Fandom A Runaway’s New Home [Private 1x1]

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang cursed under his breath, embarrassed as he flinched again at the contact HoneyPool made with his paw to inspect. He pulled his injury out from the she-cat’s sight when he felt soft pelted warrior pry a moment too long before she told him to stay put.


The tortoiseshell tilted his head as the she-cat spoke of herbs, not quite understanding the need of anything other than some pain relief and rest. He blushed feeling a bit embarrassed at the feeling, as he refused to learn medicine as an apprentice in fear of being pushed into becoming a healer.

He was pulled back to reality when the windclan cat started tugged on his foreleg, his paw guided upwards as the she-cat delicately eased the mixture into his wounds. His ears flatten at the uncomfortable feeling, but the Tom kept his lips sealed as his gaze observed her work testingly.


When HoneyPool finishes, his lean shoulder sit up backwards as he pulls back turning his paw over. He squints at the makeshift bandaging, tempted to bite into the cobwebbing to uncoddle his pouncing paws, before forcing them down to touch the moss, the extra weight making his pads set unevenly.

“How am I even gonna walk in these..much less hunt.” He murmurs under his breath in concern, before his teeth close together with a tiny clink as the she-cat voices his search of poppyseed.


As HoneyPool searches the herb supply the Tom follows her with an unsure gaze, the odd combination of gratefulness and distrust heating his pelt with confusion. RobinFang compares the glint in her gaze as she trots over to him with the dried flowers in to that of a Rabbit seeing a fresh clearing of grass, huffing in mild amusement before she could cast the shine in her eyes aside.


He forces a frown to retain a safe distant despite finding helpfulness enduring as he speaks. “How am I going to get any work done with these stuck on my paws?” He asked mostly himself, worried of how he would keep himself useful.

“And where did you learn about herbs from?” A sleepy out-of-it voiced, DewSpring’s sudden appearance behind RobinFang made the warrior look ready to jump a foot in the air before forcing a neutral, but still embarrassed, scowl on his face.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool flinched herself hearing Dewspring's voice. "Great StarClan." She breathed out, her heart pounding in her ears. She looked over at the cinnamon colored she-cat with an unknowing look. She couldn't tell how she always managed to pop up at the best and worst times. Someone needs to tie a bunch of pinecones to her tail. Honeypool huffed before feeling her pelt smooth down. She sat down giving her chest a few comforting licks. "I was always in the medicine cats den with Sunpatch." Her voice went small. "I don't know much, but healing a roughed up pad is pretty common in WindClan. They tend to get worn pretty easily with how much running around goes on." A small smile appeared on her face as she thought about her old clan. It quickly faded as she gazed down at her paws for a moment.

She looked over at Robinfang. "I wouldn't try hunting or walking on them, it'll hurt too much, and I doubt you want them getting infected." She told him softly, but a bit of sternness rang in her voice as well. She couldn't control him of course. She wasn't even sure why she had made the comment to begin with. He already went around like he had a thorn stuck in his side to begin with.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang was about to snap in response before his long canines clicked together as DewSpring promptly stuffed his muzzle with a mouth full of her tail. "She's right. You'll only need a day or so to get back on your feet I'm sure." The medicine cat smiled between the two warriors, petals of yarrow and thyme between her teeth, as the tom behind her coughed up curly cinnamon fur.

RobinFang clears his throat to growl at the two, mostly focusing on the healer for her blatant act of disrespect, the medicine cat only returning a tired and unbothered gaze his way. "As much as I loved to, I can't sit around all day like you two." He spoke sarcastically with a wrinkle along his snout, RobinFang's dark tail rattling like a snake at the feeling of being trapped.

The medicine cat only blinked at the threatening display, seeming to blow it off as the tom ground his teeth. Her heavy lighter green eyes meet his lively ones, the smaller she-cat voiced the same straightforward but sleepiness in her tone as she meowed.

"Are you done with you're warrior duties?" "Well, yes but-" "Then it's settled." DewSpring cheered with a clap of her front paws as RobinFang practically deflated in defeat.


She smiles as she quickly picks herbs from her teeth and fur into the curls of ivy above, the warrior's disappointment and simmering anger souring his expression, speaking over her shoulder. "Don't be difficult now, RobinFang! I hate for KestrelFall to have to hold you down just to properly heal." The short cat grinned crookedly before disappearing to access her supply from deeper within the burrow's darkness.

RobinFang stammered to get a hold of her, placing a paw forward only to whine as it shot electricity through his pelt. He barely recovers from tripping over himself, his pupil searching the darkness for a moment longer before giving it up with a snarl under his breath.


