Most of the battles ended in the same way, with each team barely even close to getting to the target. So far the only team that put up a good fight was Nutmeg and Brick, who had listened, and worked together, but they were still inexperienced in battle form and they too, soon fell. Buck, Meera, Apple, and Star had been promising, to Rainbowheart, but each relied on too much of one thing. They did, however, do better than the other cats, which greatly pleased the warrior.
Soon the clearing was filled with exhausted cats that were now laying down and sharing tongues, something suggested by Rainbowheart while she and a few of the others hunted. It was best that they all got to know each other better, seeing as they would be training together, and what better way to do it than with fresh food and tired cats that would be staying until the day was over.
Really she wanted them to get along because she didn't want to deal with more squabbling.
It was decided that Buck, Meera, and Streak would accompany Rainbowheart on the hunt. Buck had suggested that they go, since Jade needed to keep an eye on the kits, and he and Meera were the only two cats near the area who ever tried to catch anything in the forest. Rainbowheart agreed, since they would need a lot of prey to feed the trainees.
Rainbowheart parted her jaws to scent the air, picking up the smell of bird. She turned to look at Buck, "How good are you at catching birds?"
Buck smirked with pride, "Well it just so happens that birds are our specialty. Just tell us where, and what to do."
Rainbowheart nodded, and told them all to keep quiet and follow her.
Eventually they came across a small group of birds, and Rainbowheart gave them their orders. While Buck and Streak went around to the opposite side, Rainbowheart and Meera stayed where they were.
When everyone was ready, Rainbowheart and Meera ran at the birds, getting them to fly straight into an ambush. Six of the eight birds, had quickly been killed, and all cats were looking triumphant. This wouldn't be enough though; they would need a lot more food.
"Hmm… I think we should split up now. We'll be able to cover more ground."
The others looked at Rainbowheart and nodded.
Streak looked back at their fresh kill, "Let's bury these first though, so we don't have to make more trips back and forth." They all agreed and began burying the birds. After they were done, each of them ran off into a different direction.
When they all met back where they began, each had a piece of prey to offer.
Rainbowheart had been lucky enough to find a good looking rabbit. Buck had miraculously caught a crow, while Meera had two mice. And Streak had a squirrel and another bird to offer to the pile. Overall it had been a more than successful hunt.
The forest's prey was plentiful for now.
"Well I think that this amount of prey should suffice," Rainbowheart commented, amusedly. "We're going to need help though; Streak, would you mind running back and asking a couple of the others to come and help us."
Streak flicked her ear at the request and sprinted off. "Sure thing, be right back."
When Streak came back, Jewel, Star, Apple, and Hampton were right behind her. They all looked wide-eyed at the big pile of prey.
"Whoa, you guys really worked the prey over. I've never seen this much food, even when the twolegs dump out their scraps in the alley," Hampton commented, impressed.
When they all got back to the clearing, everyone was still chattering.
Suzie and Nutmeg were talking to Jade. Casual she-cat gossip most likely.
It seemed that Cliff was busy telling the kits and the others some story about how he and another cat had fought off a dog in an alley.
Everyone turned though, when they caught wind of the food brought back for them.
The hunting party set down the prey in a pile. "Ok, now everyone come up and get some prey. If you have enough to share, then do so please. You all need to get your strength back, so eat up."
Once everyone had some food with them, Rainbowheart asked that they all sit in a circle. All of the kittypets just stared at the food that had been given to them, while the others, who were loners and ate what they could, went on and dug in.
Eventually their hunger and curiosity drove them to try the dead animal. At first they gave looks of uncertainty as they chewed, but then their faces turned to that of wonder, or at least interest at the taste. After getting through the first bite, the kittypets were also enjoying the fresh meal.
With lunch out of the way, everyone began talking again, with loners telling of things they did while they had been traveling, or just kit hood memories. The conversation eventually fell on Rainbowheart.
"So Buck tells us that you come from a place where other cats run wild together and care for themselves. Can you tell us what it's like?" inquired Jewel.
"Well I guess I could, but it could take up the time needed to train for today."
Rainbowheart looked over at Buck who seemed to be the ring leader for these cats to listen to. Based on his earlier fit before training, she would have assumed he'd rather they all train some more.
Buck shrugged his shoulders, speaking as he cleaned himself. "Go on, I'm sure they would like to hear something about you. Besides, Blue needs to head home, and would miss training." He seemed a little irked that the kittypet needed to leave. The time could be filled with something else he guessed.
Blue got up when Buck said this. "Sorry but Buck's right. My twolegs let me in earlier than most. Guess they're worried I'll run off or something."
A few cats purred with amusement at that last comment, considering that he was a really good distance away from the twolegplace.
Everyone bid him goodbye until tomorrow, then he was out of sight.
"So, what is it exactly you all want to hear about?" Rainbowheart questioned.
"You could tell them what you told us the other night," Jade suggested. "You might have skipped around some things."
"Alright, if you really want to hear that stuff again." Rainbowheart flicked an ear, and began again to tell what she'd told the others already. She even added in some stuff she may have forgotten to mention before. It wasn't much of a story, as it was just information. She really didn't think there'd be that much interest really.
