Hey sorry guys for the long wait. Interesting things are about to start in Ruby and her brother's lives...

Chapter Five

Lies and Wonders

"Really! I climbed a tower, and I even caught a dried leaf! Believe me!" pleaded Tiny as he trotted around them swiftly. "I really did that! I promise!" Ruby rolled her eyes. What was the point of trying so hard to convince them about a very-fake lie? How could Tiny have done all those amazing things? There wasn't even a point in believing him. Quince smiled warmly, and meowed, "Of course, Tiny. Now come and eat your food. You missed feeding time." Upset, Tiny stormed into the house, his head dropped low. Satisfied, Ruby knew that Quince didn't believe in Tiny either. She and Socks quietly snickered; their lying brother was hopeless. Tiny continued to boast about what it was like in the forest, and he almost made Ruby want to go for it herself. Of course she knew Tiny was lying about his "Great Adventures", but he made the forest sound so exciting and magnificent, it almost seemed like a place where her brother did not deserved to go to.

Silently, she watched the small black tom lick the water up rapidly, and then observed him as he gobbled down the tan chunks. He was much more excited than usual, Ruby noticed. Could his "adventures" really have been true? Shaking the thought away, Ruby told herself, No, that's impossible. Tiny is weak and he can't do anything! She still remembered Tiny's silly lies! Laughing to herself, she quickly staggered upward to play Hide, Fight, and Seek with Socks. When they began to play, Tiny mewled, "Hey, can I play, too? I really toughened up in the forest, I really did!" He batted his paws, punching nothing. Rolling her eyes, Ruby replied, "Yeah, right." Socks echoed her words, and she narrowed her eyes at him curtly. "Socks, let's play now." Compliantly, Socks began to count to ten, and they both hid. Ruby hid behind the couch, and waited for the tom's count to stop along with hers. When they reached ten, Ruby dropped down and crouched towards her brother. He was easy to find with the black pelt of his. She sniffed the rug, and crept towards the dark shape under the table.

"Ha!" Ruby's short claws caught his glossy black fur, and the black tom growled in annoyance. "How come you find me all the time?" Smugly, Ruby licked her paw with delicate strokes. "I am good at tracking things down." Socks' ears pricked, and the tom replied, "Then how come you didn't find Tiny?" Narrowing her amber gaze at the curious tom, she searched for an excuse in her mind. "Er— I didn't expect he would be in the forest." Socks' big blue eyes were still inquiring. "Then how come you didn't follow his scent out into the forest?" Annoyed, Ruby shot back, "What do you think I am, a magical, starry cat?" Flushing, Socks backed off nervously, and padded away quickly.

Two moons passed after that. It was finally time for the kits to leave Quince. They would have new housefolk. It was a big day for all of them. Ruby knew no Twoleg would want to bring Tiny home. They'd probably think he was sick, and not want to get close to him. But Tiny didn't seem to care, nor know anything about getting new housefolk. That day, according to Quince, a group of Twolegs would come to their nest and pick out kits to bring home. Still, the black tom with one white paw raced off to the forest. How can he not be worried if he doesn't get picked? Ruby thought. Then an idea emerged in her head. I can use this well, she thought. I can exile him, or something! I could trick him away…

But, curious, she still followed her brother into the forest. Fern bushes seemed to glower at her as she pursued her brother. The tall trees were as tall as thirty of her, and she was scared whenever the rustle of leaves mice and more creatures caused sounded out in her ears. She was prickly, and frightened by the thick forest floor. How can Tiny seem so used to this forest? It's so icky— her thought was knocked off as she heard a loud thump. Peeking from the bushes, she saw Tiny lying down, injured, with a dark brown tabby tom with long front claws standing in front of him. Her fur bristled. What was happening? Making sure she was well-concealed, she silently crept into the dark bramble bushes. Another tom and a blue-gray she-cat were standing behind them. Her ears flattened as she saw the dark brown tabby claw her brother ruthlessly. She didn't know if she should thank him or hate him for clawing her brother. But it was a horrendous sight, and she could bear no more.

She ran away. What scars would Tiny be left with? Ruby shuddered to imagine. She couldn't believe she had actually left her brother. No matter how horrible she was, would a cat ever abandon their brother like that? Trembling, she stuffed her face into her mother's gray fur, pretending she had seen nothing. And for the moons to come, she would still never show the tinge of love she ever had for Tiny. She'd be ruthless and cruel to him.

I know I'm right, she told herself halfheartedly. I'm… confident in that. Tiny will be okay. But I will not be nice. I don't need him… I never will! Her fur flattened. Will I? What if some cat was torturing me like that, too? Would Tiny save me from all the tormenting?

SORRY! I don't know what color Thistleclaw is. So I stuck with "Another tom". Lame huh? Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter. It's my longest one so far! Review review review! Pretty please with a Ruby plushie on top!