talisnessie

[talisnessie]

Prologue

Chapter 1 - The Mouse

Chapter 2 - An Offer and Goodbyes

[talisnessie]

Into the Wild

..but what if it wasn't Tigerclaw?

Chapter 2 - An Offer and Goodbyes

"Well?" Bluestar's low mew shook Rusty to his core. Her menacing stance and piercing glare made him realize these weren't the kittens in his garden. These beasts roamed the forest, hunting whatever they could in all seasons. Ready to maim and kill at just the slightest hint of challenge, just like Rusty's dream. He forced the fur on his pelt to stay flat.

Yet, a thought made Rusty look at Bluestar and the others more thoughtfully. While their muscle rippled under their pelts, they were also lean and not quite fed to the extent of even the pickiest of his garden friends.

Rusty stood tall, bowing his head respectfully to the cat before him as he mewed. "I understand, I will no longer hunt here." Bluestar's eyes narrowed, her mew low, yet all the anger faded away, replacing itself with intrigue. "You are a strange kittypet, Rusty." Rusty suddenly felt unease because she knew his name, and he only told Graypaw it. It just showed him how long she's watched him...and perhaps she didn't learn by watching their squabble but some other time when he wasn't aware of the watchful eyes from the forest.

"I would like to extend an offer to you," Bluestar said, standing tall over him. Her importance as a leader and the words she chose next made Rusty tremble. He did his best to conceal his unease: "Thunderclan has been needing warriors, and you seem like a perfect fit. You can even train alongside Graypaw."

Rusty opened his mouth as excitement bubbled in his stomach, but Bluestar shut him down with a quick tail signal.

"This is not an offer you should take lightly. You will experience the hardships without the care and easy life of a kittypet, which, being a part of your roots, will lead you to experience judgment that no matter what you do or achieve, there will always be some cat that thinks you will never be enough."

The words crush him, feeling the sadness weigh down on his shoulders. No matter what he did? Will he never be seen as enough by all?

"However..." Bluestar sensed Rusty's confidence wavier, "You will feel the freedom of the forest, live with those who will fight alongside you, and much more that will be revealed if you wish to explore."

Rusty was in disbelief, looking over at Graypaw, who looked astonish and a bit outraged. "But he's a kittypet! Kittypet's don't have warrior blood!"

Sadness clouded Bluestar's eyes once Graypaw's words left his mouth: "Warrior's blood." She mewed sadly, "Too much of that has been spilled lately." Rusty felt parts of the dream flashed through his mind suddenly. He bit his tongue, causing Graypaw to eye him suspiciously, then was interrupted when Whitestorm spoke.

"Bluestar," Whitestorm took a step towards the blueish-grey cat. "Would it be wise to recruit such a young kitten? Hardship will be something new to this young cat...even a rogue or loner would have had a more challenging life than this kittypet in three lifetimes."

Rusty felt hot under his fur, looking at the warrior. He couldn't help but feel angry at his statement, yet Whitestorm was not wrong to judge his character as it was true. The only hardships he ever faced were his housefolk not feeding him on time and the nightmares that plagued his unconscious mind. However, "That's unfair," Rusty retorted. I had no control over my upbringing."

Bluestar raised her tail, quieting both of the cats. "We all started as a kitten, Whitestorm. He is in his prime; easily trained and disciplined." Her eyes flitted to Rusty, her head held proudly, "I am not promising a place in the clan, but the training to potentially be one of us." She sniffed the air and glaced at Whitestorm; she continued, "Besides, the Two-leg stench that clings to your fur makes it apparent you have not yet been to the Cutter. Perhaps that is why you fought bravely."

Many thoughts whirled in Rusty's brain, causing him to wince as he looked at the three of them. Graypaw was just watching on in shock.

"C-Can I consider your offer?" Rusty asked. Bluestar thought for a moment before she raised her nose to the twinkling sky above them. "We will be here at sunhigh; you can give your answer then."

"The clan will start to worry if we stay out too long." Whitestorm mewed. Just as the cats began to walk away, Rusty called out, "A quick question..!" Bluestar turned to him, waiting for Rusty to continue. "Do cats... kill each other? You mentioned fighting alongside clans..."

The hair along Bluestar's spine rose. "Defending territory is not the same as murder... while blood is spilled and injuries can lead to such tragedies... we do not intend, therefore, we do not kill." Rusty nodded slowly, absorbing the information as he watched the cats bound away through the undergrowth.

When he turned his head back to the fence that shielded his garden, he noticed a mouse limping forward to him. 'I understand. I will no longer hunt here,' he remembering the vow he had given to Bluestar.

Rusty flicked his tail angrily at the mouse. Was it taunting him now? The mouse lifted its nose to the sky, causing Rusty to follow the tiny creature's gaze, but before he could find what the mouse was looking at, he heard a familiar, "Rusty?" The mouse stiffened before racing into the undergrowth. Rusty fought back a swear before turning towards the voice.

The brown-striped tom gazed down at Rusty, purring with delight, "Oh, thank our lucky bells!" He stood on the fence when Rusty stepped into the moonlight. As if on cue, the little bell around his neck tinkled as he crouched to prep himself to jump up next to his friend. With a practiced grace, he settled onto his familiar perch. "Hey Henry..." He greeted, but his tone lacked the confidence and nonchalant housecat persona he portrayed.

