The Leaves

Chapter 2

'tis Russet!

"You had that one, Nettlebush! What's gotten into your head? Stay focused!" Stormspot hissed as a mouse scampered from the tom's grasp.

Mumbling a quick apology, Nettlebush copied the mouse and skittered away from Stormspot.

WindClan hardly attacks us, they seem nice . . . He thought as he padded across the territory. With ShadowClan's past and rumors, I could never step foot there . . . and I refuse to put a single hair of mine in RiverClan's river! Fish eating freaks!

And I definitely can't stay in ThunderClan. I can't stay here at all.

Maybe . . .

Maybe . . .

Maybe it's best if I leave the clans altogether.

Nettlebush glanced over his shoulder, making sure no cat was nearby to see him as he paused to ponder the quickest route out of the forest.

* * *

Silence trailed behind the cat as sunlight blinded his eyes.

Finally out of the woods.

Free.

Away from the cats who cared about nothing but invisible walls.

Away and free.

Nettlebush found himself sprinting away from the forest, the warm new-leaf air rushing through his ears.

Away, away, away.

Free, free, free.

Those two words pulsed through the tom's head as he ran.

His muzzle collided with a crack. Nettlebush yowled as he backed away. A trickle of blood dripped down the side of his mouth. Coughing, the tom spit out one of his teeth. With his stomach churning, he turned away with his throbbing mouth.

"Must'a hurt."

Nettlebush's head whipped around to see a plump black kittypet.

"You must be one of those thoughtless creatures from the woods. Always killing, killing, killing. Huh. Well, no need to kill me! I have no desire to be dead. I just want better food. Those pellets the Housefolk feed me, oh, disgusting. Horrible stuff. But, a cat must eat, so I do. Anyway, buddy, who are you?"

"Might just ask you the same question," Nettlebush said, sitting down. He did not fear the tom, nor did he with to fight. Might as well talk. "I'm . . . " He stopped. He certainly didn't want to be called Nettlebush. No, not a warrior cat name.

"C'mon buddy, who are ya?"

"Nettle. They call me Nettle." The tom sighed.

"Rascal. Nice to meet you, Nettle."

Nettle nodded.

"Where ya off to? You seem in quite a hurry." Rascal questioned.

"I don't know. Just want to get away from the warriors." Nettle confessed.

"Is that what you call yourselves? Warriors? Seem to feral and skinny to label yourselves warriors." Rascal snickered.

"Couldn't put it better," Nettle meowed. "Before you ask, I left because I hated the way they lived."

"I was just about to ask that. Thanks for saving me the breath," Rascal chirped. "Anywho, can I come with? You'll need some company along the way!"

"I--" Nettle began.

"Oh, you're going to say no, so I'll stop you right there and come along anyway. I really want to see some new sights, maybe give my existence a meaning."

"Oh. Well, I guess I don't have a choice, so come along." Nettle said, standing up. The tom turned around, and began walking away from the forest once again.

____
Rascal is my child