Hello my lovely readers, I'm back with the net chapter of Glitter! Cookies to everyone who reviewed, followed or faved and thank you to everyone who answered the QOTD.
MeowMix1028: Poor Mittens indeed *laughs evilly*, don't worry Magpie's going to get what's coming to her soon, very soon.
Pikawarriorcat (Guest): She was a bit harsh wasn't she? Oh well, Magpie deserved it.
Swirlspot: I'm both intrigued and terrified by these hypotheses...
Crazy Fennec Fox: I'm gad you think so, good characters have alway been very important to me!
And now the story:
Magpiepaw huddled in her box, it was raining outside and the cold was seeping through the thin walls and chilling the little she cat to the bone.
She didn't remember falling asleep the night before; she must have cried herself to sleep after Mittens left. Looking out into the pouring rain she felt twinge of worry in her heart, I hope Mittens found somewhere safe to stay the night, she thought, resting her head on her crossed paws.
Once again she found her mind returning to the deep pine forests, prey-rich marshes and shining lake of her home. Maybe it's time for me to go back, Mittens doesn't want to see me again and I'm almost completely healed, she thought, for the first time in what seemed like ages considering the possibility of returning home.
Home, is that what Shadowclan is? She wondered, a thin tendril of doubt creeping into her heart. Shaking her head as though she could physically rid the thought from herself she dismissed the idea, of course Shadowclan is my home and I'm going back tonight.
Her mind made up Magpiepaw stood up and looked, shivering, out at the rain that continued to pour relentlessly from the sky, obscuring all but near objects. Not the ideal weather for traveling, anyway, it's getting dark, Magpiepaw reasoned, ignoring the fact that she, as a Shadowclan cat, had particularly good night vision. I'll start as soon as the rain stops. She thought, turning away from the rain so she was facing into the depths of the box.
I guess I should rest up, I don't know how long the journey will be and I don't want to be hungry on my way. She thought, sniffing around the corners for the prey she seemed to remember dragging inside after the rain started.
She finally found a scrawny mouse in a far corner, along with a small pool of rainwater and a hole in the box. Dragging the soggy piece of prey closer Magpiepaw took a half-hearted bite, grimacing at the waterlogged texture.
One she'd finished the mouse, having done her best to ignore the cold, slippery feeling of it's wet fur, Magpiepaw curled up in her usual corner. Stinging drops of icy rain set her to her paws with a meow of displeasure; shaking out her pelt she dragged the pile of rags over to the opposite corner where Mittens usually slept. Feeling oddly guilty the fluffy she cat lay back down, trying to ignore the unspoken taboo on snooping in Mittens' corner.
Turning her back to the mouth of the box and the storm still raging outside Magpiepaw snuggled down as best she could. As she tucked her nose into the corner she felt it ouch something soft, inspecting the soft things she found three tufts of what appeared to be fur. Tugging them gently out of their hiding place Magpiepaw looked at them, one was black, another tortoiseshell and the third bright ginger.
She puzzled over them for a time, unable to figure out what they were; at last she shrugged and gave up. Nudging back into place she curled up and tucked her tail over her nose, drifting into darkness.
When Magpiepaw woke again the rain had lessened, though not all together stopped, much to her chagrin. I should probably leave now; it's cleared up enough to travel safely, she thought, stepping out into the rain soaked morning.
Noticing the remaining scraps of her mouse from the night before lying, forgotten in a corner she padded back. As she took the remains out of the box to bury them in back of the alley a though occurred to her. I should probably catch something to replace that mouse; I'll just catch another mouse and then I'll go. She told herself, ignoring the ever more noticeable fact that she was putting off leaving.
Leaving the alley she started for the nearby side street that the two she cats used for hunting. The mouse wasn't hard to find, she noticed it almost instantly upon entering the small street. While it wasn't plump it would do nicely for a meal and Magpiepaw felt rather proud of her find.
Placing her paws gently down with claws sheathed so they wouldn't scrape on the stone, a trick Mittens had taught her, Magpiepaw glided up to the rodent and readied herself to spring. A single leap brought her to the mouse and she trapped it between her paws, a swift bite to the back of its neck finished the job. Sitting up Magpiepaw inspected her catch, a nice clean kill that would make any warrior proud, if she did say so herself.
Picking it up she returned to the alley, following the familiar path she had walked what felt like a thousand times before. Dropping the mouse inside the box she began to leave then went back to fix the bedding. That done she finally padded slowly up the alley, savoring the feeling of stone beneath her paws.
She reached the opening at the end of the alley and paused; turning back she took a last look around the alley that had been her home for almost two moons.
She felt a pang of sadness in her heart; it was a dump in comparison to Shadowclan camp but she still felt a certain affection for the place.
I belong in Shadowclan, she reminded herself, with that thought held firmly in her mind she set off at a run, ignoring the oddly salty raindrops that dripped down her muzzle.
And so concludes another chapter, hopefully you guys enjoyed this, let me know what you thought and don't forget to fave and follow!
QOTD: Do you think Magpiepaw should go back to Shadowclan?
AOTD (I've gotten a couple of questions so I'm answering them here): Magpiepaw is roughly nine moons but she's small for her age and has fluffy kit-like fur, she could theoretically be mistaken for a kit. Mittens calling her 'kit' is both more of pet-name, though.
~ Feathers