Hello again, readers and friends. I figured it was about time I returned to FanFiction. Where have I been? Building my new site, of course! I've decided to make my own Warriors roleplay site, and I strongly urge you to check it out. The link is on my profile in two different places. Anyways, thanks to BookObssessorNumberOne, Adurna Rider of Kveykva, Wildwaters, Anidori-Isilee, Kacheekyblu2 and Linzerj loves Warriors for reviewing!
Remember to review AND to check out my site!
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Darkpaw gaped. She couldn't believe her own eyes. What IS this place? Did humans do all this? StarClan… Mothpaw and Owlpaw were awed too. In front of them was… Darkpaw didn't even know how to describe it. It was like a big hill made of wood, but the sides were straight like cliffs. A hole in the side showed that it was clearly hollow, and the whole thing smelled of hay, sheep, and some unnamed scent.
"This is the barn," Cooper mewed conversationally. "The humans use it mostly for storage, but sometimes the sheep come in here when it's raining or something. Also, they keep Lady in here."
"Who's Lady?" Owlpaw asked.
"She's right over there," Cooper said, pointing with his crooked tail.
Darkpaw peered around him and gasped. She saw a huge animal three times the size of a sheep, with sleek chestnut hair. She looked like a sheep in terms of her face, but her ears went straight up and a thick line of long hair flowed down the back of her neck. She stared at them like the sheep had, but her gaze was more intelligent and kind.
Mothpaw laughed nervously. "She- she won't try to attack us, will she?"
"No!" Ginger spoke up. "She's gentle as a lamb."
"Lady is a horse," Cooper said. "Have you ever seen a horse before?" The three apprentices shook their heads mutely. Cooper smiled. "Well, you'll soon learn to like Lady. She can't speak cat, but we can communicate without speaking. Come take a closer look."
"I'd rather not-" Mothpaw began, but Cooper was already moving towards the creature. Darkpaw bounded after him, watching as he slipped under the fence. Purring calmly, he wound around Lady's legs and the big horse lowered her head and nuzzled him.
Darkpaw crept forward, watching the horse but also keeping an eye on her enormous stone feet. Lady looked over and Darkpaw froze. Reaching out her neck slowly, Lady sniffed at the young black cat, flaring her nostrils. Then she nuzzled Darkpaw as well, like they were friends now. Though Lady was being gentle, the strength of the movement almost knocked Darkpaw over.
Mothpaw and Owlpaw gathered up the courage to meet Lady, slinking over with wide eyes. Just as Lady went to sniff them, Ginger drawled, "Hard to believe that's the same creature that put the crook in Cooper's tail." Mothpaw gave a little scream and leaped backwards.
Cooper glared at Ginger and said, "That was an accident!"
Ginger winked and said, "I know." She slunk away into the shadows.
Cooper frowned and turned to Mothpaw. "Come one, I promise she won't hurt you."
Mothpaw shook her head feverishly. "No, I'm okay."
Owlpaw, on the other hand, seemed okay with the horse, though he was wary of her. Lady liked them all just fine, and soon the four of them were on their way.
Cooper kept the conversation going. "Next you can see the dogs, though I don't suggest you meet them. They don't bother Ginger and me, but they're a bit cautious around newcomers. Puck and Lucy are their names."
"Dogs are like coyotes, right?" Darkpaw asked.
"I suppose so. I've only seen a coyote once in my life, so I can't be too sure. But yes, their pretty much the same. Long muzzles, wide paws, fluffy coats. Lucy and Puck are Border Collies, with long black and white fur. They herd the sheep." Cooper paused for a moment. "Were exactly are you three from? A place without humans or dogs or buildings is unimaginable."
"We're from ForeverClan. We live by the ocean," Owlpaw meowed. "We're trying to find a stream."
"There're some streams around here. Maybe it's one of them," Cooper suggested, but Darkpaw shook her head.
"You wouldn't know of it, I'm sure," she insisted. Cooper looked confused but didn't question her further. Good, Darkpaw thought. I would've had to refuse to answer them.
That night the three slept comfortably, curled in nests of hay in the loft above Lady's stable. They were all tired from days of trekking, but there was just too much to talk about. Cooper listened with wide eyes as Owlpaw explained how Clans worked, and as Mothpaw described the sea, and as Darkpaw told of great battles. What they couldn't tell him about was their Clan's mysterious powers.
After a while Ginger joined them, and she and Cooper spoke of humans, and human things, and kittypet life, and all the strange animals the humans kept as pets. It was a very late hour when the crooked tailed tom and haughty she cat friend bid them good night.
Darkpaw's dreams were filled with crashing waves, prey under her claws and sparkling streams, which was all normal enough. But now she dreamed of wooly white sheep, soaring wooden cliff-sides of barns and houses, and the silent communication between cat and horse. If her world was incredible, then so was this human place she'd never knew.
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"Goodbye, Cooper, we'll miss you very much," Mothpaw sniffed, tears in her eyes.
"You two, Ginger," Owlpaw said. The old cat purred. Out of all three visitors, Owlpaw was her favorite. 'Hardworking young fellow, that one,' she had said. 'Charming, and a good brain in his head.'
Darkpaw nodded mutely and rubbed cheeks with both cats, copying Mothpaw and Owlpaw. They had stayed for a few days at Haycomb Farm and needed to be on their way. They still were unable to find the Stream-bed and after seeing them returning glumly, Ginger had given them some expected advice. She had told them that not far from here was a town with many cats. If Darkpaw went there, some of the cats might be able to help her. Darkpaw didn't know if any could (since the Stream was a secret) but didn't want to waste her time wandering around in the woods getting even more lost.
"Remember to look for Kira," Cooper instructed them. Kira was Cooper's sister. She lived by the post office, a sort of half kittypet, half stray. "She's tough, she'll give a place to stay and keep you safe on the streets. As long as you tell her Cooper sent you."
"We definitely will," Darkpaw mewed.
A few more sad goodbyes and a promise to return to the farm sometime; then they were off. "Be careful! Good luck!" Cooper meowed loudly as they walked away.
"Now scram, pesky kits!" Ginger rasped, having to make one last comment. But she was waving her tail in farewell.
At the edge of the farm, Darkpaw looked back. The farm cats were two small spots of brown and ginger. She took a deep breath, smiled at Owlpaw and Mothpaw, and said, "Off to the city."
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So whadda'ya think? Good? Bad? I like it. A nice transition, if somewhat short.
Please review! I promise to hand out plushies to everyone who reviews! And a Ginger plushie to the best one! PUSH THE BUTTON!
