A new kind of love

Chapter 4

Cover image by: ElmbloElmcasso on Sketch

Maddie remained completely frozen. Silverstar's amber eyes seemed to pierce right through her. Ivy stood in front of her friend, claws still out, waiting for the leader of BirchClan to determine their so called fate. It may not have scared Ivy so much, but it did the opposite to the yellow she-cat.
"It has come to my attention that a border patrol has found a pair of kittypets in our territory." He began, still staring down at Maddie and Ivy. "I'm not even a kittypet..." Ivy hissed under her breath, seemingly refusing to meet Silverstar's gaze as he went on. "That patrol has brought them back to our camp, and here they are right now." Silverstar revealed, pointing down to them with his tail. Every cat was staring them down, and it just made Maddie feel even more uneasy. Ivy stood her ground, snarling at every cat whose gaze met hers. She just held her breath and closed her eyes, wanting it all to stop.
She also heard indignant mutterings erupt among the Clan cats, but Silverstar silenced them with a firm yowl. "Now, I'd appreciate it if either one of you were to explain why you were in our territory." The leader ordered calmly.
Explain?! Explain what they did to me!?
"Maddie?"
The yellow she-cat opened her eyes immediately and leaped to her feet. “I didn't do anything!” she cried, looking around wildly.
"No need to be so worried..." He mewed back at her, not expecting her to be so startled. "I just need an answer."
"Uh, well-"
"Long story short, Maddie's housefolk treated her worse than prey, so I took her to the city for her own safety. However, she was attacked by some loners, and didn't feel safe there, so I took her here to the forest afterwards. Got it?"
She let out a long sigh of relief as Ivy finished, giving her a lick on the cheek as thanks. "Anytime" she assured her with a soothing purr before looking back at Silverstar.
"So you came here to look after your kittypet friend?" the tom asked, breaking up the little moment the two were having.
"You can put it that way I guess. No one harms her on my watch..." Ivy responded sternly.
"Your situation is quite a unique one." The BirchClan leader admitted after a long silence, looking away from them, turning to his deputy who layed seated under the Pointed Stone.
"What's he gonna do...?" Maddie whispered over to Ivy, who simply shrugged her shoulders. She didn't really know what else Silverstar could say about their situation. She craned her neck over to see what the two were discussing. More so like an idea at least.
All she saw was a solemn nod from Swiftspark, before he turned his attention to them once more. All Silverstar had really done was address their presence and get an explanation as to why they were even here. The leader had a very uncertain look on his face. As if he were stumped.

But,
Perhaps if she and Ivy could do something for these clan cats, they'd let them go? Maddie looked around the clearing, noticing a very few amount of cats. Surely they weren't all so 'cruel'. Sunpaw had showed her friendliness, and her father, Swiftspark, seemed like an okay cat to. Plus, they didn't rip her or Ivy to mousedust when they got caught, unlike some other cats... So maybe she could offer them something after all, but what? She'd need to figure that out, but went with the idea regardless.
Here goes nothing...

"Silverstar...?" Maddie softly called his name out, almost in a whisper.
He whipped his head around, answering with a simple, "Hm?"
"This may sound really mouse brained but, I... her voice trailed off, still not knowing what to say.
"Can you speak up?" The leader urged.
"What are you doing?" Ivy hissed, but Maddie didn't respond. She nervously shifted her paws, and tried to look up at Silverstar without showing much fear. "Is there anything we can do for you or your clan...? To make up for the uh, to make up for our actions...
"What?!" Ivy yowled, staring at her in disbelief. "I think it be fair!" She cried back. "Are you okay with that Silverstar?"
The pale brown tom looked extremely surprised at her words. "I believe it's a good idea young one, but, what can you two offer us?" "Look at what you've done!" Her friend snarled in disgust. "What are we gonna offer them huh?! Enough prey to feed every cat here?!"
"I, I hav-havent thought of that, but-"
"Well you better think of something quickly." He demanded. However, the cats around them wanted their leader to decide what this offer would be, and seconds later, spoke of some of their own suggestions.
"Perhaps they'll have to mark the territory for a quarter moon! All by themselves!"
"Maybe he'll make them clean the dirtplace up!"
"Or he can force them to deal with anymore of their kittypet friend if they keep trespassing!"
With another firm yowl, Silverstar silenced his clan. "I will not he deciding for them at all!" He snarled. Maddie began to tremble, and Ivy scoldingly met her pink gaze.
Why didn't I actually think this through? What do I even say? That I could fight alongside them? Hunt for everyone of them? That I'd like to become a wild cat and live in BirchClan?! Where it's relatively safe looking, and filled with many possible strong warriors that could protect us from cats like, like them? Only if we provide them with some form of help...?
Hold up...
"Well?" He hissed impatiently.
Desperately, and out of true fear, Maddie couldn't help but blurt this rushed idea out,
"Would we be able to join BirchClan Silverstar...!?"