A Loner's Tale | Warrior Cat Fan Fiction

|~ Chapter 12 ~|

Artemis was pushed to the side and Caellium yelped as he tumbled off the rock, the clan cat going with him. By the time she peered over the edge she saw Artemis with a few splotches of blood on his fur, whether it was his or the clan cats, Caellium didn't really know. ''Artemis!'' She called out, as he looked up from where he stood, flicking his tail to the unconscious clan cat he offered a smile. She smiled back with a sigh, ''Mouce-brain! Why did you defend me?'' Caellium snapped, she leaped down, realising a little too late that she was in an awkward position for landing. She cursed herself quietly, waiting for the shock of pain but it didn't come, when she looked around she realised that Artemis had her by the scruff. She knew she was small but seriously? ''Let go of me you big . . . Oaf!'' She growled, glaring up at him. ''If you say so,'' he dropped her, she yelped in shock, landing in an awkward position but it was much better then before, she wasn't in that much pain. ''Sorry! Did I hurt you?'' Artemis asked, his voice quick and full of concern. ''I'm fine, really,'' Caellium shrugged as Artemis frowned. ''You say that way too much! Also-'' His gaze scanned her body, she could only imagine how awful she looked, clumps of fur missing and blood splattered on her usually pale silver coat. ''-Who did that?'' Caellium looked up at him with a tilt of her head, ''The blood or the . . . Herbs?'' She needed to think for a moment before finding a suitable word. ''Yes, those," Caellium bit back a laugh at Artemis' uneasy tone. ''I'm actually not quite sure, they said their name was Clouded'Pa-'' Caellium couldn't even finish the senate before Artemis leaped towards her, tackling her to the ground. ''A CLAN CAT?'' The molly beneath him scoffed "Yeah, a clan cat APPRENTICE. Besides, she knew what she was doing.'' Caellium felt touched by his protectiveness but it was quite odd for toms to go around tacking she-cats. She rolled her eyes as Artemis got off her reluctantly, ''Just saying, I don't trust them,'' She rolled her eyes again, sighing. ''Well neither do I but look where we are,'' Artemis's nose turned red, maybe from embarrassment, but she didn't really mind. ''Why are you so clingy all of a sudden?'' Caellium emphasised the clingy as Artemis's nose turned an even brighter shade of red, she narrowed her eyes, waiting for an answer. Truth be told, she just wanted to see his reaction, and STARCLAN was it hilarious as he stuttered and spat out words. By the time he was only a few seconds in Caellium fell over laughing. ''Y-you sound like a mouse . . . '' She chuckled in between breathes, Artemis's nose faded to a dull pink as she continued to laugh, by the time she caught her breath Artemis was sitting down with narrowed eyes. And Caellium knew she was in deep fox dung, he leaped at her again, this time more to push her rather than attack, as she tumbled with a yelp into the bush he chuckled. This was what he intended, as she closed her eyes in an attempt to protect them from any sticks or leaves that threatened to poke them she felt a heavy object weighed on her. ''A-Artemis . . . ?'' Caellium opened her eyes hesitantly, to find Artemis sprawled out on top of her. ''Artemis!'' She yelped, thinking he was injured, but the only reply she got was a muffled and tired; ''What?'' Caellium frowned, ''Get off me.'' She said, rather coldly. ''I might, I might not, depends . . .'' Artemis replied, looking up at her with a slightly smug smile. ''On what?'' She rolled her eyes, ''Am I hurting you?'' Well, Artemis was heavy and rather large, especially since Caellium was genuinely small compared to other cats. But no, he was actually quite light. ''Well . . . No,'' She said hesitantly. ''Then I guess I'm staying,'' He gave her another smug grin before she unsheathed her claws again. ''Your in deep fox dung now.'' She hissed, it didn't take very long for the tom to leap off of her, and she took her sweet time getting up. Caellium turned to him slyly, ''Really . . . ?''She whispered, the same tone she had used when Iron pinned her, but this time her voice was laced with honey, a sticky sweetness. She couldn't help but chuckle at Artemis glanced at her, looking at his paws and spitting out flustered responses. ''Big Oaf.'' She chuckled, walking out of the bush, ducking underneath a branch that guarded the exit. She sighed, finding herself at the most beautiful view she had known. Her breath hitched when Artemis suddenly appeared behind her, ''Was this your plan . . . ?'' She questioned, breathing the words out as she sat down. ''Maybe,'' He whispered back, ''Its beautiful . . . '' She mumbled, he glanced at her, and they stayed that way for a while, before she broke out of her trance-like state. ''What are you looking at?'' He smiled, tilting his head ever so slightly, ''The most beautiful cat I've ever seen'' His tone was breathed out, the words flowing ever so smoothly, she scoffed jokingly, trying to keep her cool and hiding her red nose. ''Yeah right . . .'' She glanced at her paws, thinking about two small figures that plagued her vision, she knew she had to move on, she knew it, but she couldn't accept it. Artemis nudged her shoulder, ''I'm sorry for following you,'' He sounded genuine, she glanced to him. ''Its not that, don't worry,'' she shrugged, her gaze softened as she turned to him, the sunset had long gone now, but the moon shining on their back was enough to shine her fur. She exhaled, turned back to the pervious sunset. She smiled, yawning, as she tilted her head, she leaned just ever so slightly over, so she was leaning on Artemis's shoulder. She could hear his breath hitch, before he relaxed. By the time she fell into darkness, Artemis was lapping her forehead admirably.