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Chapter Text

Tiny was snuffling at the ground. This place didn't seem so scary, not at all like what Mama had told him. Suddenly, he heard cats approach and spun around, eyes wide. There were three cats there, a dark gray-and-white tom, a blue-gray molly and a dark brown tabby tom. The tabby seemed young, although still much older than him.

"Hello! My name is Tiny, who are you?" He blinked happily, tail held high.

The young tabby tom bristled, and the big gray-and-white cat had unsheathed his claws. The blue-gray molly also seemed very tense. What was going on?

Suddenly, the big gray-and-white tabby growled at Tiny. "What are you doing here? This is Thunder Colony territory!"

Tiny was confused. What was the older cat talking about? 

"Thistle Claw, he's only a kit. He's no threat." The blue-gray molly pleaded with her companion. Thistle Claw? What a strange name, Tiny thought.

"An intruder is an intruder, Blue Fur! You've always been too soft." The spiky furred tabby growled. He then turned to the younger tom. 

"Here, let's ask my apprentice. What do you think, Tiger? How should we handle this?"

"I think the kittypet should be taught a lesson." The young tom, Tiger, hissed. More of these strange names. "One it'll remember." Tiny shivered. He remembered the "lessons" his siblings taught him. 

The blue-gray molly stepped forward. "Now, hold on, there's no need for this--" 

Thistle Claw turned on her, arching his back. "Shut up!"

Suddenly, Tiger lunged at Tiny, sending him flying like one of the toys he and his siblings liked to play with. He skidded across the rough earth and landed, gasping for breath. He tried to scramble to his paws, his tail bushed in terror.

But Tiger pounced on him again, pinning him to the ground. With claws sharper than anything Tiny had ever known, the brown tabby swiped at his muzzle and raked his flank. Tiny let out a squeal of agony.

"Show it your teeth, Tiger." Thistle Claw goaded. Why were they hurting him? What had he done wrong?

Tiger sunk his teeth into Tiny's shoulder and hauled him to his paws. Tiny yowled and struggled, his paws scrabbling helplessly on the ground until the tabby, amber eyes gleaming, flung him away. Blood welled scarlet along his wounds, and Tiny pressed his belly to the ground. He wished he could just vanish. Why had he ever left his house? He should've just let the housefolk throw him in the river, it would probably hurt less.

He saw the young tom pad grimly towards him and prepared himself for more pain. Suddenly, the blue-gray molly ran past her younger companion and positioned herself in front of Tiny. "Stop, Tiger!" she hissed and bared her teeth. "That's enough." The molly growled, seemingly prepared to fight her own companions in defense of Tiny.

"Warriors don't need to kill to win a battle, remember?"

The young tabby halted his approach and glared at her. "I was just defending our territory."

"And you've done that." Blue Fur reasoned with him. "This kit has learned his lesson."

Tiny stood up on shaking paws and nodded, gazing at Tiger with terror in his eyes.

"Yeah." Tiger agreed. He leered at Tiny. "You'll never forget me."

Tiny ran, as fast as his paws could carry him. Mama had been right. Wild cats were terrifying. If that blue-gray molly hadn't intervened when she had-- no, Tiny wouldn't even think of it. All he knew was that he had to get away.

He hadn't even noticed how far he had ran until he felt the wind in his fur. As he looked up, he noticed he was on a wide moor. He had stopped to catch his breath, crouching down into the grass. Then, he noticed something. The scent of cats. 

Had the wild cats come to finish him off? He made himself smaller than he already was, closing his eyes and simply hoping it would be quick. But he did not feel any claws piercing his skin. Instead, he heard voices. 

"Did you smell that?" A cat. They sounded older. Why had they not attacked him yet? Maybe they didn't know he was there. He pressed himself even closer to the ground.

"Smell what?" A second voice. How many of them were there? This one sounded younger.

"I smell a cat. Kittypet, male, and young. Can't be more than a few moons old." The first cat again. The cats were getting closer. Tiny could tell that there were four of them now. Three adults, one younger.

"A few moons? That can't be right. I know Twolegs don't let their kittypets out of the nest that young." The second cat again. He sounded sure of himself. What were these Twolegs they were talking about? He knew that kittypet referred to housecats, so maybe Twoleg was what these cats called housefolk?

"Are you doubting my nose, Tall Tail? I know you spent a few moons away from the colony, but you can't have unlearned all your respect in that short time." The first voice scolded the second cat, Tall Tail aparrently. Did all the wildcats have such strange names? The ones from before had similar names.

"No, Red Claw. I apologize." The voices were getting very close now. Tiny shivered. This had to be the end. 

Suddenly, a nose appeared in his face. It was a younger cat, a black tom with green eyes. He seemed similar in age to Tiger, the cat that had so brutally attacked Tiny earlier, but without the anger in his eyes.

"I found him!" the young tom called. Suddenly, three more cats appeared. A small dark ginger tom, a light-gray molly and a slender black-and-white tom. These cats looked much the same as the ones from the forest. Terrifying. But they didn't seem angry.

Tiny lifted his head slightly, as the molly began to speak.

"Hello there, are you lost? We can help you get back to your mommy."

At hearing the first kind word spoken in a while, Tiny began to cry. He told these strange cats everything. About how his siblings treated him, about his Mama and what she told him, about the river, the cats in the forest.

