Blossompaw's Escape

Part Four: The Newcomers

"I know we are still strangers but I have a favor to ask of you," Blossomfang stated. Halle looked at her with unblinking eyes. "Cookie said to send you to contact her so we could arrange a meeting."

"It could be a trap," Halle said simply but she didn't look at all worried. "Whatever I'll do it, but you owe me one."

With a wave of her gray tail she beckoned Charlie after her and they moved down the grassy slope into the thick of the city. Blossomfang let some of her worries ease slightly. If Cookie was actually interested in joining the clan and not betraying them to Niko then Ashclan's numbers just increased. But she couldn't rule out the risks either. How would she know if she could trust Cookie and her companions?

Perhaps it wasn't her decision to make.

"Fawndapple, Foxtooth, you remember the gray tabby she cat and her two friends? Halle is going to find them right now and then we'll meet to see if they can be trusted. Since Ashclan is your home it should be your decision."

"Astrid probably knows them better than us and can judge their character." Foxtooth said, his green eyes calculating. Fawndapple looked thoughtful as well. Astrid was still asleep, completely stretched out with her injured paw cradled in the grass.

"We need to get her to Whisperheart as soon as possible to do something about that paw," Blossomfang said and studied Astrid's forepaw. Hopefully it was nothing more than a bad sprain. But if it was broken the young she cat could be in real trouble. Astrid yawned and her eyes opened slowly. She quirked an eyebrow when she found everyone watching her.

"Astrid do you know a cat called Cookie?" Blossomfang asked, seeing nothing else to say. Astrid rolled her eyes.

"That airhead? She's just a kittypet who likes to think she can live in the big scary city."

"Oh...and what about her two friends, I don't know their names," Blossomfang asked, disappointed. She had thought Cookie seemed friendly the first time they met.

"Icy and Zilla? Yeah the only reason Cookie is paid any attention from Niko is because of her buddies. Zilla latched onto Cookie since she was nice, and Icy isn't much of a talker but she doesn't like dead air either so a chatterbox like that is her go to I guess," Astrid remarked dryly.

"Are any of them close with Niko?" Blossomfang pressed.

"Um, well, you know Bella?"

"Yeah, Halle's sister. Halle said Bella is Niko's main confident - although Halle isn't involved with the city gangs. At least I think."

"Well Icy is Bella's kit," Astrid said point blank. Blossomfang let out a long sigh.

"So then we can't trust them."

"I didn't say that either. Halle isn't close to Bella, like at all. Halle wants nothing to do with Niko and Shane's war since it prevents her from spending more time with Charlie. Icy is the same way, she doesn't like the city. She's never been close to Bella. In fact no-one but Niko is close to Bella."

Blossomfang had no more questions for Astrid and let her keep resting. Foxtooth and Fawndapple weren't asleep but they were laying in the sun with eyes closed and clearly didn't want to be pestered with questions. Rabbitleap was off hunting somewhere, so that left Bugs. He was looking down at the city, almost forlorn.

"Once I might have missed it," was all he said.

"So Rabbitleap told me you lived in the city before Shane or Niko were even born," she commented.

"Yeah, it was a lot different back then. Can't say it was better either."

"Cookie said they had a litter of four kits together. When they split Niko took the she cats and Shane took the toms. What ever became of the kits?"

"No-one really knows. I think the kits were the reason they split up, ya know different ideals on raising them. It was amazing how quickly Shane and Niko each came to power in the city. I think once the kits were old enough they got sick of their parents feud and left the city. They could be anywhere in the world by now," Bugs murmured. He was an odd cat but Blossomfang saw something in his eyes, a sort of wisdom that could only be achieved through age. She wanted to know more about him but didn't want to pry by asking if he had a mate or kits.

It wasn't long before Halle and Charlie reappeared at the holly bush with Cookie, Zilla, and Icy. Cookie was the friendliest of the few, everything about her was approachable from her fluffy gray tabby fur to her large golden eyes. Zilla was mottled gray with white paws and pale yellow green eyes. Icy looked nothing like Bella. Bella was dark gray and dangerous. Icy still had hints of kit fluff on her stark white coat. Her eyes were small and narrowed but brilliant green.

"What are you staring at?" Icy demanded abrasively. Blossomfang was taken aback by the smaller cats tone. "Sorry I didn't mean to be rude," Icy apologized immediately, she was almost as weird as Bugs. Her green eyes were chillingly cold and Blossomfang suddenly saw the resemblance between her and her mother. Hopefully they didn't share the same morals.