All feelings seemed void from the tom's face as if evaporated, before plopping down on his side into a nest of bramble as a corpse, a puff of exasperation leaving his lungs.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool looked at the tom, seeming to sense his unwillingness to sit still for too long. She smiled slightly hoping to brighten the mood. "You'll be back up before you know it." She took her leave to pad back over to her nest and curl up. She lightly pawed at the pile of herbs from earlier, gentle moving the leaves and flower petals around as her head rested on the edge of the nest. The scent making her head spin as she closed her eyes. The taste of the bitter and tangy herbs for Robinfang's paws didn't help either. She opened her eyes to look over at his flopped down shape for a moment more before closing them again.

She couldn't understand why in a clan this large she always seemed to be stuck alone with him than any of the other cats. Besides Dewspring but this was her den after all. So much for her plan to try and avoid him. He seemed to always gravitate towards her since he found her. She grew slightly annoyed but didn't show it. It could just be a convenience after all. "Did you catch whatever you were hunting for?" Honeypool spoke up, not wanting to be left in the silence of the den.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang eyed the burrow's exit with a vague sense of longing in his eyes despite the want to stay hidden away from any clanmate's peering eyes, not liking the thought of being seen just laying about lazily. The warrior was not keen on staying put, the constant drive to prove himself a valuable warrior driving him restless, but would never dare seek his ex-mentor's humiliating scolding if it could be helped.

His ear flicks at HoneyPool's attempt to cut the silence of the den, but not bothering to turn his head to face her as he spoke. "Oh, yeah. Caught a dove, but the branch broke." He spoke even less talkative than before due to his poor mood.


RobinFang began to unconsciously pick at the bandaging that wrapped his two front feet using his back paws, the familiar feeling against where his claws once were making him greatly uncomfortable. Not noticing the action, he murmurs something from across the den with an aloof meow.

"Thank you for the herbs by the way." The warrior with hesitant gratefulness, unaware as his back feet softly tugged on the cobwebbing.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool hummed slightly. Now she knew ShadowClan did eat more than just frogs and snakes, yet those had only been her options. Her tail twitched but she said nothing, feeling a bit upset she couldn't hunt for herself at the moment. She would kill to be able to leave this den, but the thought of being thrown out into the clearing with watchful eyes did not help with her anxiety either. She had only been here a single night and yet it felt like moons.

Her ears twitched as he thanked her, not really expecting it from him. He seemed so ill mannered most of the time. She wouldn't be able to talk with Dewspring about his sour attitude now that he was in here with her. "No problem." She spoke softly never once opening her eyes back up. The warm air now growing chilly as the day began to fade away, she wiggled herself deeper into her nest, her tail draped around her body as if it was silk. She was thankful her fur was long to help block out the cold nights, if she was back home her fur would probably still be getting trimmed up by Sunpatch as long fur wasn't a favorite among the running clan.

In summer her fur would be much shorter to fight off the hot heat. She hated it, sitting on the sandy floor as the ginger tom would cut away at her fur with a sharpened shell. It was always so patchy and she looked like she had just been attacked by who knew what. A ginger tom with shaky paws. Honeypool huffed at the memory. They wouldn't start cutting it again until late newleaf.

"What is greenleaf like in ShadowClan?" Honeypool mewed out the unusual question.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

"In comparison to Windclan?-" RobinFang asked briefly as his face turned back to look at the she-cat, the seeping sun's rays now painting the tom's pelt red as it barely touched the horizon. "-Decently warm, the tree's shade naturally cool this part of the forest so we don't get that hot." He informed cautiously, a bit thrown off by her odd question.

His tail flicks into consideration, his busy mind preventing him from enjoying the day's last remnants of warmth that lit his underbelly. "We have a lot of coverage so any weather that strikes us is pretty dulled. Why do you ask?" He asked suspiciously, feeling vulnerable for giving away such minimalist information, his hindlegs pausing at their fidgeting onslaught on his bandages in wait for HoneyPool's response.


The clearing outside stired, Shadowclan becoming more lively with the rising of dusk as CoalStar walked about with his deputy.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool shook her head before realizing he probably couldn't see him. She didn't even know why she had asked that question. She wasn't planning on staying until greenleaf got here. She should really be thinking about what she was going to do after this. Maybe if she traveled far enough, she could find another clan to join. There had to be more than just the ones located around the lake, right? With so much unseen lands it would be impossible to be just them, and if not, maybe she could start her own clan?

