A Newcomer

The sun barely warmed their pelts as the patrol trekked Smoothskinplace border. Stargaze, Shadowsong, Jetpaw, Hailstone, and Changepaw took turns marking trees to reinforce the scent line.






"Jetpaw, Changepaw, how about you to take lead of the patrol and show us your tracking skills?" suggested Stargaze, watching Changepaw swerve among trees like StarClan guided her. But her blindness didn't stop her eyes from revealing emotions; nervousness flashed in her mis-colored eyes. Jetpaw's amber eyes flashed with determination and anticipation.






"Okay!" he meowed enthustiactically, while Changepaw trailed behind more slowly. They took lead and led the patrol toward Tree Bridge when Changepaw stopped and scented the air.






"I think I'm scenting a rouge....and by the freshgness of the scent, we just missed her!" she mewed excitedly. Shadowsong and Hailstone tipped their heads to one side. Stargaze shrugged and scneted the air. A sharp, sweet scent hit the roof of her mouth.






"She's right. There's very, very recent scent. We're following it," hissed Stargaze. She flicked her tail to cross the Tree Bridge, but gave a warning that it was slippery. Hailstone and SHadowsong crossed first, claws unsheathed to grip the slippery bark. Then Jetpaw, who probably just wanted to proove that he could, and Stargaze. Changepaw stayed and refused to cross.





"Changepaw! It's fine! Come on, Changepaw," called Stargaze convincingly. Changepaw shook her head disbelievingly and took a pawstep onto the Tree Bridge. She quickl crossed in fear she'd fall into the icy water and be swept away by the current. She led the patrol, since it seemed her nose was sharpest.





"This way!" she yowled suddenly, racing ahead suddenly. Hailstone and the rest of the patrol dashed after the swift, pretty apprentice as fast as their paws would carry them. Changepaw skidded to a halt and raised her tail for silence as the patrol came crashing through the bracken behind her. Stargaze and Shadowsong followed her blue-green gaze to a ginger and white she-cat gulping down a scrawny mouse. Jetpaw leaped up and began to curl his lip into a snarl, but Hailstone jerked his tail.





"Sit down, mousebrain!" she hissed irritably. Jetpaw sat down and sulked, but continue to watch the cat eat their prey. Stargaze decided that someone should sneak forward and get behind the she-cat while the others leaped out and surrounded the prey-stealer.





"Hailstone, you sneak up behind her. You're the lightest and most graceful so you go." Stargaze whispered and Hailstone sneaked up behind the dappled ginger she-cat. The patrol waited until Hailstone was in place.





"Now!" yowled Stargaze. They surrounded the she-cat and and snarled.





"Prey stealer!" growled Shadowsong. He advanced but a warning hiss fom Jetpaw stopped him in his pawsteps. The she-cat flattened her ears and hissed menacingly, but the fear showed in her amber eyes. She lashed out a quick unsheathed paw and crouched to the ground. Hailstone noticed the fur around her neck was flattened, as if a collar had recently been removed.





"And a kittypet," she spat disgustingly.





"I'm sorry!" mewed the former kittypet. "I was hungry and my Nofurs abused me food and water so I ran away." She turned her brilliant amber gaze on Stargaze, pleading with them.





"You're coming with us," she spat, unmoved by the pleading gaze. The ginger she-cat crouched lower to the ground, unsheathing her long curved claws.





"Abyss!" she screeched, hissing at the patrol and leaping at Changepaw. Changepaw ducked and slid her claws out, snarling. A white flash appeared out of no where and a slender pretty white she-cat launched herself at Stargaze and Shadowsong. Scoring her claws down Shadowsong's flank, she whipped around and growled in Stargaze's face. Stargaze felt fury pulse through her to the tips of her claws. The next thing she knew she was pinning the delicate white cat to the forest floor. Hailstone was pinned by the rouge and Jetpaw bowled her over, and pinned her to the root of a tree.





"You will come with us!" growled Stargaze and the patrol led the two rouges to the camp. Unknowingly, a dark brown ocelot tom had watched from the trees above while hunting for a squirrel for his two friends: the ginger she-cat and Abyss.

~♥~

"Wait here," growled Hailstone as she lead the rouges beside the Overhang Rock. "And stay!" The ginger and white she cat looked around the camp, her amber eyes stretching wide. Abyss knew she was scared.

"It's okay, Sun!" she mewed soothingly, even though she didn't know if it would be. Sun knew Abyss had doubts and they shared them with a swift glance. At the sound of pawsteps made them turn their heads. A jet black she-cat with silver eyes was coming towards them with the pretty blue-gray she-cat with starry eyes, and a she-cat with bright orange paws.

"Greetings, rouges. What are your names?" asked the black she-cat. Another black cat, a tom from the smell of it, came to stand next to the black she-cat. Abyss swallowed and returned the silver gaze steadily.

"My name is Abyss and this is Sun. We ran away from our Twolegs, because they didn't care for us," explained Abyss. She glanced at Sun, who was crouching on the ground, looking at her paws defiantly. Suddenly, a challenging yowl soundedfrom the entrance and a flash of brown hissewd and spit, clawing like all the Four Great Clans.

"Ratchet!" yowled Abyss and flew to him as if she had wings. They touched nuzzles so softly, so lovingly, that the cats seemed to all look away to give them a heartbeat's privacy. The jet black she-cat raised her tail for instructions and looked at the two rouges.

"Who are you and why did you attack my warriors?" she asked icily. Ratchet looked at her defiantly.

"You wanna know why?" he hissed. "Because I can no longer hide my feelings! I love Abyss! I love her and I'll fight for my life to protect her! So you harm one hair on her pelt......you don't wanna know!" He stepped in front of Abyss and Sun, who looked utterly brokenhearted and was looking at Ratchet. Abyss stood by Ratchet, purring loudly and looking at him with goo-goo eyes. He starred right back. Sun's amber eyes glazed over and she collasped, unexpectantly. Ratchet and Abyss ran to her, Abyss crying.

"Sun! Wake up! I knew you loved him, but we're meant to be together! I'm sorry!" she mewed miserably at her friend's body. Sun opened her eyes and gazed at one cat in the group surrounding her.

"Help me. That black tom with blue eyes," she whispered. Shadowsong's blue gaze clouded with confusion, but helped her up so she could face Ratchet.

"I'm going to sleep," she whispered to Abyss and Ratchet and leaned on Shadowsong, who guided her to the medicine cat's den, puzzled deeply. Abyss went after her and stopped when Ratchet whispered something in her ear. They went up to the cat they learned was called Tornadostar and talked.

"Can we stay here for alittle while?" asked Abyss. Tornadostar nodded solemly and flicked her tail towards the warriors' den.

"That is where you shall sleep. You will participate on patrols once you are well enough and once your friend, Sun, is better. I'll be in my den consulting with my deputy, Stargaze," she replied and disappeared in cave that swallowed up her black pelt. The blue-gray she-cat with starry eyes that had fought them while they were hunting followed her. Ratchet nuzzled Abyss and she blushed, her coat fluffing up in embarrassment. Together, they padded into the den and laid dow.