the day had gone just as all the others had before, thankfully there had been a small pond of sorts on the way, a underground spring maybe, but just enough for everyone to get a decent mouthful before the pond ran dry.
A long talk was held as to weather the group would stay and wait for the water to spring up again, or if they were to keep traveling. It was decided to keep going. The water would keep everyone alive for another day.
The water had gone quickly when they started the journey to find civilization, and did most of the food. Now they were left with only a small feast. That night they spoke about what to do about it. Already the group had divided into ranks. Those who had more leadership and seemed to know what they were doing, those who seemed better to take care of the three children, and then there were the rest rest.
The three who were focused as more of the leaders sat a little ways off, like normal. Keeping watch and talking quietly.
"so, about the food..." Saddie started off. At first it had seemed she would become more of the parent for the kids in the group, it turned out she had more ideas and had watched many survivor shows, she she ended up falling in with David and you.
"yes, the food." David sighed. "we only have so much now, I hoped it would last longer,"
"well you know airplane food." you added.
David cracked a half smile. "how long do you think we can last if we don't eat tonight?"
"maybe another full meal, otherwise we each get a mouthful for the next meal, and then nothing."
"mayhaps we eat it all now, there is bound to be food in the forest, I know how to hunt." you chimed in hopefully.
"yes, but what if there isn't? we should save it for as long as we can." David rubbed his temple with two fingers, closing his eyes as if trying to get rid of a head ache.
"i see, but what if we draw in a bear or something if we cook tomorrow." Saddie stated, her eyes becoming big with the thought of a bear.
"this is a hard choice, should we eat the food now? We wont have enough for a full meal tomorrow, or should we wait and ration it as best as we can?" muttering to himself you and Saddie shared a glance. You both knew David was tired, hungry, scared, and the weight of acting as guide for the group was weighing down on him heavily.
"it will be one good meal if we do eat It tonight."
"and we wont have to deal with rationing it tomorrow." Saddie said.
"however, we should save a mouthful for the baby and kids." you thought about them as you spoke.
"but if we ration and save for them, we should for the rest of the group."
stomachs started to growl louder then normal by the time you all decided. You were going to eat it all tonight, there really wasn't any use in carting a pound of old dried food around that might attract a wild bear or cougar or something. And everyone needed one good meal soon. And it was decided you were to carry a hidden bite of food for the infant.
The grass had become taller you realized as you sat down in the horribly small clearing that had been made by the group in order to start a fire. Though you loved fire, the fact that all this dried grass was only within an inch of the licking flames...
you were startled out of your thoughts as Justin, the little boy tugged at your dirty sleeve.
"yes?" you asked blinking. "hi.." he replied before sitting down next to you, sipping the weird looking remainder of food that had been boiled in an attempt to make it more hearty and lasting.
You watched the child, no older then twelve, stare into the fire. You looked at his cute little face, you saw the dirt caked and crusted onto his pale skin, the wet lines that slicked down from his eyes, a sign that he had cried a good number of times in order to create them. You looked at his dirty hair, greasy, speckle din white from dandruff, dusted in dirt and clogs of grass bits. His dirty little grubby hands, the nail broken and one nail bleeding, or already bled and now the blood is just crusted, dirt was thick under his nails. His shirt was dirty beyond belief, his shorts were ripped, his legs had scratches and dirt on them, and his shoes looked about ready to brake. Poor thing.
You pulled him close suddenly and just held him, tears forming in your eyes, he didn't pull away, but cuddles into you closer, no words were needed to know how you both felt.
you awoke to screaming, light blazed from every corner, the fire had gotten out of control! But that wasn't what everyone was screaming about.
There was the sound of hooves and loud snarling, loud wailing, high pitched screeching, the sounds of metal on metal, clanging, shouts that sounded like men, and the racing shadows that passed by the fire every five seconds or less. You were about to scream, but there was a hand covering your mouth, you terrified eyes opened wider as you looked at who was holding you silent.
"Shhh" Justin motioned for you to keep quite, his brown eyes wider then normal.
You nodded quickly and he took his hand from your mouth. You didn't know what was going on, and you really didn't want to. You stood up quickly, only to be knocked back down by a racing horse, you saw someone atop the horse but you couldn't see who. All you saw was something fly past and someone fall with a sickening screech.
