“Scarclaw!” Sandtail yowled after the newly appointed warrior as she bolted down the path to the floor or the ravine.
“I’m going to see my friends!” Scarclaw called over her shoulder, running as fast as her wounded body would let her.
Sandtail let out a sigh, her yellow eyes watching thoughtfully as Scarclaw dash towards the Clan. She turned, slipping into the shadows of her cave. As she ran through the crowd, the cats part to let her through, all of them wearing disgusted and sympathetic faces. A few kits squealed with pure terror, hiding behind their mother. Scarclaw took no notice.
“Scarclaw! Scarclaw!” Wildeyes, Spottedclaw, and Mudclaw were the first three cats to reach their friend, followed by Leopardpelt and Mosswhisker. They hovered around Scarclaw, smothering her with congratulations. A little ways behind them, a red-brown tom sat, his blue-green eyes watching them carefully. Minutes later and Cloudstar came over to the group of young she-cats.
”Scarclaw,” He said, his voice clear and strong, “I need to talk to you alone.” The orange tabby quickly looked up, along with the other warriors.
“Bye.” Spottedclaw and Wildeyes meowed, echoed by Leopardpelt and Mosswhisker.
“See you later, Scarclaw!” Mudclaw called over her shoulder as the group of them headed to the warrior’s den. Cloudstar waited until they were inside the warrior’s den before he spoke again.
“You sit vigil alone tonight. I’m keeping Rainfoot on watch at Highledge, incase you have any trouble.” He said, watching as a shiver ran through her pelt.
“Thank you, Cloudstar,” Scarclaw said, flicking her ears, “But I don’t think Rainfoot’s watch will be necessary.” Cloudstar studied Scarclaw carefully. His green eyes held her brown one, locked in a wordless debate. Finally he flicked his tail.
“Alright, Scarclaw, I trust you to watch over the Clan.” Scarclaw’s tail curled up into the air.
“Thank you, Cloudstar. You won’t regret it.” Her answer was strong and Cloudstar knew she was right. He stood, strong muscles making his calico pelt ripple in the twilight sun.
“May Starclan watch over you tonight,” He meowed softly, turning back to his newest warrior. “Grab yourself some fresh-kill while you can.” Scarclaw nodded to signal that she understood and limped towards the fresh-kill pile. The red-brown tom took his chance, slinking after her as soon as Cloudstar was gone.
Scarclaw choose a sparrow and a mouse out of the fresh-kill pile, her stomach growling angrily. She turned to take position in the middle of the clearing, bumping into warm fur. With a surprised squeak, she stepped backwards, looking up at the cat she walking in too. It was the red-brown tom. He was standing over her, looking down on her with piercing blue-green eyes.
“Sawreh” Scarclaw said around her fresh-kill, flattening her ears as the silence thickened.
“What happened to you back in the forest?” He asked, his voice making her jump. He had a kind voice, but she wasn’t expecting it from this cat she didn’t know. Scarclaw set down her fresh-kill, her pelt prickling, and looked at the warrior in front of her.
“Excuse me?” She asked.
“What happened to you back in the forest?” He repeated, his gaze burning into hers.
Scarclaw blinked her good eye; her bad eye tingled with faint pain.
“Who are you?” She asked, staring at him in wonder.
“Wildheart, from Wind Clan.” He answered quickly, repeating his question for a third time, “What happened to you in the forest?”
”You have a lot of patience…” Scarclaw sighed, sitting down, her legs were starting to hurt too “Why do you want to know?”
“The cat who saved you deserves an explanation, don’t you think?” He said coolly.
Scarclaw’s felt as if some cat had pushed her into the lake during leaf-bare. Her paws shook and she felt strangely empty. This was the cat that saved her? Wildheart, Wildheart from Wind Clan. She was swimming through her memory. There was blood, death, fighting, and then it went black… She shivered letting out a faint hiss.