She second guessed herself, she was nowhere near close to a leader, and she could hardly manage herself at times. How could be start a whole clan by herself. Doubt clawed its way through her belly. "I was just wondering if I would need to get cut like I did back home." She mewed innocently not realizing how awful her sentence structure sounded.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

There was a long pause, RobinFang raising a brow at the growing silencing, seeing HoneyPool's head fixated on one spot the she-cat seemed stuck in her own world. He takes the opportunity to stretch, his arching back causing the fur along his spine to bristle before curling in on himself upright his back to the sunset soaked side of the burrow.

Just as he figures he wasn't going to get a response, the brown faded she-cat speaks, her sentence a bit broken but legible. His brow creased a moment, quickly piecing together what she meant to say, as he spoke the tone in his voice was unsure and testing as a kit would be first getting wet.

"You'll never cut your coat here, it's too cold for that type of thing." RobinFang ungracefully spoke, unused to talking but welcoming it in place of the silence, his long fangs clicking together on certain syllables. The warrior turned his ears away as the clan came alive nearing the coming night, the rising chatter itching his pelt.


Dread suddenly stuck its claws into his heart remembering the coming clan meeting, still unsure of CoalStar's odd wording and KestrelFall's weirdly placed threats. He may be dedicated to helping HoneyPool transition into Shadowclan life as punishment for his avoidance of mentorship, but he reassured himself that it was all still undecided.

While HoneyPool seemed alright of a cat, having an eagerness to help out and a set of varied skills would carry her along just fine, but the tom suddenly became overwhelmed by the thought of the peculiar and odd-placed looks he'd receive from his clanmates. The tortoiseshell's ears flatten at the thought of his peers knowing he was avoiding apprentices, his whole clan seeing him as lazy and invaluable.


"-It's too cold for that sort of thing." He repeated in his natural tone, unsure of what else to say.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool hummed out her response. It was true that ShadowClan was covered in thick pine trees that never seemed to lose their needles in any weather, unlike the birch trees back on WindClan. The differences between the clan were still so drastic to her despite them all being cats. She rolled over onto her back, her eyes meeting the dark and green ceiling of the herby den. She stretched her paws out before putting them back in and folding them along her chest before twisting her body to one side, forming the letter C.

Her nest just happened to be above a small hole that somehow managed to show a clear enough view of the sky. It was now a deep dark shade of blues and purples, the clouds melting away to let the dusk sky peer its way through. Her stomach was clawing at itself as the dread of the night was upon her and she would have to be seen in front of all of the clan cats. She could feel their eyes staring at her now, making holes into her fur. It was going to be rough.

Her paranoia was gripping onto her legs, dragging her down slowly like thick deep mud, and she was stuck. It was to her ankles.

She felt exposed and taunted. Circled and cornered all at the same time. She wouldn't be able to run now. She wouldn't be able to leave.

The mud pulled her down deeper. It was up to her stomach.

She was trapped once again, but not by one single cat but a whole clan, watching where she was going, questioning her, teasing her. Her legs wouldn't be able to carry her anywhere in this territory if she did run. It was too marshy and slippery. It would slow her down for sure.

She sunk down deeper. The sludge was now to her throat. Panic set it.

She was still too close to him for her liking. What was stopping him from meeting her on a border patrol? Or at a gathering? What if WindClan needed to speak with ShadowClan and they came here? He would force her to go back, no doubt in her mind. She couldn't go back. She wouldn't allow herself to go back as long as she was still breathing. But he was looking, and he was coming, it was only a matter of time.

Her head was now fully engulfed in the wet earth. Got you! Large black paws lunged at her.

Her head shot up and she quickly jumped to her paws as if she had been bitten. Her eye wide as she stared at her ground. Her whole body shaking and trembling. A cold sweat rushed over her paws. As quickly as she had gotten up, she had fallen to one side. Her legs giving out as her eyes pooled with tears. Why did this keep happening? Why was she always thinking about him. Her claws had found themselves into her forearm, scratching down she drew blood, unknowingly. Her breathing was shaky and deep, she was gasping for air as the den suddenly grew very hot. She stumbled to get up, wanting to get out. Her eyes flashing every which way as if she was on the lookout. A small wail escaping her lips.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang was hauled out of his thoughts as HoneyPool was pulled to her feet as if attached by spider silk. The tortoiseshell’s black ears folded backwards as the den drowned in the sudden aroma of distress and panic.


“It’s not that serious-“ The warrior own poor reassurance was interrupt by the small but sharp cry of she-cat. RobinFang flinched at the outcry, instantly pushing himself off the ground out of instinct.

