A Place to Stay

[Tiger]

Rockfang trudged through the snow-covered ground. Her breathing was a bit heavy, but she had gotten a little better since the fire. This area of the No-Cat's-Land had more snow than BeachClan did. She actually had to lift her feet to be able to walk across the land. Snowflakes landed in the deputy's tortoiseshell pelt, lightening the tone. She was wandering aimlessly through the land with the rest of the clan. Where were those rogues Owlspot had told them about? Weren't they supposed to come?

Towards the back of the group was Quailpaw. She almost had to jump to get through the drifting snow. Her fur, despite being long, was too thin to sufficiently insulate her against the cold. The apprentice had been shivering all day and hoped that they would find a place to sleep. She didn't fancy camping out in snowdrifts or without any shelter at all. Nervously, she looked around for her mentor, Rainfeather, and winced; the glare was almost too bright to bear. She wanted to cry for help but there was nobody to help. All of AquaClan was in the same boat. They were like kits who had lost their mother: nobody was there to guide them.

[Lexie]

Browntail had Redfoot leaning on his shoulder. "We'll find you a nice warm den really soon." He promised to his mother, at least he hoped. His paws ached and felt like they were frozen.
Dragonpaw was next to Quailpaw. "It's to cold for us to be out here." He was shivering. He was a lot bigger than Quailpaw and felt bad she had to jump to get through the snow. "We're lucky Icestar let Redwind and her kits stay with them so they didn't freeze out here." He wanted to imagion the warmth she is probably feeling right now, just to try and stop the cold.
Shadowsoul was carring Twilightkit in her jaws. Dragonpaw noticed that Rainkit was complaining about something. He sighed and walked over and picked her up by the scuff. "Let go of me you big furball!" Dragonpaw wouldn't let go, even though she was almost an apprentice it didn't mean she still wasn't a kit. Stop complaining! He couldn't quite say it because the furball was in his mouth.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

(( I'll bring in Spider c: Let's just say he's sleeping in an old badger den with Nightshade. Owlspot could of warned them several days before. ))

Long legs proved useful in moving through the growing layer of thick snow. The black fur on his legs was wet and cold was seeping into his bones. Spider shivered from his nose down to his tail-tip. The rogue was hungry and miserable, unhappy about being dragged from his warm den by that blasted spotted tom and his one-eyed companion. He couldn't see Owlspot amongst the cats that were travelling up the hillside. Spider was moving down the slope to the side of the AquaClan cats, ready to join their group. He wasn't too keen on the idea of helping the Clan cats but he susposed that if it was any other cat he would of happily led them to safety. The cold weather was an issue though. With a sigh he took a deep breath and called out to the cats. "Greetings AquaClan!"

[Lexie]

Browntail flinched of the sound of the rouge. "Spider!" He was actually pleased to see the tom. "How's Nightshade? It looks like you two have taken care of yourselves." He didn't want to sound rude but the rouger looked awful. He could see his rib cage.
"Rouge!" Redfoot yowled. "No it's okay! Spider is our friend!" Browntail meowed loudly. "Do you know where we can stay for the night?" He wanted to get his clan to safety.
"Spider!" Dragonpaw tried to say, though Rainkit was in his mouth. The tom raced up beside Browntail and purred. Finally, maybe some help!

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Spider grimaced and tilted his head in a gesture which read not that great. He had only eaten a tiny mouse that morning and had contemplated eating the snow just to fill his stomach. His usually bright yellow eyes were dull and he yanwed loudly. "We're doing better than you lot are. I can lead you to the barn but Faunus and his weird city friend might not be happy to see you all." He glanced at the large tortoiseshell known as Rockfang and just hoped she didn't remember him from the battle. It had taken Dream moons before she was allowed to go outside again.

[Tiger]

"Hello all," Nightshade meowed cheerfully. She was from a very cold climate and seemed to be faring better in the snowy weather than her companion, despite being thin as well. The rogue quickly scanned the group of clan cats before whispering to Spider, "Have I met Faunus? I don't think I've been to the barn before."

