Sorry, so sorry about not updating crazy things happening this year that...well, not very important I suppose but….well, what can you do? Well, I decided to make and update a chapter because I didn't want to get smacked in the face with a whale! XD okay, I hope you enjoy it!
Once again, sorry about the wait! XD
0o0o0o
Pov Firestar
"Hey, Hey, wake up!" Firestar gasped, then choked and spitted out water as something pushed against her wet chest. Her head was spinning and her vision was blurry as she tried to figure out where she was and what had happened. Days had gone by during Firestar and Tigerstar's quest to find SkyClan. In that time neither felt any closer to finding SkyClan than when they began. Tempers had risen due to frustration, they had argued and spat at each other, there was a flood?
"Oh, good, so you're not dead then." spoke the voice again, mildly calm, while Firestar retched out another lungful of murky water beside him.
"N-no, w-who are you?" Firestar questioned, feebly trying to stand up on shaky legs.
"Name's Nabu." Firestar flopped back to the ground as a large paw pushed down in between her shoulders. "You should stay still for a moment, you did nearly drown after all." Firestar looked up at the unknown individuale. It was a shock when she found a clone of her nephew, Cloudtail, looking back at her. This tom had long-thick snowy white fur, just like Cloudtail. Even the blue eyes seemed to reflect Cloudtail's own mischievous ones.
"W-where am I, N-Nabu?" Firestar stuttered out, marveling at this tom. Who would have thought that Cloudtail would have a look-alike, granted that this Nabu person was much older the similarities were uncanny.
"You've been washed downstream with the flood," Nabu replied, shrugging slightly as he tried drying his soggy white pelt. "I saw you floating down and thought I'd pull you out. Wasn't sure if you were dead or not. Thankfully you are."
"You saved me?" Firestar was completely bewildered, this cat didn't even know her and had saved her life.
"I'd have done it for any cat." Nabu retorted, practically reading her mind. "You're not the only cat I've saved before. There was this one she-cat with green eyes sort of like yours, she was very beautiful and I sometimes don't know why I ever left her, well I was--"
"Tigerstar!" Firestar gasped, cutting off Nabu who was telling her about some she-cat. "Have you seen a giant tabby tom around here?"
"A tabby? No, no tabby, just you." Nabu responded, helping Firestar to her paws. "Why? Are you looking for someone?"
"My...companion, we've been traveling together and must have got separated by the flood." Firestar leaned against Nabu as the two slowly began moving away from the pebbly shoreline and up the bank. "Do you know where he might be?"
"I might," Nabu mused to himself, his blue eyes narrowed in thought. "He might be in Twolegplace."
"What Twolegplace?" Firestar demanded, just as they reached the top of the bank. Which overlooked countless unfamiliar Twoleg nests and gardens and Thunderpath all of which stretched farther than Firestar could see. "Oh, that Twolegplace."
"Yes, this Twolegplace." Nabu snorted, ignoring Firestar's growl of annoyance. "Now, if I'm going to help you I have to know who you are and who we're finding."
"Help me?" Firestar echoed, once more surprised by this tom's generosity.
"It wouldn't feel right to save you, then ditch you when your lost and trying to find your friend. Besides, I know these parts. It'll be easy, trust me." Nabu sounded sincere and Firestar did need the help, she decided to trust him.
"Thank you, Nabu. My name is Firestar and I'm trying to find a cat named Tigerstar." Firestar explained what she remembered of what happened prior to getting swept away by the flood. Nabu listened quietly, taking in account all that Firestar had told him.
"We'll your friend wouldn't be where you were last time," Nabu concluded, sounding sure of himself. "That place would be completely flooded by now. The only place he would be now would have to be in Twolegplace. Does your friend know much about a Twolegplace? Anywhere he would like to go if he were in one?"
Firestar snorted, thinking about Tigerstar liking anything about a Twolegplace. He'd probably take his chance at swimming rather than having to walk through a garden. Though if he thought she was there…
"I'm not sure where he is," Firestar meowed, honestly worried for the ShadowClan leader. "We've never been here before."