He raced to inspect the shivering brown she-cat, who now curled in on herself, appearing small like a fallen leaf. “Is there a snake in here? What happened?” He huffed, his green pupils specs in his eyes in worry.


RobinFang pressed the back of his paw against the she-cat’s forehead smelling sweat, and as expected the warrior was forced to flinch back feeling the cream furred’s boiling hot skin. The warrior gave a testing shake to her form, pulling HoneyPool’s claws away from herself quickly with the harsh but soft handling of his fangs.


“DewSpring!” RobinFang calls out into the deep darkness of the medicine den.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool said nothing as she continued to shake. Her amber eyes dark and foggy as she stared at nothing in particular. Her breathing turned sharper as the pounding of her heart thumped harshly against her chest. Her cream and brown fur becoming drenching in sweat as the scent of fear washed over her. The world around her was dark and blurry. Her head was spinning every which way as she tried to get a grip on herself, but it had failed. The room was hot and uncomfortable. It felt like she was suffocating, choking. Her mouth was dry.

The imagines of paws flashed at her again, her legs shook. She looked behind her but saw nothing. The scent of heather and birch wood wafted through her nose making her gag. His scent wafted over her as the feeling of heavy paws on her back. She flinched harshly, the feeling of his hard chest against her back made her sink down. It felt like she was going to die.


Dewspring came hobbling out of the darkness. Her green eyes slightly widened as the scent of fear and the scene in front of her unfolded. She rushed over to the two cats as fast as her body would let her as she glanced over at Robinfang. "What happened?" She asked trying to look over Honeypool's shaking and wet frame. Her paws gently pawing over the she-cat. Her ears drew back slightly. Without waiting for Robinfang to answer she spoke again. "Try to get her to focus on something, an object and a sound should help." The cinnamon colored she-cat placed a paw on Honeypool's stomach, gently pressing on it. She said nothing more before padding over to her herb collection and searched through it, looking for something in particular.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang growled lightly under his breath as his brows pressed together, the hassle of the uncalled for freak out overwhelming him. The Tom hesitated to follow the medicine cat’s instructions, unsure how to help HoneyPool, before lightly offering his paw between hers.

“HoneyPool, snap out of it.” The warrior spoke sternly, his tone wavering as confusion seeped its way to his tongue. Using his foreleg he kept the she-cat’s claws away from herself, ensuring the brown cat wouldn’t claw herself in her panic, as the tom sat beside her nest.


DewSpring raced over to the she-cat, her jaws clasping gently over bundles of small tangy leaves and sticks of purple flowers. As RobinFang obstructed most of the she-cat’s vision, her short legs curls around the leaner warrior’s side, feeding her the familiar taste of thyme as lavender was placed about her pelt and muzzle in hopes to bring her out of her spell.

RobinFang stayed still letting DewSpring work, feeling a bit out of place with his injured paw in her claws, his tail settling around HoneyPool’s shaking form.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool's body trembled like a leaf in a storm. Her pupils in slits as her clouded vision. Her ears twitched slightly, hearing voices but they sounded muffled, as if her ears were filled with water. The burning feeling in her chest making her breathing more ragged and shallow. A soft wheezing could be heard. She pressed down lightly, feeling something place itself between her paws. Her shaking ones wrapped around the object, hoping it would keep her from slipping back into the darkness. The heaviness on her back slightly lifting up as she blinked.

She could make out the sticky but delicate feeling of cobwebs and the bitter-tangy mix of herbs. A familiar taste coating her mouth. She sat up slightly, still shaking with uncurled claws. Her paws flexed slightly before her vision slowly cleared up. She could make out the pale red shade of fur against her own. She found her focusing a bit more on the blurry shape before it officially cleared up. A paw?

A strong floral scent washing over her as the dark and blurry vision she had created seeped away. The feeling of his paws and chest slowly lifting away more and more. The lavender washing away his fading scent. Her earthy and minty taste coated her mouth, drowning out the taste of herbs she had chewed up earlier. She chewed slowly, still trying to calm down her senses. The fur around her neck was drenched and laid flat, plastered against itself. Her amber eyes softened slightly as her body's tremors began to die down.

"Can you hear me?" A familiar voice made her turn her head slightly. Dewspring's green eyes gazed into hers. Honeypool blinked slowly before nodding her head once. When did she get there? She looked around seeing the familiar green vines, her nest now untidy and slightly scattered. She looked down seeing Robinfang's bandaged paw resting in hers. She let go hesitantly but carefully not wanting to damage them.

