Warriors An Awaiting Dawn: A Doused Star

Chapter 8

A paw prodding Viper Strike in the side roused her from her sleep. She lifted her head. Violet Leaf purred. "Come on you slow slug! Speckle Leap came back with mice for morning's meal time!" The black and orange she-cat purred. Magnolia was seen grooming herself. She seemed happier to be with them. She followed after them. "Good morning!" She mewed. "Good morning Magnolia." Violet Leaf purred. Speckle Leap dropped a mouse. Wolf Fur pads over with a plump rabbit. "All of this food is going to keep us fed for days." He meowed. Viper Strike bit into a juicy mouse. Grass Shadow looked up into the trees. The sun shone down giving it's bright glow.
"So now that we're a group?" Violet Leaf asked purring.
"We need to protect ourselves. We don't want to make ourselves prey for the things that are out there. Or easy targets for rival cats. Viper Strike, Magnolia, prepare nests." Grass Shadow told them. The two she-cats padded to search for nesting material for themselves and their new group mates.
"Rue can make sure we're not seen by any threats. She knows the forest like the back of her paw right?" The green eyed she-cat looked to her.
"Yep." Rue replied and padded into a bit of underbrush.
"Want to go hunting again?" Violet Leaf asked. Wolf Fur yawned. "I'm kind of tired." He replied. A bird chirped overhead. Paws sounded. The black tom's ears pricked and his claws unsheathed from his white paws. It looked like a small group of their groupmates. Wolf Fur identified Dapple Spots, Weasel Spot, Gray Sky, Little Ear, and Gorse Feather.
"Dad." Wolf Fur mewed as the black and white mottled tom drew near to give him a nuzzle, his chin brushing across his head for a moment. "How are you holding out on your own out here son? You're protecting you and your sister aren't you?" He asked, sounding a mother to her kits.
"I'm protecting Violet Leaf too. We protect each other." Wolf Fur meowed, pressing close to black and ginger she-cat.
"Well well, are we in the witness of the makings of a miracle?" Gorse Feather teased purring. Wolf Fur and Violet Leaf blinked at each other. "What?" They mewed at the same time.
"Don't think just because we're older than you, you can play little games." Gray Sky told them as he mrowed with laughter.
"This'll make great nests for us." Meowed Viper Strike coming back with springy tangles of moss and lush leaves with Magnolia beside her. "Dad.." Viper Strike mewed. Weasel Spot padded over and nuzzled his daughter.
"So? This is where you're staying?" Dapple Spots meowed curiously.
"Yep!" Violet Leaf purred. Gorse Feather tipped her head to one side. "Who's that?" She asked flicking her tail to their gray and white companion.
"This is Magnolia." Wolf Fur mewed.
"Nice to meet you Magnolia." Gorse Feather purred sweetly, dipping her head. The gray and white she-cat smiled. "Likewise." She replied. "Well we best get back to the camp. Fish Scar worrying about us like Eagle's Speck and her little ones. Can't have that can we?" Little Ear mewed, his tick tabby pelt glowing as the shone shone on his back with warmth as they all padded away and back to their camp.

Night fell and all of the cats of the small group were dozing. Viper Strike was pressed close to Rue. Magnolia was looking up to the sky and the moon was full. Suddenly, Viper Strike opened one eye to see Magnolia no longer there. Maybe she left to go make dirt The ginger tabby she-cat flicked her ears. The gray and white she-cat's tail faded among the underbrush. Viper Strike prodded Wolf Fur with a paw. The tom grumbled and nestled up close to Violet Leaf. Would she have to do this on her own?
A body shifted, fully awake, she whirled around to see Rue on her paws. "You want to follow her don't you?" The brown and white she-cat asked.
"Is that wrong?" Viper Strike whispered. Rue blinked. "Up to you to figure that one out." She replied.
Viper Strike slowly talked into the foliage following Magnolia's scent.