Chapter II: Seasonal Change
Aspenpaw blinked sleepiness from her eyes, purring as another fitful dream sated her desires. He tail curled over her moss covered back legs, shaking them loose. Sunlight spilled through into the den baking the black-and-white apprentice in it's gentle warmth.
Time to dazzle my subjects.
However, the black-and-white apprentice had other things on her mind; toms. She only tries to grab their attention for her own personal gain. She may as well be the prettiest thing walking four legs and her cunning nature and persuasive ways will get her far enough. For the best share of prey to the best hunting and border patrols should would ask for it all. It was a deliberate setup for her reputation as the best apprentice the Clan could ever hope for.
She slept until sunhigh already being sent out once for hunting patrol and a dusk patrol the day before. Warriors dragged themselves from cozy dens on frosty ground and cool, crisp morning air. Aspenpaw purred as one clumsy warrior fell over his own paws and right into the side of a queen who snarled back. Tensions were staked high especially because of the very few numbers of kits that greenleaf. And the ones who were birth died earlier on by disease or snatched up by some predator of the night.
Their deputy, Crowflight was careful to leave enough to defend camp. The Nightstriker was never really discovered several moons ago and everybody was still shaken raw by the loss of Leafpelt. Even worse, Ryepaw was caught in that nightly whirlwind and damaged by that same murderous creature.
For two whole moons her sister would not speak about her encounter. Ryepaw's vocals were damaged, yes, but even after a transition to heal she still refused to speak. Aspenpaw dug her claws deep within the soil. Fury filled her vision but she shook it clear. She couldn't afford to lose her temper. The Clan came first, her sister second. For now, she had an eye for toms just to keep herself busy.
She's greeted by her mentor, Thorntail. An average sized tom with a golden-brown pelt which was dull and unimpressive to match his description. He had potential but little so that it wouldn't set her hunger.
"Afternoon, Aspenpaw. Sleep well last night?" He asked. Eyes fell over her ruffled fur.
A cool breeze drifted between them making the she-cat fluff out her sleek pelt. "If well you mean by standards of disturbed than yes, it was well."
The tom's eyes gentled. "You still miss him."
She turned her head away not wanting the emotions to well up in her eyes again. "I don't see why it had to be him of all cats."
"We grieve. We all do but we also live on for those who were lost." Thorntail meowed, dropping his tail across the she-cat's small shoulder.
"Does one loss cause a mother to lose her will to live and does one loss cause the Clan to revert to suspicion within their own walls?" She snapped back. "Does one loss call for a patrol to rally warriors to sneak into enemy territory thinking the outcome would benefit the prey in our fresh-kill but instead causes a death of another and a cat so traumatized she can't even trust her own kin?
He frowned. His tail seemed like more weight to bare than a comforting gesture. She shrugged it off going elsewhere to clean her pelt.
"I didn't think so." She tossed over her shoulder, sitting near the nursery as she swiped her tongue across her shoulder.
The woven bramble den shook revealing a tri-colored cat. Her eyes reflecting the same color as the sky. "I saw you." The emerged cat mewed, wrapping her tail around her paws.
"Doesn't every cat see a little drama now and again?" Aspenpaw said between licks.
"He was only trying to show some compassion and you threw it right back in his face. Aspenpaw, I thought Nightfall taught you better."
Aspenpaw flinched at that name. It always sent chills down her spine every time cats spoke of her. "She did, but I guess it didn't get through well enough. Everyone expects me to move on but my family is falling about like this Clan is. Why can't they see that? Or are they to oblivious to the fact that our numbers are dropping off like flies on the first break of leafare?"
"MarshClan is not defeated until the last warrior has fallen. Do not mock your heritage or your birthplace. It's all you have right now." The queen spoke furiously. "We will prevail. We always find a way never looking for another Clan's help like our enemies so leisurely do. That makes us ten times as durable. As strong."
"Daisytail, you're with kits. Your lecture will stress them out as well as yourself." The apprentice glanced at the queen who subconsciously brushed her tail across her belly almost feeling the squirm of lives within her.
Daisytail sighed. "Think about what I said, alright? I can't always be with you like this. You're your own cat. You've always been the moment you opened those sparkling blue eyes. Speaking with your father will help as well."
Aspenpaw rolled her eyes at the mention of that tom. He didn't care about her life neither Ryepaw or even her dead little brother. He had them only for the Clan when the few kits MarshClan had seasons ago didn't make it at all. Not one. So, he felt the need to compensate for the lost lives. Her father did not love her mother nor did he spare her a heartbeat of his time. His duties were far more important as he had high hopes to lead this miserable Clan one day. No MarshClan cat in their right mind would follow him.
Besides, he had no close connection with his current deputy-nor did he really care. No outstanding talents to impress his Classmates with. No wisdom, amazing strength, or hunting skills. He was pathetically average as he forced himself to be. Still, he wanted to prove himself.
"We must be cursed by StarClan themselves if we're suffering this much." She muttered under her breath. She walked away from Daisytail, promising to bring her something to eat.