Rockfang eyed the two suspiciously. They looked vaguely familiar but she couldn't quite put her paw on it. Perhaps she had seen them at the battle? Still, Owlspot had vouched for these two black cats; the clan had nowhere else to turn anyways. Being led by rogues is better than nothing.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Spider turned to smile at Nightshade, her cheerfullness raising his spirit rather dampening it like it would to other cats. "Not face to face," he whispered to her," But he was at the battle on the Clans' side. I'll introduce you when we get to the barn. There'll probably be more food there." He was mentally drooling over the taste of a rich, plump mouse. During leaf-bare the twolegs stored feed and hay in the rickety building so that they could keep it dry from the rains. Mice filled the place, eating the grains.

[Lexie]

Browntail looked at Spider. "Lead the way." He wanted to get out of the snow so badly. His mother too, she was shivering and she probably couldn't take it any longer. "Hurry up!" Redfoot snapped. "Shh! They're helping us!" Browntail growled. He didn't like his mother's rudeness. At least they can actually help us.
Shadowsoul looked at Rockfang. Is this safe! She didn't want her kits to die out here. She maybe should just trust them for the shelter.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Spider frowned and glared at Redfoot, unhappy at being bossed around by some old she-cat. If she was going to be like that the whole time she could stay in the snow. He sighed and rose his head up to look around at the large group of cats. "Everybody! I'm Spider and I'll be leading you today," he yowled out," Let's get moving now. If anybody has any questions or problems feel free to ask." Spider turned to look at Nightshade and smiled lightly. "Did you ever think you'll be leading a Clan?" he asked quietly.

[Tiger]

"Not really," Nightshade replied jovially, fluffing her coat and leaping forward so that she was in step with Spider. "If we were to go by Clan terms, we're Spiderstar and Nightstar." The black she-cat smirked, kicking up snow with her heels. She had enjoyed doing that back in MountainClan and was glad to be able to do it here as well. One of the things she had missed about her old home was the year-round cold climate.

Rockfang trudged after the rogues, grumbling softly to herself. She would have preferred to be lead by Jaystar or even one of the other AquaClanners, but the fact that this was a life-or-death situation kept her quiet. Quailpaw, on the other hand, was struggling through the white cover and practically had to jump to get through the snow. She was tiring quickly but at least she was young and determined.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

The long black tom bounded forward, the sound of ice crunching underneath his paws making him more eager to move forward. Spider was happily imagining himself as a great beast destroying the wicked snow. He glanced at Nightshade, dipping his head to her as he had seen cats do to others of a higher position. "Lovely Nightstar, we shall lead our Clan across the hills to the great barn that will provide sanctuary and shelter to these poor distressed individuals!" he meowed loudly.

[heartnet]

Rainfeather came up beside Quailpaw, her head bowed against the cold winds. The white spots on her pelt could be mistaken for snow which stuck to her fur, almost blending her into their surroundings. Her delicate frame looked like she would collapse any moment but her expression was determined. She glanced to the apprentice, nudging her shoulder to get her attention. "Walk a little behind me, it'll create a path through the snow so you don't use so much energy." she said, smiling slightly, her whiskers tinged with snow in which she twitched to shake it off. She glanced up to the rogues that were now leading them, shaking her head. "Who would ever imagine this.."

"This will be a great story for elders to tell." Stormstrike murmured, the smaller warrior on the other side of the she-cat. Being smaller in size, it was dificult for him as well to pad through the snowdrifts. His limp was even more noticiable, the cold seeming to affect it more. But it didn't stop him as he kept pace just as much as the others. He looked to Nightshade and Spider, grinning at the sight of them acting like apprentices.

[Lexie]

Browntail looked at Spider. His eyes were cloudy and dull. He looked around his clanmates. Stormstrikes limp was showing, they all look hungry and tired, and they had a litter of six moon old kits. Great, what a clan we got. He almost thought of his life if he was still a rouge. He would probably become a loner and live in the barns like most cats.