"Okay, we'll look in more of the obvious places then." Nabu decided, gently pressing his nose into her shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll find your dumb friend."
"Tigerstar isn't dumb." Firestar defended, leaning against his side as they walked towards Twolegplace.
"He is when he leaves such a pretty she-cat out here all on her own." Nabu teased back. Firestar rolled her eyes at the toms eccentric behavior. She hoped they found Tigerstar before anything bad happened to him.
They hadn't found Tigerstar, not on the first night in Twolegplace. Nabu had brought her to a Twoleg nest where they slept underneath it's hedges. In the morning birds were peaking on the ground, blissfully unaware of the two cats and made an easy meal. Because of the seeds the Twoleg's put out, birds always come here for the seeds. Was Nabu's explanation.
The next day consisted of walking around Twolegplace calling out Tigerstar's name. They searched in Twoleg gardens, back alleys that seemed to keep winding into another alley. Firestar would have got herself lost if Nabu hadn't been there to guide her, the white furred tom seemed to always know where he was and where he was going. It was a comfort though she wished they had found Tigerstar by now.
All the while Nabu asked her questions, where she was from, why she was there, who her companion was, etc. Firestar kept it vague, she didn't want to reveal too much, even though Nabu seemed trustworthy, she just didn't feel comfortable about telling him about her dreams from StarClan about SkyClan. He wouldn't understand.
"So you have nine children?" Nabu meowed on their third day in Twolegplace, swiping his tongue across his muzzle as he finished off the chicken they had found in a trashcan nearby. It wasn't a juicy mouse, but it kept the hunger away. "That's quite a lot for your first litter."
"Do you have any children?" Firestar asked, cleaning her whiskers. "You keep speaking very highly of that green-eyed she-cat, did you have kits with her?"
"If I did, then I wouldn't know." Nabu shrugged, standing up and gesturing for her to follow him. "I left, she stayed, that was that."
"She didn't want to come with you?" Firestar asked, starting to warm up to Nabu. Nabu liked talking about his travels and the things he had done in his life, though he kept coming back to talk about a certain she-cat. He never gave her name though, it just seemed to make him sad whenever Firestar asked.
"She was too used to depending on Twoleg's." Nabu sighed, his blue eyes glazing over in thought. "She also loved her life as a Kittypet and I wouldn't force her to come with me. I still love her but being stuck in one place and having such limited freedom...that just isn't me."
Firestar felt sympathy towards her new friend, having to choose between the one he loved and his freedom. Both seemed hard to give up, even now Nabu still seemed to be struggling with his decision. He still clearly loved this she-cat.
"Perhaps you'll see her again someday?" Firestar reassured him. Nabu flicked an ear towards her, though his expression didn't change.
"Hey, Nabu, what are you doing here?" Both Nabu and Firestar looked up to see a ginger-and-white tom with massive shoulders staring down at them from on top of a stone wall. Firestar moved aside as the tom jumped down beside them, his intense green eyes glancing over the two carefully. Or more suspiciously in regards to Firestar. "You know Dodge doesn't like you hanging around these parts."
"Dodge doesn't like anyone in his territory who he doesn't have under his command." Nabu snorted, shaking his head in annoyance. "I don't care about Dodge, Skipper, I'm just trying to help my friend here."
"Well, you best be careful. Dodge has been very aggressive lately, ever since he picked a fight with this tabby and lost." Skipper replied, looking nervous. "It was unlike anything I've seen, Dodge is a big cat but this cat was way bigger. He even mocked Dodge after he took him down and challenged anyone else to a fight, nobody did of course. It was incredible."
"Someone managed to beat Dodge?" Nabu sounded surprised. Though Firestar was more interested in the cat that did defeat Dodge.
"Who was the cat that beat him?" Firestar questioned, feeling hope growing in her chest.
"I don't know who he was," Skipper said, eyeing Firestar with suspicion but with a look from Nabu he kept talking. "a massive, muscular thick-furred, dark brown tabby tom. He also had pale amber eyes."
Firestar felt excited as she shared a glance with Nabu. "Did he have a scar on the bridge of his nose?"
"Ya, actually he did." Skipper meowed, looking surprised. "How did you know that? Do you know who he was."
