The Surviving Few (Warrior Cats)

Chapter six - the watcher and his admirer

Raindrop was surprised to find she had, in fact, fallen asleep. She was even more surprised to see a muscular tom sitting some tail-lengths away, watching as the sun rose, painting the sky in pretty pinks, yellows and oranges. It shone very brightly today. He attempted to scramble away as he realized Raindrop had woken, but it was too late. His sudden movement seemed to have woken the rest of the group as well. Ryespring opened his eyes rather slowly, then pushes himself to his paws beside her, eyeing the stranger cautiously. Leafwillow padded over to stand beside Raindrop. Honeydusk rose, though remained at Poppypaw's side. The SkyClan apprentice slept on.

"Have you been watching us?" Raindrop pressed. She did not need an answer; the tom avoided her gaze, replying without words. His uncomfortable posture spoke for him.

What surprised her the most, however, was the sun that shone brightly down at them. The rain had stopped finally.

Leafwillow approached the stranger cautiously.

"Are you a Clan cat?" she asked. The stranger bristled. "Is that not obvious? I just stood guard for you because these two warriors couldn't stay awake for one night and I couldn't leave you unguarded, not with rogues free on our territory. Is that rogue behavior to you?"
He empathized the word warriors as he spoke of Raindrop and Ryespring. Yes, she though, we fell asleep. There's no need for you to make it a bigger deal than it already is.

"I never claimed you were a rogue," said Leafwillow, apologetic. "I was simply asking a question. I don't recall ever seeing you at gatherings, however, so I suppose that's why I would need to ask such a thing." There was nothing even remotely aggressive in her voice. Still, the tom lashed his tail in anger, his fur standing on end.

"I've been there. My warrior name was announced last moon, too, so surely you picked up on that?"

Honeydusk's eyes widened slightly at this, as if she had realized something. She then shook her head, held out a paw, licked it, then drew it over her cream head. The sun shone down at her, lighting up her pelt. Raindrop though she looked kind of beautiful in the glow.

"I was at camp watching over my injured clanmates last moon. I missed the gathering. Goldenstar-" Leafwillow's fur bristled slightly at the mention of her leader's name, though why, Raindrop could not know, "-explained my disappearance, I'm sure."

"Well, okay, then. Why should I care, though? Actually, I think I will go. You lot clearly don't want me here. Good-bye."

"Go on, then. See how long you survive alone in a land full of rogues. I suspect you could fight them with your tongue if you wanted."

Raindrop stifled a purr of laughter. Though she tried her best to keep still, stay neutral, she had to admit Leafwillow made a good point. She had no interest in fighting, however, so she kept quiet.

But just as the tom turned to leave, Poppypaw rose suddenly to her paws. Honeydusk looked rather frightened.

"Sharpsight!" Poppypaw called. Raindrop thought her voice sounded kind of hoarse. "No, wait! Don't go!"

Sharpsight turned once again, his eyes widened, his black fur ruffled. "What?" Though he was still trying his best to sound dismissive, there was something new in his voice, something warm, something that sounded suspiciously much like relief.

Poppypaw left Honeydusk, hurrying toward Sharpsight. "If you go, you'll be killed," Raindrop heard her say. She thought she heard, "I've survived alone since the second blow... why shouldn't I, now?" but was not entirely sure she had got it correctly. Why would Sharpsight have been surviving alone since the second blow? It made no sense.

Poppypaw leaned in to whisper something in Sharpsight's ear. Raindrop caught, "It's not the same now... no... but we need you... I need you..." It must have been quite the convincing speech, as Sharpsight announced, "I will stay with you, if you intend to let me." He then went on to glare at Leafwillow. Leafwillow dipped her head in return, already recovered from their earlier argument. "Of course," she mewed."We're stronger together."