She didn't dare look over at him. Shame and humiliation washed over her as her head started to clear. She had realized what had taken place. Her ears flattened slightly as she pushed herself up slowly. Wincing she looked down. A few drops of blood pooled around her forearm. Confused, she looked over her arm for a few moments before connecting the dots. She sat back down, mentally defeated and exhausted. "I'm sorry." She finally spoke, her voice sounding distant, shaky, and broken.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang waited uncomfortably as HoneyPool shaking died down, unease cramping his heart as the effect of the herbs took hold. Watching from the corner of his eye as the she-cat's rugged fragmented breaths became clearer with every inhale of lavender, his whole body tensed from the mixing smells of cold sweat and lilac flowers in a chaotic tango of wet fur curling at his tail and claws clinging to his foreleg.

The sound of DewSpring's reassurance and HoneyPool's recovering lungs set off the pounding in RobinFang's heart. The warrior waited only for a moment longer, letting the she-cat's grasp ease on her own terms with hesitance, before retracting fully away from HoneyPool's brown pelt a few foxtails away. The tom really wanted to book out of the medicine den for just a single stutter of fresh air, but guilt kept him pinned not wanting to immediately retreat from the cat in need.


RobinFang felt awkward from the odd maneuver he pulled, curling his long black tail securely around himself, watching from a safe distance as DewSpring calmed the she-cat. The cinnamon cat slowly brought herself into the she-cat's sight, careful not to make any sudden movements, as she kept herself close but not touching the warrior's pelt.

As HoneyPool tried to wobble upwards mouthing abnormal odd-placed apologies, blood seeping into the moss below, DewSpring was quick to set her back into her nest with an almost invisible touch. "You're in the Shadowclan medicine den. Remember?" The small she-cat naturally tired and out-of-it tone luring calm, the healer only speaking a pace slower.



RobinFang pauses to observe the Windclan cat's recovery, the blinding panic and fear washing from her eyes, with a neck craned every so slightly forward but figuring he'd only distracted the medicine cat from her much-needed work, began to make his exit from the burrow.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool felt her heartbeat slow down. The thyme calming her down and she settled slightly. She nodded understanding where she was. The air becoming clearer as well. He's not here. He was never here. She sighed, growing annoyed with herself as she knew he wasn't here. Her tail tip twitched. She wasn't drowning in an endless pool of mud; no cat was looking at her or saying anything. There were no whispers that she could hear. She had gotten herself worked up over nothing, again.

But why was this time much worse? Her panic attacks had been bad, but never this bad. She was always able to control her, to ground herself back to reality. She was overwhelmed, that much is true. The process of leaving home, and showing up here, her past and trauma was a lot for her to handle alone, but she couldn't bring herself to speak up.

She didn't want to come off as helpless and weak. She wasn't, right? She looked over at Dewspring for a few moments before shifting her gaze over to Robinfang who appeared to be leaving. She swallowed roughly, her amber eyes almost appearing lifeless. "I'm sorry if I scared you." Her voice soft but it was full of agony and tiredness. She looked down at her white paws. "I-I..." She started to explain but stuttered not sure what the right words were. Her claws lightly scrapping the ground below her as she wanted to say something but couldn't. She turned her head to face the wall.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

DewSpring smiled sadly as the she-cat spoke because while used to consoling her clanmates in their time of need, it would never lessen the pity that dove into her heart like a heron's beak. She sat up, retaining a respectful distance from the she-cat as she began to speak.

"No need to apologize, it's my job after all." The short she-cat clasped her front paws together, finding HoneyPool's seek for justification ridiculous. The healer slowly hovered a paw over the brown-coated cat's shoulder, her long claws just out of reach from touching her fur as DewSpring waited for any confirmation to allow contact. Her green eyes looked earnestly into the back of the she-cat's head as she spoke.

"I only ask you to share with me your worries in due time HoneyPool." DewSpring promised.






"What all the ruckus about? You smell of sweat and herbs." Complained KestrelFall, scanning the tortoiseshell up and down with her orange eyes. The warrior hadn't gone far from the burrow before he was stopped by what used to be his mentor, the tabby now squinting at the tom.

"Just HoneyPool adjusting." He spoke curtly, his teeth clicking together as his tone ever so slightly raised, causing KestrelFall's brow to furrow in suspicion even further. "You sure it wasn't anything you did-" "I'm positive." RobinFang huffed, the deputy scowling at the interruption.

"If it was just HoneyPool-" The deputy paused saying the she-cat's name, it feeling weird on her tongue for the first time. "-adjusting, then is she deemed stable enough to be made a warrior? That was quiet the howl in there." The brown-striped cat's eyes widen and narrowed again in consideration, her sharp gaze putting RobinFang on the spot.