"That's the friend we're looking for." Nabu meowed with a shrug. Firestar could see the look of surprise and horror flashing across Skipper's face.
"You're trying to find that brute? What for? He looked ready to tear us all into pieces." Skipper exclaimed in shock.
"Tigerstar doesn't like Twolegplace." Firestar explained, catching Skipper off guard. "Or the cats that live in them."
"I think I already figured that out." Skipper snapped back, his claws tearing at the ground. He still looked uneasy, did Tigerstar really scare him that much? "Well, I should really get--"
"Wait," Nabu cut in, stopping Skipper in his tracks before he could go any farther. "Do you know where that cat might have gone?"
"No clue," Skipper retorted, then hesitated another second. "Although I think Misha might, she knows about everyone around here and keeps up with their whereabouts. If she doesn't then she'd know someone that does."
"That's great, can we speak to her?" Firestar asked, it wasn't much but it was better than wandering around aimlessly in hopes of stumbling upon him.
"I don't know, Misha isn't the most friendly to newcomers." Skipper hesitated for a moment. "None of us are, really. Though if Nabu asked, she might tell you."
"Meaning I have to go deeper into Dodge's territory?" Nabu sighed as Firestar gave him a hopeful look. "Alright, fine."
"You might not have too," Skipper cut in quickly, looking thoughtful. "If you wait on top of the fence, I can just go and bring her to you."
"You'd do that, really?" Firestar watched Skipper nod his head, though he was still wary of her.
"Just in order to find him. When you do, get him out of Twolegplace. We don't want him to cause any more trouble for our group."
"I will, I promise." Firestar reassured quickly, following the ginger-and-white tom through winding alleys that almost seem to back on themselves. Until they came to a broken, rotted fence that was hardly still standing. Though it was sturdy enough to hold all three cats when they got up on it. On the other side of the fence was a series of boxes, stacked up on top of one another, Firestar could catch the strong stench of cat and crowfood in the air. This must be Dodge's camp.
"You two wait here, I'll go get Misha." Skipper leaped down from the fence and raced across the ground towards the boxes before either cat could say anything. Silently Nabu and Firestar stood together on the fence and waited for Skipper to return with Misha.
It didn't take long before Skipper was returning with a fierce looking cream-colored she-cat just behind him. When Skipper returned with his companion the first thing Misha did was snarl at the pair. "You shouldn't be here, Nabu and she definitely shouldn't be here." Misha hissed, harshly gesturing to each cat in turn.
"It's a pleasure to see you again too, Misha." Nabu meowed drily, getting a snort of contempt from Misha for the comment. "Though you probably know why we are here."
"Skipper told me you're looking for that tom-cat that beat Dodge." Misha said simply, her eyes narrowed. "I might have an idea of where he might be. Though I don't see why I should tell you."
"Please, I have to find him." Firestar pleaded, staring helplessly at Misha who looked at her with distrust. "It's important that I do."
"Besides, the sooner we find him the sooner we can get him out of here." Nabu added on when it looked like Misha was going to refuse. "Dodge wouldn't breath down all your necks anymore if he left."
"I suppose…" Misha mused, before stealing herself. "Last I heard a cat with your friend's description was seen around the abandoned Twoleg nest. Though I'm not going there, that's where those vermin hang out."
"I know where it is, thank you Misha, Skipper." Nabu meowed, leaping off the fence with Firestar hard on his paws.
"Good luck with that one!" Misha called after them, before turning back with Skipper to go back to their dens.
0o0o0o
"Do you know where we are going?" Firestar asked as she sped up to run beside Nabu who was navigating Twolegplace with ease.
"Of course I do!" Nabu meowed, turning a sharp corner. "I've lived here long enough to know where I'm going."
"Who was Misha talking about?" Firestar questioned, skirting a fallen garbage can.
"She means Stick and his group," Nabu meowed over his shoulder. "Dodge and Stick's groups have a sort of rivalry going between them. Dodge hates Stick, Stick hates Dodge. You know how it is." Firestar nodded, she did know a thing or two about rivalry. Having been living in a forest with three other Clans surrounding her territory, she could relate with Dodge and Stick.
