Chapter 5: An Offer

I watched this strange forest cat grooming himself like we hadn't been brawling not even a minute ago. To be fair to the stranger, cats tend to groom themselves when they've been embarrassed. The stranger did not expect us to be able to stand our ground let alone best him.

"My name's Graypaw. What are you two kittypets doing out here? Don't you know it's dangerous for cats like you?"

Rusty was still running high on adrenaline when he gave his response. "If you are the biggest threat out there, I think we'll be fine."

A boast and a bluff, a fair play by Rusty if I may say. Rusty was likely trying to brag, but this was good for fishing for more information.

"Oh no. I am by far not the strongest out here. I'm just an apprentice training to become a warrior."

Already a hint at their society's structure. Graypaw accidentally let me know their group had at least a training system in place with well defined teachers.

I asked a question this time. "What does it mean to be a warrior?"

Graypaw looked up at me, seeming to have forgotten I was there for a second. "Well, a warrior's job is to protect their clan and hunt for food."

I continued with my question. "So, a warrior must learn to both fight and hunt? There are no specialists?"

"I mean, some cats are better hunters or fighters than others, but we all must hunt and fight when needed."

I heard a twig snap then the sound of undergrowth moving. Graypaw's fur stood on end at the sound as the scent of unfamiliar cat drifted in.

"You two have to go!"

Rusty looked up, alarmed. "What? Why?"

I motioned toward the sound before mewing. "Too late."

A blue grey she cat emerged from the bushes followed by a large golden tom.

"What have we here? A pair of kittypets wandering on our territory," the molly asked almost hypothetically. The way she posed herself and how Graypaw flinched at her word seemed to imply that she was the leader of at least these three cats. I could see the old scars on her pelt, proof of her experience fighting. Her eyes held a sharpness only experience could create. I was looking at a cat who'd already been through hell and came out stronger. Her presence was intimidating.

Rusty panicked at her question and tried to fib up an answer. "We were just out to hunt up a mouse or two. We aren't a threat."

I winced at Rusty's response. That is not the type of thing you tell a rogue or wildcat. The blue molly's fur bristled at his statement.

"You come out here stealing my clan's food where each mouse matters and claim not to be a threat! We hunt and fight to keep what is ours and claim your attempt at theft is not a threat."

Rusty flattened at her chastisement, but I held myself firm, sitting tall still. My ears still flattened, and I winced at her venom, but I did not cower. That seemed to have caught her attention.

"You did not cower. You must be either brave or a fool. Which is it?"

I tried to hold her gaze as I responded. "Neither. I am not brave enough to think I could take you, and I am not fool enough to believe you'd kill me now after taking the time to expose yourself."

That seemed to have sparked her interest. She stared at me hard for a moment before turning to address the rest of us.

"Stand up you two."

Rusty quickly mewed out his apology. "Sorry we hunted on your territory. We won't do it again."

"You two put up a pretty solid fight against Graypaw here. If you hadn't gotten distracted, you could have caught that mouse. Your friend here also seems interesting. He knew when to play lookout and acts rather peculiarly."

Was she complementing us?

"Is living out here hard?" Rusty asked.

"There are times where the cold leaves us hungry and we must fight to protect every taillength of territory, but living out here comes with its own rewards. Kinship is something we foster unlike the rogues who are in a constant power struggle."

I eagerly listened to her words trying to decipher the society behind her words. Family and order seemed like strong concepts this clan valued.

"Is your clan very big?" asked Rusty.

"Big enough that we can't afford to share. Each piece of prey we hunt goes to feeding our warriors, elders, queens, and kits. A lost piece of prey could mean the difference between life and death."

I read her response. It was a minor exaggeration. Probably in the harsh of winter her saying was true, but I this late spring there was no way it was true. I could even hear a few small critters scuttling around nearby.

"I'm sorry. I've just always dreamed of coming out here, and Smudge said it was time."

I winced at my namedrop. Rusty had accidentally just volunteered information about ourselves and now the blue molly had an advantage. She gave me this look that showed she knew the change as well. Her calculating gaze made me hunker a bit, but I wasn't going to concede to her yet. She looked over to the golden tom and nodded slightly. The golden tom looked slightly offended.

"You can't be seriously thinking about it Bluestar."

A name! He'd just made the same blunder Rusty did. She whipped her head to look at us and I met her eyes with a certain level of smugness. The golden tom's blunder had regained the ground I'd lost. She seemed amused at my response, but I could tell her eyes kept drifting to Rusty. She saw something in him. It was like she was trying to scry his being.

"We'll never know if we don't give them the chance."

Her head turned sharply fixing both Rusty and I on the spot.

"You two. What are your names?"

"Rusty." Rusty mewed quickly.

"Smudge." I responded, ensuring that I said it somewhat slowly to appear totally calm.

"Well Rusty and Smudge, you two have piqued my interest. How would you like to join my clan? Know that joining means leaving behind your lives as kittypets. You'll know hunger and cold, but you'll also know kinship and maintain your tomhood."

I saw Rusty cringe thinking about Henry, who was not actually cut like my friend thought.

"May we have some time to think about it? If we can't ever come back, we'll have to give out some farewells." I asked smartly.

I hadn't committed to an answer in her eyes, but I hadn't refused either. I was trying to put a play out to buy some time for Rusty's nerves to settle. I knew I'd be joining her group, but Rusty had just had a scare and still had a home to fall back on.

Bluestar nodded, seemingly entertained by my attempts to manipulate her.

"Very well. We'll send someone to get your answer at Sunhigh tomorrow."

With that, the forest cats bound off into the forest, Rusty watching starry eyed all the while.

"Rusty, what are your thoughts on joining?"

He looked at me with that familiar childish grin. "I really want to join, but if you don't want to…"

I laid my tail on him to draw his attention. "Do you know why I bought some time? I was afraid you'd get cold feet. I wanted to give you time to think, but I know I have to go. I'm glad you'll be beside me."