By the time she finished talking about and describing things, she had a few of the loners badgering her with questions. They were probably the most impressed ones.
"So what was your mentor's name?" the excited young Chris asked earnestly. The tom was probably the most excited out of everyone. He was young, and was only right to be excited, much like the kits.
"My mentor's name was Razorstar." Rainbowheart informed this with a bit of pride igniting inside her. Who wouldn't be proud having been mentored by a leader? It was under special circumstances, still, but even so it had been fun.
"Did you fight lots of battles?" Hampton asked with a smile. He was obviously really into the whole wild-cat. It didn't take a genius to figure that out. He hadn't really given any acknowledgement to the kittypets, except maybe for Jewel when they bickered.
"Well, there were plenty of border skirmishes between ShadowClan and the clan I was in."
"So what was it like? Living with the clans I mean, not the fighting." Apple drew everyone's attention. He seemed to have stopped shaking for once, and seemed more relaxed, eyes wide with a sliver of wonder.
This question made Rainbowheart stop and think, her odd eyes trained on her paws. "It was great. You're surrounded by others who you've sworn to protect and who will protect you. You work to help each other." She stared up at the other cats. "Uh, that's all I really want to talk about." She really didn't feel like going on to these cats.
"Here comes the sad part guys." The interruption came from Meera, who scoffed when Buck flicked her head with his tail. "What? The mood was getting me down."
"Have you no tact?" the tom hissed.
"I have claws and I'm not afraid to use them," stated sweetly to Buck. She sure knew how to get on her brother's nerves. "Anyways, now that the moment has been ruined, everyone should be getting along." The she cat stood up and stretched.
"She's right, it's getting late and our twolegs will probably worry," Blair said, motioning for the other kittypets. "Thank you for the meal."
"Yeah thank you! See you guys tomorrow." The ginger pelt of Chilly streaked passed everyone, not bothering to wait for the others.
"Hold up Chilly, don't leave us behind," Blair called, groaning. She along with the rest of the cats, loners included, took their leave. Best to get to their homes and not be out after dark.
"We should be going too," Buck stated.
"No, you guys should stay. There's enough room." Jade gave Buck a disappointed expression.
If they stay they need to help with hunting in the morning, Rainbowheart thought to herself. She was a tad bitter because of Meera's outburst.
A loud screech in the distance suddenly got everyone's attention Everyone now stopped and listened so they could get a clue where it was coming from. When it sounded again Buck took off towards the twolegplace.
It was a split-second decision, but Rainbowheart found herself bounding after the tom. "The rest of you stay there!" she called back before running out of sight after Buck.
The closer they got to the noise, the clearer they could see the twoleg dens, and the better they could hear the struggle going on.
"Please leave me alone. I didn't do anything wrong!"
They could hear a she-cat voice pleading to someone.
Rainbowheart and Buck eventually came to a halt, and looked through to the other side of some bushes. What they both saw shocked and infuriated them.
A young light brown tabby she-cat was being held down by two other cats that obviously had her outmatched.
"Oh really, if I remember correctly, you were supposed to bring an offering for our leader today, but you weren't there. Because of you we had to skip out on our meal to just find you." One of the cats said with venom in their voice.
"Please, I'm sorry I wasn't there. Next time I'll bring double, I promise." The cat on the cried put in distress again.
Both Rainbowheart and Buck flinched when they heard the poor cat yowl in pain when one of the cats pressed down hard with their claws on her shoulders.
"I wouldn't make promises that can't be kept. This isn't the first time you've held out on us." The cat turned to looked at the cat to the right who had yet to speak, "What do you think we should do with her Quill?"
The cat laughed in a way that made Rainbowheart's pelt crawl.
"I say we teach her a lesson. Maybe a few scars on her pretty pelt will teach her not to disobey our laws. I think I'll start with her ears." The other cat lifted a paw into the air, claws glinting in the fading light.
The cat on the ground braced herself for a beating.
Before the cat's claws could reach their target though, Rainbowheart and Buck ran out and slammed against both of the attackers, knocking them to the ground, breathless and bewildered.
Now that they were closer, Rainbowheart could now distinguish the attacking cats. The cat that had been about to attack had a brown and white pelt and, when she opened them, pale green eyes. The smaller one had spiky dark black fur and clear blue eyes with dark flecks.
When both of the attackers had recovered from the surprise of being knocked over, they stood up, pelt fluffed out, and glared at the newcomers.
"Who dares attack members of the Peace Reap-" The black she-cat stopped and squinted her eyes at Buck and then bared her teeth, "Buck, I always knew you'd be trouble. Come to die now, and look, you even brought a friend. Too bad she'll have to suffer along with you and that pathetic lump of fur over there."
Rainbowheart bared her teeth at them, anger flaring through her body, "If you ask me, you're the ones who are pathetic." She wasn't in the mood to deal with scum.
This got both cats' undivided attention. "What'd you say furball?" spit out the brown and white she-cat.
Rainbowheart smiled through her teeth, "You heard me. What, you always do what your leader says? He sends his lackeys out to pick on weaker cats, while he sits in his nice cozy den. I bet he must be laughing his head off."