"Throwing unwanted kits in the river, I can't believe how rotten Twolegs are." the oldest tom, Red Claw, grumbled.

"Why don't you come with us? Im sure if we explain everything to our leader, she'll let you stay." the slender black-and-white tom purred. 

Tiny gave a small nod. What else was he supposed to do? He had nowhere to go.

The molly that had spoken so kindly to him earlier picked him up by the scruff, and the cats began to move. Tiny could hear the two younger toms start to talk again, but he was so tired. It wouldn't be so bad if he just closed his eyes for a little while, right?

"He said his father's name was Jake. Wasn't that the cat you travelled with, Tall Tail?" Hop asked, keeping pace next to his mentor.

"It was. I can't believe those Thunder Colony cats attacked him like that. It's against the code to harm kits!" Tall Tail spat. He thought back to his time with Jake. The kit did look a bit like him, especially his one white paw. Secretly, selfishly, Tall Tail hoped that he would be allowed to be the one to take care of Tiny. 

Chapter Text

Tiny woke up with a start. Had it all been a dream? Was he tucked safe inside his bed at his mother's side? 

But he could hear voices all around him, and the events of the previous day came flooding back to him. His sister's taunting about the river, his adventure in the forest and subsequent encounter with Tiger, and his rescue by the moor cats.

He opened one eye slightly and was inmediatly greeted by the sight of wide open moors. The scents flooding his nose were completely different than anything he had ever known. Then, suddenly, a voice.

"Oh, you're awake! I'll get the others." It had been the young black tom who had found him crouched in the grass. Tiny watched as the tom akwardly bounded over to his companions, bowing his head in deference before pointing to Tiny with his tail and meowing something, although Tiny couldn't make out what it was.

Slowly, the older cats made their way back over to Tiny. The black-and-white tom, Tall Tail, spoke first. "We decided to wait until you were awake before heading into our camp, so you don't get too overwhelmed. Are you ready to head in?" 

Tiny gave a small nod. The four older cats turned, heading through a tunnel, and he quietly followed behind them. Suddenly, they were in a wide clearing, filled with more cats than Tiny had ever seen. At their entrance into the camp, some of them turned their heads towards them, clearly surprised by Tiny's presence.

"We're going to go see our leader, Star Heather Step and have a little talk about what's going to happen next." The pale tabby molly meowed. Tiny gave a small nod. More cats were looking at him now, some of them whispering to eachother.

The group walked up to a big light brown tabby tom. Red Claw nodded once and began to speak. "Reed Feather. We need to speak to Star Heather Step. We have found a kittypet kit on our territory. He says that he left his home to avoid grave danger, and was attacked by a Thunder Colony patrol. His wounds seem to corroberate this."

Reed Feather looked over Tiny, a strange look suddenly appearing in his eyes. "I see. She's at the healer's den, talking with Hawk Heart and Bark Face."

Tall Tail suddenly spoke. "I'll escort Tiny there." 

"Fine." Reed Feather meowed. 

Tiny followed Tall Tail to a small outcrop of rocks, where three cats were speaking softly. Tall Tail approached the small pinkish-gray molly, greeting the stone-gray and dark brown tom along the way.

"Star Heather Step, I need to speak with you." He meowed.

"What is it, Tall Tail?" The molly purred, before scenting the air briefly and looking over at Tiny. "Oh."

Tall Tail gave a nod. "This is Tiny. I was part of a patrol that found him hiding in the grass of the moors. He told us he had been attacked by a Thunder Colony patrol, and that he could not return to his Twoleg nest because the Twolegs would throw him in the river."

At this last part, Heather Step looked shocked. "What?"

"Apparently that's what Twolegs do with unwanted kits. I wished to speak to you about him maybe joining our colony- and about me taking him in as my son. I believe that his father was the cat I traveled with during my time away an-and I know it would be difficult but-" The black-and-white tom began to stutter.

"Relax." Heather Step purred. "There's been precedent of outsiders joining, and since he has nowhere else to go, there would be no question about his loyalty. You can be the one to take care of him. He's too young to be without a caretaker anyway, and you're the one with the most experience when it comes to relating to kittypets."

"Thank you, Star Heather Step." Tall Tail meowed. "Tiny, while we're here, why don't you let Hawk Heart and Bark Face take a look at your wounds?"

Tiny gave a small nod, before walking toward the two toms. Everything had become so strange. The stone-gray tom looked him over for a short while, before turning to his companion. "These wounds are luckily not too severe. I think they just need to be cleaned and pressed with a poultice prevent infection. Bark Face, if you would."

The brown tom gave a nod, before bending down and cleaning Tiny. It felt nice. He hadn't been cleaned in a while, not since he left home. No- His old home. If he had understood the molly, this was going to be his home now. Then, he felt the cold shock of Hawk Heart pressing his paws against the kit's wounds. 

Heather Step spoke up again. "Before I call a colony meeting to announce the fact that Tiny is joining, I think it would be wise if his collar were removed."

Oh. Tiny had completely forgotten about his collar. He glanced down at it. It was the last thing  he had from his mother. 

"If you want to, you can bury it in a special place." Heather Step purred. "So you'll always know where it is."

Tiny gave another small nod. That would be nice. Tall Tail stepped toward him and softly grabbed the collar, pulling it forward over Tiny's head. He then dropped it at Tiny's paws. "Do you want to come with me and pick a place to bury it?" He asked.

