(✓) Warriors ▸ Shadows of the Domestic [1]

16 | family found

As I walked at Firepaw's side through the whispering grass, I noticed Ravenpaw lagging behind, his silhouette slightly blurred in the dusk. I glanced over my shoulder, concern knotting in my chest, but before a word could escape my lips, Tigerclaw's voice, harsh as a winter gale, shattered the quiet. "Oi, get your paws moving, apprentice!" he barked.

I bristled, my fur prickling in indignation. How dare he speak to Ravenpaw with such disregard? Can he not see he's weary? Yet, these thoughts remained locked behind my fangs; Tigerclaw was a senior warrior, his authority like a stone wall high and cold, and I was but an apprentice, my voice a mere echo in his presence.

Swallowing my protest, I tried to soothe the storm within me. I paced deliberately, allowing Ravenpaw to slip ahead, seeking a semblance of peace under the shadowy boughs. Just as we skirted past an ancient fence, veiled in ivy and secrets, a figure burst forth, a sudden blur against the stillness.

Our hearts leapt into our throats, but before any of us could spring forward, Bluestar's presence unfolded like calm waters. Her fur lifted gently in the breeze as she spoke, "Barley, it's nice to see you," her greeting soft as falling snow, melting the tension from the air.

The black-and-white tom, Barley, responded with a nod, his face breaking into a warm, familiar smile. "Bluestar, hey. Is everything alright?" His eyes then roamed curiously over us, and when his gaze settled on me, a peculiar thrill tingled through my paws.

"Hare? Is that you?" he inquired, his voice a mix of surprise and curiosity.

I blinked, tilting my head, the forest light casting shadows that danced around us. "Do I know you?" I asked. The words floated between us, delicate as dandelion seeds. "Also, my name is Harepaw."

The tom cat, Barley, smiled warmly, his laughter a soft chuckle that rustled like dry leaves. "Yeah, I guess you do now. You were so little," he reminisced, his gaze twinkling with the glow of old memories.

Bluestar, her fur shimmering under the waning light, let out a gentle sigh. "We will leave you to it," she declared, waving her tail towards Tigerclaw, Ravenpaw, and Firepaw. "Come on, you three. We must let Harepaw have a meeting with her kin."

I blanched, a sudden realization dawning on me. Right, Silvermist had mentioned that my father's name was Barley, and that he was a loner, a farm cat of sorts. My heart fluttered, a mix of anticipation and surprise bubbling within. I guess I'm meeting him earlier than I thought.

"Will you come with me? I'm sure you and your friends are tired," Barley suggested, his voice carrying a lilt of familial warmth. He glanced towards Bluestar, who had led the others a few paces ahead. She paused and exchanged a look with Tigerclaw, but the senior warrior's expression remained as impenetrable as frost. "For all I care, go ahead," he grumbled, his tone gruff, like the rasp of stone on stone.

Barley smiled warmly and waved his tail, beckoning with a friendly flick. "Come on then," he said, padding toward the fence. With a nimble leap, he vaulted over it and, upon landing deftly on the other side, waved to us again with an encouraging flick of his tail. "Come on!"

I glanced at Firepaw, then took a running start and leaped over the fence, the wind rushing past my ears as I sailed through the air. Firepaw, Ravenpaw, and Tigerclaw followed suit, each clearing the barrier with varying grace. Bluestar, leaping as gracefully as a swan, joined us last, and a sense of awe filled me. I'm lucky to have such an honorable leader, I thought as she landed smoothly.

We followed Barley toward a large red barn, the structure massive and looming as it caught the fading light of the day. The air around us was rich with the scent of mice, the aroma swirling tantalizingly, promising a hearty chase. "Go ahead and catch some mice, there are plenty enough," Barley said as we entered the barn. Ravenpaw and Firepaw shared a look before both dived into the expanse before us, eager to explore and hunt.