The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

55. Left Without

     Palemist did not slow for anything. Even when his legs ached, and fresh blood soaked into his fur from his neck and shoulders, he continued sprinting. His thoughts raced, but he could not quite grasp what was happening. All he knew was that his heart was pounding and his blood roared in his ears. 
     He fell into a walk once he knew he was near the border. It was like a dream, everything around him blurred slightly. The Clan had been so quick to judge harshly, and he had been unable to speak. Ashtail was dead, and they blamed him.  
     He leaned against a tree, ready to retch. It felt as though maggots were squirming inside his belly while claws raked his chest as he gasped for air. Had they really done it? Had they cast him out? He prayed it was a nightmare.  
     But it wasn’t. He was standing by the border, aching all over, on the verge of sobbing. He’d never broken down like this. No matter how hard he breathed, it seemed that no air filled his lungs. His legs quaked.  
     Where do I go? I can’t stay here. Do I go to another Clan? Twolegplace? He sank his claws into the grass, trying to steady himself. No Clan would accept me. Not if they believed Patchback’s lie. There’s nowhere but twolegplace. Or north of the forest. There’s nothing east or west. The idea of such a long trek made him queasy. North’s too far.  
     I’ll go to twolegplace. The rogues will tear me apart, but there’s not many other ways I can go.  
     Palemist pushed onward. Every step made him huff. He crossed the border and forced himself through the woods. In time, he entered the field that separated the forest from the twolegplace. Monsters rushed along the stone path. Their reek burned Palemist’s nose as he approached. He looked both ways before crossing, running across. His pads burned, and he crawled into the nearby ditch and settled into the grass. 
     I’m alone. The full realization was like being crushed by a boulder. I have no Clan. I’m alone and have no home. There’s nothing. 
     Broken, he curled into a ball, wishing he could sink into the grass and become one with the dust.  

     A loud noise made Palemist leap to his paws. Pain rippled through him. He grunted and fell back, whimpering. Just a monster. Panic blocked his throat. Where am I? 
     Oh. 
     Palemist looked to the sky, almost expecting it to be black. The stars shone as brightly as ever, yet brought no comfort. He felt more alone now, out in the open with nothing to protect him. He had no Clanmates around him. No den. No nest. 
     Stop feeling pitiful for yourself. 
     He forced himself to stand. Thunder grumbled nearby, causing him to jump. The last thing I need is rain. He leaped out of the ditch. I need to find shelter. 
     He shivered as raindrops fell onto him, starting slow and then pouring down. Cold enveloped him, and the grass under his paws squelched. He jumped onto the rock path and followed a fence.  
     Navigating gave him a headache. A monster roared by, and water flew in all directions, dousing him with grit and cold. Palemist startled, and he dashed down the path and ducked through a hole in a nearby fence. I have to find shelter! I can’t stay here with the open sky! 
     “Get out of my yard!” A black and white-chested kittypet snapped. Palemist froze and backed away. 
     “Wha-“ 
      “Get out!” She repeated, bristling. She stood on a rock slab by the entrance of the twoleg den. “Shoo!” 
     Palemist stared at her in disbelief. He scrambled back the way he came and looked around frantically. His chest ached, and he felt dizzy. Another wave of slimy water was thrown at him by another monster. He could still hear the kittypet’s angry voice. 
     He took a deep breath and sunk his claws into the nearest patch of grass, feeling for the earth amongst the river of stone. Everything was loud. A dog was barking in the distance. Rain pattered on the strange twoleg roofs. The grass beneath his paws was coarse. 
      Stop panicking! Stop panicking! It’s okay. You’re okay. Everything is okay. 
     What in StarClan’s name is wrong with me? I’m shaking like a leaf! 
     “Hey!” 
     Another kittypet! Palemist looked up to see a black tom, much like the she-cat who had shouted at him. “I’m going!” He answered. 
     The kittypet shook his head. “Come here. Let’s get you cleaned up and dry. You’ve got blood crusted on you! It’s draining onto the sidewalk!” 
     Palemist stared at the cat and hesitantly slipped back through the fence. He guessed that the tom and she-cat were kin. The female sneered. “What’s he doing back here?” 
     “He needs help, Cotton. Leave him alone,” the tom chided, flicking his tail. “Come here!”  
     Palemist avoided the kittypet’s gaze, following him under the twoleg den. It was dark but dry, with spider webs reaching from the corners.  
     “I dragged an old blanket here a little while ago. You can sleep on it.” 
     Palemist studied the strange nest. He pawed at it. It’s soft. 
     “Clean yourself up! I’ll bring you some chicken,” the kittypet said. “My name’s Mellow, by the way.” 
     Chicken? “Okay,” Palemist mewed.  
     When Mellow left, he twisted and began to groom himself. Every lick made him feel sick as he tasted the salt of his own blood and the grime of the disgusting thunderpath water. Tired, he stopped. He would finish after he properly rested. 
     A white chunk fell in front of Palemist’s paws. He stared at the strange hunk. “What is this?” 
     “Chicken,” Mellow purred, sitting down. “My housefolkfix it. It’s pretty good. It’s a bird.” The kittypet made a surprised mrr sound. “You still have all kinds of blood on you! I can help. You can’t let your shoulders get infected.” 
     Palemist blinked at the cat gratefully. “Thank you. I’m sorry to be a bother.” 
     “No bother!” Mellow chirped. “Eat! You look wretched.” 
     Palemist hesitated, studying the strange food. It’s wrong to eat food from a twoleg. But I’m not a Clancat anymore. His throat closed up, and he forced himself to sink his teeth into the dry meat. 
     “I’m going to go tell Cotton that you’ll be staying. She’s my sister. You’ve already met her,” Mellow explained. “She’s not usually so grumpy.” 
     Palemist swallowed his bite and twitched his whiskers. “I was trespassing. I deserved it.” 
     “You sound like you just lost your will to live!” Mellow mewed. 
     Didn’t I? The Clan was all I had. 
     “Stop sulking and finish that. I’m not leaving until every bit of that chicken is gone. Then, you’re going to get some rest, and I’ll clean your wounds. Otherwise, I’ll step on your tail.”  
      “Thank you,” Palemist croaked. He took another bite. The meat had no flavor to him, and it did nothing but make him feel heavier. Still, Mellow stared at him with insistent green eyes. 
     When he finished the chicken, he licked his lips and slipped into the blanket nest. It sunk under him, and he settled into it. It’s like moss.