"Whatcha doin' all dah way out 'dere for?" Rusty couldn't help but purr at his friend's breezy voice. Henry's curious orange eyes lazily looked at Rusty. "I had a dream chasing a mouse-" The orange tabby was cut off by the sharp gasp from his friend.

"You ain't meet 'dem mean ol' cats I talked about, did yous?" The laziness in his eyes was now gone and replaced with a worried concern. He shuffled to his paws, almost slipping from his spot until Rusty steadied him with a strong paw.

"I... did." Rusty slowly told him about everything that had happened. The dreams, the cats, the mouse—it was all so confusing and overwhelming. He longed to sleep, and yet, when he looked at the forest, he still felt it call to him, felt his pelt itch with anticipation.

When he looked back at Henry, he realized he had missed what his friend had said. "Sorry... come again?" Rusty asked bashfully.

"I knew 'deh did someting to you! Your heads all scramble-like!" He gently pressed his nose to Rusty's head, sniffing. Rusty slowly moved away, "No... no, it's not that."

Henry settled back down, his voice soft as he asked, "'Den, what is it?" Rusty let out a breath, explaining everything quickly. Henry nodded along in his simple way as Rusty spat out the events in quick succession.

Henry's demeanor only changed when Rusty mentioned Bluestar's offer. He blinked a couple of times, letting the information wash over him. "Yous didn't say no," his happy-go-lucky voice didn't change, though his eyes softened with a sadness Rusty couldn't handle looking at for long. "And yous visit that 'dere forest more 'an any of us would be combined."

Rusty looked at his home. The small amber light that stood stagnant by the entrance stood bright and tall. It was something his housefolk did when he was out late. It was always a warming presence, but then, he looked up at the sky. The stars didn't shine that brightly, nor did they stay bright during the darkness, and yet, their twinkles above inside a cluster looked down at him. It made him feel not only safe but brave.

"Yous conflicted, ain't yous Rusty?" Henry's voice cut through the night, causing Rusty to turn his head to Henry with Rusty's ears drooping.

"My home's here," Rusty started, padding over to sit by Henry. "There's comfort here. My friend's here," his tail drooped. "Even Princess is here. Could I really leave my sister without her kin?" he asked, guilt pulling and gripping his heart.

Rusty felt the comforting, while course, tail that laid over Rusty's shoulders. "'Dat's 'dere's a lot of worryin' 'bout others rather than 'bout you, Rusty." His raspy mew pointed out, "Whens I sees you out here, lookin' at dem trees, I see a spark inside of 'dem pretty peepers." His raspy purr rumbled from his throat, "I say yous more home when lookin' at 'dem trees than you do lookin' at your housefolk."

Rusty looked fondly at Henry, who looked out at the trees. "Why did you stop exploring?" He asked curiosity pulled at him. Henry looked at him, "You got a death wish? Being all curio-like in dat 'dere head?" His purr rumbled loudly in his chest before his amber eyes gazed at the forest. "Why it was 'cuz of love."

Rusty's mouth opened slightly, shocked at the comment. "Love?" he questioned. Henry eyed him. "What? You tink an ol' feller like me cain't find love?" Henry asked. Rusty shook his head fiercely. "N-No! I mean! Yes! Wait, no, I—" Rusty was cut off by the laughter Henry filled the night air with, "Just pullin' your tail." He nudged Rusty's shoulder with his nose before returning his gaze back to the forest.

"Back when I was a youngen, I fell mighty in love with a fine warrior." He purred as he reminisced. "She comes visit me with all kinds of tings; plants and critters alike." His paws shuffled as his eyes softened, "Yet, lovin' her was against her code, and I ain't her family no matter how much I wish I were."

Rusty looked at the brown tom; his eyes softened at each word but didn't interrupt the elder cats' tale. "I told her I could follow her, do 'deh work her clan does, but she were ashamed." Rusty couldn't help but blurt out, "She told you that?" Henry turned his head slowly to Rusty, the sadness in his eyes suffocating. "It needn't be said out loud."

Rusty let his friend's tale wash over him as a question bubbled up from the depth of his thoughts. "Why are you telling me this?" Henry let the pause sink deeper into the silence of the night before he answered in a hushed tone as if he was trying to avoid waking up the night. "'Cuz, no matter what we do or how we act, we ain't them." His eyes lifted to the sky, "No matter how much yous wants it."

Then, suddenly, the sadness faded as he pressed his head against Rusty's shoulder. "What do I knows? I'm just an old cat." Henry purred, lifting his tail off Rusty as he stood to his paws and stretched out the building aches in his joints.

"What if I'm needed?" Rusty asked Henry, who paused mid-stretch before continuing. It was a moment before Henry mewed, "'Den you are. Simply as dat, Rusty." The brown tom flicked his tail towards the forest. "If it calls yous and yous trust it 'nough, 'den follow it."

Rusty rose up and used his tail to help keep the elders balanced. Henry gently nosed Rusty's shoulder fur. "If you chooses to go, I will miss you more than you will know, but I know you need an adventure that cain't happen here." Rusty purred, gently laying his tail around his friend's shoulder.