"None of you are being forced into joining Ashclan, we are just meeting so I can explain clan life to you and perhaps you'll decide to join. But know that Foxtooth and Fawndapple reserve the right to turn you away in less than a moons time," Blossomfang started the meeting. Charlie and Halle were sitting next to each other and watching Blossomfang with rapt attention. Cookie was settled in between Zilla and Icy, the trio all moderately listening to her words. Astrid was awake again and grooming her chest fur but keeping an eye on the group at the same time. Bugs was off to the side, twitching his ears with every word.

It took a long time for Blossomfang to cover the history of the clans all the way up to the new Ashclan's formation. She only mentioned a few things about her deal with Fawndapple and Foxtooth, she didn't really want to discuss the possibility everything they've done could be for nothing. Rabbitleap helped throw out a few tidbits of information like border patrols and training. At the end of the speech it was ahrd to tell who was interested and who wasn't. Everyone carried themselves with the same cool calculation.

"I'll give it a shot," Bugs spoke first. Astrid let out a noncommittal sound of agreement. Charlie and Halle shared a look but ultimate decided clan life would be better than the city. Cookie smiled broadly and declared she'd love clan life. Zila shrugged and amended to try it out. All that was left was Icy to decide. Some part of Blossomfang wanted her to say no and leave since she was realted to Bella. But Astrid had promised Icy wouldn't betray them, nor would Halle.

"You mentioned the different clan roles. Kit to apprentice to warrior," Icy murmured.

"Yes, but there are other paths as well. If your aspirations are high enough you might become leader someday even. Or the leader's deputy," Blossomfang said.

"And medicine cat?" Icy continued.

"Whisperheart is our medicine cat right now since he's the only one with any knowledge of herbs. But he is older and will need an apprentice."

"I want to be a medicine cat," Icy decided and gave a final nod of her head like it settled the matter. While Blossomfang did want an apprentice her older friend she didn't know if Icy was the right fit.

"Starclan, our warrior ancestors, need to approve the position..."Blossomfang trailed off. It wasn't exactly untrue, although Whisperheart never needed approval. Icy rolled her eyes.

"Well how do we talk to these 'ancestors' of yours?" she said skeptically.

"They visit me in dreams sometimes, but you don't have that connection yet. One of the things I need to do is find the meeting place with Starclan so everyone can speak with them," Blossomfang admitted. "But for the time being it wouldn't hurt if you trained with Whisperheart."

Icy looked triumphant. It seemed everything worked out and Blossomfang lead the charge as they made their way deep into the forest and headed for Ashclan.

Please don't let this be a mistake, she thought to herself. She hoped none of these cats would sell her clan out to the city bosses, but she had no guarantee. Hopefully her father or Ashstar would send her a sign so she'd know if she was doing the right thing. Blossomfang watched the sun dip beyond the horizon and the moon drifted into the sky. Using the glow of the moon they reached the Ashclan camp not long after night had fallen. Braveheart's head appeared in one of the broken windows. He barked something to the others and soon the whole clan was rushing outside to meet the newcomers.

"Blossomfang!" Shiverspots exclaimed. Blossomfang looked over at her friends stunned expression. "Did you recruit the whole city?"

The group let out a laugh and Blossomfang stepped back so everyone could introduce themselves.

"Everyone should get some rest, we can discuss your apprenticeships in the morning. Pebblepaw show everyone to their dens," she instructed. As things started to settle down Blossomfang caught the attention of her deputy Braveheart.

"Keep an eye on the newcomers, make sure no one sneaks out in the night," she whispered. Braveheart gave a nod before sitting at the camp opening to keep watch.

"How was everything?" Flintmask asked as he located the white furred warrior.

"Fine, we ran into trouble at one point with Niko but everything worked out," Blossomfang promised.

"Pebblepaw, Tansypaw, and Dovepaw are eager for warrior names, although they are only 7 moons old. Maybe we should appoint them specific mentors?," he suggested. Blossomfang nodded, she liked the idea of clan routine settling in. Flintmask entered the warrior den and Blossomfang followed behind him. As Blossomfang entered the warrior den she was amazed the the darkness the enveloped her.

"You can't run from the shadows," an ominous voice hissed in her ear. She spun around wildly but everywhere she turned she was greeted with darkness. That one phrase bounced off the walls and echoed around her. The vision cleared and her eyes made out the shape of her nest. She plopped down with exhaustion but could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

Ashstar has sent her the sign she needed, if only she could decipher it.