𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (BOOK 1) (ROS)

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 12

The brothers hunted in the nearest prey grounds with many that still remained, others rotted or disappeared all so suddenly. 

Dani remained in Red'fang's mind, but he never thought of her to roam endlessly and never coming back. She had spunk and independent thought; it was just the spark of the moment that made her want to clear her mind. He thought that this was all his fault to begin with. Though, Blaze'light grew skeptical. Bloom'moss wasn't physically there, yet they could feel her presence. Something didn't feel right, and that mindset began to brew further to both of the brothers' minds. "Don't you think there's always trouble in the air? It just takes one cat to make one happen." Blaze'light whispers to his brother, lurking in the tall grass with him in hopes of coming across a hare at least. 

Red'fang's pupils darted at his brother, he became irritated. "I'm not forcing her to come back." He retorted. "She can do so if she wants to. I have no control." His tail lashes between the grass, hitting the ground silently. His eyes were locked on an avian standing on the lowest branch close to the ground. It was a hawk, who stood there with a hard glare, as if it was observing the two brothers. "I know that." The ginger tom responded. "I hope you realize she hasn't come back since yesterday. Me and Nash was looking for her while hunting." 

"And she still hasn't picked any fights?" Red'fang takes a jab at his brother's mate, which made Blaze'light quiet for a moment. He did want to snap at him, but just from a single brief flash-back would bottle all those things into a stuffed chest. "Yeah, with me." He responds in an emotionless manner, holding his venomous remarks. Red'fang rose from the ground, his eyes growing into worry seeing his brother. "Don't be like that." He says, now forgetting about the hawk. "What were you two arguing about?" He sits down, focusing on his brother who he refused to leave him struggle like that. Blaze'light found himself hard to admit what he wanted to say next.

"She cares a lot about you more than she cares about me." 

He sits on top of the nearest rock, now staring onto the moist dirt below him. The memories unfurling from what he truly has been holding on for a long time, fading off with what was left of his love for them. "It doesn't seem like it to you, but-... the things she does or say, it weighs heavy." He looks at Red'fang showing his exposure to his own emotions. "Am I useless?" 

Those words left a void in the older loner's heart. It was something that he had known for a long-time rooting back to their earliest memories together. He hated that thought knowing that he had always been the second option when around their father. Sometimes, he was just a mere smudge on a glass window. Red'fang sighed, shaking his head with a firm look on his face. "Those thoughts can die for all I care; you were never useless to begin with." He says, now expression tensing from every moment he sees Thorn in him. "Don't let that plague your mind." 

Blaze'light could feel the thoughts lingering off, but there were still doubts. "If anything, I wish I could go back and prove myself, you know?" The wind passes by his fur, causing his ears to move subtly. The feeling of serenity being around his only kin, gave peace to Red'fang's mind. The tom would nod, now silent from their conversation, but it was a good kind of silence.

But then, something moves from the nearest bush. Blaze'light makes a sharp turn, the two brothers glaring at what moved behind them. The two began to lash their tails and unsheathe their claws in preparation for a claw-down if needed. However, the results were rather surprising. "Who goes there?" Red'fang makes a rough call to the hidden figure, who emerges behind a tree, revealed as Opal'paw. Blaze'light was still heavily defensive, whilst Red'fang stood there. There were many thoughts in all of their minds. Confusion, surprise, and curiosity. Why did she decide to come back?

"Who-... where-..." Red'fang stumbled on his words, he didn't know what to say at this point. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" He chided, his tail continuing to whip the grass. His eyes narrowing at each step the she-cat took. He didn't want to hurt her; he was mostly confused and troubled if she was there to spy on them. Opal'paw tilts her head and then lowered her form and rolled on her back. Normally, a cat would've spoked back, but this was quite odd. The two brothers weren't dumb, but they still remained confused. 

"Do you know where you are?" Blaze'light asks, his tone softening since he may have thought that she was either nervous or had trouble speaking. Opal'paw rolls onto her belly, nodding. She began to mew, her body immediately standing up and began running off. She does abruptly stop, wanting the brothers to follow. They exchange looks at one another and then trotted off to follow Opal'paw who was going to the ledge above the valley. 

That is when Red'fang sees the marching patrol cats nearing to the entrance, where the barn was located, with only Jade and Nash in it.

To add wood to the fire, there was Dani, locking eyes with him.