Chapter 4 Love At First Conversation

Mahogany's POV

Mahogany heard the screech and a crash a few seconds after Oreo had been trapped in the car again. Worriedly, he scaled the fence and raced to the crash site. No cats there.

Looking around frantically, Mahogany called for his brother.

"Oreo, are you in the car? Oreo! Oreo!?"

On the opposite side of the smoking car, he spotted a patch of trampled undergrowth. There was a lopsided trail going towards it, as though Oreo had dragged himself into the forest.

The question was, why? He could tell a wild cat had been there with him. Oh no.

When he had gone looking for his parents that day of their death, (see prologue) he met a bunch of wild cats who called themselves 'Thunderclan'. One of them had brought him to their camp when he was in search of his father's body. It was there.

Now he went there of his own accord, searching for his brother. Tiny Jr. It was like history repeating itself. Would he find his brother's body today?

Swiftly Mahogany raced towards Thunderclan. On the way he thought he saw a silver pelt over by the hilltop, but didn't bother to stop and investigate. It wasn't his brother, so he just continued running until he came to his destination.

Mintstar's POV

A hubbub raised itself outside Mintstar's den as she paced around behind the lichen, thinking about the lack of legitimate warriors in Thunderclan.

Impatiently she stuck out her head, only to realize, with wide eyes, that the familiar brown pelt was not that of Pineheart's, but was a little redder. It reminded her of the clay at the banks of the rivers. What was left of Thunderclan was bunched around the visitor, a murmur rippling through the small crowd. They couldn't even account as a crowd.

Mintstar bounded off the ledge to face the stranger. "Hello," she said imperiously to him. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

The brownish tom nodded to her, panting. "My name is Mahogany," he gasped, out of breath. "I- have you seen a smallish black and white cat, with emerald green eyes? With a creepy collar?"

Now Mintstar gasped. "Could it be?" she whispered.

Mahogany gave her a searching look. "What?" he asked. His voice resonated off the stone walls. He noticed that every cat inside the cave had quieted, except for a few whispers here and there.

Mintstar shook her head. "He's dead." She said determinedly. "He can't be alive."

Mahogany gasped in turn, collapsing to the ground. His voice was shaking as he spoke. "When? How?"

"Many seasons ago. He was slayed by Firestar, and rightfully so. Are you one of his followers?"

Mahogany shook his head, seemingly relieved. "No, I think we're talking about two different cats. He was last seen by me in a vehicle today."

A collective breath was let out among the ranks of cats around them, but confused murmurs started up again.

"A vehicle?" Mintstar asked, voicing their quarries.

Mahogany nodded. "A car. Do you guys even know what that is?" he meowed.

Mintstar shook her head. "Are you a kittypet?"

"Okay, look. I'm not trying to do the 'confuse each other game'." Mahogany said impatiently. "I need to find my brother, then I'll be gone."

Just then, a silver pelt emerged from the camp entrance. "Excuse me," the she cat said, weaving through the crowd to get to Mintstar. "We have a kittypet here who lost his twoleg. He says he might stay here, but he's going to run a trial first." She gestured to a black and white dappled tom.

Mintstar was just about to reply to Streamleaf when Mahogany sat up, ears pinged high. "Oreo!" he yelled.

The other kittypet flicked his ear, annoyed. "Mahogany." he said coolly. "No wonder I didn't see you come rushing down to the crash site."

"I was looking for you. Where have you been?" The tom's voice was stern, as if he were the authority over 'Oreo'.

Mintstar stepped forward. "Hey, I hate to break it to you, but none of you are at home. If you would like to stay here and train to become a warrior, that's fine by me. But you can't have a trial run. Food is scarce enough without two more cats feeding off us." Streamleaf looked awfully disappointed.

Mahogany and Oreo turned and stared at Mintstar simultaneously.

Oreo cut in first. "I'll stay," he meowed, probably having had noticed Streamleaf's expression.

Mahogany glared at Oreo. "For the sake of him, I'll stay." He grit his teeth as he said this.

The true heart of a Thunderclan warrior, Mintstar noted.

"So. Battle training first. Streamleaf, you teach Mahogany. Pineheart, you teach Oreo. Later I'll see if you qualify for a warrior name."

With a flick of her tail, Mintstar dismissed the cats.

"Wait!"

She looked. "What?"

"I haven't had lunch yet!"

Mahogany snorted. "Its only morning, Oreo."

Without another word, Mintstar stalked back to her den. Such a mouse brain. This wasn't a good start.