Hawkstar's Story

Part 4

(A/N OK so I don't know how many people read these but here I go. Thanks for reading my story so far, and maybe read some of my others? I dunno! Before I go on with the story, I want to post a quote I heard the other day that I can't get out of my head. I don't know who said it, sadly, but it was so awesome that I had to spread the message, so here it is.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those that mind, don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

Pretty much saying to be who you are, no matter what the people around you think/say, because if they point you out for speaking your mind, just walk right on pass them. Don't worry about what other people say.)

I am not sure when, exactly, I fell asleep, only that I did. I had been watching over the stranger for ages now, waiting for Shaderoar to come back from the meeting, but it was taking him a while. At first, cats had come and gone, watching the strange cat, hoping to be the first one to see him wake up. They all left eventually. Nightsnow stayed the longest, only leaving when I demanded he got some rest.

Sighing, I watched the cat for any sign on movement. I desperately wanted to get some rest, but Shaderoar trusted me to keep watch. My mind was preoccupied at first, and I didn't notice it right away. When I didnotice, however, it took me a moment to register. But- yes, it was obvious now- the strange cat was waking up.

At first it was just a twitch of an ear, the slightest flick of his tail, but soon I could see that he was trying to wake up. I ran over to his side and cautiously poked him with my nose. Maybe not the best move ever, but honestly I didn't know what to do.

He let out a soft groan and, very slowly, blinked opened his eyes.

He sorta just stared at me for a minute. It felt sorta awkward, because our faces were really close together, so I pulled back and looked away.

"Ugh..." The strange cat looked around the medicine den, as if trying to take everything in, them continued, "Where... Am I? Am I... dead...?" He hesitated at every word, as if making sure he said just the right word, or maybe because he was still hurt. And me, being the expert at awkward moments, muttered something about Stoneclan under my breath before turning and sprinting as fast as possible to Snakestar's den. (A/N If you can't tell, I was being sarcastic)

Without pausing, I rushed directly into her den while she, Shaderoar, and some of our more seasoned warriors in deep conversation. As soon as I busted in, all conversation stopped and everyone turned to me. Suddenly embarrassed at having so many cats looking at me and told them the news as quickly as possible.

"He's awake..." As soon as the words left my mouth, Snakestar was telling everyone to stay in her den and left with Shaderoar. Unsure of what to do, I followed. I padded slowly out of the den, as if I was waiting for someone to tell me to do something, but when nobody said anything I walked into the Medicine Cat den.

Shaderoar was busily checking up on the stranger, asking him if anything hurt or if he needed anything. The stranger, still slightly dazed, simply looked at Shaderoar in confusion, squinting his eyes and tilting his head as if trying to focus on a hard question. (A/N OK so can you imagine that? A cat laying down, sorta just looking at this other cat with an expression on his face as if he were wondering WTH was wrong with him, whilst squinting his eyes and tilting his head. Remember to add the biggest WTF face on the cat laying down. I am sorry but in my mind it looks utterly ridiculous. BACK TO THE STORY!)

Finally, the stranger replied, "I'm fine." He looked as if he was deciding to ask Shaderoar if he was OK, (remember Shaderoar is running around like an idiot at this point) which I found hilarious. Shaderoar noticed it, too, and shot an angry glance at the Stranger. Meanwhile, Snakestar is sitting in the corner, trying to look as serious as possible while Shaderoar acted like an idiot.

Finally, Snakestar said, "Shaderoar, he is fine. I would like to have a word with the stranger, if I may." Straight down to the point, as usual. Shaderoar blinked a couple of times before quickly jumping back to let her talk to the cat. Our Mediciene cat was alot younger that most mediciene cats, as mediciene cats often didn't have to fight and therefore exposed to less dangers, they rarely had to worry aboit getting hurt. But our previous Medicine Cat, Quailgrass, had been attacked by dogs while searching for herbs, leaving yoiung Shaderoar alone to care for the clan. Luckily Willowpaw became Mediciene Cat Apprentice, so Shaderoar didn't have to teach all alone. Just thinking about Quailgrass made me feel worse, as his death was a reminder tok how fragile we could be. I shuffled around uneasily, as if the cats around me could read my thoughts they, too, suddenly seemed more sirious.

Snakestar, being strait to the point, sat down infront of The Stranger and asked, "Who are you, why are you here, and why were you so scarred?" The Stranger, no longer seeming dazed, simply nodded as Snakestar spoke as he took it all in.

Heartbeats after Snakestar asked, The Stranger answered, "My name is Swoop. I am here because I had heard rumers of groups of cats, who might be willing to help me.

I lived with a group of what you would call rouges, but honestly we were more like a family. One day, after a hunt, we were ambushed by city cats. Our family was small, and we were not expecting an attack, so we were, to say the least, unprepaired." Suddenly his eyes seemed to glaze over as if he were remembering a horrific event, as he continued,

"We were inialated. Only three cats were able to survive- My sister, a kit named Little, and myself. We had been traveling for awhile, following rumors, when they caught up to us. We barely escaped, and only because my sister, Wisp, sacraficed herself. I was seperated from Little during the fight and left to wander, and I have no idea what happened to her. My only hope was to keep moving. In hopes of finding some help. I guess they didn't like that, because they caught up to me soon after. I was practically starving to death and super weak, so they nearly killed me. They decided there was no way I would survive the attack anyways, and so they left me to die. I was only able to go a little bit further before I collasped. And then... I wake up here."

(A/N OH MY GOD FINALLY YES! So I am ending it here, I know it isn't really dramatic or anything, but DEAL WITH IT! And yes, The Stranger FINALLY GETS A NAME! I have had this character in my head for a while, and I am acually rather happy to finally add in his name! That is all for now, please keep on reading and PROCRASTINATING!)