You grabbed the boy's hand and hauled him up, he gave out a startled yelp. You tried to run, shadows everywhere, the smoke was thick, shapes raced past you, the sound of fighting, your feet splashed into something, you looked down and screamed.
In the firelight you could see a dark red substance, you knew it was blood, though your mind couldn't quite process this at the moment. What your mind did process was the lifeless figure of David, laying with something huge above him. It looked as big as a horse, it had fur like a bear, you thought it was a bear. It looked up at you and bared blood slicked teeth, its beady eyes seeing your demise.
You backed away, running right into Justin, who also let out a horrified scream, the monster bear took a step towards you both, right over David's body. It seemed to have forgotten it already had prey dead and ready to eat. You screamed again as it leapt up at you.
You only had time to turn and embrace the young boy when you heard a loud barking yelp, then the sound of horse hooves.
"My lady! Are you hurt?" a deep voice said form above you, you turned and gasped, clutching Justin even tighter.
"my lady, are you alright?" the voice asked again. The man atop the horse leaned down, nodding to himself quickly as he looked you both over.
"w-what-t was th-that!?" Justin seemed to get his voice before you had.
"twas a warg, I have slain it, I have but little time, please, is this your kin?" he held out something from in his arms and it squirmed.
"the baby!" Justin's squeal made you turn around, and without thinking you reached out and took the baby from the man. He nodded in response.
"forgive me, my clan is leaving, we are heading north, back to Rohan, we have been chasing Urks and Wargs out of are lands. Thank the Valar we found you soon enough, but I must go now, what is left of your kin fled into the forest, but beware! Elves dwell there, and they do not take to human lightly, farewell!" and with that he turned his mighty horse and was off.
You had only a few moments to collect yourself before you ran off, Justin's hand on one of yours, and the babe being cradling in the other. Sad enough it was your left side that held the infant, the side with the broken ribs, the broken arm, and whatnot. It was incredibly hard to carry the child on that side. And he wailed the whole time as you and Justin escaped the flames, the grasslands, and the sudden shocking death of David and maybe even the rest of your group.
All in all it took about fifteen minutes to get into the thick of the forest, the fire was only a distance away, but it was eating the grass quickly, and in no time would be eating the forest, but hopefully, unlike the grass lands, the forest might be wetter, and will not catch flame as easily.
"Justin-JUSTIN!?" you called, your eyes wide in fear and panic as the boy took off suddenly into the forest, leaping over a a fallen tree shaft, its body covered in thick moss. You had no idea why he did that, all you knew was to follow, switching Henry, the infant to your good side as you ran after.
Thankfully, Justin stopped shortly after his sprint to come face to face with the remainder of the group. You were breathing heavily, and crying from the intense pain that your ribs were creating with every inhale and exhale.
"SASSY!" Saddie was the first to notice you three, and she ran over, taking the child and hugging onto him, then checking over you and Justin the young boy ran over to his sister, tears staining his face and creating even more trails on his dirty cheeks.
"oh Justin! I thought you were gone! I-i saw-w!" Kelly's terrified voice quavered and she began to sob, as did her brother, whom held her as best he could.
"what are we going to do now? Half our group is gone!" wailed Kane, who was most of the time calm, however the things that took place only a little while before have shaken him beyond belief, as did it shake the remainder of the group.
"David is gone too." you wheezed.
"what? Gone, you mean?" Saddie turned around, covering her mouth in shock and loss.
"you were always with him, what do we do?" asked Kane,
"you were his favorite" Saddie added suddenly. You looked at her, Henry still I your arms. "what?"
"you would know what to do, you both were always bloody together, you both obviously knew what you were freaking doing!" she shouted suddenly, causing the baby to start crying.
"what do we do now?! All our supplies are gone! Were stuck in this forest! And half of our group is GONE" Kane joined the shouting.
"gone?! You mean bloody killed, KILLED! Did you see those fucking things!?" Saddie screeched.
"whatever they were doesn't matter, staying away form them is!"
"there were horses also, horses and men, they saved us." you said trying to coddle the child back to being quiet.
"saved you? Why the hell would they have saved you?! They should have saved David!" Saddie yelled, this ticked you off.