"Y-yes." Tiny mewed. Tall Tail picked up the small collar before turning and walking toward the exit of the camp, Tiny following closely behind. They entered the moor once again. Tiny looked around, before spotting a flat rock. "There." He meowed.

Tall Tail nodded, and the two toms walked over toward the rock. Tall Tail dug a small hole and dropped the collar inside. "Do you want to be the one who buries it?" He asked Tiny.

"Yes, thank you for asking." Tiny replied before burying the collar back under a layer of dirt. He looked at it, feeling a strange mix of emotions. The two toms then turned back to camp.

Once there, even more cats had become aware of Tiny's presence. Tiny watched as Heather Step jumped onto a large rock. Then, she began to speak.

"Let all cats old enough to sleep beneath the stars gather beneath the Tallrock for a colony meeting!"

At this call, most cats came to gather beneath the large boulder Heather Step was standing on.

"I call you here to announce to you that a new cat shall be joining Wind Colony." At this, some cats looked around in confusion, their eyes landing on Tiny. "Yes, he was a kittypet, but he has left that life all on his own, and we have a duty to care for him as stated in the code."

The gathered colony members began murmuring amongst themselves, some pointing to Tiny's wounds. 

"Now," Heather Step continued. "Tall Tail has offered to take care of this kit. Tall Tail, Tiny, step forward."

Tiny stepped forward, Tall Tail stepping over him. 

Heather Step spoke once more. "Tall Tail, will you promise to take care of this kit with all your strength? Will you teach him our ways, and defend him from any harm that may come his way? Will you comfort him after bad dreams, and be the one to cheer the loudest at his ceremonies?"

"I do, Star Heather Step." Tall Tail meowed, bowing his head.

"Then, with Star Colony as my witness, I accept Tiny into my colony as the charge of Tall Tail." she spoke solemnly. "Meeting dismissed!" she called, before jumping back down onto the clearing. 

The cats in the clearing began speaking to eachother in excited whispers, although some sounded happier than others. Then, Tiny let out a yawn. It was getting dark, and he was tired.
He felt Tall Tail lead him toward a small den situated at the wall of the camp, and curled up on a soft nest made of moss. He felt the large tom curl around him protectively, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Tiny acclimated quickly to life in Wind Colony. Tall Tail was nice to him, just like Mama had been, and while some cats stared at him when he walked through camp, most were polite to him. 

He learned about the code the colony cats followed, and vowed to uphold it. No kit would go through what he had experienced. He learned about Star Colony, the cats who lived in the stars, and the story of Star Wind Runner and Star Gorse Fur, the first leaders of Wind Colony. 

He cheered during Hop Step's warrior ceremony. One day, that would be him.

Today was the day. It was Tiny's apprentice ceremony. He sat perfectly still as Tall Tail groomed him lovingly, making sure not a hair of his fur was out of place. He heard Heather Step call out from atop the Tallrock, the same way she had did on his first day.

"Let all cats old enough to sleep beneath the stars gather beneath the Tallrock for a colony meeting!"

He walked out of the nursery and sat in the middle of the clearing, alongside the other kits who had reached 6 moons of age. 

"Tiny, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. You shall be trained by Apple Dawn in the way of Wind Colony, and she will pass on everything she knows to you. Apple Dawn, you have proven yourself a loyal and fierce warrior, and I expect for you to pass on everything you know to him."

Tiny touched his nose to that of the pale-cream tabby molly. As the voices of the colony chanting their names began to rise up around them, everything else faded away.

It was Tiny's first gathering. He followed behind his mentor as they headed from the camp toward Fourtrees. He chatted alongside his fellow apprentices as they approached the large clearing.

For many some of them, it would be their first time seeing cats from other colonies. It was, however, not Tiny's first time. He had seen cats from other colonies on that fateful day, and even though he was a Wind Colony apprentice now, he occasionally still had nightmares about Tiger's attack.

As they entered the clearing, Tiny was bombarded by different scents and sights. There were more cats gathered there than he had ever seen. He listened carefully to his mentor as she told him about what to do during a gathering, and watched as the colony split up into groups.

He chatted for a while with his denmates and some apprentices from other colonies, listening as everyone talked about how they had caught a piece of prey that was as big as them, or some other great feat.

Then, he heard Heather Step's voice call out from the large boulder in the middle of the clearing. He listened as the leaders rattled off the things that had happened in their clan that moon, from births to deaths, new apprentices and new warriors. 

It was Thunder Colony's turn. Everything was going smoothly, until it came time to name the new warriors. "We also have a new warrior, Tiger Claw." No. No no no no no.

Tiny turned his head in the same direction as the other cats at this announcement. There, sitting proudly, was Tiger. No, Tiger Claw now. The cat that starred in his nightmares. 

Tiny's heart began beating faster and faster. He felt like a piece of prey about to be caught. Logically, he knew that this would have happened one day, but he still didn't feel ready. He made himself small, just like he had done that day, and silently waited until the gathering was over.

When they walked back to camp, Tall Tail came to walk beside him. As they entered camp and settled down, Tiny pressed his head into the taller tom's fur and began to cry.

