OwlStar's Perfection

Chapter 4

Dawn peered swept into the forest with a melodic bird song which quickly made Owl rise from his nest with a yawn. He blinked a bit before beginning to peer across the barn. He was stunned at how many cats were still asleep. All of them were tucked into their nests, not a care in the world. He was used to rising early for dawn patrols and calling meetings but they never did such. They were just rouges. Rouges who decided to seek refuge in this barn and managed to team up and become a community with little to no conflict. Owl was impressed by this. He always expected rouges to be grouchy and rude flea bags and although a small part of him still believed this his mindset had changed. They're like us with feelings, families and personalities that differed. He arose to his paws to stretch when he felt the hunger begin to tug at his stomach like a boulder being pulled by his tail. He was starving and would eat anything in that moment.

He took a few moments to look around, unfortunately there was no fresh kill pile. He sighed and reluctantly began padding at the barn door. He stood for a moment in confusion before batting his forearm to it. The door got pushed open by his paw and a large gap opened up, allowing him pass through. He opened his mouth to taste the air, his nose scrunching whilst trying to catch a scent. The scent hit him quickly after a few strolls and his ears twitched. The faint rustling could be heard from a pile of leaves only fox lengths away from him. He quietly positioned himself into the hunter's crouch, his tail resting on the ground quietly. His stomach brushed the ground before he let his claws slide out of his paws slowly. Suddenly the creature scrambled from the leaves and began speeding up ahead. Owl gave a few graceful bounds before with one leap he manages to trap the vole within his jaw. It took one killing bite to take it out before he turned and began trotting back, proud to have gotten such a clean catch

His stomach couldn't help but ache slightly. Remembering how he used to patrol the owlclan borders, hunt for his clan mates and how he knew he must have disappointed so many young cats. I didn't do anything wrong but they don't know that. They have no clue that I was framed. I can't imagine how poor Ebonypaw must have felt that night. I didn't get a chance to properly glance at him but he must have been torn. Owl lowered his ears before something caught his mind. Breezepaw is must have manipulated Treefall. She always hated me. It's no surprise that she would want me gone and Blackmask is her dad. Of course he would take her side! Owl couldn't but sink his claws into the ground, anger protruding his grief and guilt. None of this would have ever happened if it wasn't for her. She's going to regret it all deeply. There was no time left to question the prophecy, he had to figure out how he was going to face her.

I need a team. I can't protect owlclan alone.
I have to be a leader - I could be their leader. But oh crystalclan why would they want me to lead them. I have to gain their trust. I have to be helpful and prove myself worthy. Baby steps first.

"There you are, kittypet." He heard a familiar raspy voice sound from behind him as a tom crept through the undergrowth and sat down beside him. "I thought that the rouge life was too much for you and you decided to head back to your house folks." He snickered before drawing his attention to the vole hanging from Owl's jaws. "That's impressive. We've been lacking prey as plump as that. We've tried scouting beyond our borders but went too far into clan territory. We had to retreat." He sighed. Owl's ears pricked as an idea came to mind and her dropped the vole. "You know Hawk.. I'm not a kittypet. I never was. I was once in a clan, the leader of a clan." He felt the memories recoil to his head. First of him catching a moss ball and Minnowflower looking at him with a proud gaze. Then of him catching a snake when one invaded the nursery which led to him becoming a warrior early. Fast forward to Petalhollow's death and how her last words were for him to never disappoint her nor Owlclan. I haven't disappointed her, at least I hope I haven't. I've definitely disappointed Owlclan though and have to regain their trust, though I might have to fight for it. His thoughts were interrupted when Hawk cackled. "You, a leader? I might just shed a tear with how I'm laughing!" He broke into occasional chuckles with each word but Owl didn't look amused.

"I'm serious, Hawk. I led a clan called Owlclan. You said that you guys were struggling with prey, correct?" Hawk hesitated, twitching his tail before muttering.
"What are you trying to say?" Owl got to his paws and mewed eagerly. "Owlclan territory had a lifetime amount of prey. Each time you walked out of camp a robin basically flew into your paws. I talking that many!" Hawk's gaze straightened. "Woah, Woah woah. I never implied that we are starving. Our land has enough prey to stop us from complaining too much. I'm just saying that we could do with some more-" "And more you shall get if we just take their territory." Owl pleaded. Hawk hesitated, not daring to meet his gaze.
"So how exactly? Are you going to meet up and make a deal with them to split half of it?"
Owl couldn't help but snort. "You're kidding? No clan would give up even a fraction of their territory willingly." "Why wouldn't they? If they had this lifetime amount of prey that you've been boasting about then I'm sure they could spare a bit of it." That's how it should work. Once I'm leader again I'll give all beggars a chance to seek refuge in Owlclan camp which will give us an amazing reputation.

"I wish that was how clans work but it isn't."
"Then what is your plan?" Hawk snapped, his tail twitching in worry. "We're going to fight for it. We'll drive them away and take all of it-" "Are you insane? You want my cats, well fed, peaceful and facing no difficulties to leave our home and fight for a territory we've never stepped foot in, if you think I was even going to consider that then you were incredibly wrong. We are fine here. If you aren't then feel free to go back to your clan, Owl. "Hawk leapt to his paws and bounded off, his steps sounding more and more faint before Owl growled. Of course he would refuse! He has a point though. I can't leave, This is the closest thing I have to a home, I can't just give it up. I'll go and apologize for being so foolish.