 

[Honeypool]

Her shoulder's shook slightly before she leaned into Dewspring's long fur, burying half of her face in it much like a kit seeking comfort from its mother. She felt weak and unsteady and just wanted to be told that things would be okay now, that she was safe now. Even if the words were a lie at least she would temporarily believe them until they fell apart around her. Drawing her tail around herself she felt smaller. "So many things happened back home." She spoke quietly, her frame still shaking from time to time. "I don't know when or how they got this way." She sniffled slightly her gaze falling on her paws as she soaked up Dewspring's earthy and mint scent. "They weren't always that bad though." Her tone changing as her gaze closed slightly.

There were moments where things were perfectly fine between them. They could joke and play around. They had some common interest and had talked about their future but maybe they rushed into things too quickly? It was hard to say and no matter what she would find herself trying to figure out what happened with no prevail.


Dewspring said nothing and let the shaken up she-cat speak, her forearm resting on Honeypool's shoulder blades. Her green eyes searching for something within the other she-cat before she spoke. "Something's things happen out of our control. You can't let them consume you." Her voice made Honeypool's ears twitch.

She understood what she meant, and she was right. Maybe if her nightmares subsided or if she could get better grasp of her anxiety and paranoia, shake the feeling of upcoming doom. Maybe if he didn't lash out at her that day things would be different for her. She should've left the gray and black cat a long time ago, but she did not for many reasons, the main one being she was hoping things would get better, that each fight would be the last one, but it wasn't, and things just got worse. "Do you think I scared Robinfang?" She asked even quieter a wave of guilt washing over her.

While she wasn't trying to get close to him, she did feel awful he had to witness on of her meltdowns. She should've kept her mouth shut and just let him rest. Maybe he would have fallen asleep, and she would have calmed herself down without him having to be there to help.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

While DewSpring was a bit slow to react to the question, the she-cat's focus on comforting HoneyPool in her messy tangle of fur seemed to lessen the speed that the sound reached her ears, hesitating to ponder her question. She spoke with ease as she continued to rub circles in the warrior's pelt.

"RobinFang can be triggered by the smallest of things, but I doubt helping a cat in need scared him." DewSpring spoke honestly, knowing the stubborn tom from his many trips to the medicine den as apprentices. The cinnamon she-cat pulled back from HoneyPool's cream faded-brown pelt to look her in the eyes, sensing the guilt wafting off her coat.

"That tom has seen a number of things in his life, I'm sure seeing you a bit frazzled had barely, if any, effect on him." DewSpring reaffirmed.





RobinFang stood stiffly in the clearing as KestrelFall talked at him, the she-cat mostly thinking out loud in reconsideration of HoneyPool's arrival, her words blunt like driven stones. RobinFang feeling overwhelmed by the tone of his mentor was forced to keep a straight posture and neutral expression in fear of appearing anything but professional.

The deputy was in every right to doubt the possibly unstable warrior, the she-cat proving to be more of a liability than an asset, making the tortoiseshell sweat but also admire her cold but strategizing demeanor. HoneyPool, as far as the tom knew, was nothing more than a soft Windclan cat now facing the consequences of running away unprepared.

RobinFang, however, couldn't shake the feeling of guilt off his chest at potentially leaving an unwell cat to fend for themselves in a neck of an unknown forest, and the real possibility of having to train an apprentice in HoneyPool place. Shivering at the thought of becoming FoxKit's mentor, he speaks up, his still bandaged paw raising in an offering gesture.


"If she doesn't shape up to be a warrior in a few moons, she'll be sent off to be a loner." RobinFang interrupted, KestrelFall halting in her mental tracks at the suggestion. The deputy knew what the tom was doing, the tom's constant disgust towards young cats driving him away from mentorship and fully growing as a warrior, but confident in HoneyPool's instability she grasped his injured paw with her claws.

"Deal." KestrelFall smiled, the leaner cat's ears flattening as he realized the bet he'd made.

 

[Honeypool]

Her dark ears flattened, unable to shake the guilt from her pelt. "I guess." She mumbled out, not feeling very reassured by Dewspring's words, but she decided to drop the subject. He always seemed so snappy with her, and though he did jump in to help her out, it could've caused him to be on edge and snap at her even more. The base of her tail fluffed it. It was settled, once she was able to leave the medicince cat's den she would avoid the black and ginger tom to the best of her ability. She lifted her head from Dewspring's pelt, her eyes flashing with worry and uncertainty.