"Thanks, Henry." Rusty purred. Henry dipped his head, moved back, and began to walk back toward his owner's den. "Try to visit if 'dem cats allow it! I can impress all dah garden visitors about my wild friend out in 'dere woods!"

Rusty couldn't help the laughter bubbling up in his chest as Henry gave his goodbyes. Rusty looked up at the night sky, watching the stars again twinkle.

"Oh, you're back!" A voice, once again, cut through the quiet night. Rusty turned his head slightly and purred when he saw Smudge making his return. "I thought you up and went home." Rusty greeted the black-and-white tom with a friendly nose to the cheek. "Had to comfort my housefolk, I waited as long as possible, but you know them, constantly worrying," Smudge explained and sat beside Rusty.

"So, you came back. I was half expecting Henry to tell me you had left." Rusty's tail drooped at Smudge's words, causing the concern to become much more apparent in his voice. "You are staying, right?" Smudge asked again, his yellow eyes willing Rusty to comfort and tell Smudge what he wanted to hear.

"I think... I'm going to take up their offer." Rusty mewed slowly as Smudge looked hurt and confused, "O-Offer? Wh-What offer?"

"The one with the wild cats," Rusty explained slowly, avoiding looking at Smudge, who looked baffled and betrayed. "You're leaving..? When?" Smudge asked, his mew trembling with each word.

"They..." Rusty sigh, that guilt in his heart piercing it with unsheathed claws, "...gave me until sunhigh to make a choice."

Smudge padded over and sat down by Rusty, his emotions clear. He wasn't happy, and Rusty wasn't expecting congratulations from him either.

"Have you told your sister yet?" Smudge asked, finally breaking the silence between them. Yet the claws in his heart pierced deeper than before. He didn't have to mew his answer for Smudge to know.

"You probably should. She's been talking about wanting a few little ones running around, causing trouble." Smudge hesitated as he looked at his friend before cautiously adding, "She always talked about wanting you there to keep them in line."

"Well..." Rusty started, but his mew wavered so much he had to stop himself. What was he doing? Was Rusty really going to leave his garden behind? With his friends and kin all here, living the life he often enjoyed napping about, in the warm bedding his household?

Then he remembered Bluestar and how she reacted to him asking if they killed. Seeing the surprise in her eyes and the firmness of her voice. 'We do not intend, therefore, we do not kill.' echoed in his mind. If the leader of a clan did not know that there are cats that do intend... would they be safe without his guidance? Or would they all be picked off one by one?

The guilt gnawed at him and caused his head to spin. He was torn between two loyalties; the one to his family and his moral code to always help those in need.

"Rusty?" Smudge's words caused the hair along the orange-colored tom's spine to slightly rise. "Sorry, I... What were we..?" Rusty asked, an apology glinting in his green eyes. Smudge sighed, "You are leaving and your sister..." Rusty sighed, "...Right.." He said with a defeated look before lifting his head at the stars and then to Smudge, "Then... will you be there for them..?" He asked Smudge, who looked surprised at the request.

"Me? Wha- I'm not brother material! I laze about and chase string for only a moment or two!" He fretted, "They need a better role model!"

Rusty purred, "Like Henry?" He said with a playful tone as he moved his head towards Smudge, who gaped like Rusty grew two more heads and started barking. "That lazy ol' cat would be best being a role model to a bed." Smudge huffed as Rusty rumbled out a few purrs. "Then it's settled; you'll be the kit's role model."

Smudge was about to protest before he huffed and sighed, "Alright, Rusty. Only because you're my friend." Rusty purred, standing up and pressing his nose to his friend's cheek, who rubbed his forehead against Rusty's.

"I should tell Princess." Rusty mewed after a fleeting moment. Smudge nodded, stepping back and rasping his tongue over his paw. "The first grand idea you had tonight." He mewed nonchalantly. Rusty pushed his tail in Smudge's face as he walked by for the comment, hearing a 'mrrew!' of laughter behind Rusty as he padded up to a pale-colored swinging door.

He pushed through the flap with his head and noticed how dark it was. He hadn't visited Princess at night and hoped he wouldn't startle her too terribly bad.

He lifted his nose to the air, giving it a few quick sniffs to try to locate his sister. He spits frustratedly, as all he could smell was the stale pellets and dirt her household had failed to freshen up that day.

He was about to pad towards one of the large entrances when a soft "Rusty?" called out to him. Rusty turned around so fast that the bell on his collar jingled.

He spotted the brown tabby she-cat with her signature white chest fur and paws. Her fluffy tail was straight up, and she bounded over and rubbed her head against Rusty's. Her soft fur and warmth made all the worry he had melt away. Of course, his sister wanted to be a mother; she had that softness and warmth that seemingly no other cat had.

"Rusty! Oh, it's so lovely to see you!" Her mellifluous voice flowed harmoniously through the stuffy abode. Rusty always thought that if the stars could talk, they would have his sister's voice.

"Me too," Rusty meowed, only for that guilt to return in full force. Princess's fluffy tail draped over Rusty's shoulder. "What's the matter?" she asked in her soft, singsong voice, which only dug the claws of guilt further.