"shut up Saddie! Yes David is gone, but that doesn't mean were all going to die!"
"he always did like you more, so tell us, what do we do now oh grate leader?! What the fuck do we do now?!"
Kelly and Justin turned, there eyes wide as they held each other. Kane quickly grabbed Henry away from you, foreseeing a horrible cat fight.
"Saddie calm down!" you yelled.
"calm down?! CALM DOWN?! Don't you fucking tell me to calm down! This is all your fault!"
"what?! How the hell is this my fault?!"
"if you hadn't suggested we eat all the food last night we would have some right now, and the fire wouldn't have drawn in those creatures!"
"we would have made a fire anyway you dunce!" you took a step forward, the pain in your ribs and arm throbbing with every heartbeat, your throat also hurt from inhaling so much smoke.
"yeah the fuck right!" it seemed the argument was pointless, nothing to really fight about. The fear of everything that has happened was simply driving some people mad.
"okay listen, I know your scared, we all are-" you were cut off as Saddie slammed her fist into your ribs, you let out a howl of pain and reacted without thinking, swinging your hand towards her face, your nail raking her cheek.
"you bitch!" she screeched, leaping onto you, Kane tried to stop you too, but he had a baby in his arms and could do little, so he backed off to stand next to the two siblings, hoping the noise wouldn't draw in any of those things and more so hoping the fight would end quickly.
Saddie punched your jaw, slamming your heads to the side, you spit blood and rolled her over, kneeing her in the stomach, she gasped and reached up, grabbing a fistful of your hair and ripping down. Your head came smashing down onto her right breast and your eyes watered. You raked at her arm with your nail drawing thin lines of blood.
She kicked out and flailed, hitting your arms and ribs. It was getting hard to breath, and the pain was becoming unbearable.
For a while you both squirmed, gasping and yelling out in pain. A jab here a punch there, someone getting kicked, hair pulled and unwanted cuts formed on tender flesh.
Finally the fight broke apart when Kelly and her brother ran over to the two fighting girls, dragging Sassy off Saddie who was practically crying, Sassy wasn't crying, but she soon was too.
Both girl, tired and sore started to cry, and absentmindedly reached for each other.
"Im so sorry!" you wailed. "i didn't mean-" you were cut off with Saddie's sobbed apology. "n-no it was my fault-t I shouldn't have hit yo-u!"
"i know, were both scared, we should-dn't have fought" you breathed trying to get back whatever dignity you had left.
You both helped each other up, tears leaving wet trails in the dirt on both your cheeks.
The sibling stepped away and back with Kane to watch you two suck it up as best you can.
"A lot of us are gone now..." Saddie said suddenly. You nodded. "David would want you to show us how to get home..." she stepped back. You looked around confused suddenly, and Kane motioned you over to a rather large fallen tree.
You looked it it dumbfounded for a few moment before scrambling up onto it. You turned around to face everyone. "everything is happening so fast, to fast.." you mumbled under your breath. You looked down at the remainder of the group, at those who now looked to you in the place of David.
"okay listen." you started rather roughly, your voice caught as you breathed and you winced.
"we don't know were we are, and we don't know were we are going." stating the obvious. "it seems we.. it seems we are either on some new deserted island that no one has found, or something like that. But were ever we are, its not home, I'm not saying another planet, but still." you paused and looked at everyone, who blinked as they thought.
"now, we know something out there killed the rest of our group, and that strange men on horseback saved us. We know its dangerous." yo winced again at the pain in your side and arms.
"we don't know anything about were we are, what creatures live here, or anything about the people that live here, someone said there were elves in this forest, but they said beware." you suddenly faded off, something clicking in the back of your mind, though you couldn't grasp it. But you could just grasp the edge, and was hoping to real it in but Kane interrupted, rocking the baby in his arms.
"what do we do then? Those things could come back, we need to protect ourselves." he glanced around him at the sibling, and Saddie. You nodded at this. "like I was saying, we don't know anything about this place or what inhabits it. We need to protect ourselves, in every way. We need weapons..." you took another sharp breath. "and we need new names.
"the weapons I understand, but why the new names?" Kelly asked, speaking up for the first time in a while.
