As Smudge left the fence after his friend was out of sight, Smudge had a very bad feeling of what would happen when he would go back inside. With hesitance, he went in through the hole Rusty always used to sneak out.
"Smudge," yowled Scarlet, another house cat. She adores fantasies and love stories; but what always harsh towards himself when Smudge wasn't with Rusty.
"Yes, Scarlet?" He asked. "Where is Rusty? You know what will happen when the house folk sees he is gone." She unsheathed her claws angrily.
"H-He went into the wild," answered Smudge shyly. "And you just LET HIM?!" asked Scarlet.
"I couldn't stop him-"
"He'll die in there! You killed him, Smudge! He was the house folk's favorite! He was the only reason they even liked you! Well... you know what they say. When the cat's away..." Scarlet unsheathed her claws.
"...the mouse will play," Smudge gulped.
He was instantly thrown aside by the other house cats. Thrown into the sofa, Smudge groaned weakly but didn't have a chance to stagger to his feet as another house cat, Susie, scratched him on the eye and bit his ear.
"Ow!!!" yowled Smudge, his eye dripping with blood as he was forced to close it. "Ow..." he whimpered, his ears ducking as the house folk came.
"Rusty, time to play!" sang the kit. She looked and saw the house cats bullying Smudge. "Where's Rusty?" She ran on her tiny two legs to the four house cats.
Susie gestured to Smudge, who's left ear and eye dripped with blood. The kit gasped. "Mom, Dad, Smudge killed Rusty!" She cried, and the larger house folk came along to see.
"Smudge, what have you done?!" Smudge tried to mew desperately, but they couldn't understand him as the female grabbed his collar, ripped it in half and threw him outside.
"You get what punishment you deserve, villain!" hissed the male as they closed the door on him.
Smudge sobbed uncontrollably, the blood blending into his tears. Seeing his reflection in the bloody tear puddle, he sighed.
"Rusty... I'm so sorry. I should've never let you go."
'The Wildcats probably killed him, they were lying to him' guessed Smudge. 'Oh Rusty... how could you be so naive?'
He ran into the wild: the exact place he warned Rusty to not go. Tears, fresh on his cheeks, flew into the wind. 'What have I done?! I killed him!' Smudge thought, skidding to a stop as he started sobbing quietly upon a tree stump.
"Well, well, well...what Pussycat do we have here?" Smudge turned around and gasped.
"Tiny?!" Smudge gasped.
He was familiar with this black cat; the runt of his litter, two blocks away from his and Rusty's garden. They were the bestest of friends, indeed. However, Tiny was confirmed to be dead a long time ago.
"We thought you were dead. The house folk... your mom, your siblings-" started Smudge. "-don't miss me. I know they were lying." scoffed Tiny.
"And the name's not Tiny anymore." A bunch of wildcats surrounded Tiny. Smudge observed each and every one of the wildcats and searched for Rusty among them.
There was no sign of the orange tabby, and his scent had gone cold.
"It's Scourge now. Call me Tiny and well... you don't want to mess with BloodClan." challenged Scourge. "BloodClan?" repeated Smudge confused as his ears pinned back against his head in fear.
"My new family, aren't they beautiful?" Scourge giggled evilly. Smudge flinched. It was only two weeks ago that Scourge was the shy, timid Tiny he once knew- but something about what he said sounded less than cheerful.
"We start as strays, then we move into the forest," Scourge examined him up and down. "Where are the house folk?"
"They... abandoned me. Because Rusty left to join the wildcats," Smudge finally spoke in what seemed like hours. "They thought I killed him."
Scourge's eyes glimmered. "Would you like to get revenge?" asked Scourge. Smudge sighed. "Yes, I would."
"Join BloodClan."
Smudge thought about it. Is he really meant for any clan in general? Even to get revenge on his old friend for leaving him? Smudge decided to take the risk.
"I accept your offer, Scourge," he said finally.
Scourge grinned at this answer. "Very well, then, your new name shall be... Claw."
Hearing the wildcats cheer his name made Smudge's pride ascend. He wasn't Smudge anymore. He wasn't the lame house cat who would hide in fear of something as small as the wild.
He wasn't Smudge anymore.
He was Claw.
And he was ready for the time when he would reunite with Rusty.
YOU ARE READING
The Friend I Left Behind
Action(Before you read, I just want you to know that I know very little about the Warrior Cats. So if you want to give me any corrections, please let me know) "Who attacked me?" Fire'Heart thought as he had been pushed to the ground by a familiar cat. As...
