Separated (Scourge x Cinderpelt)

Chapter 1 {Edited}

The sun shone through the trees, and a cool breeze swept through the air, ruffling Cinderpelts fur. The medicine cat was standing just outside of her den, trying to figure out what she had to collect.  "Catmint, and tansy, maybe" the grey she-cat muttered after a second. "More cobwebs, just in case." She let the breeze blow her fur around a second more before limping away.

She padded to the camp entrance, where ferncloud and ashfur were standing vigil. For the past moon, whenever she looked at the newly made warriors, she would think about the battle with bloodclan this past moon. Today was no different. A shiver chilled her spine and make the breeze seem cold and distant. She stared then right in the eye.

They were filled with guarded caution and hostility. It was clear they didn't forget the fight either. They would spring up any second to protect there clan, the ambition and courage there was clear. Sufficient to say, they didn't appreciate Cinderpelts stare.

So Cinderpelt found them staring back, whiskers twitching with annoyance. Awkwardly, she broke out a well-intentioned smile and padded on. "Warriors. Especially the new ones. So ambitious." She had mumbled to herself as she padded into the fresh, soft forest dirt.

Collecting the herbs was easy, and before long, she was padding back to camp. She had a lot of tansy and catmint between her jaws, and some fresh cobweb. She had even managed to get some marigold. She was beaming internally. If Yellowfang saw this, she would be proud. She probably wouldn't have to go herb hunting for a moon, with her supplies. They would treat the wounds, and she wouldn't have to keep constantly getting more for the battles they would encounter. Her luck today! A leaf crumbled under paws nearby. Leave it to some kits crunching leaves to spoil my moment of pride. She froze. Kits? Kits wouldn't be out with the warriors standing vigil. Probably some prey.

Snap! Cinderpelt turned. Was she imagining things? No, that was just a twig snapping. Cinderpelt continued the walk back to camp. Her lame leg was bothering her more then usual, but she didn't mind going slower than usual. No, that meant that she got to enjoy the forest more. Snap! She stopped, and turned around cautiously. Why do twigs keep snapping? She thought, a bit suspicious, but started walking again, this time, more cautiously. She tried to mimic the look in ashfur and fernclouds eyes. Guarded caution, bravery, and courage to beat everything life had out for them. She hoped anyone who saw her would look past her lame keg: because this time, when the twig snapped again, she was sure it was a cat who was doing it.

"Please don't let there be kits in the forest right now." She thought. "Not again!"

The fourth snap finally put her on edge. She turned around suddenly, narrowing her eyes. She thought of the possibilities to why twigs and branches kept snapping. Yes, they did snap, but not this frequently. Never this frequently.

Well, prey doesn't seem to be the source. A fox or badger? I'd have smelled it if it were. Another clan invading? Yes, maybe, but they wouldn't make such a noise. Unless they sent out a group of new-apprentices. She laughed silently at her last sentence. Rouges are a possibility. They aren't as well trained. How about bloodclan? I heard there are still some of them left, itching to get revenge. Probably just the kits.

"Kits." She pondered out loud. But somehow, she didn't think it was kits. She scrunched up her nose. Well, yes, There had been infrequent, small bloodclan attacks after the battle, but thunder clan had defeated the cats easily, without much of a fight. Cinderpelt had treated small wounds from the battles, such as small cuts and bruises. Not much. Over the last moon, she had gotten used to the small battles, not fretting.

Maybe, it's bloodclan? Or rouges-?

Except during the battles, she had never has to really fight, let alone out in the forest where possibilities were endless. Her fate could be secured by a small, injured rouge.

But That's ridiculous! It's not bloodclan or rouges, twigs snap when there's prey! Cinderpelt thought.

Stop trying to convince yourself. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Yes. Didn't twigs snap all the time? It was a piece of prey that was going to become someone's supper tonight.

Well, she thought I might as well try to catch it.

Cinderpelt gingerly put the herbs on the ground, and recalled the little bit of training she had had.

Crouching down, she slowly started to move across the forest floor, tasting the air with her mouth. There was a mouse nearby, she was sure of it. Taking one more stalking step forward, She smelled something else. It reeked, but this smell was familiar to her. Definitely not prey. Blood!

Never mind that mouse! She thought.

Cinderpelt  cautiously padded to the nearest bush. The smell of blood reeked more there. "Hello?" She asked. She was met by hissing. The hissing of an injured, weak cat.

The medicine cat code said that she has to help every cat who needed help, her clan or not. She had fresh herbs picked just a few fox lengths away; And ever since she had become yellowfangs apprentice, and now, a full medicine cat herself, she had helped every cat in need. She won't be able to face her own reflection in a puddle if she didn't help this cat out. Even though she was sure it wasn't just a rouge or a wandering kit.

She unsheathed her scarcely used claws, and pushed some of the bramble aside. She peered down. Dear reader, I have to say, she wasn't exactly surprised to see a bloodclan cat laying limp, in critical condition. No, it was who the bloodclan cat was that made her blood freeze and almost scream for help.

Because it was a small black cat with a color studded with teeth. Covered in blood, yet visible. Very visible. There was only one cat who met this description. Atleast, only one bloodclan cat who met this description. Because she had seen this cat before. She had witnessed firestar kill him. She had saw them take his body away with disgust. He looked just like how she had last seen him. Except for more blood. It was Scourge.

A/N

First chapter- what do you think?