Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Eleven

Goose led them alongside a creek, the water was cool, fresh and a relief to the cats who'd been stuck on a ship for nearly a moon. Owlflight was relieved to be outdoors again, to feel sunshine on her fur and to feel a cool breeze. The others of her group seemed to feel the same. Ginger and Bear leap and played with each other and Buzzardwing kept darting forward and leaping on leaves and splashing in the creek. Ravenleaf walked in the water, occasionally pawing at a tiny minnow or frog. Even Oakcharge was smiling and seemed content. The creek ran behind the tall fences of Twoleg nests and was surrounded by skinny trees that cast happy shadows through their leaves. Owlflight could hear prey scurry under bushes and tall grass.

"Goose?" Owlflight called to the older she cat, who stopped to stare back at her.

"Yes, sugar," the gray she cat questioned with a gentle voice. Owlflight smiled slightly.

"May we stop to hunt? It's been quite awhile since we've had fresh prey, as we've been on a ship and all.." Ravenleaf perked her ears happily, and Oakcharge seemed grateful. Buzzardwing gave an excited skip.

"Oh yes, please!" The white she cat purred eagerly. Goose chuckled.

"You young'uns go and help yourselves. We will be resting under that there bush," she pointed with her tail before limping forward and leading her brother. Captain stretched.

"Let me help ya, dearie," the old cat croaked. "Prey ain't as easy to catch in these here parts." Oakcharge laid his tail on the elderly cats back.

"Thank you for your kindness," he meowed, "But I think Owlflight wants us to get used to the area and land and that'd be easier if we all went on a patrol." Captain thought about this before nodding.

"Very well, lad. But I reckon you ought to be careful. Dangerous dogs live in these yards," he tutted before joining his mate under a broad elderberry bush. Owlflight dipped her head at her brother. No elder should have to hunt for themselves. She had half the mind to invite them to join their group, but she wasn't sure how her friends and littermates would react.

The six cats spread out around the area of the creek. Bear and Ginger settled on its bank, ready to catch some of the minnows the clear water had to offer. Ravenleaf and Oakcharge split off to the north while Buzzardwing joined Owlflight off toward the south.

"So what do you think of this new land?" Buzzardwing asked as she trotted beside Owlflight. The white she cats pelt was fluffed up in the cooler air. Owlflight tipped her head.

"I'm not sure," the mottled brown she cat replied. "The air is cool and the Twolegplace seems smaller than most back near the lake. I do wonder how far we've traveled from the lake, though, and if StarClan still watches us..."

Buzzardwing paused, fear and doubt in her gaze. Her friend merely nodded and began to sniff for prey. Buzzardwing drifted a bit away, and Owlflight lifted her muzzle, sniffing for prey. She quickly scented a squirrel, though the prey had a slightly earthier scent than the squirrels back home. Owlflight fell into a hunting crouch as she spotted her prey. Slowly, she slunk towards the squirrel, fascinated by it's grey color. She stilled as it looked up, alert. Before it could flee, she sprung at the squirrel and delivered a swift killing bite.

Owlflight caught a sparrow and a ptarmigan, as Goose had called the plump birds when Owlflight had spotted a small flock earlier. 'The birds don't often stray into townplaces,' Goose had said, 'but they sure are plump pickin's.' Honestly, the birds reminded Owlflight quite a bit of grouse. She met back up with Buzzardwing, who'd caught a mouse and sparrow, and the she cats padded back toward the group's meeting place. Both she cats, however, froze as a new voice spoke.

"Hi," a friendly mew said, "You two must be new around here!" Owlflight peered up a fence, spotting a white she cat with brown markings and light eyes. A fancy blue collar hung from her neck. A kittypet.

"We are," Buzzardwing said curtly, "And who might you be?" The white she cat seemed unimpressed by the appearance of a kittypet. Owlflight only blinked up at her curiously. The she cat landed gracefully beside them, and Owlflight pricked her ears in surprise. Usually, kittypets were fat and clumsy.

"I'm Mipha!" The she cat said, "Wow, you two sure caught lots of prey. What will you do with it?" Owlflight snorted.

"Eat it, of course," she deadpanned. Mipha blinked curiously, tilting her head.

"You eat real prey?" She asked, dismay in her voice. "Doesn't that make you sad?" Buzzardwing rolled her eyes, flicking her tail impatiently.

"Of course not. We are thankful to prey for lending us energy and hunt to feed our Clanmates. Hunting is an honor, where we come from!" Buzzardwing snapped. Mipha didn't seem to notice the other she cats growing annoyance because she jumped into another question.

"A Clan? So you must be one of those Clan cats!" The young kittypet said excitedly. "What's it like living in the wilds?" Owlflight perked her ears excitedly. This was the second cat who's heard of the nearby Clan! They must be quite a prominent Clan then...

"So you know of Clan cats then?" Owlflight asked kindly. "It's quite nice living in the wild, as you put it. It smells cleaner and is much less.. crowded, than Twolegplaces." Mipha beamed.

"That's so cool! Can I come with you then? To see this Clan for myself? That's where you are going, right?" Mipha asked excitedly. Owlflight hesitated, glancing at Buzzardwing.

"Well, you see, Mipha. Clan cats don't really approve of kittypets.. if you did come, you'd have to leave your Twolegs and collar. And really, life in a Clan can be too difficult for a kittypet like yourself." Mipha glared incredulously.

"How unfair!" She growled. "How can you just assume things for me just because I'm a house cat? I so dislike living in the house, my housefolk hardly ever let me explore... But if I were with you, I'd be free to do as I please!" She added excitedly. Owlflight sighed.

"Fine, it's your choice and I doubt I could stop you. But lose the collar," Owlflight said, "It's bad enough you reek of Twoleg without us having to hear that horrid chiming from your collar!" Owlflight glared at the little silver song stone on Mipha's collar. The kittypet giggled.

"It's a bell," she smiled, then flattened her ears in embarrassment. "Oh gosh! I never asked, but what are your names?" Buzzardwing chuckled.

"I'm Buzzardwing," the snow white she cat said with amusement.

"And I am Owlflight. Now come," she picked up her prey, "It's time we rejoined our patrol." The mottled brown she cat lead the two others toward the gathering place, and hoped her littermates would be accepting of her curious new friend. Owlflight stole a glance at Mipha, the young cat happily flicked her tail as she grappled with the removal of her collar. It snapped free and the she cat whooped in victory, earning a purr from Owlflight. She has a lot of potential, Owlflight thought, and smiled back at the she cat who had beamed brightly at her, and the group continued walking back.