Chapter 9: Dogstar

Rougefoot and Tinyflight walked silently towards the Meeting place. Icechest was hiding in the bushes. She was sniffing around for prey until she picked up Rougefoot's scent. "Rougefoot?" She meowed.

"Icechest." Rougefoot meowed back.

Icechest bounded up to Rougefoot and nuzzled his cheek. "Oh and Tinyflight!" she meowed delightedly.

"Hello Icechest." Tinyflight meowed.

"How are you two doing?" She meowed. She noticed the fresh wounds on Rougefoot as soon as she said that. "What happened to you?"

"Long story." Tinyflight meowed before Rougefoot could reply.

"Oh please do tell me Rougefoot." Icechest meowed.

Another, deeper voice came behind the trees. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." A pair of emerald green eyes shone in the darkness. Out of the shadows stepped a small, but petite black cat. It was Dogstar.

"Reckless cat." He hissed. "You think you can take on Cornfoot and take one of my warriors."

"I… I'm not trying to take Icechest."

"Not what I'm seeing." Dogstar hissed.

"D… Dogstar." Icechest meowed.

"Hush. I'll deal with you later." He turned his emerald gaze on her. His eyes were filled to the brim with unmistakeable fury.

Tinyflight looked up in terror to the furious leader. He stayed silent.

"If you think you can take my granddaughter then think again."

Icechest gasped. "You're my father's father!?"

"I would be Buzzardstone's father that would be correct." Dogstar meowed. "But let us move away from that subject."

"And Darkheart and Rockpelt…" Icechest meowed quietly.

"That is why I'm so worried about you Icechest. I just don't want you hurt." Dogstar meowed. The fury that was once there left and a compassionate, caring cat shown through.

"I won't be hurt!" Icechest meowed. "I'll only be hurt leaving Rougefoot." She buried her head in his dark gray fur.

Dogstar looked angrily at Rougefoot. "Would you like to take on me!?" he growled. He stood up on his hind legs. He could walk on them. He leaped up and caught onto a tree fairly high up the trunk. He sprang to another tree about 20 feet away. He clawed his way down and ran over to Rougefoot and jumped over him. For such a tiny cat he had amazing power.

"I do not wish to fight Dogstar. If you wish for me to leave Icechest alone then I will do so." Rougefoot meowed.

Dogstar stared in awe and amazement at Rougefoot. "You are a strange cat Rougefoot. You have some mystic power that none can realize. I feel it. You have Angelstar's spirit!"

"Everyone is saying that! What is the big deal with Angelstar!?" Rougefoot meowed. He was slightly annoyed.

"Angelstar was an amazing cat. She was kind and caring to every cat and she never let the rules get in the way of helping a cat in need. She kept herself in line though. It was a terrible story when she was hit by that Beast. I still miss her."

"I've heard that story already. She got hit by a red beast with a black stripe and she was amazing and she always helped everyone." Rougefoot meowed. "Our medicine cat is her grandson, and so is Mapleheart. Cindertail was her son."

"I knew Cindertail was her son and Grassfoot bore Shortleg and Mapleheart as her grandkits." Dogstar meowed. "She was a beautiful cat…" He meowed quietly.

"I heard she was too." Rougefoot meowed. He obviously heard something he shouldn't have heard.

Dogstar whipped around and gave him an evil stare. "How are Crowflight's kits?" He asked suddenly.

Rougefoot glanced at him curiously. "Fine I guess…"

"Good." Dogstar meowed. "Well do whatever. As long as she's happy I'm happy. I will not tell anyone in the Clan you two are meeting. It shall be our secret." Dogstar meowed.

Rougefoot dipped his head to the leader happily. "Thank you Dogstar. You just made my day… Err… Night!"

Dogstar let out an 'mrow' of laughter. "I suppose I did well. See you at the Meeting." He treaded quietly into the forest.

"I cannot believe he is letting us meet Rougefoot!" Icechest squealed happily. She rolled onto her back, savoring the soft ground.

"I know isn't it great?!" Rougefoot meowed. He bounded around Icechest happily. Tinyflight followed Rougefoot. All three of them bounded around the meeting place like little kits. Soon enough they were worn out. They all flopped down on the soft grass in the middle.

Tinyflight curled up and took a nap while Icechest and Rougefoot lay awake talking. They both took places on their leader's rocks. They stared out into the horizon, past SunClan's forest, past the mountains that lay beyond, past everything, even life itself.