"I'm... going to go and live with the cats of the forest." Rusty told her, not able to stall. He closed his eyes, ready to hear the disappointment in her voice or her paws batting at his head. Yet, he heard a mrrow! of laughter from his sister instead.

"Well, it's about time, for bell's sake!" She nosed him affectionately. Rusty looked surprised at her. "B-But your plans!" He exclaimed, but she simply flicked her tail. "They can be adjusted, sweetness." Her eyes narrowed as her voice dropped to a low, monotone growl. "You're not leaving me entirely, are you?" She asked in a way that sounded more like a threat than a question.

"Of course not!" Rusty protested. Princess returned to her sweet and bubbly self. "Well, then that's settled, yes?" She mewed before headbutting her brother. "Oh, I'm mighty excited for you! You must visit and tell me all the tall tales! I must tell my future kits about all the trouble you get up to!"

Rusty purred an amused chuckle, "What makes you think I'd get in trouble?" He asked, causing Princess to stare at him, lashing her tail out to smack him. Rusty let out an 'ack' sound as she mewed with a proper tone, "I know you, dear brother, which is why I have faith that you'll get those stories!" She purred. Rusty sighed, but finally, those piercing claws retracted from his heart as his sister's gentle yet excited words of encouragement.

"When do you leave?" She asked. "I have to be there before sunhigh," Rusty answered, angling his head and still seeing the twinkles in the night sky.

"Then," the soft mew came from behind him, "stay for the night. Rest up, or we can chitter like the squirrels." She purred, doing exactly two circles inside her plush bedding before laying on her side. Rusty purred, padding up and laying to the side of her, grooming the top of her head and her ears.

Rusty felt at ease, watching his sister's sleeping body rise and fall. Rusty felt a pang in his heart as he thought of each cat he talked to today; while not as big as how Graypaw talked up the clan, these were the cats he knew, and they were enough for him.

'Were enough.' Rusty's thoughts repeated. The statement was the truth. Everything here was enough for the nervous orange kitten who was too afraid to come out of his tiny enclosure, only coming out with the promise of food.

Now, his garden had become a tiny enclosure, keeping away the world outside. Something that had shielded him for so long started to feel like the walls that would encase him for as long as he drew each stale breath.

'Out here is wild and free; we come and go as we please.' The words Graypaw spoke to him repeated in his mind. His head lifted as he looked through the window, the thick glass panel shielding the home from the outdoors.

Would he be free? Or would he find another barrier that would no longer be enough?

Rusty stood at the fence, watching the sun begin to rise. He felt melancholic as he felt the fence where he perched himself. The impression of where his paws stood daily was etched into the fence. It made him feel a bit happier that he was leaving a small piece of himself behind for his garden family to remember him by.

He crouched down, and just as he was ready to launch himself, he heard a, "Told you he was still here!" Henry called, "You better hurry it up, though!"

Rusty turned to see three cats approaching him: Smudge, Henry, and Princess. Like the morning dew, the melancholic feeling evaporated as the three jumped up and each cat gave him an affection lick on his ear. "You think we wouldn't send you off?" Smudge playfully cuffed him around the ear while Princess headbutted him. "You show those forest cats what you're made of!" Princess chimed in.

Rusty couldn't help the building purr in his chest, "I'm going to miss you all." He rubbed his cheek against each cat. Henry nudged Rusty, "Get yer tail amovin', or yous be late!" He purred.

With all the goodbyes he could handle, Rusty jumped down with a soft tinkle of his bell and padded toward the forest. Just as he was about to disappear into the forest line, he took one last look behind him. Seeing the silhouette of three cats watching Rusty as he slipped into the forest.

Just as he thought he had left his life behind as he padded through the forest, the tiny tinkle of his bell made him remember...

It was not going to be that easy.

Hello all! Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter!

One thing I wished they added was Rusty's relationship with his garden friends so, ta-dah~!

Why did Rusty call out Graypaw's lisp when Henry talks funny? Because Henry's old. Rusty's still a kitten, so it's still cute when he's accidentally ageist!

Given some pretty life changing events are coming up closer in life, chapters to this story will fluctuate. From too many to very sparingly! I put too much into this project for it to die so, rest assured! It will be back!

Now, onto the pings~

Pings list: @sweetstephstuff @doctorsoul29

[talisnessie]

Into the Wild

..but what if it wasn't Tigerclaw?

Chapter 1 - The Mouse

Even through the dark blanket covering the dense overgrowth, Rusty sensed something near. While the place was familiar to Rusty, the strange scents drew him further into the shadows.

His stomach rumbled, reminding him of his hunger. He opened his jaws, letting the forest smells reach the scent glands on the roof of his mouth. Musty odors of leaf mold mingled with the tempting aroma of a small furry creature.

Suddenly, a flash of gray darted past him. Rusty stopped, angling his ears towards the creature. It was only two tail lengths away, and Rusty felt the rapid pulsing beat of a tiny heart. Rusty observed the mouse, noting a slight limp on its left front foot.