"like I said sweetheart, we don't know anything about this place, but we do no one thing." you sniffed suddenly, chewing your lip in thought. You didn't want this to come out sounding weird, or anything. "wherever we are.... it doesn't look like were getting home anytime soon."
"like, how long?" Kelly spoke again. "Cuz I'm getting tired of this." you had to crack a smile at that statement. " I don't know hun, I don't know, but its not going to be for a long while. A few months at the least." you added to the others. Everyone fidgeted for a few minutes.
"like I said before, we don't know anything about who or what the people that inhabit this uncharted land are like, and we don't want them running around with are normal names, what if there like the mafia or something?" they nodded at this, though it really didn't make any sense. It almost felt as if you were giving your life up, giving your name up and all.
"Soooo, what do you propose are new names should be?" Kane didn't seem like he hated this idea, but he didn't seem to like it either.
"well, David and you were sort of guiding us by a book, what was all that about?" Saddie was looking off somewhere else as she said this. Your eyes brightened and you nodded for unknown reasons. "warriors! The warriors book!" everyone was startled by your sudden shout, and you winced at not only the loudness, but the ripping sting in your side that indicated your broken ribs.
"okay, so these warrior books...?" Saddie raised an eyebrow at you.
"okay, quick bio of the book: its a book about cats, they live In clans, they go be a warrior code, there names are chosen and put in sections, they are trained to fight and hunt, and have a warrior system, leader, deputy, and medicine cat. We were leading you by that." Saddie pursed her lips at this and Kane made a face.
"Okay!" "Im game." the twins chimed. The baby cooed and you looked at him, chuckling under your breath as to not upset the pain in your side.
"Alright, ill go for it." Kane answered nodding and seeming in deep thought. It took a few moments before Saddie replied. Obviously she was thinking about David and what he would do. It seemed she finally decided that this would be what David would want when she muttered. "I agree. Ill do it."
you swallowed your doubt and nodded to everyone. "alright, I guess we will start with names, then ill teach you the codes and basic stuff, should be easy." you tried, making a face.
"Kane." you started. He and the baby which was still in his arms walked up. "Hmmmmmm" you looked him over, noting his calm appearance, and remembering he wrote books, so hes smart. "med...?" you muttered under your breath. "Naw, not the time." he looked at you strangely for a moment. "okay..." you cleared your dry throat and tried to take a deep breath, though it hurt you to no end.
"Kane, do you promise to uphold the new laws I teach you, and to protect and honer, serve and feed this cla- err group, even at the cost of your own life?" you knew the original code was a bit much, so you opted and changed it around a bit, though it still spoke like the same code.
Kane looked startled for a moment at this, and the prospect of his life on the line made him suddenly nervous. "just like in the books." you heard him mutter to himself, obviously he wasn't talking about just one book. You tried to remain silent while he thought this through. It was a few long minutes of silence before Henry, the infant started squirming in his arms. The curly haired tan man looked down at the child then looked up to you, a new kind of determination glinting in his dark brown, almost black eyes.
" I do" you smiled, happy this was going somewhat by the books. "then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name, from this moment on you will be known as Thisleclaw. StarClan honors you, and holds you to your promise." You bowed your head and he did the same. He was about to back away when you held up your hand, making a face.
"And for little Henry... to young to choose, he will be known at Mousekit from this moment on, StarClan guide his footsteps." you bowed your head once more before cheering there names for a moment, everyone tried out the new names for a few moments until it was memorized.
"Saddie." you said, she grumbled, somehow not liking you once again but walked up in front of you non the less. "do you promise to uphold the new laws I teach you, and to protect, and honer, serve, and feed this group even at the cost of your own life?"
you waited for a moment for her to answer. " I do." she didn't look at you at she said this. "then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name, from this moment on you will be known as Bluehawk. StarClan honors you, and holds you to your promise." you bowed your head, and she smirked, doing a makeshift bow as well before stepping back. Everyone tried out her name as well.
"and us and us!" the sibling jumped up and down then darted to the front of the log were you stood. You giggled, then gasped, clutching your left side, your ribs hurts, and you would need a brake after this. Tears welled in your eyes, but you pressed on. "And who two bundles of fluff." they giggled. "Do you two promise to uphold the new laws I teach you, and to protect, and honer, serve, and feed this group even at the cost of your lives?" you eyed them and they looked scared, yet determined. Justin was the first to speak, puffing out his little chest then saying at bravely as he could, though he squeaked: "I do" his sister chimed in next. "I DO!"