Dragonpaw walked slowly. "We need to get going!" He noticed Rainkit was freezing. Her grey coat was thin and rough. Not the best pelt you would want for leaf-bare. Shadowsoul noticed Rainkit's shiver. "Rainkit!" Great here comes Shadowsoul to the rescue. Dragonpaw wanted to say it so badly. Shadowsoul made snow burst and spread everywhere. She had Twilightkit in her mouth and was also planning to put Rainkit in her mouth. "I got her!" Dragonpaw was trying to talk with the scrap of fur in his mouth. Shadowsoul frowned. She started to walk, beside Dragonpaw. Why did she not trust him?

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Spider turned around, startled at Shadowsoul's shout. He quickly gathered that something had happened to a kit (Clan names were useful for something!) and he darted over, leaping over the snow and causing it spray up. "What's happened?" he meowed loudly, glancing at each of the cats in question. His long black tail flicked from side to side with agitation in knowing that if anything happened to these cats it would be his fault. Spider grimaced at the sight of Rainkit shivering in Dragonpaw's jaws. "Let me take her," he told the young tom," I'm much bigger than you, you'll end up dragging her in the snow." He glanced at the black she-cat beside him, the kit's mother.

[Tiger]

"Thanks," Quailpaw meowed gratefully to her mentor. She was beginning to feel more and more like she belonged in AquaClan. They were all suffering through the knee-high snow, but at least they would have to endure it together. The apprentice would occasionally catch a glimpse of the two cats leading the clan. Their black pelts were both glossy in the mid-afternoon sun and they certainly seemed rather well-fed. I wonder if we'll be looking like that. "Are you okay, Stormstrike?"

Nightshade smiled. Lovely Nightstar... Well, it just sounded so nice when Spider said it. She spend a moment daydreaming before a yelp jolted her out of her reverie. Spider ran after the kit whose name had been shouted and she turned around to watch him, walking backwards now. She saw him offering to help one of the queens with her kit and sighed softly. He's so sweet.

[Lexie]

Dragonpaw smiled and sat Rainkit down. "She's all yours." He was happy to get that little brat out of his mouth. Rainkit landed into the snow. "It's cold!" She growled. The gray she-cat really didn't like a lot of the Aquaclan cats. They all treated her badly. Dragonpaw never helped her out. Owlspot had always gave her an additude. She really didn't like that one Beachclan cat either. Coppertail was his name. She didn't like a lot of cats.
Shadowsoul nodded to Spider, looking worried. Maybe I can trust him to take care of my kit, if not, he's got a claw in his throat. She hated letting cats she didn't know even look at her. Now that she's letting him carry her kits, that makes her a little on the wierd side. Twilightkit on the other hand, was fast asleep being carried in her mother's mouth, yet she was getting bigger, her tail was in between her feet so no snow had covered the black kit.

[heartnet]

Stormstrike glanced over to Quialpaw, smiling warmly. "I'm alright Quailpaw. Just an old injury acting up." He says with a shrug, his eyes getting a faded look, remembering the event. Fighting cats every, yowls and the smell of blood overwhelming. Then a rogue...Deadsoul had been his name...taunting him, slamming him into tree...Then the throbbing of his leg brought him out of the memory. "Just an old injury." he murmured, looking back ahead and picking up his pace.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

{ BAWW <3 Tiger! Nightshade is so adorable ;D }

"I'll look after her, I swear," Spider promised the queen. He turned to the grey kit (although she must of been nearly two seasons old) and gave a friendly smile. "Rainkit is it? Well, I'll keep you nice and dry. No need to worry!" Gently as possible, he grasped the scruff of her neck in between his teeth and pulled her up and out of the snow. The poor thing was lighter than he expected, practically skin and bones. He padded back over to Nightshade, trying to move smoothly and keep above the snow. Spider was feeling quite awkward with Rainkit in his mouth as he had never carried a kit before and wasn't sure if he was doing it right. Plus, if he hurt the young cat her mother would kill him. "Look Nighstarh!" he meowed with gritted teeth through the fur, "Fish one's called Rainkit!"

[Tiger]

((XD Thanks!))