Taunt them. Taunting was always good. Or not.
"I'll shove those words right back down your throat," the brown-and-white cat hissed at them, and then jumped at Rainbowheart.
Rainbowheart hissed butjust stepped out of the way.
Before she knew what had happened, the attacking she-cat had landed face first into the ground. When the cat tried to get up, Rainbowheart knocked her back down, pinning her to the ground with full force.
"You want to fight, try fighting someone with skill at least, instead of picking on innocent cats. Now," Rainbowheart dug her claws into the cat's shoulders and was rewarded with a slight hiss, "get out of here, and I better not catch you near this forest again got it?" Rainbowheart slowly let the she-cat up.
As fast as her legs could take her, the she-cat darted back to the twolegplace, running past Buck who had the other cat pinned to the ground, hissing and spitting.
"You can let her go now, Buck."
Buck didn't look up, just kept on pushing his weight down on the cat.
"Buck, let her go!"
Only now did Rainbowheart's voice register to the tom. Loosening his grip, he let the cat up, who ran after her companion, disappearing into the growing night.
Once they saw the attackers run off, Rainbowheart turned to Buck, "You don't have self-control do you?" She didn't get an answer from him. The she-cat sighed, shaking her head and addressed the other issue. "Who were those cats, a part of the Peace Reapers?"
At this, Buck gave a slight nod, "Yes, they were punishers, the cats that do Bloodstorm's dirty work outside of his hideout. They see to it that everyone follows the rules laid out by him too. The two you just met, are a nasty piece of work they are." And he wished he would have been allowed to finish at least one of them off.
"The spiky black one is called Hiss. Cold heart she has. If the leader of the punishers ever dies, she would certainly take his place." Buck shook his head, "I used to think she could be better than the Peace Reapers, she and her brother."
"The other one is called Quill. Insane, she is. She'll do whatever she can to put anyone who crosses her into as much pain as possible, and will never feel anything but pleasure." Buck looked back to where the cats ran to. "It sure was fun to see them run for once with their tails between their legs." His words held a longing to do more than just see them run, however.
Rainbowheart nodded solemnly, not bringing up the fact Buck almost killed one of them. Instead she turned to look at the cat they had just saved and padded over to her quickly. "Are you ok um…"
"Hazel. My name's Hazel, and yes I'm fine, just a few scratches." Hazel looked up with watery eyes. "Thank you for saving me." She leaned forward into Rainbowheart's shoulder as a gesture of thanks.
"Don't worry, you're fine now." Rainbowheart looked the she-cat over, "Well, you're right, you are pretty scraped up, but I still think I should have a look at them. If you don't mind, I'd like you to come with me so that I may treat you, if that's alright of course."
Hazel was hesitant. She seemed to turn to Buck for an answer of sorts, obviously knowing him from twolegplace.
"Don't worry Hazel, I'll look after your parents. This is the cat that everyone was talking about yesterday. You'll be in good paws." The tom gave both she-cats a soft look, trying to coax Hazel to take his word for it.
Hazel's eyes seemed to brighten up at Buck's revelation, and turned back to Rainbowheart. "If you are able to heal my wounds, I would be most thankful."
"Well that's settled. Buck," Rainbowheart looked at the big tom, "I'll be taking her with me. You watch your back out there."
Buck nodded and, with a last look back at them, vanished into the forest.
He, Apple, and Meera, must have a den somewhere, Rainbowheart thought to herself. Funny, she thought they lived in twolegplace with the rest. She looked down at her new charge, "Come on, let's get you back to my den for some treatment and rest."
Both she-cats then disappeared in a different direction, into the night, and completely unaware that someone had been watching them the whole time; from the time Quill and Hiss had attacked, to the time Hazel and her rescuers left the scene.
The shadowy outline of a cat could be seen on one of the fences overlooking the forest. His dark purple eyes glinted, just as his fangs did, in the new moonlight that came out. "Well, well, well, it seems that we have a new neighbor. Although, I don't think you two quite welcomed her in the right way. What do you think, Quill, Hiss?"
The two cats on the grass behind him stooped their heads down and remained silent.
"No answer, well I think we should give this newcomer a proper welcome. Both of you head back and tell the others to gather. I'd like to have a talk with everyone." The shadowy cat ordered nonchalantly.
Hiss gawked at the cat, a little confused, "What for s-"
The cat cut her off, "Hiss, did I say it was alright for you to question me?" He looked angrily back at the black she-cat, who now lowered her head in regret at what she had said.
She knew very well that she could be punished severely, maybe even by her companion who enjoyed punishing, as was their job.
"We will do as you wish Bloodstorm sir." She and Quill then left, with their leader still looking at where Rainbowheart had disappeared at.
Bloodstorm smiled to himself, chuckling. "What a pretty pair of eyes that one has, even more so than mine, and such a beautiful personality too. This turn of events will make things more interesting."
A wild Bloodstorm finally appears!
What exactly could Bloodstorm be planning? (it obviously isn't a birthday party that's for sure)
Find out next time on "That Creepy Cat Next Door"!
Allegiances have been updated on my profile.
Laters gaters!