"There is no time to train you nor is there anyone who could train you, and so you will not be given apprentice names, but warrior names, this is a big honer.." you started. There big eyes brightened, making them seem cute despite the layer of grime and dirt on there bodies. "So, by the powers of StarClan, I give you each your warrior names.. Justin, form this moment on you will be known as Greyfox. StarClan honors you and holds you to your promise." you turned to his sister. "Kelly, you will be known as Deerheart, StarClan honers you and holds you to your promise." you bowed your head and they both did a full bow, before jumping up on sore bodies and calling out there new names.
"and what about you Thistleclaw asked gazing up at you as you gingerly sat down on the wet moss that covered the trunk. " I have already taken my vows, though it was when I was a warrior, not a leader, and I cannot receive my leader name without the moonstone, besides." you cracked a smile. "Im only the makeshift leader."
Thistleclaw looked at you, prodding you on with a nod. You sighed, which hurt. "My name is Swiftkill." you stated. "That's kind of a harsh name.." he stated. You nodded. "twas a harsh clan, but anyway, that's been my name for while some time. So eh, I guess ill keep it." he nodded and walked over to ask Saddie something but she quickly strode away.
"Doesn't anyone want to know ranks?" you raised an eyebrow, and though you were horribly tired you had to finish this. "i will announce ranks, then we must search for a place to make camp, we will worry about food then, we have a stream right here so fill up." everyone turned back around, though Saddie was a little more ways off, you bet she could hear. "I, the makeshift leader, I doubt we have anyone who is qualified as a medicine warrior, so we will all share what we know, Thistleclaw, you will be deputy, which mean if anything happens to me, you take place as leader." he seemed shocked at this, and Saddie turned around, you couldn't tell from all the dirt, but she was angry.
You ignored her and continued. " I suggest you try and bathe a little after drinking." you shrugged and winced as you did so, but this time form your broken arm, and not your ribs, though they still hurt.
You walked over to the stream you had all gone over to get into this small clearing. And kneeling down you winced loudly, hissing through your teeth at the pain in your body, the bending and flexing of muscles you haven't used in a while. Cupping your hands together you bowled some water, into your dirty hands and gulped. Fast at first, oh the water was so cold, so crisp. It tasted like a cloud but the coldness of it forced you to slow down. You didn't realize you were that thirsty. You sipped the water once again, noticing the others were following.
You drank your fill, or close to it, your ribs wouldn't allow you to fill your sore stomach up as much as you would have liked. Boy these ribs were sure giving you a good amount of trouble.
You watched as everyone drank, and Thistleclaw tried to poor water into Mousekit's tiny mouth. You thanked him when it seemed a good amount had been taken into the child's belly.
Hydrated, the child started to fuss, and you noticed a fowl odor coming from him. "crap, we don't have any baby clothes do we?" Bluehawk asked. "nope." you thought for a moment after the blond fixed you with a cold stare, as if waiting for you to fail in answering.
"Give him a bath, bury his mess and ill shred some cloth for him, then I guess well just carry him in the cotton jacket iv got. Bluehawk looked about ready to kill you, but she just turned around and started washing her face instead. "but wont you be cold Sas- I mean Swiftkill?" Deerheart asked, always the kind one.
you smiled at her. "ill be alright." she knew you were lying, but didn't press the matter as she too washed up. "before anything else, we must remember, to keep as clean as possible at all times, less we become forest muck monsters." you teased curling your fingers at the siblings, who giggled in response.
You yawned, exhausted from everything, and needing a very good cry. You needed a place to sleep, and more then anything, a good toilet. You sighed and waited until everyone was done before you headed out.
NO MORE! i will NOT write any more until at least
FIVE people review and comment on this story. youll know when five have reviewed because ill suddenly have a new chapter up. What i wnat to know, what im looking for in these five reviews, is i want to know what POV (point of veiw) you like best. first person, narrorator, or i, me, mine. so, tell me which POV you liek best, and that will be what the rets of the story will be in. thx.