Reed Feather had died. The vigil had been a special one, since Reed Feather had had kits with a molly from River Colony, and his two daughters had come to sit vigil with Wind Colony. The entire affair was akward, as everyone in the colony knew that Reed Feather despised River Colony ever since they took the kits from him.

It must be weird, Tiny thought, to be torn between two colonies like that. While he himself had been born a kittypet, he had no connection to that life anymore, apart from the sneers he sometimes got from some of the elders. 

Heather Step had called a meeting to appoint a new deputy, as was tradition. "I say these words before Star Colony, so that the spirits of our ancestors and Reed Feather may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of Wind Colony is Tall Tail."

Whispers went through the colony. To some, Tall Tail had still not proven his loyalty after leaving the colony for a few moons. But others soon began chanting Tall Tails name.

"Tall Tail! Tall Tail! Tall Tail!" 

Tiny joined in, yowling his adoptive father's name as loud as he could.

Tiny had passed the assessment given to him by Apple Dawn with ease.

The molly had been a strict mentor, but Tiny knew that she cared for him, in her own way. After the incident at his first gathering, the molly had made sure that he was never left alone during one. It had gotten better over time, as he no longer froze when spotting Tiger Claw or Thistle Claw in the crowds.

He had seen Tall Tail, Apple Dawn and Heather Step talk often. When Heather Step called a meeting that day, he knew it was time.

"I, Star Heather Step, leader of Wind Colony, call upon my ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in turn. Tiny, do you promise to uphold the code and to protect and defend Wind Colony, even at the cost of your life?" She meowed.

In that moment, Tiny thought back to his brother and sister, Socks and Ruby, and how they had bullied him all throughout his kithood. If only they could see him now. "I do." he meowed.

"Then by the powers of Star Colony, I grant you your full name. Tiny, from this moment on you will be known as Tiny Frost. Star Colony honors your loyalty and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Wind Colony." Heather Step walked forward and rested her muzzle on his head. He gave her shoulder a lick, and sat next to Tall Tail, who was purring so loudly Tiny thought all the cats in the forest would be able to hear.

"Tiny Frost! Tiny Frost!" Cats began to chant his name, and as he looked around the camp, he had never felt more proud of himself.

"Now, as is tradition, Tiny Frost shall sit vigil and guard our camp alone tonight." Heather Step mewed.

Tiny Frost gave a solemn nod. He had seen new warriors do this before, and although he knew it would be hard, he also knew seeing the sun rise that dawn would be one of the best feelings of his life.

Tiny Frost watched as his father and Bark Face left the leader's den. Mud Claw had announced Heather Step's death only moments earlier. 

As he headed for her den, he could see One and Morning, Wren Flight's kits, scampering behind her. "Is Star Heather Step really dead?" The tomkit mewed.

"Hush," his mother scolded. "Show some respect."

"But she'll be in Star Colony!" One squeaked. He gazed up at the sky as the stars began to show, and then turned to Tiny Frost. "Do you think she's watching us yet?"  he asked.

Tiny Frost was about to answer him, but turned his head at Bark Face's voice. He saw the healer flick his tail, and watched as the brown tom left the camp towards the direction of Highstones, Tall Tail- No, It would be Star Tall Tail from now on, following after him.

Chapter Text

Ruby's stomach growled. Why had her housefolk left her behind? She had been living with them for a while. She thought everything was going well. Sure, she clawed their kits sometimes, but they were hurting her by pulling on her tail!

She knew Socks' housefolk had moved as well, but they had taken him with them. And Tiny.. She didn't like thinking about Tiny. She had heard he went into the woods and never came out. Her mother had cried for days, talking about how those wild cats that were a scourge on the forest had gotten him.

She wandered the streets of this strange neighbourhood. She noticed the smell of housefolk food coming from an alleyway, and headed down it. Suddenly, two adult cats jumped in front of her. They looked hungry. Strays.

"Get lost, pet scrap!" they hissed. Ruby spat at them, but left nevertheless. She prowled further down the streets, searching for more food, when she heard a voice call out to her.

"Hey! You! Little bit." She turned to see a skinny pale gray molly hunkered down under a box. "Yeah, you heard me. You lost? Want something to eat?"

"You don't mind sharing? Those other cats didn't seem to keen on it." She meowed, still angry.

"Eh, I can't resist kittens down on their luck. C'mere." The molly said, pushing a piece of meat towards Ruby. She bit down on it, and a delicous taste flooded her mouth. "This is great, what is it?" She mewed, mouth still half-full.

"Chicken. I'm suprised you don't know, being a pet and all." There was that word again. The cats from the alley earlier had called her it as well.

"I keep hearing that word. What's a pet?" She asked. 

The older molly chuckled. "It's what you are. A cat that lives with the upwalkers. The collar gives it away. I would ask what you're doing out here, but I prefer minding my own business. It's hard enough surviving on your own. One thing though, I'd suggest getting rid of it. Most cats here have bad blood with upwalkers."

Ruby nodded. She didn't live with housefolk, or upwalkers as the old molly called them, anymore, so she might as well. She first tried grabbing at it with her teeth, but it wouldn't budge.

No matter what she did, the collar remained on her neck. And worse of all, other cats had gathered around them and were laughing at her! She sprung up and spat at them.

"What are you laughing at, huh?" She'd gathered that if she needed to survive out here, she needed to be tough. She hissed at the onlookers one more time before walking off. Suddenly, she smelled something awful. It was a big, nasty old dog.

