Chapter 4
"You want to come with me?" asked Carmen in a squeaky voice.
"We're just-we're um, just as-we're just as clueless as you are about what it all means or where, um, where it's going to go," said Shadefur. "We just think-we, um, just think that's not a coincidence that you, uh… that our paths crossed."
"You lead us, following the star," said Darkwood, "and we look after you in the meantime. You'll be safer and as well-fed as we can manage. Prey's sparse, but you'll have the same priority as the kits, queens, and elders."
Carmen gave him a blank look.
"That means we make sure you're fed before the rest of the Clan," said Mosspaw.
"If where we wind up turns out to be good for us, you'd be doing us a favor," said Darkwood.
"If it ends up being worse, well, we figured it's a risk worth taking," Mosspaw finished.
This was out of the blue to be sure, but so was everything else that happened lately. Carmen felt their eyes on her and looked anywhere else. Her fur was all gross. She didn't know how to get food out here. There were dogs and speeding cars and creatures she'd never seen before this. It made no sense to travel with these mongrels, but it made even less sense not to.
"Okay."
#
When Darkwood announced the plan, the Clan was divided. Voices cut through the hot, stuffy air with words that Mosspaw could hardly decipher. She'd finished her dinner last night, and even got to have a small mouse before dawn. Her tail coiled tightly around her legs however, and she didn't take her eyes off of Carmen for long.
"I say it's about time," said Rainstep in the midst of washing her fur. "We could use some less-hostile territory."
Barbclaw argued, "our ability to survive the City is what makes us strong."
"If we wanted to be pampered into oblivion, we'd just find humans to live with."
"Well, if you ask me, we don't make it as well as we should."
"Why should this outsider be fed and protected like someone from the Clan?" Hawktalon's tail flicked about. "She's nothing more than a useless pet looking for a free ride!"
"I'd like to do more than just survive."
"All this on a kit's dreams?"
"Why should some spoiled pet get special treatment?"
Darkwood waited for all the chatter to subside. He made it clear the decision was final. When the moon was full, the Clan of the City would be moving, so they'd best prepare in the meantime.
Slowly, begrudgingly, everyone settled back into their routine. Warriors lined up to get their assignments and apprentices departed with their mentors. Carmen sat helpless at the center of it all. Her ears burned and she ran her claws across the floor. How could they talk about her like that? How dare they! The way these mongrel cats looked down on her, when hers was the purest blood of any here… It was so uncalled for! Did no one teach them any manners?
A white she-cat with orange and black splotches licked Mosspaw on the head. "Take care, you two." She did the same for the black feline beside her. "Stay safe. Mosspaw, look out for your sister."
Mosspaw bit back her words. She had to keep the Clan's best interests at heart, she had to watch out for Glasspaw, and now she was charged with kitsitting Carmen whenever possible. Rat dung!
Rubyheart was waiting impatiently by the exit. Mosspaw trotted up to her. Rubyheart appeared thoughtful for a heartbeat.
"Bring her."
"Huh?" She followed Rubyheart's gaze to the ruddy-furred pet in the middle of camp. "Isn't it safer to have her stay here?"
"Regardless of what Darkwood says, that little scrap of fur's gonna have to pull her weight at some point," Rubyheart explained. "Better she start picking some things up now."
Mosspaw wanted to argue, but thought better of it. She dipped her head and went to fetch Carmen, then the three of them went out for some hunting.
#
There were few places in the City with an abundance of grass and trees, and with the benefits of the park came the downside of watching for humans. This was Carmen's assignment for the time being.
She was laying on a tree branch, tail tip flicking from side to side. This perch was hard and itchy. She sighed and looked over at the few humans in her sight. It was morning; not many humans would be outside of work at this time of day. It wasn't like humans would bother with cats from the Clan anyway. Humans knew better than to hang around wild cats with muddled blood and strange pelts. They'd go and find a Purebred like Carmen if they wanted.
She made her way down to the shady grass below and gave her fur a proper wash. Just because she was with them now didn't mean she had to live like them. Carmen was going to be a Show Cat by the end of this. She had to at least be presentable.
There was a little clump of bushes not far from where she sat. Mosspaw and Rubyheart were talking in hushed voices near its edge. Birds sang lovely melodies on their way here and there, and it seemed that Rubyheart's ears swerved to pick up every bit of it.