"How cute!" she meowed, looking at Rainkit. "Hi, Rainkit!" Nightshade was rather fond of kits; who wasn't? They're all just so adorable and cuddly-looking...but this poor one is so skinny. Awww. We'll find her some food. Some for her siblings and her mom too, of course. And for her clan... Joyously, she leapt up in the air and kicked out her heels, landing smoothly despite the spray of snow that flew up from his paws.

[Lexie]

Rainkit smiled at Spider. She actaully liked this cat. He was nice and gental to her. "Hi!" Her reply to the she-cat made her purr. She wanted to find this barn so badly and eat a nice mouse. Then she heard a yowl. "The barn!" It was Browntail. The one-eyed tom's eye was wide, while his other part of his head was all swollen and naked. The grey kit quivered in Spider's mouth. "I'm happy you could carry me!" She thanked Spider and the she-cat. "What's your name anyway?" She turned her head toward the she-cat, her blue eyes sparkling.
Browntail burst nothing but snow out of his path. "Too bad the barn doesn't have a shortfall of prey!" He was joking while his mouth watered. Redfoot limped next to Dragonpaw. Dragonpaw was watching his friend take the lead.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Spider placed Rainkit gently on the ground. There was a small path curling through the grass where the ground was visable and the snow had melted a little. "Oh it was nothing," he meowed to the gray kit, grinning happily. "Nightst-shade is her name. Do you like her? I think she's wonderful." He glanced up at the black she-cat, his eyes twinkling.

"Shoosh mice. You're too loud," mumbled somebody in their sleep. A brown tom was lying on his back in a nest made of old hay and wool. He flicked his ears several times, trying to get around of the faint sound of voices. Faunus groaned loudly and opened his brown eyes open. It seemed he had visitors. He rolled onto his stomach, rose and with a flick of his tail he padded over to the old barn door. It was bolted shut but there was a missing panel which proved a great entry. He glanced outside and a look of disbelief crossed his face. "Cats! Lot's of cats!" he meowed.

[Lexie]

Browntail pounced through a broken window and landed into some hay. He opened his mouth and smelled the air quickly. He smiled and poked his head out the window. "Cost is clear." With no Twolegs in sight he let out a yowl, so most of the cats were able to hear.
"Careful! You'll scare all the mice away!" Redfoot snarled. "And how do you expect me to jump through that window!" The elder was not too happy with staying in that barn, but it was better than staying the cold, freezing snow. Her feet were freezing from the fact of the white stuff on her pelt. White doesn't go too well with elders.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Wait!" Spider called, runnning after Browntail. The tom may of been a rogue for a short time but obviousily he had forgotten the first rule about heading into buildings or gardens: there's rarely nobody there. Twoelgs hardly ever used the barn except when the farm animals needed a place to stay so the most common inhabitant of the barn was other cats. Cats who may not be happy about having their home invaded. He leapt onto the thin windowsill and looked back at Nightshade. "There's a door around the side," he told her," They can go through there." He jumped down, his paws stirring up a cloud of dust on the broken floorboards.

Faunus whirled around, his fur britstling. The cat before him carried a Clan scent but it was the cat himself who bothered him. He was that one-eyed tom who attacked the Clans with Burntstar! "What do you want?" he snarled, creeping forward. Muscles rippled under his well-groomed coat. His ears swirveled as another cat appeared on the sill. The slender black tom jumped down and quickly moved in front of the Clan cat.
"Spider?" Faunus meowed, frowning as he recognised him. He had been friends with the black tom before he had been forced to leave the Rogue Nest. He hadn't seen him since his departure until the battle. Faunus's loyalty to RainClan made all cats from BurntClan his enemy, including his old friend.
"It's okay!" Spider meowed loudly," He's with me. He joined AquaClan again, we're friends with them. Not enemies." Faunus relaxed and sat down, curling his tail over his paws.
"You brought the whole Clan here with you, didn't you? Wait! The fire, of course! You're bringing them here so they have somewhere to stay."
"Yes!" the black rogue meowed, nodding happily. "They can stay here can't they? There's elders and kits and they're really cold Faunus."
The loner nodded and jumped to his feet. "Why are we talking?! Get them inside!"
"Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!" Spider sung, turning and leaping back onto the sill then back outside.