She made herself large, and spat and swatted at the dog. It ignored her, and when it heard a housefolk's  call, it slowly got up and walked away. When it stood up fully, she could see just how old it was. 

Then, she noticed that one of its teeth had fallen out and dropped on the floor. She grabbed it, and tried to wedge it between the collar and her neck fur. Maybe- Ugh. It had gotten stuck. Stupid collar.

A vision of Tiny entered her mind. He looked so scared the last time she had seen him. She only meant to tease him a little bit, with the quip about the river. She was just upset that he'd get to stay with their mom and she had to move. But he'd taken it seriously and ran away, out into the forest, to get eaten by those wild cats.

The next day, she couldn't find the old molly who had shared chicken with her, so she had decided to play nice with other cats. She padded down an alleyway toward a group of cats gnawing at some old left-over twoleg food.

"Excuse me," she meowed. "May I please share your food?"

The group looked her up and down, their eyes settling on her neck. 

"Where'd that tooth come from?" A pale tabby asked her. 

"Huh? Oh, the tooth. I-" Its now or never, Ruby. What you say now will decide whether these cats let you share, or rip you to pieces. "I ripped it right out of a dog's head!" She boasted. "The dog was going after some food I had stashed away, so I had to put it in its place. It was pretty fierce, but it couldn't stand up to me."

"Once I had taken it down, I pried open its mouth and took this tooth as a trophy. I was planning to finish it off, but an upwalker came and interrupted us. The upwalker tried to take me as its pet, but I taught it a lesson too." She lied. 

"Is that a fact? You defeated a dog, took its tooth, and then fought an upwalker as well? You?" The pale tabby asked.

"Huh. " A cat with mismatched eyes grunted.

"Well, help yourself." A gray tom chuckled.

I don't think they believed that, not fully at least. But they might think there's a little bit of truth hidden in my story, and right now, that's enough. Besides, I don't care what these strays think of me. She thought, chowing down on the scraps the cats had left for her.

Hours went by, and Ruby didn't feel too bad. Her belly was full, and she had found a quiet place to sleep, and old tire. But then, she heard a voice call out to her. Ugh, I should've known that wouldn't last. She thought.

"Hey, you in there. You in the tire." She lifted her head above the tire, her ears pricked up. "Huh? Are you talking to me?"

Standing in front of the tire were two cats, only slightly older than herself. A large black-and-white tom with a large scar between his eyes and a red tabby molly with a huge patch of fur missing in between her shoulders.

"I'm Bone. This is Brick. We wanna speak with you." The tom meowed, his voice rough.

"Uh, okay." Ruby meowed, jumping up on the tire. "About what?"

"Is it true that you fight dogs? Brick meowed. The molly was very skinny, and Ruby could count every one of her ribs.

Ugh, it feels like there's a rock in my stomach. What do I say? Sure, I spat and hissed at that dog, but I didn't fight it. What do I do?  Ruby thought. After a short while, she made up her mind.
"Um.. Yes."

"Good. Please follow us." Brick said, waving her paw.

Although the red molly had asked her politely, Ruby didn't think she had a choice to refuse. She followed after the pair, who led her deeper into the city than she'd ever been before. They then led her down a dark alley.

"A big dog's made it's den here." Brick meowed. "It won't let any of us near the food. We've tried to chase it away, but it's too big, too  strong." Bone chimed in.

"Will you fight the dog for us?" Brick asked. 

Ruby tried to say something, but it felt like her tongue just wouldn't work. It's just as well. She thought, because she didn't know what to say anyways. Did she say yes? Did she say no? How was she supposed to fight a dog?

"Y'know Brick, maybe she was lying the whole time. Maybe she's never fought anything before." Bone growled.

"Either way, you have until the moon is at its highest to decide what you're going to do. And if you decide not to fight.. it would be best for you to leave this place. For good." Brick meowed, the implied threat clear in her voice.

It's not a rock in my stomach now. It's a ball of ice. Ruby thought. She climed to the top of a large house to get a better vantagepoint. From there, she could see everything. There were a lot more cats around than she had thought. And they all seemed.. really hungry. It looks like the dog was keeping them from a lot of food.

She remembered how her mother had talked about how ferocious and wild the forest cats were, but she didn't think these cats were any better. Ugh, I really don't want to.. but I'd better get a look at what's causing all these problems. She thought. As soon as she spotted the dog, her fur started to stand on its ends.

The dog was gigantic. She didn't want to fight it. She couldn't fight it. She'd never felt this scared in her life. But all those cats down there were scared too. And besides, where else could she run to? She's not heading back to her old housefolk, not after the other cats laughed her out of the neighborhood. And after what happened to Tiny, she's certainly not going to the forest either. This place was all she had.

She had to fight for it. Even if it killed her.

As she headed down the alley, she saw that a large crowd of cats had gathered. She could hear their whispers, some of them calling her crazy. They might be right. What am I doing? Ugh. There it is. There it is. I just need to stay calm. I need to keep walking, and stay calm. She thought to herself, trying her best to ignore the stares.

A large number of thoughts flooded her mind as she approached the dog. What was I thinking? How am I going to fight this thing! It's so much larger than me!