'This should be easy,' Rusty thought. His green eyes gleamed with hunger as he stifled his rumbling stomach. He lowered his body into a crouch, readying himself to launch at the tiny creature. He knew the mouse was unaware of his presence due to him being downwind, making this catch all the more tempting.

He angled his ears again, making sure his prey had not moved from its place before pushing back hard on his hunches... then sprang!

The mouse dove just missing Rusty's claws by a whisker length. Anger flared up in his chest as he gave chase, dirt flying from his claws. 'Not again!' Rusty thought crossly, feeling déjà vu.

The mouse scrambled into a hole, escaping death just moments behind it. Rusty tried to fish out the tiny creature with hooked claws to no avail, causing him to spit in frustration.

He froze once he heard a cry out further in the direction the mouse ran towards. He angled his ears towards the noise, lowering his body to avoid being seen. The cries became screeches of pain just as Rusty crawled into a bush, seeing two cats attack each other.

Unease gripped his heart as he watched both cats rip into one another, but he noticed one was trying to escape, and the other was pulling them back. Before Rusty could pull any confidence to stop the fight, the assailant dug their claws deep into the cat's neck.

Rusty tensed as everything fell silent. No wind rustling the trees, no bird song, not even the quiet chirping of the forest bugs, all he could hear was the hammering of his heart in his ears. Rusty began to move backward, trying his best to avoid being detected for witnessing such an act of violence.

He was about halfway out of the bush until the cat swung its head around as its bright pupil-less eyes stared deep into his.

Rusty jumped awake, his fur standing on end; the tingle of his bell instantly calmed him. His collar was never present in his dreams or, rather, his nightmares. Still, it was the only time he was thankful for the garment that kept an uncomfortable grasp around his neck.

He jumped out of his bed and walked towards the kitchen to smell the stale food that sat boringly in his bowl. His stomach rumbled, and with a slight hesitation, he bent down and crunched on a few pellets.

The warm aroma of the mouse lingered in his nose, almost making the tasteless pellets slightly more enjoyable. Lifting his head, he noticed the window out to his garden was open. Rearing back on his hind legs, he launched onto the counter and then out to the sill.

"Rusty!" The insouciant voice made him perk up towards the plump black-and-white tom, his amber eyes glowing towards Rusty. Rusty leaped onto the fence, balancing himself as he carefully approached his friend.

"Hey, Smudge," Rusty yawned so profoundly that he needed to stretch from his neck to his tail. "Woah, you look more roughed up than usual," Smudge commented, looking at his friend with concern.

Then a flash of remembrance crossed his face, and his voice went low into a whisper, "Was it that dream again?" Rusty was amused by how Smudge spoke as if this was a big secret between the two cats.

It's been eight full moons that he's been having the same nightmare. His owners have been trying to help with grinding a weird-looking white pellet into his food. It helped some nights with his nightmares, but they never truly went away; lurking in the darkest and deepest folds in his mind.

"It was.. but.." Rusty recalled the dream, feeling the fur along his spine rise. "But?" Smudge prompted, scooting closer. "It was different this time. The ending, at least. The cat looked at me." Rusty told his friend.

"Maybe it was your subconscious playing with you! Henry did tell you his story about meeting those wild cats." Smudge's face curled at just mentioning them.

Rusty peered out into the forest, noticing that the scent of mice lingered around him. Usually, the smell fades after he fully wakes up from his dream, but this time...

Rusty leaped toward the forest floor, his bell jingling when landing. "Rusty! Don't go in there!" Smudge called, making the orange-colored tom turn back to his friend with a reassuring purr, "I'll be back, Smudge! Don't you worry!"

Ignoring the rest of his friend's attempts to call him back, Rusty followed the trail. The scent grew stronger the further he padded towards the forest. He stopped and instantly dropped lower once he saw a mouse.

The aroma flooded back into his mouth, making his stomach rumble more fiercely than before. He crept closer, and just as he readied himself to pounce. . . the mouse moved with a slight limp on its left front foot.

Rusty froze, his dream crashing down on him. Seeing the bright pupil-less eyes of the violent cat that the mouse led him to. The mouse stopped to sniff the air just as Rusty stopped, only to dart past him.

"No!" Rusty cried, chasing after it. 'Maybe..' he thought as he chased after it, 'If I catch it, it could give me an answer!' It was a ridiculous thought, but before he could gain on the creature, he was thrown onto his side with a powerful launch.

Rusty scrambled for a paw hold; fear built up in his stomach as he ran back towards his home. 'Was it the cat from his dream? Was he going to die?' He still felt the cat gaining on him.

He wasn't going to make it back to his garden, not with Smudge potentially still waiting for him; his friend wouldn't stand a chance. Turning his fear into anger, Rusty spun and struck his assailant hard across his cheek. The cat was stunned, but only for a split second as it launched onto Rusty's, nipping at his collar.

With a wild hiss, Rusty batted at him with unsheathed claws only to be knocked back with a powerful blow. Rusty knew he couldn't fight this cat head-on; with such powerful muscles, he wouldn't survive on strength alone. Instead, he flipped into his back just as the cat launched at him. Rusty relaxed, hoping the cat wouldn't dig its claws into his vulnerable belly.

