Warriors An Awaiting Dawn: The First Trial

Chapter 16

It was still dark as Viper Strike sat outside the den of Pigeon Talon and Rue. She couldn't believe her brother had gotten hurt while hunting outside of the camp's boundaries. She was comforting a distressed Violet Leaf. "He'll be okay. I know it." She mewed reassuringly. Rue stepped out of the den. "His injuries are that bad. Just scratched up.. he almost lost blood." She replied. Viper Strike curled her claws in the snow. Pinecone would pay for this. No one attacked her brother without answering to her. Ginger Foot gently licked her ear. "Wolf Fur will be okay." He meowed reassuringly. Gray Sky unsheathed his claws. "We showed them what for once, now let's do it again!" He yowled in rage. Little Ear opened his mouth to speak, but the snowy camp entrance rustled. Nettle walked into the camp, blood on her paws. Viper Strike's eyes widened in shock. Little Ear blinked and saw the she-cat walk in. "Nettle..?" He asked. The she-cat's tail drooped, but her eyes hid rage within their depths. "I killed Pinecone." She mewed. The gathered cats all blinked in shock. Little Ear's expression was shocked as well, then, he settled himself. "What you have done was commendable." He mewed. The gray she-cat blinked and bowed to the tom. "Thank you." She meowed, grateful for the praise for her deed.
"Wolf Fur's awake!" Rue yowled. The cats all crowded outside the den of the two healing she-cats. The young black tom rose to his white paws. The group watched as the tom slowly move. Viper Strike suddenly realized that she was holding her breath in anticipation and relaxed herself. "You're okay." She mewed. Wolf Fur panted. "It's going to take more than a few rogues to get me down." He meowed, lifting his chin. Violet Leaf nuzzled him happily. The young she-cat had been by his side every since that he was down and found in the forest. Nettle slowly made her way over. Wolf Fur stared at her through wide eyes. "Did you... join Pinecone?" He asked. His camp-mates stared in shocked silence. Little Ear walked over. "Wolf Fur, what are you talking about? She killed Pinecone." He meowed. The young tom kept his gaze on a now fearful Nettle. "She was with Pinecone and that kittypet when I went off to hunt by myself earlier." He replied. The gray she-cat seemed to be shaken out of her fear. "But I killed him for you, all of you.." she whimpered. "Pinecone means nothing to me now. My fear is gone now that I killed him. Isn't that something?" She looked at each cat. They didn't look angry nor did they look confused. Taking in her words, until Wren tottered over. "She's right!" She squealed. Curly Branch joined her. "Yeah! Nettle is a hero! We only have the wolves to deal with now!" She agreed. Wolf Fur blinked at the little cats and their determination to stand for Nettle who saved not only his life, but the lives of his Clanmates from what could have been more torment plus the wolves. No cat could even think about going outside with the wolves about.
"Nettle, you have proven that you are one of us. Welcome to your new home." Little Ear mewed.