The journey towards the so called River-clan cats camp was slow yet swift. Orchid carried sun by the yellow she-cat’s scruff, her paws brushing the ground. She refused to let any other cat carry her closest friend when she could barely trust them. Her paws felt numb as they were pressed against the ground that continuously seemed to get colder with each step. Up ahead she could hear the rush of water from which she guessed was a river. Her ears flicked at the silent conversations the other cats were having that she could hear clearly. “This is dumb, we barely have enough prey to feed ourselves…We’ll just be slowed down… should’ve let them die” Her mouth twitched in a snarl of annoyance but she kept silent as they continued to walk. It hadn’t been long before they reached the river.

As they stood on a group of large stones that lay together and were warmed by the sun. Orchid took in her surroundings, noticing how there was a area that seemed to be completely different behind them, full of trees and grass and cut off at a very large scent marker where just sand and stones remained, that was until you’d crossed the river. On the other side there was a story riverbank with sand and past that was lush green grass. Her sharp eyes caught the huge red bundle of reeds that acted as walls for something. Orchid guessed that was the camp. She realized the group of cats had stopped and were glaring at something. Her eyes followed their gaze instinctively and she spotted them.

There in the distance stood a group of four cats who glared angrily back at them. She could sense the hostility in the air as if it were fog and scraped her claws against the stone. She met the eyes of a bright orange gaze who looked surprised and confused but immediately tore it away when she narrowed her eyes daringly. The cat murmured something to the leader of the patrol and they dispersed in seconds. The River-clan cats gave cruel purrs of amusement as if they thought they had scared the patrol away. “They know we’re stronger than them, that’s why they avoid us and is why we won sunningrocks over from those burrow mice!” Some cat said and there were yowls of agreement ,only Orchid and GhostStorm stayed quiet, finding the careless cats a annoyance.

GhostStorm waved their tail and the cats immediately fell quiet. “Enough of that, we should head back to the camp before the sun fades and it gets colder.” They said, drawing their gaze up to the sky that was beginning to get cloud with large dark clouds. Orchid wondered with excitement if it would snow, her whiskers twitching in amusement. She’d only seen snow twice in her life but it melted the very next day due to the area she lived in being warmer than this forest in Leaf-bare. She noticed the cats continuing their journey and followed them quietly. As they approached the river, GhostStorm stopped her with their tail and angled their ears towards a hidden burrow “you can use that to get across the lake, it leads under the river and out the other side” They said before trotting after their clan-mates and slipping into the water. Orchid nodded then turned towards the hole. She ignored how cold the ground felt as she crouched slightly and crawled into the tunnel, sun still in her grasp.

...

“Stay here, I’ll go get Reedstar, err, our leader” GhostStorm said as Orchid settled near the entrance of the camp with Sun laying at her paws, still unconscious. She could hardly ignore the hostile glares sent in her direction and she avoided making eye contact with the cats by cleaning her fur, wincing as her still healing wounds burned in protest. She had made her fur decent enough to be presentable when she heard paw steps approaching. She lifted her gaze and was met by a pair of sharp green-blue eyes. She had to admit she was caught off guard as her tail and ears twitched quickly in surprise that only lasted a second. She stared at the red and white she-cat that stood in front of her calmly.

“ You’re the rouge my warriors brought in correct? I am Reedstar of River-clan and GhostStorm has made a request that you join our clan and serve us a member until your friend is able to recover. Though you haven’t earned my trust yet. I ask that you-" Reedstar was cut off by a yowl and all heads turned towards the entrance. There stood a blood covered small gray and black cat with smoky amber eyes that were clouded by pain. “Ashpaw, what’s going on?” Reedstar mewed quickly and darted past Orchid who was incredibly confused. Who were all these cats?

“Thunder-clan…Ambush…Sunning rocks” The gray cats words came out in pants before he lifted his head “We need help!” He said, and with that collapsed there and then, unconscious from exhaustion. By the time the Small Tom had hit the ground, FaintEar was at his side and carrying him towards a den that smelled of herbs. In the confusion, Orchid failed to notice Reedstar leaping up onto a ledge that hung over the camp and yowl some sort of summoning. “Cats of River-clan! It seems that those burrow mice have finally decided to try and steal back Sunning rocks! They cowardly ambushed one of our patrols, thinking we wouldn’t know. We will fight back! GhostStorm and I will take two separate patrols..” Orchid hardly listened to the rest of the leaders words and was more confused about the fact why those simple pile of rocks where so important.

She perked her ears a she noticed Reedstar approaching her. “You there" she said. “I will consider GhostStorm’s offer if you do one thing; you help us fight.” The words feel upon nearly deaf ears as she stared at the red in white face in shock. The shock faded in heartbeats as she thought carefully about it. If she entered the battle and came back alive, Sun would be safely able to recover, and if she didn’t come out alive, she was sure Reedstar would keep her promise and guarantee sun’s safety even after her death. She wasn’t sure how strong the opposing clan were, but she was sure she could take them one at a time. With a sigh she met the sharp gaze and nodded. “I will help you fight” Approval flashed in the leaders gaze and she nodded. “Then let us charge in with claws and fangs sharper than thorns and Cries ready for war!”

End Of Chapter