Things were so peaceful. Carmen found a sunny spot to bask in and closed her eyes. The warmth seeped through her fur and trickled down to her skin. She purred softly, rolling whenever one side of her was feeling just a bit too hot for comfort. There was a yawn in the back of her throat.
It was so cozy… It almost reminded her of home-
A bird's frantic whistling woke her in an instant. She was on her feet. There! Rubyheart's claws were hooked on the poor thing's wing. It trilled and thrashed and tried to escape. Mosspaw pounced and its cries were no more.
Carmen stared, heart pounding. She snapped out of her trance to smooth her fur.
She knew about hunting, of course. She'd seen the bones in the mongrels' lair. She'd stalked feathery toys at home. Even so, to see it in action… the whole business was so cruel!
At least… At least give it a quick death. It was so scared!
They spent most of the day looking for something to eat, only to return in the evening with a couple of little birds. Carmen watched them dangle lifelessly from the jaws of the wild cats. Kibble and canned food was better. Not so much violence involved.
Even so, her stomach growled relentlessly at the scent of them.
#
Hawktalon suppressed a yawn. Just outside camp, he looked to the sky in search of this mysterious guide from beyond. He knew he should trust Darkwood's judgment, but uprooting the whole Clan over this was pure nonsense. At best, this was a story Carmen made up, either on purpose or from being batty in the head. At worst, she was a spy from Pharaoh's colony.
Steelclaw emerged from the shadows with his kit at his tail. Hawktalon watched them, ears perked. Before he'd the chance to question them, Stainpelt trotted along to catch up. Blinking, Hawktalon stood and shook out his fur.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, striding across the yard to where they sat. "Ironpaw, you most of all should be asleep; you've got dawn patrol with your mentor tomorrow."
Ironpaw opened his mouth to speak before freezing in place. He'd clearly gotten too big for his pelt, but he wasn't completely daft. Hawktalon would let him keep his ears intact for now.
"Told you he's too diligent to let this slide."
"Nevermind it," said Steelclaw with a dismissive flick of the tail. "Besides, I'm sure Hawktalon feels the same as us."
"What are you going on about?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Stainpelt licked his paw and drew it over his eye. "Darkwood's lost it."
"What did you say?" He was nose to nose with the younger feline before anyone could react. "That is our leader you're talking about, you insolent little-"
Steelclaw shoved himself in between them. "Alright, alright, that's enough. Darkwood's got us through some hard times, but let's be honest. This plan is insane. We're talking about dragging our whole Clan off to who knows where, all on the word of some pampered kit? Don't pretend you have that much faith in Darkwood."
"It's… not what I would have chosen. But part of being a warrior is following the leader's orders. It's the Code; it's the most important part of it."
"Who said we're going against the code? Relax." Stainpelt spoke as if Hawktalon was being ridiculous.
"We know he wants to help. With Pharaoh, the prey shortage, and all the human chaos, Darkwood's desperate for some kind of fix. As warriors, we can't go against him, but we can agree to keep our guard up," Steelclaw said. "I can certainly hold my own in a fight, and I've made sure that Ironpaw can too."
"And what I lack in muscle, I make up for in speed," said Stainpelt. "You? The cat who took on two dogs and ran 'em both off on your own? To say you'd be an asset would be the understatement of the year. That is, if you're interested."
Hawktalon ran his claws along the concrete. "Interested in what, for rats' sake? Spit it out!"
"We're forming a sort of… inner guard within the Clan." Stainpelt examined his claws. "Our Clan's full of loyal cats of course, but we feel that with this trip, not everyone will be as alert as they should be. We'll be treading new ground. Pharaoh's colony is nomadic, so there's no telling when we'll run into them."
"We need cats who can be extra vigilant," he continued. "Who will check around every corner. Who will keep a close eye on everyone to make sure none fall behind. Extra patrols, extra hunting, and ready at the drop of a mouse to throw themselves at any threats."
"And should Darkwood's choice lead us somewhere nasty, we need cats who will take charge in a moment of crisis."
With a frustrated sigh, "fine. Fine. I'll join this "inner guard" of yours. It's hardly different from our regular duties, anyway. Now, you two get to sleep. Steelclaw, you get back to your post inside."
Hawktalon spent the rest of the night trying to understand that strange conversation.
#
Now seems like a great time to mention that updates will be on no particular schedule.
