Here is another chapter of my IC x Warriors crossover. I have no idea how long this will be, nor when the next update will be but...this is an old idea I just can't seem to let go. I hope you all enjoy and please feel free to leave reviews, comments or whatever (except non-constructive hate).

Disclaimer: I do not own either Warriors or Inheritance Cycle. Just massive amounts of student debt

Two days later, and Eragon still couldn't figure out the strangeness of it all. Saphira had refused to elaborate on her earlier assertion, but he caught her eyeing the newcomers with something akin to perhaps…nostalgia?

The Clan cats, as everyone had taken to calling them, had for the most part kept to themselves. Aside from the occasional messenger sent to Nasuada, the new werecats had spent most of their time organizing their ranks. Eragon had been rather shocked to see the gray-furred cat with amber eyes suddenly shrink into an ordinary cat before haring away into camp.

Another major difference from the werecats he knew.

Musing as he idly sharpened his new falchion, he glanced at Saphira who watched his prowess sleepily.

"So, what is it about these-?" He started to ask for the umpteenth time only to be interrupted by her.

"One approaches." The dragoness puffed pointedly.

He lifted his gaze to find a young brown tabby werecat shyly approach. Sensing that this must only be a kitten (he wasn't too sure about their ages), he did his best to settle his expression into something calm and approachable. It must have worked for she (based on the green dress the kitten wore, complete with a pouch-studded leather belt) gave a small smile and shuffled a bit closer.

"My leader has asked for your presence, sir." She murmured while fidgeting in place.

"Thank you…?" He trailed off questioningly.

"Leafpaw, sir." She blushed, ear tips reddening.

"Very well then, Leafpaw, take us to your leader." Eragon commanded in a faux-snobby tone, hoping to put the young one at ease. He couldn't keep the flash of satisfaction at the kitten's giggle from flooding over to Saphira through their link, who snorted at his dramatics as she rose to her talons.

The kitten led the bonded pair through the camp, dodging humans and Urgals who had stopped to watch the unlikely procession. Every cat in camp seemed to be extremely focused on the group, something that made the hairs on Eragon's neck prickle uncomfortably.

Their short journey ended on the outskirts of the main camp. The kit skipped through the opening of a large forest-green tent while Rider and dragon waited politely outside. Eragon noticed that many of the cats, in two-legged form, were whispering intently at each other, their eyes flicking between him and the tent. They barely twitched at Saphira's presence, their focus clearly on him. He had so many questions, he felt that he may burst at the seams.

To be fair though, there was nothing new about that.

Leafpaw poked her head outside. "You can come in now." She said sweetly. Eragon thanked her and stepped inside, Saphira lowering her head so she could watch the proceedings.

He found himself in a small workspace, sparsely furnished with a rough desk and a sword rack, as well as a stand for the leader's armor. The green sword gleamed in the lamplight and Eragon could see an intricate pattern engraved along the fuller that reminded the Rider of stars and flames. The leader himself, clad in simple green shirt and brown trousers, rested casually against the desk, arms crossed as he examined the newcomers intently. The only other occupants were Leafpaw and two other felids; in fact, they were the grey and tan ones Eragon had seen at their audience with Nasuada and were now stationed behind the desk.

"You may go now, Leafpaw, thank you." The ginger tom murmured, glancing at her with a fond smile. With a quick nod and a murmured "Yes, father", the kit made to leave. "And please keep an eye on your sister!" An answering giggle had both the ginger cat and Eragon smiling. Once the smiles faded, however, the moment was quickly replaced by an awkward silence.

"…Is there something I may help you with, sir?" Eragon was unable to bear the silence any longer but couldn't think of another way to break it. Oromis's lessons of the various peoples and cultures of Alagaesia never mentioned these strange cats, so he wasn't entirely sure where to start. Hell, he wasn't entirely sure on how to read their facial expressions! The flame-furred cat gave a small sigh.

"Well, yes there is. As you are most likely aware, one of my duties is to ensure my clan's safety." Eragon nodded slowly, although he was confused by the fact this cat only seemed to be speaking of one clan rather than multiple clans described to Nasuada. There was also a niggling suspicion in the Rider's mind that this cat seemed familiar somehow.

"You said earlier that, in return for your aid, your clans would like a new home, if not in the Spine, then somewhere else in the land." The cat nodded, gaze intent.

"Yes, and I still stand by my words. Yet, since our arrival, I cannot help but notice the new world order." At Eragon's puzzled look, he clarified. "I have seen the mingling of many races- humans, elves, urgals, dragons… It makes me wonder, if perhaps the best place for our Clans is amongst this new world, and if so, how would we fit in?"

Eragon was speechless. They were barely managing to hold their own in this war to depose a tyrant, but this cat was acting as if said war was a mere formality!

Someone is rather optimistic. Saphira commented. Her tone was idle, almost as if she was focused on something behind her.

Before Eragon could answer, the distraction made itself known in the form of another young kitten tumbling through the tent flap, followed closely by a fretting Leafpaw. Undeterred, the new arrival, this one russet-furred with green eyes closely resembling the feline Eragon was speaking with, beamed at him. The tan cat snapped, "Squirrelpaw! Your father is in an important meeting."

"But mom!" The kitten, Squirrelpaw, whined. Eragon didn't need to hear the snorting from outside (or from the grey-furred warrior in the corner) to detect his partner's amusement, the emotion rolling through their bond for the second time that day.

Squirrelpaw continued. "I just wanted to meet the human Dad grew up with!"

At that, all the cats froze. Leafpaw stuttered, "I'm so sorry, we were curious-" a firm hiss from the tan she-cat stopped all further explanation as the ginger tom face palmed (or would it be pawed?) as the grey-furred cat almost looked horrified.

"Out." The orange leader stated firmly, tone brooking no argument. Seeing her sister's set stance, Leafpaw rolled her eyes and grabbed her sister's arm to forcefully drag her out.

Eragon felt an eyebrow quirk in bemusement. Then both eyebrows rose in shock. Memories flashed through his mind- the small ginger barn kitten Roran had brought home from the litter found in Horst's forge-

"…Rusty?" Eragon whispered. Unbidden, Brom's words echoed in his mind.

Beware…for fate seems to have a morbid interest in our family.

The cat- Rusty- had an almost resigned expression. "Yes, but I have not gone by that name in a very long time." He murmured quietly.

"Bu-But what happened? Where did you go?" Eragon spluttered.

Very dignified. Saphira snarked. He is a leader now; you need to be respectful!

Eragon ignored her. He had looked for the little kitten for weeks after he had gone missing, ultimately assuming he had been stolen as prey by a passing hawk or some other predator. He had even, in his darkest moments, wondered if the kitten had ended up as prey for the fledgling Saphira.

The tan cat hissed and stepped forward. "Firestar-" Rusty smiled.

"It's alright Sandstorm." He soothed, placing a paw on her arm and giving her a loving look. "Eragon is owed some answers."

He turned back to the former human with a look that could almost be described as sheepish.

"The real question is where to begin."

Yep the big reveal! Thanks Squirrelpaw. Don't worry, we'll probably see more of her.

Let me know what you think!