It wasn't long before the Nabur led the pair through a hole in the wall. Firestar emerged into a patch of bare ground where a few stunted trees struggled to survive in the thin soil. "Cora, It's good to see you again." Nabu called out to a slender, black she-cat. Who looked up from where she was drinking from a puddle when they entered the clearing.
"What are you doing here, Nabu?" The she-cat, Cora, growled. Stalking over to the pair.
"Keep your claws sheathed, we come in peace." Nabu meowed, flicking the she-cat over the nose with his tail. "Me and my friend, Firestar, are looking--"
"Did you say, Firestar?" Cora meowed, looking over at Firestar as recognition crossed her face.
"You know her?" Nabu asked, sounding surprised.
"Of course I'd know who she is." Cora snorted. "It's all Tigerstar could talk about since Shorty brought him here."
"Tigerstar's here!" Firestar exclaimed, looking around in excitement only to be disappointed when there was no one else present.
"No, he's out looking for you with Shorty." Cora said sharply but had a gentle edge, catching on to Firestar desperation of finding him. "They'll be back soon, I'm sure."
Not soon enough, Firestar thought as Cora led the pair over towards where she had been drinking. Firestar hardly paid attention to what the two were talking about, only the thought of being so close to finding Tigerstar was on her mind.
"Shorty!" Cora exclaime tore Firestar out of her thoughts a while later. a small, brown tabby tom with a stump for a tail came bursting in the clearing, another cat shortly following him, a pregnant white she-cat.
"We need help," the white she-cat exclaimed, looking scared as Shorty nudged her farther towards the center of the ground. "He risked his life for mine and we have to rescue him!"
"Wait, what's going on? Where's Tigerstar?" Cora demanded, Firestar and Nabu followed her. "Snowy, what did you do?"
"Snowy decided to follow us," Shorty said quickly. "We ended up near that nest with the bright colored fish? Well Snowy decided to go into the nest and see if she could catch some, though they've got a new dog--"
"A humongous violent beast!" Snowy wailed, her claws sinking into the ground. "It would have got me if it hadn't been for Tigerstar."
"We got separated during the scuffle, I got Snowy out though I'm not sure about Tigerstar." Shorty finished.
"You have to take me there!" Firestar demanded, thrusting forward to stand nose to nose with the small brown tabby tom who reeled backwards at their sudden closeness.
"Who are--"
"This is Firestar," Cora cut in, shaving Shorty back the way he had come. "She's the one Tigerstar's been looking for, take her and Nabu with you, I'll stay with Snowy."
"What, Firestar?" Shorty gazed at Firestar for a moment, momentarily lost before shaking his head. "Right, follow me!"
With Shorty leading the way, Firestar and Nabu followed him towards a nest. The clear, loud barking of a dog could be heard. "Let's take a look over the fence." Shorty meowed, jumping up on the fence, Firestar and Nabu did the same.
"Tigerstar really did a number on that fleabag, now didn't he?" Shorty meowed, his voice filled with admiration. The dog in question was huge, nearly twice the size of a regular full-grown cat. Clumps of fur were missing from the dog's neck and shoulders, while it's nose, ear and right eye were scratched and bleeding.
"But I don't see him." Firestar pointed out, failing to find any trace of the ShadowClan leader amongst the floral edging.
"He might have gone out the back." Shorty suggested, balancing along the fence and out of the dog's oblivious reach. The group quickened their pace as horrible screeching could be heard from up ahead in an abandoned alley.
"Tigerstar!" Firestar meowed, stopping short on the fence when she looked down to see the giant tabby warrior violently struggling to free himself from the tangled clutches of a Twoleg net.
"Firestar!" Tigerstar called back, pale yellow eyes staring out through his rope bindings looking at her with a gleam of relief. "You're alright."
"Yes, and you're tangled up in a net." Firestar meowed, jumping down from the fence. She gently placed a paw on his shoulder to still the distressed ShadowClan leader. "Just hold still, move your paw over here, no the other one, that's it--" with a bit of maneuvering and a single nip, the webbing was left in a heap as Tigerstar began flattening his bristled fur.