Aspenpaw padded to the low pile of prey, picking through the frozen morsels to find a cold squirrel at the bottom. Its tail trudged under her paws and she craned to hold it higher. She wasn't about to trip over this thick-furred piece of rodent. It was a rare treat to come by in the swamps. The rival-BirchClan-hones all the delicious forest prey for themselves. And insist on hunting on MarshClan's lands for sport.
Her ear twitched at the sound of approaching pawsteps. The early hunting patrol was finally returning. Her mew of greeting died in her throat at the sight of two unfamiliar bodies surrounded by the patrol. She spotted her sister in the middle, ushering a dark tabby on the right of her.
She waved at her sister who gave her a swift glance. She smiled at her littermate hoping to make some sort of breakthrough but as always she was ignored. Aspenpaw hiss was muffled by fur and she hurried to drop of the squirrel in hopes of seeing just what kind of situation they were brought into, again.
. . .
"They don't belong here!"
"Drive them out!"
"What have you done?"
"Quiet! All of you! Your leader speaks!" Crowflight yowled. The ripple of bristling cats fell silent.
A small yellow cat gazed down at the newcomers. She gave a critical stare letting the presence sink into every cat present. Aspenpaw squeezed between two warriors just to get a better view. She deposited the squirrel and raced back forgetting to make sure Daisytail actually received it.
She'll be fine.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" She demanded. Her eyes burning into Thistlenose.
The tom gulped before taking a step forward. "Lightstar. I can tell you that we weren't expecting to see these mongrels so close to our border. Ryepaw,"he flicked tail to the she-cat,"by slim chance spotted the two rogues inching closer into our territory. We were doing the round of our hunting patrol when Foxclaw too, found them."
Lightstar nodded regarding the males with little notice. "I'd like to hear more of this in my den, Thistlenose. You as well, Ryepaw."
Foxclaw stepped beside Thistlenose annoyed that he didn't receive anything from his report. "What about them?"
The small she-cat blinked at the rogues who were inching together despite the disgust in their faces. "Guard them by the old tree stump until I return." She swept her tail behind her as she entered her den along with the warrior and shaken apprentice.
Foxclaw hissed headbutting Delta in the shoulder who passed a soft growl before forced to haul himself against the iced tree bark. Hail joined him on the other side, avoiding to touch pelts with the arrogant tom.
Aspenpaw kneaded the ground the entire ordeal. Excitement buzzing her ears. A pelt brushed hers making her jump in retaliation. Quickly she realized that it was her denmate, Mudpaw. The squashed vole between his jaws.
He placed it in front of her, letting his eyes wonder over the rogue males. "Can you believe it? We have prisoners in our own camp!" Energy bubbling into his leap. He could be so goofy sometimes.
Aspenpaw swiped a playful paw at him. "Quiet or they'll hear!" She gave a nudge. "This is something. Unexpected but something."
"Do you think something dreadful will happen to them?" He asked.
She sniffed at his ruined prey, flicking her tongue over her nose. "Like what, exactly?"
He shrugged. "Blind them. Kill them. Torture them on demands of other rogue cats whereabouts."
Aspenpaw mused over his words. "The last might be possible. Maybe one of those scoundrels might be the cat who's been hunting our Clanmates." Her tail twitched at that.
Mudpaw sank down to wrap tentative jaws around his prey once more; taking a small bite and pushing it to the she-cat. "We won't know until Lightstar gives the word. Knowing her she'll just drive them out."
"Pity."
The she-cat apprentice bent down to take a small bite as well, passing prey back and forth until nothing but bones remained. Afterwards, Mudpaw and her shared tongues chasing words of the slowest day in leafbare as it changed into another season.
It wasn't long before their leader came from her den along with her warrior and apprentice. She nodded to Crowflight who passed on another hunting patrol consisting of three warriors. Times were harder now than ever.
"MarshClan, as you may know that a patrol has brought in two unidentified rogues. They may be a threat to our lives, but we know nothing of them. I would like to asking questions and if they truly are the only rogues in this area."
The closest cat two them hissed. Hail arched his back and bared his teeth sending the warrior edging closer. By luck, Foxclaw was their to shove them away.
Lightstar continued,"From this day onward they will become are prisoners. This was a difficult decision to ma-"
"You can't!"
"We can't spare another mouth to feed!"
"You're leading an attack right to us!?"
"Silence!" She yowled, claws gripping the tips of tree bark in which she stood. "I will not be interrogated by my own Clan. Save that for our captives."
"Sorry to interrupt but I think we can have a say in this too." Hail stood up ignoring the hisses and growls from marsh cats.
Lightstar sat on her haunches giving him a curious look. "What makes you think we want to hear anything from you at this this time?"
Hail smiled. "My troop's leader has been watching your Clan and the others rather closely before he came for us. Twice have we been rejected by the Clan near the sea and another at the edge of a birch forest, and once driven out by the cats in the mountains. He was given a dream..."
