Warriors: War of the Clans - Darkness

Chapter 12

Jay stalked through the forest, ears and eyes observant for any signs of prey. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a tan flash. She narrowed her deep blue eyes, watching it dart through the bushes without a rustle. She crouched down, stalking it. She watched as the streak materialized into a cat. He was a young tom with tan fur and amber eyes. He stalked a squirrel through a bush, nearly running into Jay. Just before he pounced, Jay leaped, slashing at his flanks. The tom yelped, rolling to the ground. Jay whipped around, glaring at the tom. He stared at her, eyes wide,

"'Ey, nobody needin' to do that, now?" He had a strange speaking voice. Jay probed her mind for the right word. Accent. That's it.

"What are you doing here," Jay snarled.

"No needin' to go like that, ey lass? I'm jus' passin' through your territori'," the tom replied cautiously.

"Dreaded Night doesn't let cats pass through," Jay snapped.

"I'm jus' a fine ol' mercenary, passin' through. No needin' to get upset or anythin'."

Curiosity took her out of her attack stance. "A mercenary? What's that?"

"A merc? Well, we jus' do things for a price, lass," the merc replied.

Now it wasn't merely curiosity driving her on. "Like what?"

"Oh, well now, if yer wantin' my services, you best be havin' somethings to pay me with," the tom explained.

Jay's thoughts were like a whirlwind. If I can convince this "mercenary" to help me with Cage... Her mind filled with possibillities. "What would you need for, say, a few moons worth of service?"

The tom sat down and scratched his ear. "Well, I'd need some nice food, ey? Then, someplace to stay a night, mebbe."

Jay smiled, thinking of all the ways she could trick other cats to pay him for her. "Done," she purred. This tom would be perfect. He was small, but very fast, and his claws looked deadly. "Now about that job..."

<|............|>

Cage trotted through the forest, leading a patrol consisting of Strawberry, a dark gray she named Jade, and a black and brown tom named Dexter. They patrolled outside of the camp, straying to the creek to watch out for any suspicious animals or cats. He stared hard down both sides, just in case. He was thankful he did, for he saw a small tan tom, without the scent of Dreaded Night on him, drinking from the creek. Cage didn't stop to think why he would be upwind from a patrol of cats, but then again, Cage never stopped to do any thinking. Cage ordered his patrol to surround the tom, who was still deeply immersed in his drinking. Finally, Cage gave a commanding yowl.

"Intruder!" He snarled, taking a step towards the tom, which of course meant he was standing in the creek, "You are trespassing on Dreaded Night territory. What do you say for yourself?"

The tan tom looked up, no surprise on his face. "I'll say you're a bit slow, lad." The tom leaped, and somehow, to the Dreaded Night cat's eyes at least, became a streak of tan. Cage snarled, holding the patrol back.

"I'll get this moron," He snapped. He stepped forward, slashing at the streak. But the tom was circling Cage, too fast for the huge orange and black tom. He started blindly slashing forward, not hitting anything.

The tan cat began his assult. He darted in, slashing at parts that would cause the most pain, or blood. He never aimed for the vitals. The other cats tensed, waiting to intervene. Cage yowled with pain.

"Help me!" He screeched. The other cats leaped in, each straining to get a hold of the tom. The nimble cat barely ever aimed for any other cat. He scratched them, not badly, but never slashed at them like he did with Cage.