"Twoleg's!" was the only word that Tigerstar spat in disdain, his eyes set in a glare as they raked over Nabu.
"Snowy got away, Tigerstar." Shorty meowed, cautiously stepping forward as the Tigerstar regarded him.
"She should learn how to listen to orders. Going into a dog infested garden like that, mouse-brain." Tigerstar gave a grunt of disdain, though gently nosed the side of Firestar's head as she leaned against him.
"She will now. Being scared to death like that. We'll take you back to the--" Tigerstar cut Shorty off with a single lash of his tail. Even here, cats listened to the imposing ShadowClan leader.
"We've wasted enough time wandering Twolegplace," Tigerstar meowed, surprisingly sounding respectful towards Shorty. "We'd appreciate it if you can show us the way back to the river."
"No problem. Follow me." Shorty meowed. Gesturing for the three to follow him.
"Where have you been, Tigerstar?" Firestar asked, her sleek ginger fur brushing against his dark brown coat in fear he might disappear if she wasn't. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"And you think I haven't?" Tigerstar snorted, keeping a cautious eye out as they traveled through Twolegplace. "I've been searching ever since you got swept away by the flood. You wouldn't believe the things I've been through. I never want to step paw here ever again."
"Same, oh, this is Nabu. It was with his help that I was able to find where you were at." Firestar gestured to the white tom cat that walked leisurely beside her. Nabu meowed a greeting while Tigerstar gave the other tom a stiff nod.
The cat, Shorty, led them back across the Twoleg gardens. They crossed a small Thunderpath, quiet but lit by the glare of orange Twoleg lights, and padded down yet another passage between two Twoleg nests.
"Not far now," Shorty announced cheerfully.
At the end of the gardens the passage came out into a rough grassy space. Firestar lifted her muzzle as the scent of the river washed over her. She could hear the soft rush of water in the distance.
"You've been very helpful, Shorty," Tigerstar meowed, turning to the brown tabby tom and giving him a nod of thanks. "I wish you and your group good luck in the future."
"We're all going to miss you, Tigerstar," Shorty meowed, sounding like he meant it. "Though I believe you're the one that might need all the luck you can get."
"We'll be just fine," Tigerstar assured, his pale yellow eyes glowing with self-confidence. "Go back to your friends, Shorty. Tell Snowy that I'm fine and that I've found who I was looking for."
"I'll be sure to tell her just that." Shorty assured.
"I suppose It's time to say my own good-byes," Nabu meowed, drawing Firestar's attention away from Tigerstar and Shorty's conversation. "I've helped you find your friend and you're still on your quest. So good luck."
"Thank you, for all you've done for me. Nabu." Firestar meowed, genuinely meaning it. "I hope we'll meet again someday."
"Perhaps, in some way, we will meet again." Nabu meowed, very vague. "Though I believe it's all wishful thinking. I never stay in the same place twice, though I'll remember you and this adventure."
"Alright," Firestar purred. "Though I really do hope we meet again someday."
"Come on, Firestar, we should be getting on our way." Tigerstar called towards her, making her turn to look at the ShadowClan leader.
"Coming, Tigerstar!" Firestar called, and gave one last farewell to her new friend before catching up with Tigerstar.
Shorty waved the stump of his tail in farewell. Where he and Nabu stood watching at the mouth of the passage while Tigerstar and Firestar padded side by side across the tussocky grass and down to the river.
0o0o0o
Sorry, sorry, sorry for all the waiting! XD I've actually grown scared that I might be a little rusty! XD
Facts:
Nabu is Cloudtail's father (because it was never mentioned and I sort of built that part
earlier in the story!) and his name is in honor of the cartoon show 'Winx Club' and yes, it was Princess he was talking about!
We might see Nabu again, though It won't be in Firestar's Quest! (Maybe SkyClan's Destiny?) though for now, no Nabu! XD
Ya, so Tigerstar beat Dodge's butt!
Tigerstar and Shorty had become sort of friends! (or as close as Tigerstar could get to some cats he had just met!)
Well, enjoy, review, fav, follow!