Satisfied, his attacker loosed his grip, only for Rusty to spring up with all his strength to shove them back. The cat rolled over, shaking its pelt out before sitting straight up with a nonchalant lick to its fur. "Wow! Not bad for a kittypet!"

Rusty looked confused but refused to let his guard down. "I'll fight you again if I have to!" he warned, watching the cat wash his ears. Rusty did not understand this cat; one moment, he was fighting for his life, and now, his attacker was just washing up.

"I'm Graypaw! I'm training to be a Thunderclan warrior!" And now he was introducing himself. How lovely. Rusty noticed how odd his voice was, much more unique than his friends back home. "Do all Thunderclan cats speak like that?" Rusty asked, not hiding his judgment.

Graypaw stopped washing, looking offended at his words, "What? This is how I talk. I have talked like this since I was born! It's just a lisp.." He muttered that last bit to himself.

"I'm sorry, my household has no cats that speak like that." Rusty apologized before awkwardly adding, "I'm Rusty.. you said you were training for..what?"

That perked the gray kitten up, his yellow eyes lighting up the darkness around them. "A warrior! They go into battles to fight!"

"So you're not a warrior?" Rusty asked. "If I was a warrior, I would've given an intruder like you some wounds to think about!" Graypaw stated matter-of-factly as he nonchalantly pulled a clump of grass out of his paws with his sharp teeth. "You're obviously not from the other clans, so I didn't bother." His yellow eyes pointed judgmentally at the collar Rusty wore.

Rusty ignored the comment and instead asked, "Other clans?" Graypaw stopped grooming, looking shocked and slightly annoyed, "You haven't heard of the four clans that hunt in the forest?"

Graypaw paused as if expecting Rusty to answer such a rhetorical question. "The other clans are always trying to steal our prey, especially Shadowclan. If they found you, they would've ripped you to shreds, no questions asked. Probably even used your fur for their bedding!" Graypaw spat angrily before continuing, "Once I become a warrior, I'll teach them a lesson or two!" He shredded a clump of grass with his sharp claws.

Rusty narrowed his eyes, recalling the stories Henry told him and Smudge about the wild cats living rough in the woods, fighting over each other for a measly scrap of food. He remembered his dream, but he didn't feel scared standing in front of this cat. In fact, he admired him for his confidence and skill, though something bothered Rusty.

"Why..don't you find yourself an owner? You wouldn't have to fight for food and always be warm! A kitten like yourself wouldn't find it half as hard to find a", "No way!" Rusty jumped at how harshly the grey cat cut him off, forcing his fur down quickly to show the cat didn't scare him as badly as he did.

Graypaw didn't even let Rusty continue, looking disgusted. "I can't think of anything worse than being a kittypet; you're just a two-leg's toy! Eating stuff that looks like rabbit droppings, making dirt inside a box of gravel, and only being able to stick your nose outside when the two-legs let you." Graypaw wringled his nose, "That's no life! Out here is wild and free; we come and go as we please." He finished with a proud mew, puffing his chest out.

He lowered with a mischievous glint aimed at Rusty, "Once you take a bite into a freshly killed mouse, you haven't lived. Have you ever eaten a mouse?"

Rusty looked away, looking embarrassed. "Thought so." Graypaw lifted his head up in a small triumph that he was correct in his assumption of the kittypet. "You'll never understand what it's like. You have to be born wild to really understand." Rusty recalled his dreams. The aroma reached his scent glands, hunting down his prey, running free without a collar holding him back.

"That's not true!" Rusty found the words escaping him before he could hold them back. Graypaw did not respond; he suddenly stood up, sniffing the air.

"I smell cats from my clan," he hissed. "They won't be pleased when they find out you've been hunting here!" Rusty lifted his mouth, not finding any scents of cats, just the usual smells of wet earth and leaf mold. Graypaw lashed his tail, hissing, "Get out of here!"

Rusty leaped to his paws, his head swung wildly around, not knowing where to go. He picked a random direction, and just as he was about to run, a firm and menacing voice came from behind him, "I see you've made a friend, Graypaw."

"Bluestar!" Graypaw crouched down, narrowing his eyes. He crouched even lower when a snow-colored tom stepped out beside her and looked down at them with gleaming yellow eyes.

"You shouldn't be so near the Two-leg Place, Graypaw. Lionheart would be disappointed in you if he was the one watching today." The tom's voice was deep, raspy with disappointment.

"I know, Whitestorm! I'm sorry. " Graypaw's eyes darted toward Rusty before looking back up to who Rusty assumed to be Whitestorm, "This kittypet was hunting in our territory, and I couldn't just let him!" Graypaw's confidence instantly evaporated when Bluestar glared down at Graypaw with her intense blue eyes.

Graypaw lowered his head to his paws, and Rusty hastily followed. Rusty saw the muscles rippling under their pelts; their muscles were something he had never seen from any of his garden friends.

"Who is this." Demanded the she-cat. Rusty flinched when she turned her gaze to him. Her gaze made his pelt burn every second she stared at him, causing him to fight the urge that told him to flee.

"He's nobody! Just a kittypet. He's not a threat at all!" Graypaw protested. 'Just a kittypet?' Rusty thought crossly but held his tongue. He flicked his gaze towards the grey she-cat's observant gaze; there was no emotion Rusty could read from her, and discomfort made him look away.