The dog stood up and started growling. But then she noticed something. The dog wasn't looking at her. Why wasn't it looking at her? As she got closer, the growling started getting louder and louder. What was it growling at? Then, the dog let out a whimper. Ruby followed its gaze and noticed her shadow. It was afraid of her shadow! She knew dogs were stupid, but this had to be a new low. As the dog ran past her, she clawed at its tail.

The cats in the alley looked on in shock as the dog ran further and further away. Ruby stepped out of the alley, feeling proud of herself. She had beaten a giant dog, and she hadn't even needed her claws! She walked past the other cats, basking in their praise.

A dark gray molly walked up to her, her blue eyes shining. "Thank you. Thank you so much. You've saved us! You've saved our lives! What's your name?"

Ruby tried not to let it show, but it suddenly hit her that this was the first time a cat had asked her for her name. She thought back to what her mother had told her. That the forest cats were a scourge upon the name of all good cats. Just "Ruby" didn't really fit her anymore. 

So, she spoke. "Scourge Ruby. My name is Scourge Ruby."
 

Chapter Text

Tiny Frost was cleaning his ears when he heard a commotion coming from the camp entrance. Murmurs and whispers drifted through the colony. He lifted his head and turned it toward the incoming patrol. While he was expecting to only see Mud Claw, Hop Step, Wren Flight and her son One, there were three other cats with them.

An older molly, and her two kits. The kits seemed apprentice aged, and all three of the cats were clearly kittypets.

He listened to the whispers from the other cats. Apparently, the patrol had been attacked by a badger, and the molly, named Bailey, had helped them defeat it. The three kittypets had come to join Wind Colony.

He watched as she pleaded with Star Tall Tail to let them join. Noticing the desperate look on the molly's face, and listening to the sneers of his colonymates, he stood up, and cleared his throat.
"If I can interject, I was born a kittypet, and none of you would dare to say I am not a competent warrior. I offer to help train these cats in the ways of Wind Colony." He meowed, looking up at his adopted father.

"Very well. Bailey, you will learn how to be a caretaker and assistant healer from Flying Tail and Bark Face. Your kits, Melody and Leo, shall train under Wren Flight and Mud Claw. They will stay with the colony until they pass their assessment, or until they have reached twelve moons of age, after which they can choose whether they wish to stay permanently. My son, Tiny Frost, shall also teach you the ways of our colony." Tall Tail spoke. 

Tiny Frost walked up to Bailey and her kits, and gave them a smile. 

Tiny Frost was worried. While Leo and Bailey were settling in well, Melody was clearly having issues with the way her colonymates were treating her, and the strict demands of her mentor, Wren Flight.

"Melody." He meowed, walking up to her. "I want to talk to you."

She turned her head and groaned. "What now? Are you going to tell me everything I did wrong this time, like everyone else." she spat.

"No. I want to tell you that it's okay if you don't want to become a warrior. You can still stay in the colony, and help out in other ways, like your mother. Or, you can leave the colony all together. Did you know my father did the same?" he meowed.

"What?" She turned her head in shock. "Great Star Tall Tail left his precious Wind Colony?" 

"He did. When he was a young warrior, his father Sand Gorse died, and he left Wind Colony to find the cat who he thought killed him. While traveling, he met my other father, Jake, and they traveled together, with Tall Tail even staying in a twolegplace at one point. The reason why I'm telling you this, is that there are different paths a cat can take, and as long as the cat is happy on that path, it's the path for them. If you truly don't want to be a member of Wind Colony, that's okay."

Melody stared at him, and suddenly pressed her face in his chest, crying. "I-i want to go home. I know I'm dissapointing you all- but, this just isn't the place for me."

He gave her a comforting lick. "It's okay, Melody. We'll talk to Tall Tail and your mother about this. And after that, you can go home."

He felt her nod her head. "Also, Tiny Frost, I have something to tell you.. Me, Leo, One, Ash and Morning have been sneaking out to Twolegplace."

"Ah. Well, it's good that you told me." He meowed. He decided not to tell her that the apprentice's little adventures had been obvious to the older cats. 

Melody had returned to the Twolegplace. It had been a bittersweet event. Although Tiny Frost knew it was the best path for her, he saw how much it affected her mother and brother.

Bailey had become a fully fledged caretaker and assisstant healer. She knew a lot about kits and kitting, and had been a great help when Oat Whisker's kits were born. 

While Morning and Ash had passed their assessment with ease, One and Leo had failed theirs. While Leo had been worried this meant he would have to leave the colony, Tall Tail had assured him this was not the case, and many apprentices don't pass their assessments on the first try.

The two young toms were out on a patrol now, with Mud Claw and Ash Foot, and Tiny Frost was sure they would be granted their full names soon.

Suddenly, a yowl was heard from the camp entrance. Tiny Frost watched in horror as the patrol entered, with Leo draped over Mud Claw's back. The young tom was covered in wounds.

Bark Face and Bailey rushed up to the patrol, and Tiny Frost approached Ash Foot. "'What happened?" he meowed, worry clear in his voice.

"Shadow Colony happened. We caught them stealing our prey- and, while we managed to drive them away.. Leo was hurt. Badly." The young molly meowed.

Tiny Frost watched as the young tom was brought to the healers den. He had a sinking feeling that the poor apprentice would never leave it.

It was One's warrior ceremony. 

Tiny watched as the young tom was given his name, the grief clear in his eyes. He then turned his head to the Tallrock, as his leader continued to speak.

