Emberstep's Journey [Warrior Cats]

Chapter 13: Shelter

🐾Emberstep🐾

We make our way through the twoleg place. Wasp leads the way to an abandoned twoleg structure. We slip into the building. "It's not much but at least we'll be out of the cold," Wasp mews and I thank him. "Intruders!" I hear someone hiss and growl.

Hornet presses herself against me, protectively. "Back off, Tike, it's me. Wasp." Moonlight shines through and reveals a brown tom with black paws. He gazes at Hornet and I with suspicion. "Why have you come back after all this time?"

"I'm helping this she-cat get back to her Clan. She was taken by twolegs. We needed shelter and I would like to speak with Tawny."

"She's back with Shado. Welcome back, brother," he says not at all in a welcoming manner. He turns and leads the way. Hornet encourages me to follow. Tike leads us farther into the abandoned nest. "Tawny! You won't believe who showed up!" Tike shouts out.

"Who is it, Tike?" A she-cat asks, stepping out of the shadows. She's a brown and black tortoiseshell. Her amber eyes widen when she sees Wasp and Hornet. Tawny rushes forward and presses herself against Wasp. She then does the same to Hornet. "You've come back! My kits!"

I gaze at the exchange happily. Thinking to my own soon to be born kits. Tawny looks at me and tilts her head. "Who's this? Are you Wasp's mate?" My eyes widen, as she gestures to my stomach with her tail, and heat floods my pelt. I shake my head quickly.

"Oh, no," Wasp and I mew swiftly. "No, my mate's Fireheart. Wasp and Hornet are helping me get back home after twolegs captured me. I'm Emberstep, nice to meet you." She presses her nose to mine in greeting.

"Welcome, and I'm happy your having kits of your own, it is a blessing." I purr and thank her. "Tawny," I hear a soft mew and I look up to see a tiny black she-cat. She gasps when she sees Wasp and Hornet. "Your back!"

"Hey, little Shado," Wasp mews and licks the top of her head. "You must be exhausted, rest and we'll talk in the morning." Hornet and Wasp nod and she leads us to a quiet and dry place to sleep. I curl up and feel Hornet curl up beside me and Wasp on the other side. I purr, as I'm falling asleep I feel Wasp shift closer and I accept his warmth.

×Hornet×

I wake up to someone nosing me. I open my eyes and see Tawny, amber eyes gleaming. "Hornet, get up," she mews softly and I push myself to my paws. She flicks her tail to something behind me. I turn and immediately want to purr with amusement.

I see Wasp and Emberstep curled around each other. "That is the cutest thing I've ever seen," I tell my mother, whiskers twitching. "He's going to be so embarrassed when he wakes up," I mew softly. She laughs and rasps her tongue over my ear.

"Let's go hunting, just the two of us, we have so much to catch up on." I nod and follow her out of the nofur structure. Together we are able to catch 3 measly mice and 3 birds. We head back and slip into the abandoned structure.

I pad over to where Wasp and Emberstep were still curled up. "Morning guys!" I say a little loudly. They begin to stir and Wasp is the first to open his eyes. "You have prey," he says as his eyes land on the two mice and bird. My whiskers twitch and he gives me a confused look. I flick my tail to the still waking Emberstep.

He looks down and sees how close he is to her. He pulls away scrambling to his feet. I meow with laughter and he glares at me. The sudden movement fully woke her. She opens her eyes and arches her back, stretching and yawning. "Good morning, Emberstep." She flicks her tail in greeting. "Good morning, Hornet. I had a strange dream last night."

"Really, what about?"

"I was back in the nursery and I had my kits. And other Queens were around me but I didn't recognize them. There was this strange warmth around me and it felt nice and cozy," she mews before turning to look at my brother. "You were there."

My brother stiffens and glances at me. I shrug my shoulders and Emberstep continues speaking. "Yeah, you were standing in the entrance to the nursery and asking how the kits were, then I don't remember anything after that."

"Sounds like a very interesting dream, don't you think Wasp," I ask a little playfully. His ear flicks and he looks at me. "Am I going to get some of that prey or do I have to catch my own."

"Oh, no, this is all for Emberstep, Queens eat a lot." Emberstep laughs at my humor but my brother is not so amused. I lay the bird down in front of Emberstep and she thanks me. I dip my head and then give my brother one of the mice.

"After food I think I should see how well you know those battle moves I showed you a few days ago," Emberstep mews and I nod biting into my mouse. After we finish eating we set up a fake battle me versus Wasp.

"Alright, remember claws sheathed. Start!" She calls and Wasp launches himself at me. I slide to the left and he sails past me. I turn and jump onto his back, pummeling his spine with my paws, claws sheathed. Wasp drops to the floor and just as he rolls to try and crush me, I jump off.

I turn onto my side, slip under Wasp's belly, bat it with my claws sheathed, then swiftly turn back onto all fours and slip out from under him. Wasp launches himself over me and before I can turn around he's yanking on my tail with his teeth. I'm knocked off balance.

Wasp then bowls me over and pins me down. "Okay, okay.....you win," I mew, panting and he purrs stepping off me. I can hear Emberstep's purr of amusement. "That was great. You guys have the makings of warriors." I purr and dip my head.

Wasp looks and sees the sunlight has brightened. "I think we should leave soon before we waste too much daylight. It's a long journey to the next town." Emberstep nods, getting to her paws. "I'll tell, Tawny," Wasp says padding across the den to our mother.

I watch our mother's eyes widen in sadness. She presses against Wasp and he rests his head on hers. I pad over and say goodbye to her, Tike, and Shado. I wave my tail in farewell and begin walking. "Be safe!" She calls and I call back. "We will!"

"We got a lot of ground to cover," Wasp says once we're outside. "Let's get started," I mew and Emberstep purrs.