The Leaves

Chapter 5

Cricket here, so what do you admins and Russet think? Why don't you come and write a little bit? 

Nettle woke to sharp pokes to his side, he groaned and opened up one eyelid, he was instantly met by Robin, "Hey, want to go hunting?" she chirped happily.

"Hi," he groaned louder and stood up. He licked his paws and wearily wiped it over his head to flatten his messy fur. He flattened his fur and stood, "Sure, is Rascal and Newt up?"
Robin nodded eagerly and led Nettle outside, Nettle dragged his paws in the ground and stepped outside his den, instantly feeling chilly in the morning air.

"Y'know part of the reason I left the Clan was because of my sleep? I used to have a lot of nightmares and couldn't sleep? This has been my first good sleep in moons,"

"Sorry, but you promised," Rascal said playfully, his tail waving in eagerness to get going.

Nettle groaned, it was true. He wasn't going to break his promise, "Alright, Newt do these two know how to hunt?"

Newt nodded, "Methinks so,"

Nettle nodded, "Okay, we are not going to stray too far, this den is nice and we are not going to leave it, understand?"
Rascal and Robin nodded, Newt flicked her tail in acknowledgment.

Nettle looked into each of their eyes before sighing and signalling for them to follow him.

They came quick enough to creekside, Good, water is here too...

"This is where we will hunt," Nettle watched everyone dissipate into the woods around him, Newt crouched by the creek.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Nettle asked awkwardly, sitting down to watch the tall she-cat.

"Me is fishin'," Newt said dismisivly, "but it seems like no fishies are going to be swimmin' by,"

"Good luck with that," Nettle said and backed up into a thorn bush, once he couldn't see Newt he opened his jaws to taste the air.

He caught scent of a vole and quickly got into a crouch, he stalked towards it.

He followed the scent until he came to the side of the small piece of prey, he crouched down, ready to spring, but a twig snapped behind him and the vole bounced away and Nettle forced his fur to keep flat. He stood up to try and tell Rascal or Robin off, but behind him was something he hadn't expected.

"What are you doing here," he hissed, his ears pressed flat against his skull.

Behind him was a gray tabby she-cat with a strange yellowish pattern on her pelt, her bright yellow eyes burrowed into Nettle's pelt.

"S-sagerock," Nettle stuttered, his fur prickled, unsure what to say.

"Nettlebush, thank StarClan I found you," the gray tabby she-cat sighed in relief and sat down, "You look fine, the whole Clan is worried sick about you!"

"It's Nettle now, not Nettlebush. I left the Clan behind,"

Sagerock looked curiously at Nettle, "What do you mean? The Clan needs you!"

"No they don't," Nettle said firmly, "they won't miss me, they can go without a Warrior, two though? I'm not sure,"

"So you want me to leave?" Sagerock asked, hurt in her yellow eyes.

"No, that's not what I meant," Nettle sighed, "it's just that I'm not leaving where I am. It's nice here,"

Sagerock seemed a little bit embarrassed, "Well, let me try and convince you to come back,"

Nettle knew that wasn't going to happen, "Sure, you can stay here, but I won't be leaving,"

Nettle turned and began walking back to his den, he glanced back at Sagerock, she seemed a bit shocked. Nettle wasn't sure why.

"Are you coming?"