"This is Bluestar, the leader of my clan!" Graypaw hissed, "And this is Whitestorm..he's acting as my mentor today."

"Thank you for the introductions, Graypaw." Whitestorm mewed cooly. Bluestar still stared at Rusty, making him feel hot under his pelt. What was she thinking?

Rusty didn't have to wait long for that question to be answered, "You fight well for a two-leg pet." Rusty and Graypaw exchanged confused glances. How could she have known?

"We watched you as you fought." She continued, as if she read Rusty's thoughts, "We wanted to see how well you would do against an intruder, Graypaw. You attacked him bravely." Graypaw beamed at her praise.

"Sit up now, the both of you." She ordered, and the two sat up without missing a beat; Rusty held her gaze as she turned to him. "You attacked well, kittypet. Graypaw is much stronger than you, but you used your wits. It is unusual for kittypets to attack." Bluestar paused. Rusty felt the warmth of her praise ripple through his pelt. "I was wondering when you'd adventure out; I've seen you look over at the forest from your boundary." Rusty felt slightly uneasy that this cat had noticed his wandering eyes enough to make a mental note. Though he shoved that thought away as Bluestar continued to speak.

Bluestar stared at the kittypet. "You have a natural hunting ability and sharp eyes; you would've caught that mouse if you had not hesitated." Rusty remembered the mouse. The mouse that had brought him here to the forest...and the same mouse from his dream. Rusty felt his heart swell at the praise he was getting from such a majestic cat.

He felt the words slip from his mouth, stammering, "R-Really?" Whitestorm spoke up, his voice firm as his yellow eyes stared deeply into Rusty, "Bluestar, this is a kittypet. He must return home to his two-legs; they must be looking for him now."

Rusty felt anger ripple through his pelt. "Send me home??" He mewed indignantly. For the first time, he was praised and noticed for a skillful act. He felt like he was worth something more than just soft spoken nonsense his two-leg fed him.

"I've only come to hunt for a mouse or two; I'm sure there's enough to go around." He mewed carelessly. Bluestar's blue eyes burned with anger. Rusty knew by Graypaw's fearful look that he had said something wrong.

"There is never enough!" Bluestar spat, stepping towards the kittypet, "If you didn't live such a soft, overfed life, you would know that!" Rusty felt his pride dissolve. Whitestorm glared down at Rusty and Graypaw looked at him with unease. With three set of eyes on him, he felt the smallest he'd ever been.

That was when he fully understood that these were not the cozy fireplace housecats he was used to; these were hungry, battle-ready cats that were ready to finish off what Graypaw had started.

What a cat fight! 🤭 Who do you think would've won? Smart money is on Graypaw!

Some family trees will remain the same whereas others will either be completely destroyed or slightly tweaked but I will let you all know through the story whos relationship is what with who on a probably constant bases.

Hope you enjoyed!

Pings: @doctorsoul29, @sweetstephstuff

~ if you wished to be added, please let me know!

[talisnessie]

Into the Wild

..but what if it wasn't Tigerclaw?

Prologue

Cold and hungry, a desperate mew drowned by a yapping dog was deafened by the rumbles that could only be described as monstrous. The bundle of fur wriggled in fear, thrashing its tiny paws out before being dropped hard. A fury of paws batted at its head.

A foul, hot breath made the kit shrink away. "Quiet!" The voice was most unpleasant, with a dry, scratching rasp. The kit shrank away as the scrawny, patchy she-cat opened her mouth.

Picking the kit back up, she bounded away, stopping on the edge of a fence. The kit raised its head. Tasting the air made them feel hungry. It was crisp and untainted. It wanted to protest for food, feeling dizzy and weak. Though remaining quiet to avoid another confrontation.

The she-cat adjusted her stance, tightening her grip on the bundle before leaping into the luscious forest. The kit opened its mouth before reeling away. The smells of many cats overwhelmed it, causing it to thrash in fear.

"Pest!" The kit flew from the she-cat, rolling over into a white blanket that chilled it to its bone. The bundle of fur crouched down low, shivering as the she-cat towered over the poor kit.

"You will earn your worth... it's the least you can do after what you've done to me!" The she-cat rasped before touching noses with the kit, who resisted every urge to flinch away.

"You will become one with them, and when they trust you... I will return." She bent down, licking the top of its head. "Don't let me down." She turned, scampering away. The kit desperately tried to follow, only to find its paws heavy and cold. It cried out, hoping its mother would return.

Pitiful cries rang out across the forest, too weak from the harsh cold and hunger. Letting out one last cry, it let its head fall onto its paws. Until it was lifted from the ground.

Underneath the half moon, Bluestar gazed up at the sky. Eyes flicking, searching the sky. A pretty tortoiseshell she-cat bounded up gracefully, letting out a soft mew to alert Bluestar of her presence.

"Spottedleaf..? How is Mousefur?" The blue cat's pelt reflected the moonlight in an ethereal glow. Yet, no matter how magnificent her appearance was, the quiver in her voice betrayed the mortal fears that plagued her and her cats.

