Warriors: Staying Behind

Chapter 1

Rusty stretched and yawned, his collar jingling merrily. He pawed at it, his collar pinching on his neck gently. It had been a few days since Rusty had rejected the offer of going to live in Thunderclan, and Smudge was happy to have him back.

"I swear, Rusty! You get more and more sad everyday!" Smudge had mewed, curling next to him in their basket. "But I'm glad to have you back. You could've starved!"

Rusty didn't mind Smudge, but him saying that made Rusty frustrated. He couldn't have starved! Did Smudge think that he was too weak to take on the wild? Rusty had bristled at the thought, but had gone to sleep without another word.

Now, Rusty was grooming himself, weak sunlight bathing onto his soft muscles. He flexed his shoulders uncomfortably, wishing that he had gone, but the past was the past, and he was happy with his life. Shaking himself, he stepped outside into the bright light.

"Smudge! Come on!" Rusty called impatiently to his friend. "We're wasting sunlight!" He waited until Smudge drew himself out of the den, yawning.

"Rusty, why do we have to wake up to early? It's just a sunrise." He teased, settling next to his friend on the fence. Rusty smiled, and sighed.

"I just thought that...maybe...we could explore. Y'know. The wild cat's place. Just to see what it's like." Rusty suggested. Smudge looked terrified.

"Rusty, are you mouse brained?! They eat BONES!"

"No, they don't! Those are just silly rumors that you heard. Please, can we go?"

"Rusty, we'll die!"

"No! Stop overthinking it! We'll be really sneaky."

"They'll smell us and attack!"

Rusty paused. He hadn't thought of that. Was he stupid? Of course the clan cats had noses. He sighed.

"You make a point...I guess we'll just do what you want to do today." Rusty skulked. Smudge relaxed, and put his tail on his friend's back.

"Hey, don't sulk. We'll be fine. Some catnip will brighten you up!" Smudge encouraged, trying to cheer Rusty up. Sighing, Rusty followed Smudge, leaving the forest and wildcats behind.