Meera, who were next to her and her two friends.

Meera looked judgingly at Rainbowheart, "Well, Patchy? You are the first cat we've met in ages to pass through here that is promising to us, with fighting experience. Are you going to teach us or not?"

Rainbowheart didn't really know what to say. She was only supposed to be staying around and helping Streak and her kin. Foxflower's warning kept crossing her thoughts. It seemed like the warning had been to the point, and that she had to beware of this Bloodstorm cat. Would she really risk sticking around?

"Is she going to help us get our home back mama?"

The voice of a kit. It certainly wasn't one of Jade's. Rainbowheart flicked an ear at the sounds, but didn't look.

"I don't know dear," came the hushed response of a queen.

"I wanna go home."

"I know, I know."

That just wasn't playing fair. Rainbowheart dug her claws into the dirt beneath her paws. She could feel Buck's eyes boring into her pelt. The tom must have known. He must have known that she'd been won over just from a kit's cry for home.

"Alright... I'll do it," she stated, a bad feeling stinging her gut.

At those words, the group of cats started to yowl and cheer. Rainbowheart could see the relieved and happy expressions of the cats, but that still didn't get rid of the growing sense of dread she felt.

Maybe the dread is that prey she ate earlier. Gotta be giving her gas or something... (or it's Buck's gaze that might be creeping everyone out damn it Buck you can stop looking now)

C: Next chapter will be done soon. Tootles my dearies!