Warriors: Echo of Darkness

Chapter 4

I followed Eve's lead farther North, away from all of the Clans. She was happily bounding and looking around in awe, "This will all be ours someday."

"It already is if no one challenges us, and if they do I will fight them off." I purred. I occasionally scanned the area to make sure we weren't being stalked or followed. The bright green grass rustled as we walked through it. Me and Eve chatted about Lunartail's old stories of her Clan and it got more confusing as we spoke. I looked over and saw movement across a ThunderPath as my mother called it. 

"Whose that?" Eve whispered. My eyes narrowed and I unsheathed my claws, "I don't know but they're on our territory."

"Don't hurt them if you don't have to." Eve begged.

I took a few steps forward, "Alright... follow close behind me there might be more of them." 

I watched as a monster roared by, a gust of wind ruffled my fur as it passed. I looked to see if another was coming then shoved my sister across with me. I got a better look as a scarred, brown tabby slipped through some bushes. 

"I have a bad feeling about this brother..." Eve whispered shrinking closer to me. "Before we make our territory here we need to know what we're dealing with." I replied and pressed onward.

I crouched through the bushes and my icy blue eyes widened. There were three toms circling a beaten, grey tabby tom with yellow eyes. The grey tabby had narrowed eyes, but remained calm.

"Hahaha what do we have here? Ranger I thought I told you that everyone on my land had to pay me in prey." the brown tabby cackled.

The grey tabby who I assumed was Ranger narrowed his eyes, "You don't own this land got it? How dare you tax a mother and her kittens and try to attack them when they don't have enough!"

The two let out growls and unsheathed their claws, "Can we kill him now Morgan?"

"Not yet Helm- MART WHAT DID I JUST SAY!" he snarled at the black and yellow tabby.

 "Sorry boss." he meowed dipping his head.

I narrowed my eyes, I felt my sister start to crouch more back. Morgan grabbed a long strap, it was about the size of six collars and threw it around Ranger's neck. The top gasped as Morgan's goons wrapped around the tree, "You're going to stay here and think about what you've done. I expect double.. no triple prey tax for your apology when I decide to free you."

"Y-You can't do this!" Ranger hissed struggling. 

"I will and am, don't waste your breath and obey next time!" Morgan growled then padded away with his friends laughing.

I growled and was about to run out an claw that smug look off of his face when something caught my eye. A dark brown and yellow kit with a white underbelly ran up to Ranger as the toms disappeared into the bushes. She peeked my curiosity and I motioned over at them with my tail.

"Ranger are you alright? I'm sorry if I didn't distract my mom she would have been able to pay the taxes." the kit whimpered. She dropped a mouse at his paws, "Please eat this, you haven't eaten for days."

Ranger turned his head to the side, "I don't want it, I knew what I was getting into." he growled.

"Please I caught it just for-"

Ranger flicked it out of her mouth and narrowed his eyes, "Get out of here and never come back, I mean it Riki!"

Her eyes widened and they started to water, "I'm sorry I know you hate me, I'll leave you alone..." she whimpered then darted off.