"Now, there is one other apprentice who should be given their full name today. Sadly, Leo has been taken from us by Shadow Colony and cannot be here with us. Still, I ask my warrior ancestors to look down upon him. He learned the code and gave up his life in service of his colony. I ask Star Colony to recieve him with the name of Brush Claw, as he requested. I commend him for his bravery and strength." The stern tom mewed.

The rest of the colony bowed their head in respect. Leo- No, Brush Claw had fought well. Both against Shadow Colony and against the infection.

Bailey had gone to Twolegplace to tell Melody about her brother's passing, but had decided to return to the colony to continue her life as a caretaker.

Chapter Text

It was time for Oat Whisker's kits to be apprenticed. Tiny Frost had talked with Tall Tail and Oat Whisker, and it had been decided that he would be the one to mentor the tomkit, Stone.

Star Tall Tail jumped on top of the Tallrock, and called the colony to the clearing for a meeting. 

"Stone, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your full name, you will be trained in the ways of Wind Colony by Tiny Frost. Tiny Frost, you were Apple Dawn's apprentice and have proven yourself to be a great warrior, and I expect you to pass on everything she taught you to Stone."

Tiny Frost turned to the younger tom, and touched his nose. All around them, cats began chanting their names. He sat back down amongst his colonymates and watched as Stone's sister, Thrush, was apprenticed to Pigeon Flight.

Tiny Frost was crouched in the heathers and grasses, Stone crouched beside him. The two had just caught a rabbit, and were stashing it to take back to camp later.

The young tom was a great hunter, and Tiny Frost would be sure that he would make a great warrior. Tiny had been training him for moons, and he was sure he would pass the assessment Hop Step would give him. 

He looked over to the forest. Could he have ever imagined that this would be his life, all those moons ago? That he would be one of those wild forest cats his mother warned him about? 

He often wondered about how his mother was doing now. Was she still living in the same Twoleg den, or had she moved? Sometimes, he thought about visiting her, but he always decided against it. She would be horrified to see him now.

Tiny Frost awoke to a yowl. As he rushed into battle, he could see Stone Claw's body lying on the ground. His apprentice, who had gained his full name, and had been sitting vigil, was dead. Taken from Wind Colony by a Shadow Colony warrior, just like Brush Claw had been.

He let out a yowl of grief and noticed Thrush Wing struggling in a Shadow Colony warrior's grip. He launched himself into the pair, pushing the enemy warrior off of the younger molly.

"Get away from her." He hissed.

"Or what?" The Shadow Colony cat laughed. "What's a tiny little scrap like you going to do about it?

Tiny Frost growled, and slashed at the enemy warrior's eyes. The tom let out a hiss and turned away.

All around him he could hear his colonymates fighting, and to his horror, he realized they were losing. He could see dead Wind Colony cats everywhere. Red Claw, his former mentor Apple Dawn,  and many more.

Suddenly, he heard his leader call out to retreat. He circled Morning Flower and little Eagle, as well as the two surviving elders. He watched as his colonymates tore through the gorse and left their camp behind. Tall Tail was the last to join them.

After walking for a while, Sorrel Shine suddenly spoke up. "Star Tall Tail? Stag Leap, Pigeon Flight and I have decided that we will stay behind. We will bury the dead and tell the other colonies about what Broken Tail did."

Tall Tail turned to the molly, and touched his nose to her head. "I commend you, Sorrel Shine. May Star Colony be with you."

"Good luck on your travels, Star Tall Tail. May Star Colony be with you." She meowed. Then, she, Stag Leap and Pigeon Flight turned away, back to where they had come from.

Tiny Frost looked over his territory one last time. With sorrow in his heart, he followed after the rest of the colony as they prepared to find their new home.

Chapter Text

Ruby should have been happy. Things were going her way. She should have enjoy it. But she couldn't. 

She wakes at daybreak, ready to scavenge for food, only to find that the cats she had helped the night before decided to help her. She ate every bit of the chicken they left for her and savored each bite.

As she walked down the streets, she could see the other cats watching her. They're trying to be subtle, she thought, but I see them. 

These cats didn't like her, but they do fear her. And to Ruby, that was just as good. Maybe even better. If only the cats from her old neighborhood could see her now. They told her she'd never make it, that she'd die. If they saw her position here, they'd know just how wrong they were about her.

Soon, all the strays started coming to Ruby with their problems. She was seated high on a dumpster, Brick and Bone seated below, guarding her.

"Well, Ma'am, you see, he didn't have the right to take that rat.. It was my rat. Y'see, Ma'am, I caught it fair and square, and it just doesn't seem right for him to take it from me." A pale gray-and white cat meowed, their ribs visible.

"You're right. The cat who stole your rightfully caught rat will hunt you a new one." She meows, looking down upon them. 

"Thank you ma'am." The pale cat meows, bowing their head.

The rat thief was about to protest, when Bone and Brick glare at him, their claws unsheathed. He gulped and nods instead.

It's so easy, Ruby thought. All I have to do is use common sense. That, or just tell them to stand up for themselves for once. And it works! They treat me like some sort of wise old cat.

Brick and Bone walked up to her, after she had listened to the final problem of the day. "We've been spreading word of the new cat in charge, Ruby. Sooner or later everyone will know this place belongs to you."