Bluestar was able to fool many cats into thinking she held no fears, but nothing could slip past her medicine cat. "She had a couple of deep wounds but is young and a fierce fighter. She will recover," Spottedleaf laid her tail reassuringly across her leader's back. They will all recover, Bluestar."

Bluestar let out a breath stuck inside her chest, tucking her paws underneath her, her eyes never breaking from the sky. "Are you trying to communicate with Starclan?" Spottedleaf asked, sitting beside her leader and joining her in her night watching.

"Thunderclan has not lost a war in its territory until I became leader." Bluestar's tail lashed to and from. "You mustn't take it too hard, Bluestar. Riverclan has always been looking to claim that land as its own. It was only a matter of time." Spottedleaf's soft and warm voice soothed many sick kits and injured warriors, yet her leader wasn't eased by such surface-level comforts.

"Only a matter of time," Bluestar scoffed, her head turned up at Spottedleaf, glaring at her medicine cat, who calmly held her leader's gaze. "New-leaf is late and with fewer kits in camp..." Bluestar's tail drooped as she trailed off, the confidence ebbing away just like a mouse caught in a fox's den, "Starclan has not reached out to me," Bluestar spoke again. Her blue eyes searched Spottedleaf. The medicine cat understood the words unsaid and shook her head, answering, "They have not communicated with me either."

Spottedleaf lifted her head towards the sky just as a shooting star shot through just above her. Spottedleaf's fur stood on end as she watched the star rip through the sky. She watched as the darkness of the Silverpelt started to fall towards her.

With broad and fearful eyes, she looked towards Bluestar and noticed she was gone. She and the clan had to seek shelter to avoid the darkness and weight of the sky falling onto them. She lifted her head and opened her mouth to wail out a warning, but when her eyes panned up to the sky, she was stricken with terror and dismay, as the sky was just at her nose.

Before it could smother her with the void-filled afterlife, the shooting star shot back and stopped just above Spottedleaf's nose. The star slowly began to flicker until it burst with a hungry yet calculated flame that danced weakly. Yet, despite the small size, it burned brightly, causing Spottedleaf to yelp and jump back from the heat on her nose. The grass around her burned in a perfect circle when her paws landed.

When she looked back up, the fallen sky began to rise again. The further the flame rose, the brighter the small flame burned. Spottedleaf's eyes reflected the brilliant light as the stars twinkled and whispered the same words over and over in every direction as the flame began to swirl in the starry night. Spottedleaf watched as the small flame began to grow and bend around the night sky as if putting it back together, weaving in and out before it started to connect the stars. It took Spottedleaf a moment until she realized that it began to resemble a cat. When the flame made its connections, the flame moved down and placed itself just below its neck, as if it was resting against something.

When she opened her mouth to speak, the flame extinguished, and she was suddenly back on the high rock with an eager-looking Bluestar to her left. The flame she saw still reflected in her brilliant amber orbs.

Bluestar watched Spottedleaf, who stood looking out at the sky with each strand of fur spiked up. The moment Bluestar saw her pupils enlarge, she knew she was receiving a message, and in respect, she kept her mews quiet. Once Spottedleaf's head lowered, Bluestar dropped her tail over the tortoiseshell cat's shoulders, "Are you okay?" Bluestar asked in a motherly soothing tone. Spottedleaf nodded slowly; while she was physically back, her eyes seemed distant, as if trying to piece together what she saw.

"What did they say?" Bluestar asked, climbing to her feet. Spottedleaf blinked before taking a breath as she recovered. "Fire alone can save our clan."

"Fire?" Bluestar blinked and shook her head. "But the fire is feared by all clans!" Bluestar stated, shocked and almost outraged. "How could fire save us?" Spottedleaf sat down, cleaning her ears and flatting the fur that had risen along her spine.

"I am not sure, Bluestar, but this was the message I received," Spottedleaf admitted, looking at her leader. Bluestar looked from her medicine cat and then back up to the sky, seeing Starclan twinkle from above. "If that's what they told you, then.." Bluestar said quietly, "Fire will save our clan."

Spottedleaf looked at Bluestar, debating on whether or not she should confide in her leader in what she saw.. but how could she if she didn't have answers to the question that would inevitably be asked of her?

Her ears flicked as she opened her mouth before Bluestar turned and smiled at Spottedleaf, her blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "I would be lost without you, Spottedleaf." The medicine cat shuffled her paws slightly before dipping her head respectfully, "I will always guide your paw steps, Bluestar."

Bluestar purred and pressed her nose respectfully to Spottedleaf shoulder. "Rest, I fear that you will have your paws full in the morning." Spottedleaf watched as Bluestar settled back on the highrock, her eyes gazing up at the stars. Spottedleaf bowed her head and padded to her den.

Allegiances

Base credit goes to SuperArtsi on Deviant Art. Click the link below if you wish to use it.

Design credits go to the wonderful WCAnimated and their artist team. Check out their carrd linked below.

This story will not be a one by one recreation. While some plot points may be the same, it will not be the same book. This is my retelling! I hope you enjoy 💖

'If you wish to be alerted when the next installment will drop, let me know if you want to be added to the pings list!

Ping list: @sweetstephstuff @doctorsoul29