A cat from in front mewed with interest.
"This dream was a bloody path in which all of you including us would have to walk down. Not unless we unite and conquer the forces threatening to tear you apart."
"Is it really wise to be telling them anything about why we're here?" Delta grumbled casting a glance at the clancats shifting farther away.
Hail hailed up his tail for his groupmate to hush.
"You received an omen?" A pale ginger and white she-cat craned her head over taller bodies.
The white tom furrowed his brow. "I...don't know what that is exactly. All I've been told that it was a dream sent by an ancient cat bathed in starlight."
MarshClan rippled in surprise, murmuring to one another. The same she-cat crossed the clearing over to Lightstar who descended down from her podium.
"Rogue," she meowed. "What makes your group so special that you start having dreams of nothing?"
The she-cat eyes widened. "Lightstar." Short outbursts of her confide worries was astounding.
The leader twitched her ear for silence. "Speak."
Hail raised his head defiantly. "Maybe you should ask my leader about that. He's the one who was gracious enough to receive it."
"Where is this leader of yours, or is that a lie to keep you from starving?" The she-cat smirked when she saw dismay twinkle in his gaze.
The white rogue curled his tail over his paws looking over yonder. "He was waiting at your border early part of today. I'm not sure if he missed a patrol or not but now witnessing no cat speaking of our group other than us two, I think so."
A dark gray pelt came beside Lightstar. His head low submissively. "I'll send a patrol right away to fetch his leader."
"No. I will not risk my cats into an ambush." She conceded.
Crowflight stared at her. "Then what do you suppose we do?" Her tail lashed from side to side tired of the look of a challenge in the rogue's eyes. She turned away, tail bushing out as leaks of her anger seeped out.
"We will bring their leader to us. I want a sunhigh patrol starting today. Include that rogue or the other in it. Do any means possible to drown their group out. Make them bleed, scare them to leave a scent, anything but don't kill them. Not yet." The small yellow cat bunched up her muscles and made massive leave for the rickety branch. It swayed even under her tiny weight.
"I would like to hear more about this silly story and see if they are truly a threat to my Clan. No cat is ever to leave the camp without at least two others. You know that rule rather well." She disappeared in her den once more swallowed up by the hanging lichen.
Hail neck fur rose but lied flat again when she vanished from sight. He took breath not realizing he was holding any and sat back down on his haunches.
"You're a strange one." A voice so close to his ear made him flinch. He stared at that same she-cat whose pelt melted with the colors of dark and light.
He snorted. "You're one to talk."
She purred. "Don't mind Lightstar. She means well for the cats she cares for. Outsiders makes her wary as it should to anyone with good sense." She glanced over as his claw marks to the chest which were dotted were dried up blood.
"Does it hurt?"
Hail shook his head but passed his tongue over his sore chest. "It stings a little but why does it concern you so much, wild cat?"
Aspenpaw scowled. "It doesn't. I was only asking sorry if that was such a bothersome question."
Hail wondered what sort of function this cat played in the Clan. So far he figured the older cats hunted and patrolled the territory. There was a leader-of course-and what looked to be a cat below her status. A few queens, young and elderly which surprised him the most as those stages of a cat slowed a large group down and was left to fen for themselves.
"Why bother sticking around a dangerous and filthy rogue, hm?"
She paused casting her gaze to the sinking horizon. Colors of crimson and gold meshed into one cascading wall of hues. It was a spectacular view even with the tips of pine trees cutting off the majestic scenery.
"You intrigue me. Out of all the things I've seen and been through never once have I been this interested in an outsider."
"What makes me so special?"
She shook her head, green eyes shimmering with humor. "If I told you you would choke on your spit."
Hail narrowed his eyes at the peculiar she-cat. "Try me."
He could already see her eyes dulling with interest. "Some other time. I think it's about time I take my leave before I put us both into trouble."
The tips of her tail fur brushed his chin making him shiver. He shivered repugnance not knowing that his rival was watching the whole encounter, eyes lit with envy. "What's your name?" The words slid out of his tongue before he realized it.
The bi-colored she-cat shook powder of snow from her pelt. Her white marks show clearer now. Her muzzle was the only part visible as a small plume of air broke when she spoke. "The less you know about me, the better but if you insist on knowing it's Aspenpaw."
She was gone, not from sight but from his vision as a flurry of snowflakes clouded his eyes. He sneezed as one fell down his nose-turning cold. Aspenpaw. This wild cats carry foreign names as strange as they come by.
He settled down, scooping a mound of ice and snow from underneath to make a bare patch for his belly. He still shivered despite himself. His ear swiveled back when he heard Delta cough once and shift farther away.
"Don't get comfy with them. They'll only cause problems in the future." The dark tabby growled.
Hail wrinkled his nose, pushing his face into his thick tail and closing his eyes to let a stiffness of slumber fall over him like the snowfall.
"That's the least of my worries."
A/N: Update on the blog for chapter one and two. Getting chummy eh? But that's only what lies above surface. We've nearly begun.