Ruby purred. Finally, she's getting the respect she deserves.

However, Ruby thought, when you're in charge you also get the bad along with the good. She was curled up under a dumpster when Bone and Brick walk up to her. 

"Ruby? Scourge Ruby, are you awake?" They meow.

"Mrrrhh.. Yes- I'll be out in a moment." She meows, cracking open one eye.

She climbs out from under the dumster, licking her paw. "What's wrong?" She meows. 

Brick begins to speak. "It's- There are some strange cats, behind an upwalker food place, and.." She trails off, but Bone picked up and continued. "They're causing a lot of trouble. Everyone's afraid they're going to hurt or even kill someone."

"Will you help us?" Brick meows, her desperation clearly visible in her eyes.

Ruby loved that these cats trust her, that they believed she can solve their problems. And for just a second, when she picks up the scent of forest, she thinks that maybe these are the cats that killed Tiny. That she can correct her mistake and take revenge.

As she approaches the cats, she realizes that she was mistaken. These cats are too skinny to be wildcats. They're just regular intruders. As she gets closer, she can hear the tabby speak. He had a small gray-and-white molly pinned to the ground. "You think you can just come here and take food, without my say-so?" He growls. "Get over there and bring me something to eat! Maybe then i'll decide what to do with you!" His claws are unsheathed, and the small molly looks terrified.

"Leave her alone and get out of here." Ruby growls.

"Trouble, boss?" A dark gray tom asks. "Yeah, want us to take care of it?" The last cat, a white molly chimes in.

"No, no. Trouble would be bigger. We're looking at a lost little pet. You want to talk, pet? If I speak to anyone here, It'll only be with the leader of this ramshackle lot." The tabby snarls.

"Then speak to me." Ruby growls, her fur standing on end.

"Speak to y--?" The tom starts to talk, before he and his companions start laughing. "You? Leader? You're nothing but a pet!" 

The white molly steps forward, her claws unsheathed. "Tell you what, pet. We're just passing through.. but while I'm here, you can be my personal servant. Go fetch me some water. Now."

They're laughing at me. Laughing. Ruby thinks. Worst of all, as they're doing it, theyre causing my own cats to doubt me. She could feel the blood in her veins start to run cold. How dare  they. She's no longer a pet. She's Scourge Ruby, and this place belongs to her.

And if these cats won't give her the proper respect, she'll have to take it by force. She rears up, and claws at the white molly's throat. Blood stains the other cat's fur. Her breathing goes shallow, and her companions look on in horror. Then, she drops to the floor.

Ruby stands over her, eyes cold. Bone and Brick look at eachother in shock. My cats need to be shown. Ruby thinks to herself. Once they understand what can be done.. They'll trust in me to show them how to do it. She can feel the cats behind her moving in, closing ranks. 

"I've had my fill of this place." The brown tabby growls. "It's time we returned to the forest.. where we belong."

Now, she thinks, all they need is a gesture. She walks up to the dead cats body, and rips a tooth from her gaping mouth. She then does the same thing she did with the dog tooth, causing the cat's fang to stick out of her collar. I had to have ice in my veins to do what I just did. She realizes. She turns her back on the dead cat and kicks sand over the body. I expect the ice to melt. She walks up to Brick and Bone.

"From now on, no one takes food from this place without my permission." 

She curls up beneath a dumpster. But it doesn't. It just gets colder and colder. And I welcome it.

 
Things changed after Ruby made her first kill. Everybody still came to her with their problems, but now they came bearing gifts. Trophies. She doesn't ask where they get these things, or how. She just accepts them as signs of her cats' allegiance.

She has everything she has ever wanted. She has control over every stray cat in this place. No cat comes here without her say so. She knows every cat that's born, and they all fear her.

For the first time in her life, she was content. Sometimes, she thinks back to her mother and brothers, to her old friends. What would they think of her now? She's killed multiple cats, even a small dog. Wears their teeth and claws in her collar. 

One night, Brick and Bone tell her she has visitors. Ugh, more cats with problems, she figures. "Bring them to me." She meows.

Then, her eyes go wide with shock. It's two of the cats from her old neighborhood. Cats who laughed at her when her housefolk left her behind.

"Ruby- Scourge Ruby- Our housefolk moved away and abandoned us." One of them, a calico with blue-green eyes meows.

"We- we don't know how to get our own food. Will you help us? Please?" asks her companion, a pale cream tom.

Ruby stares them down. Waiting for the right moment. Then, she speaks. "Why should I? My own cats barely have enough to eat. It's not my problem if you two are too weak and stupid to feed yourselves"

"B-But Ruby! We're your friends!" The calico says, the shock clear on her face.

"Friends?"  Ruby scoffs. "It wasn't very friendly of you to laugh at me when I asked you for help all those moons ago. Now you're in the exact same situation as I was, and you expect me to help you?" 

They look up at her with despair, and Ruby's mind wanders to a memory. A memory of her first day here, and the old molly who offered her food. She rolls her eyes and steps away from the box of chicken she was eating from, and lets the two malnourished cats step forward.

Once the two finish eating, she signals to Bone. "Bone, get these two out of my sight. They are not welcome in my Clowder's territory." 

Clowder had been what one of the strays had called their old group, and Ruby likes the sound of it. Yes, she is Scourge Ruby, leader of the Clowder. And they will do as she says.