Rogue (Warriors)

T H R E E

"Coming!" Alder yowled. He turned back to Coalpaw. "Listen. Tonight, at moonhigh, meet me at the river that borders the moor and the forest. Got that? I'll explain everything."

He waited for Coalpaw to agree, then raced off to the treeline where the two cats were waiting.

Alder bounded the river in one leap, landing next to the black and white shecat, who jumped. "Sorry, Violet."

"Who was that?" The old black tom asked. Alder turned to face him. "Just a loner. He didn't mean any harm. Just wanted to talk."

He rolled his eyes at the tom's disbelieving look. "Honestly, Reed. He was just curious. I invited him to come tonight."

"You what?"

All three cats turned to see a light brown tabby tom, much older than Reed, stagger forward. His pelt hung off his creaking bones like it had been draped over. Alder flinched at the raging look in his green eyes.

"Well?" Snarled the tom, facing Alder.

"I invited that tom to come visit tonight, Birch. He was curious, and said he had nowhere else to stay," Alder explained. Birch scoffed.

"How do you know we can trust him?" He snapped.

Alder held his gaze for a moment before answering. "We don't."

Birch growled and turned swiftly. Alder had to jump back to avoid his tail.

"Don't worry, Alder. Birch is still grieving," Reed reassured him, but the words were hollow.

Two moons ago, Birch's mate, Whitewing, had died of greencough. He only has his daughter, Dovewing, and her kits left. Unlike most of the rogues that had survived Squirrelflight's massacre, the two shecats had chosen to keep their clan names. Alder couldn't blame them. It was all they had left of ThunderClan now.

"I know," Alder sighed. He turned and started padding the way Birch went. After a moment's hesitation, Violet and Reed followed.

Finally, they got to the rogues' camp, which was the old Twoleg nest near the old ShadowClan and ThunderClan border. The BoneClan cats never came here often, so it was perfect for a hideout.

Birch was positioned on a large pile of debris in the corner. He wasn't the leader, but most of the rogues looked to him for guidence, considering he was the oldest cat there.

"Alder! Alder! You're back!" Three tiny voices squeaked. Alder chuckled and turned as three apprentice-sized kits raced towards them.

Cherry, a ginger and white tom, reached the returning patrol first. Behind him were his brothers Fern, a tortieshell, and Twine, a light brown tabby.

Dovewing, the kits' mother, was outside of the tunnel that led to the nursery. Alder nodded a greeting to the older cat, who purred. Silver and Coral, the two remaining shecats from her first litter, were sharing a rabbit beside her.

Like usual, Alder got down on his stomach. Cherry, Fern, and Twine hopped onto his back. The kits squealed with delight as he staggered back up and walked over to the fresh-kill pile.

Flame, one of the rogues who had joined the clan cats, padded nervously up. His brother, Apple, was behind him. Both had pain in their eyes.

"Flame. Apple," Alder meowed. He got up, the kits sliding off his backs with disappointed meows. "Is there something wrong?"

The brothers exchanged a look. Flame was the first to speak. "Our mother, Pike, was captured by BoneClan while you were gone."

Alder dipped his head in sympathy. He had known the sweet gray shecat who had helped when greencough racked the camp. "I'm very sorry. Would you like me to send a rescue party?"

Flame and Apple nodder their heads. Alder turned to Violet. "Gather three other cats. We must send out a rescue patrol for Pike." Violet's eyes widened. She nodded and raced off.

Alder sighed and looked around. The kits had finished a mouse, and were now racing over to the elders' den, where an old golden tabby tom sat.

"Lionblaze! Lionblaze! Is it true your mate joined BoneClan?" Twine asked. Alder bristled.

Lionblaze had lost his hearing due to a lightning strike that happened moons ago, so he couldn't hear the kit's questions. But that didn't mean it wasn't rude to ask.

"Alright, kits," Alder meowed. Lionblaze looked up, confusion clouding his gaze. "It's getting late. Time to go to to nests."

The kits scampered off to where Dovewing was waiting. All four cats went down the tunnel. Silver and Coral had gone to their nests on the second floor of the den.

Violet came up with Minnow and Lark, two rogue toms, and Reed. "We're ready, Alder."

Alder nodded. "Good luck," he meowed, and the party left the den.

"Where are they going?" Birch's voice came from behind him. Alder turned to see the pale tabby standing behind him, green eyes starring at the doorway of the Twolegs nest.

"Pike was captured. They're going to get her back."

Birch nodded. Alder suddenly saw how old the tom looked, and he pressed against him.

"Sometimes I wish I could talk to Squirrelflight," Birch murmered softly. Alder wondered if he was supposed to hear it. "Ask her why she did this."

Alder sighed. He wanted to tell Birch that Coalpaw had known about his father and sister. Sudden longing to see Sparkpelt crashed on his shoulders.

"You have been a wonderful leader," Birch's rumbling meow brought him back. Alder looked up with surprise.

"Leader? I never really considered myself as a... You've always seemed like leader."

Birch purred in amusement. "Oh, no. It's obvious these cats see you as their leader."

Alder didn't know what to say, so he said the first thing that came to mind. "What do you want me to do, choose a deputy?"

He meant it as a joke, but Birch's glance told him everything.

"Ohhhhh... No no no."

Birch laughed and turned back to his den under the debris. Alder stood in stunned silence.

A sudden strike of lightning lit up the den. He jumped and looked up just as rain started pouring through the holes in the roof.

"Alder! Over here!"

Alder turned and saw Coral sticking her head out of her den. He quickly raced over.

"Thanks!" He gasped, shivering. Coral purred and started to wash his soaking pelt.

Alder thought over what Birch had said. Did these cats really see him as their leader?

"Alder!"

Alder and Coral turned.

"Stay here," he muttered. Coral nodded, eyes wide, and backed up to the corner of the den, near the entrance.

Alder crept slowly over to where he thought he heard the voice. "Who's there?" He growled.

Gray eyes glowed in the bushes. "Alder! It's me! Coalpaw!"

"Coalpaw?" He had completely forgotten he had invited the apprentice.

Coalpaw slowly padded out of the bushes, earning a terrified squeak from Coral. His head snapped over to where she was. "Who's that?"

Before anyone could answer him, a shadow fell over the den. All three cats turned.

"What are you doing here?" Growled the unmistakeable voice of Flame.

"Flame I can explain-" Alder started, but Flame interrupted him with a snarl.

"He's a BoneClan cat! He took Pike!"

"Flame, relax. He didn't-"

Alder cut off his sentence in horror as Flame pounced, claws outstretched, towards Coalpaw.