[Tiger]

Nightshade ran after Spider, still thinking about his comment. "Do you like her? I think she's wonderful." She was smiling peacefully and barely noticed the fact that she nearly ran into a sleeping Burmese tom. "Is this Faunus and his--friend?" she asked Spider, eying both of the toms suspiciously.

Henry yawned widely and awoke. "Who are dey?" he asked grumpily. "An' why are dey here? Somebody tell me somethin'!" He was not accustomed to clan life and knew nothing of it. As far as he could tell, these cats were just some intent on living in his barn and stealing his prey. He was not afraid to be hostile to the other cats and fluffed his pelt but did not unsheathe his claws.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Calm yourself Henry!" Faunus cried, bounding across the length of the barn. It appeared his 'den-mate' had just met one of Spider's new friends. However, her scent was not that of AquaClan and he recognised her as the pretty she-cat that was at the battle. He couldn't help but be curious why she was with the Clan cats, unless, no! she was with Spider? He chuckled at the thought and nudged Herny with a paw. "These are our new denmates. They have no home so I told Spider they could stay here. Isn't that nice?" he meowed.

Spider reappeared beside Nightshade, calling out to the AquaClan cats that they could come through the door. He hadn't even noticed the Burmese sleeping until Nightshade asked him. "Ah yes," he meowed absently before actually taking in what she had said. "Wait? And friend? Who now? What?" He was just as baffled as the other cat was, Herny it seemed. That's what Faunus had called him anyway.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

{ Bump! This is important plot stuff, don't forget it. }

[Tiger]

"His 'weird city friend' you told me about," she whispered. "Is the brown one the city cat? He talks kind of funny. And if he is, does that mean that the one with the collar is Faunus?" Nightshade was nervously watching the loners from the corner of her eye. They had better not try anything against them. Hopefully, they would have hospitality to so many cats arriving...

"Yeah," Henry meowed absentmindedly. "Nice." He was thinking that it was a bad move. These clan cats hung out together and apparently shared a rather tight bond. Big groups of cats congregating had always meant bad news in his old home. They would wander the streets and pick fights for fun. They could turn the most competent fighter into mere crowfood.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Spider stared blankly at her, trying to remember exactly what he had said. He said alot things, barely any of it he remembered. "I suspose he is the city cat because Faunus is the one with the collar. I think they'll be okay with us staying here, Faunus said it was fine," he whispered. He sensed Nightshade was nervous and lightly touched his nose to her shoulder. She's probably not that confident around new cats, especially loners and rogues. Clan breeding runs deep I guess.

Faunus frowned at Henry and tilted his head. The tom didn't sound very sincere. "They're Clan cats, Henry. They're all about honor, respect and loyalty. If you don't annoy them they won't hurt you," he told him, giving the Burmese a playful nudge. "They owe us now. So come on, let's go see our new friends. Who knows? There might be some pretty she-cats."
He laughed and turned away, padding out into the snow.

[Tiger]

"Okay," Nightshade meowed, still apprehensive. She relaxed a little when Spider touched her shoulder and she smiled, momentarily forgetting all of the strangers around her.

Henry looked at Faunus quizically. "Well, I guess I'll haveta meet 'em," he meowed absentmindedly. "We never 'ad any cats like dat where I came from." He smirked at the comment about pretty she-cats. "Alright. Let's go." Slightly more optimistic, he bounded out after the tom to watch the AquaClan cats arrive.

[Lexie]

Browntail helped Shadowsoul bring Mousekit into the barn, while the queen carried Twilightkit. Shadowsoul found a corner where she made a small nest to place her kits. Twilightkit yawned as she sat down. Dragonpaw pounced through the window and stood beside Spider.

Maddie walked through a crack in the one part of the wall. She looked at all the cats. What are all these cats doing in the barn? "Henry? What are all these cats doing in here?" She had a soft tone. After Ralf going to one of the clans, she's been very quiet and lonely. She has lived in this barn for a long time, and she's known these cats for a long time too. Then she sniffed the air. Clan sent.