The Interpreter - Chapter 5

This chapter is short, and there is a cliffie at the end. The next chapter will be more action-packed, but this one is really all about character building. We get to see more of what Soda is really like, as well as witness the friendship and loyalty that the group has to one another. Soda's decision I think is realistic - he's the realist in the group, and sometimes the pessimist, but he is only thinking logically, and how most people would in this situation. He's just not quite sure what he wants out of life, and is pretty sure that what he's involved in now isn't it.

I don't own Warriors.

Chapter Five

As we headed back to the fallen tree, I could feel my companions' eyes on me. A mixture of anxiety and uncertainty washed through me like a recently melted and flooding river in spring. When we reached the den, I led the way inside and flopped down in my nest. My companions, however, remained standing. By the troubled looks on their faces, I knew they had mixed feelings about my father's offer.

"What do you think?" Soda asked quietly. "I mean… I came on this journey 'cause I was lonely and bored, but… I kind of just want to return to my territory—"

"Then go!" Storm snarled. "No one will miss you. Make yourself scarce!"

"Stop it!" I hissed. "Both of you are acting like kits. We're all adults here, and we need to have an adult conversation without you two having a fight over who's going to be alpha male! Now, I think that the fairest thing would be to have a vote on whether or not we should stay or go. Does that sound good?"

"Fine with me," October mewed, licking his forepaw nonchalantly.

"Very well," Storm grunted, seeming to force himself to sit and his fur to lie flat.

"Storm, since you seem very excited, why don't you start us off? Stay or leave?" I queried.

My mate sighed and curled his tail around his paws. "I don't know yet… Cat, you know that no matter what you decide that I will remain at your side. It is not my decision to make. My vote is joined with yours."

Biting back a hiss of annoyance, I looked to Soda. "How say you?"

He sighed. "Look, Cat… I know we've all been through a lot together but… I'm not sure whether or not this is really what I want to do with my life."

"Hallelujah," Storm muttered, earning a quiet chuckle from October.

"So, that is a no?" I asked.

The light gray tom sighed. "I suppose so."

I gave him a slight nod before looking at October. The white tomcat gazed at me evenly. "I told you that I would follow you anywhere, Cat, and that promise still stands. You saved my life, and I will stay with you until I repay my debt, and maybe even afterwards. I am the same as Storm—my vote is combined with yours."

Unable to hold in the frustration any long, I let out a yowl.

"It is your decision, Cat," Storm whispered. "I can only speak for myself, but I am not your companion. I am your mate, and your friend. I love you, Cat, and as your mate and friend, I will remain at your side as long as you want me there. It is not my decision to make. I just want you to know that I love you, and I support you."

I watched Storm, my vision beginning to blur slightly. There was suddenly too much moisture in my eyes. "Thank you," I whispered.

"I agree with Storm," October put in. "You're my friend, and I will always be loyal to you. You saved my life, and for that, I will follow you anywhere until I have repaid my debt."

"Thank you, October," I meowed, gazing at him with grateful eyes. "That means a lot."

By this time, we had all looked at Soda. Clearly, he did not share their feelings of gratitude and friendship towards me. "Look..." the pale gray tom began, but was stopped by Storm.

"Save it! No one cares!" he snarled. "We all know you don't wanna be here, so why don't you just get on your merry way?!"

Soda's hackles rose. "Will you shut up and let me talk already?! Great spirits, I am so freaking tired of you cutting me off whenever I try to speak! Try to imagine this from my point of view for once in your life, huh?! I have a territory, that I left a long time ago to assist you two on your journey—"

"No one asked you to tag along," Storm muttered.

Soda continued on as if he hadn't heard the darker gray tom. "I am homesick, and just want to go home... I don't have a mate, or a best friend—I'm all alone here. I don't have anyone to talk to, or associate with. I feel alien here... and... and I just want to go home, you know?"

While Storm looked glowered at the ground, but October and I looked on with compassion and understanding. "I do understand, Soda," I meowed gently. "No one is forcing you to stay. I know that you might feel obligated, but it is quite alright if you leave us. None of us—" I paused and shot Storm a stern look, "—will think any less of you. I promise. You are not bound to us by any oath—you are free to come and go as you please."

Soda looked up at me, almost shyly. "Thank you for understanding, Cat... I appreciate it."

I nodded. "It is the least I could do," I murmured. "You may leave when you wish."

"If you don't mind, I think I'd like to spend one more day here with you," he meowed suddenly.

Storm's head shot up with the speed of lightning. "How dare you?!" he growled. "How dare you make that request when you have already spoken out against us?! You don't want to remain here, so why on Earth do you want to stay one more day? The faster you leave, the easier it will be, and happier we will be as well."

"Enough, Storm!" I growled, getting annoyed with my mate. "It is not your decision to make. One more day will not do anyone harm; Soda is welcome to remain as long as he wishes."

The light gray tom's eyes brightened, while my mate sulked in the corner of the den. "Don't come yowling to me if this decision bites you in the rump," he muttered.

"Now why would it do that?" October queried, his own voice showing the strain of aggravation. "Give me one reason why, Storm."

Storm just glowered at a random spot on the wall, and left us to our discussion. At that moment, my heart felt no pity for him. I loved him to death, but his petty jealousy and hatred toward Soda was getting on everyone's nerves, and I was tired of it. I don't know what happened between the two of them while I had been in the Twoleg slaughterhouse, but whatever it was, it had to have influenced their relationship in a negative way, and frankly, I did not want to know.

October and Soda were having a quiet conversation about what the gray cat would engage in once he departed when a yowl sounded from the RiverClan camp. All of our heads snapped up, and our ears strained forward with attention. "Stupid fish-faces!" I heard a cat yowl.

"Mouse-hearts!"

"Minnow-brains!"

"ThunderClan warriors are in the camp!" a RiverClan voice shouted above the insults, I thought I recognized it as one of the she-cats I had conversed with earlier.

"RiverClan warriors assemble!" my father's voice caterwauled.

It wasn't long afterward that the sounds of battle reached our ears. "RiverClan's being attacked!" October hissed, unsheathing his claws.

"We need to help them," I stated simply, not leaving this up to debate. The finality in my voice left no one room to argue; even Soda who usually protested was silent with a grim determination as October lead the way, charging toward the camp. We would defend my father's Clan with our lives.

A/N: Did you like this chapter? Leave a review and let me know! If you've liked what you've seen here, and you wanna see more, click on my username to see more!