City of the Adrift // A Warrior Cats Tale

Chapter Two

The she-cat sighed softly, her breath creating a small cloud before her. A light wind tugged at her flank.

"I'm sure Chandler is enjoying his warm, heated home right about now," she muttered, almost talking to herself. Another chilly breeze blew at her side as she walked down the pathway.

It's been a few sunrises since the she-cat left Chandler. She was astounded by how cold it was outside, and it took all her strength not to run back to his warm shelter. I can't turn back now, she thought, her head hung low. With each pawstep, another cold wind passed by. She shivered.

As the she-cat continued walking, she heard a faint cry from down the alley beside her. Her ears immediately perked up at the sound. She then glanced at the narrow path between the Twoleg buildings to see three toms surrounding a small, black cat.

The she-cat dashed to the other side of the wall right before one of the toms turned over his shoulder. She sighed in relief. Leaning against the brick wall, the she-cat turned her ears to hear the faint conversation.

"I told you, I don't know where Bengal is!" The black cat cried, shuffling around nervously.

The tom to the left sneered. After looking for the larger cat in the middle and getting a nod of approval, he slashed across the she-cat's cheek. "We know you know where he is," he snarled, flicking the blood off his claws. The she-cat gritted her teeth, a small drop of blood dripping from her cheekbone. "Rumor says you were the last to see him before he decided to disappear. Now talk," he growled, holding his paw up with unsheathed claws, "before I do more than a simple scratch to your face."

The black cat turned back to the tom, her eyes wide and innocent. "Just accept the fact that Bengal isn't here anymore!" she cried. "He didn't tell me where he was going, or why he was leaving, so please, leave me be!"

"Wrong answer!" The tom roared, clawing the black she-cat's ear. She screeched in pain, her claws digging deep into the dusty earth. The two tom's beside the attacker glanced at each other, their faces unchanging.

The she-cat hiding behind the wall jumped out and ran toward the attacker. "Leave that cat alone!" she called, her anger boiling over her. The three toms turned to her, their eyes wide with shock.

At this moment, the she-cat realized she had no idea what she was doing. Being a tail length away from the toms, she hissed, flicking her tail angrily. "You... You stay away from her! I've got friends who could really hurt you, so stay back!"

Both of the smaller cats, including the attacker, glanced at each other warily. When they both looked back, the she-cat stepped forward intimidatingly, growling softly.

"And who are you?" the attacker snarled, looking her up and down. "I don't think I've ever seen you around here before." 

Before Amber could defend herself, blood rushing to her cheeks, the large tom sighed pathetically. "I didn't think we were getting information out of this measly brat anyhow," he muttered. Turning to his comrades, he nodded them off. "Go catch up with the rest of the patrol."

"Yes, sir," they meowed in sync before walking down into the alley. The larger tom shook his head angrily, then looked back at the she-cat. 

"Farewell, stranger," he called off, followed by a demonic snear across his face. "The next time you see me you won't be so lucky." Amber stiffened, gazing at him with a mix of anger and fear.

The she-cat ran up to the black she-cat once the tom had left. "I hope they didn't hurt you too bad. What's your name?"

It took a moment for the black cat to muster up the words. "It's Night," she meowed. "I think I'll be okay. I've seen those cats do worse to others."