Honeypool felt like she was being a massive bother to the clan even if she had only been here for an extremely short period of time. She had a worrying feeling that her outburst would get worse before they got better. The thought of how her old clan was reacting to her disappearance made her nauseous. Who knew what story Mistletuft came up with to either explain why she was gone. He could've dragged her name through the mud and ruined her reputation by now. She swallowed and pushed the thought down not wanting to bring on another attack. Her body wouldnt be able to handle another one so soon. She was still out of it from her many travels though WindClan.

She turned her gaze to the clearing, the already dark territory turning darker, she could make out a few glittering eyes and some movement from other cats. She did not want to go out there. The thought of it making her legs shake slightly. Why couldn't Coalstar have his meeting without her, or even in private? Of course, she knew why and that wasn't how clans operated, but she was wishing it was. She took in a deep breathe wanting to just get this all over with.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

As the tabby stepped away, joining the white furless tom, CoalStar, in the shadow casted by the large leader’s den, RobinFang was left with a sick feeling in his stomach. The tortoiseshell sighed exasperated, HoneyPool already growing to be a pawful.

Taking a moment to collect himself before the moon rose above the horizon, he carefully makes his way out of camp without being seen.





DewSpring looked sympathetically to HoneyPool, guiding her eyes away from the busy clearing to focus back to her. The healer smiled as she smoothed over the she-cat’s coat with her claws, her blunt tooth poking out her large squarish muzzle as she spoke.

“I’ll be here if you need anything.” DewSpring ensured, offering to calm HoneyPool’s growing worry at the coming clan meeting.

While the medicine cat wasn’t the brightest or quickest cat like many Windclan cats, her sturdy build and sleepy tone oozed comfort from her mess of fur.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool nodded her head understanding. She turned and started to tidy up her nest that had been ruined when she got up. Scooping the moss and ferns back into a pile she felt extremely exhausted despite all the naps she had taken today. Her ears flattened feeling useless to herself. Being stuck in this small den was not helping. She glanced over at Robinfang's nest noticing it was still empty. She shifted her paws uncomfortably wondering if Dewspring was wrong and she had actually scared him off.

Guilt wormed in her belly as she padded over to it to try and fix it herself so it would be neater when he came back. Tucking the moss and ferns into a neat oval shape, she took a step back to look at it for a bit longer, feeling somewhat satisfied and a bit hopeful he wouldn't mind her fixing it for him. She sat down and looked out towards the clearing. A few faint stars could be seen starting to take their places among the void. She blinked slowly, her eyes peering at each one as if she was looking for something.

For a few heartbeats she continued to stare before turning her attention to the clearing. She could make out a few shapes of cats already gathering in the clearing. She felt sick. She got up and slowly backed away from the entrance before making her way back into her nest to try and mentally and physically prepare herself for what was about to happen in a few moments. She mostly spent her time pacing around the den, taking deep breaths, and trying to clean her fur. She was restless. Her dark tail waving behind her as she walked back and forth, her nails curling and uncurling with each step.

The thyme from earlier had helped her a bit. She was sure she would've had another panic attack by now, and despite her nervous demeanor her heart wasn't racing as much as she thought it would be. The scent of lavender still rolling off of her pelt as she finally took a seat in the middle of the den. The quietness bugged her. She could hear Dewspring humming softly here and there but it was still so quiet in here.

Her tail wrapped around her paws as she smoothed out her chest fur with one of them. Every now and then she would glance over at Robinfang's still empty nest. She couldn't spot his ginger and black fur in the clearing from her angle. Was he missing the meeting? She wondered slightly wishing she could be missing her own meeting. "I hope he's not walking on his paws." Honeypool spoke her gaze falling on nothing in particular, she just wanted to drown out the silence.

"Robinfang is stubborn. If he is he will be the one to pay for it." Dewspring called from the back of the dark den. Honeypool frowned slightly, feeling like her hard work of wrapping his paws had now gone to waste, but she couldn't also shake the feeling that it was her fault. She said nothing more and unconsciously began to form small moss balls in the ground below her, unsure of what to do now.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang treaded carefully among thorns, barely putting weight on his two orange paws, deliberate to not tear the webbing encasing his feet. The dull glint of the night sky made the his pelt’s scattered colors rejuvenate to their true tortoise blacks and reds.

The Tom settles in a clearing, surrounded by patches of bramble, star light catching on the dust of his dirty coat. Resting on his haunches, away from the busy noise of Shadow, RobinFang finally allowed himself to breath.


Looking up, scanning the trees and earth of the reminisces of prey, his shifting green gaze finally slowing to look at the lively atmosphere which danced with black clouds curtaining Starclan’s bright silhouettes.

His bandaged paw scrapped across the dirt ground, wishing and praying only to change. RobinFang growled at himself, frustrated with his own mind, so easily overthrown by the smallest of things. The scattering footsteps of clanmates that echoed through the clearing, the chattering of wet muzzles and many teeth that rose with dawn, the gasping air leaving a cat’s lungs-

It was all too much.

At least here, where silence comforted him, RobinFang could think. That didn’t stop the warrior wishing he could be more capable, at least enough to get over himself, then he could finally do ShadowClan and its members justice and prove useful. To finally be released from his debt-



“Hey.” A familiar voice cut his thoughts, RobinFang’s shoulders tensing again to return to his natural posture, whipping around to meet KestrelFall’s eyes.

“CoalStar is calling.” The tabby spoke gruffly, demanding the tortoiseshell’s return.

 

[Honeypool]

The cold night air gently brushed against Honeypool's coat. She inhaled. It was nice to get some fresh air after her outburst. The den still feeling stuffy, and the scent of herbs were making her head spin. She didn't go out far, half sitting in the den and half sitting out. This was the best she could manage at the moment, but it was some progress. Her tail swished back and forth behind her; the base was fluffed up. She felt on edge.

Many cats had already poured themselves into the clearing once Coalstar made his appearance. His lanky white body was illuminated in the slowly spreading moonlight. Its silver rays making the leader look much like a ghost as he sat outside his den. The fur on her spine ruffled. Where on earth did a cat like him come from? Honeypool would never get use to his looks. He looked so out of place with no fur and just in his exposed flesh. How does he stay warm in the cold? Sure, a nest is warm but not that warm! She blinked turning her attention to something else, not wanting to meet the creepy leader's bright pink gaze.

She shifted herself, keeping most of her body in the shadows of the den entrance that had not been met with the moonlight yet. She was still not prepared for everyone's eyes to be on her. She shuffled her paws anxiously. She had gotten her fur somewhat clean and slicked down the best she could to keep her from looking like a ruffled bird. There were still a few spots she couldn't reach due to the soreness that sat on some of her bones. She was hoping a goodnight's rest would help where she could stay asleep for more than a few hours or without a nightmare.

Pawsteps made her turn her head as Dewspring appeared and sat down beside her, not saying anything but she did give Honeypool a reassuring blink. Honeypool nodded back at her saying thanks before she turned her attention back to the clearing. There were still so many cats she had not fully seen yet. She could make out two cats sitting outside together, her quick guess that they were mates. The thought made her feel weird in a way she couldn't explain, and she turned her attention to something else only to be greeted with a familiar gray stripped pelt.

"You ready?" Thornmask's voice gave off a slightly teasing tone. Honeypool frowned not too sure why this she-cat always had to act funny towards her. Honeypool didn't answer her. She was not ready, but what choice did she have?

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

“Clan meeting!” Howled the albino, his tight skin almost appearing translucent in the moonlight like a frog’s. CoalStar leaped to the top of the leader’s den in one quick motion, the leader clawing to the peak of the overgrown boulder stack.

At his preach, settling in patches of twisting vines that encased the den, his red gaze and large ears turned to the healer’s corner knowing where the Windclan warrior resides. His long pointed muzzle decorated with sharp teeth open to command the she-cat in hiding forward, but pause at the appearance of two cats.


KestrelFall, his deputy, was followed closely by the orange and gray tom, RobinFang, parting their way through the forming crowd to meet the center mass of felines that circled the leader's den. The deputy sat herself facing the crowd at the boulder pile's entrance, her back coated in Coalstar's shadow, with RobinFang settling amongst his peers, careful to not touch their pelts with his own.

The heavy dark coats of many cats have gathered and begun to compose themselves in the center of camp. The loud chatter of Shadowclan rose to its peak with the two’s arrival, ThornMask’s inner circle spewing gossip about the newcomer, but most whispering their suspicion of the stranger.

The clan suddenly silenced, every cat shutting their maws in unison, with the rise of CoalStar’s white paw. The leader let the quiet stir a moment longer before opening his jaws to speak.


“As I’m sure all of you’ve heard, we have a Windclan warrior looking to join our ranks-“ He paused as Shadowclan's reaction festered, murmurs falling as soon as they rose under CoalStar’s cold pink glare.

“-May the she-cat step forward.” He called out to the Medicine den, unsure of HoneyPool’s name, a sharp claw drawing the cat forward.