Greenleaf had finally hit the clans, bringing the possibility of starvation for all in the forest to dissipate. Taking a deep breath, Tanglepath quietly stalked the forest, brown tipped ears perked as she listened for the faintest of sounds of prey. Now was the best time of the year to hunt for her clan, a favorite duty of the she-cat. There was something so satisfying of bringing home fresh kill for her clanmates.
Keeping her fluffy brown tipped tail off the ground slightly, she avoided any remaining dead leaves on the ground. Slowly one brown dipped paw was put in front of the other, her bright blue gaze scanning the forest as the sunlight beamed through the treetops. The Thunderclan warrior was not as skilled in battle as some. In fact, for some reason she had froze a couple of times in battle. And Medical pursuits as a med cat had always interested the Himalayan, but she knew she was getting too old for such things. Being a queen and caring for kits was always a dream of hers...but she had not found a mate who suited her. Tanglepath had one male in mind, but he had disappeared from the clan so many moons ago, she had not bothered to continue looking further.
Ever since then, Tanglepath decided to focus Soley on the needs for her clan. To make herself feel useful. However, in truth, Tanglepath did not feel much like she was useful. Rather, her lack in skills made her feel practically useless. She never voiced it, but rather put on a smile and held her head high as she checked on her clanmates needs and duties to be carried out.
Jaggedthorn seemed to instantly soften at her easy assurance. Limping along beside her, he eyed their surroundings. It had been so long since he'd been home, it felt... as if it were strange now. He hardly recognized anything anymore.
With a gulp, he followed her and no5iced her gesture to the entrance. Lifting his head defiantly he nodded once. It was time.
The long furred tom swiped his lips over his jaws, swallowing the last of the prey. “Hawkstar and Echo aye?” He mused outloud. “Echo..that's not a Clan name.” He commented, adding. “I hope Hawkstar will accept me back.”
He nodded, getting to his paws with a grunt. Jaggedthorn limped to Tanglepaths side, smiling again. “It will be good to see her again.” Then he glanced at the ground sheepishly before adding. “Thank you Tanglepath, for helping me and being my friend.” Inwardly the tom began to wonder… could he fall in love again after Fernsun? He'd never had the chance since.
Jaggedthorn dipped his head for a moment as if mourning his teacher for a moment then looked at Tanglepath again. “StarClan alone knows. Wherever she is, they'll be watching over her.”
Then he tilted his head frowning. “So who is ThunderClans leader? And the Medicine Cat?” He frowned. For all he knew it could have been many cats since Hollystar led.
Then a thought flickered into his mind. What if the Leader didn't welcome him back into ThunderClan?
He chuckled, flicking her shoulder with his tail. His yellow orbs were twinkling. At Tanglepaths next words the twinkle faded to dread.
His heart ached at her words. “Applewillow and Roserain, fitting names.” The black and white tom looked at the sky for a moment. “Roserain is with her mother and brother now. I know she knows now that I'm proud of her. Both of them.”
Turning his attention back to Tanglepath he smiled thinly. “It will be nice to see Applewillow again.” Then he frowned. “How is Hollystar?” Snorting he added. “StarClan sakes, for all I know she might not e en be alive still.” Jaggedthorn sighed.
It felt very much like life had been hit on pause for him yet everything else around him kept going. His Clan mates had lived on. His daughter… the silver tabby face of Rosepa- no, Roserain beaming at him on her apprentice name day.
Jaggedthorn’s lips drew back into a soft smile. “Is there another with us?” He teased. As she sat beside him, he couldn't help but admire her. He frowned inwardly.
He was beginning to feel… something. Warm? Happy? He blinked rapidly. It'd been moons since he'd taken a mate. He'd taken Fernsun as a mate briefly before he'd been made Deputy, then he'd broken it off Hollystar appointed him.
Fernsun had bore him kits as well. Two she kits, Rosekit and Applekit, and a son Glennkit. Fernsun had joined StarClan birthing them, Glennkit with her. Applekit and Rosekit had been apprenticed right before he was captured by twolegs.
Turning his attention to Tanglepath, he tilted his head. “Do you know Rosepaw and Applepaw?” He asked. Then he leaned forward, taking a bite from the prey. Jaggedthorn couldn't suppress a shiver at the first decent meal he'd had in some time.
Jaggedthorn flicked an ear, nose twitching. “Most aren't as bad as were told they are.” He admitted. Then he winked, sticking hus tongue out briefly. “You did warn me.” He agreed.
When she brought him the mouse, he felt his mouth began to water and his belly grumbled. The tom glanced down trying to hide his hunger.
“Will you share with me, Tanglepath?” He asked, tilting his head. “It wouldn't feel right otherwise.” He added with a shrug.
Tanglepath nodded in agreement. "It's true. Even though I've never encountered a twoleg myself, I have in fact met alot of kittypets while I've explored the neutral areas of the clans. They aren't so bad."
Her bright blue eyes widened as he fell back in the dirt. "Sorry...i did warn you though." She replied bluntly.
Watching his face light up, she smiled in return. As he sat deciding what to do with the collar, Tanglepath snuck off not far away from the demiciated warrior. Patiently she waited for any sounds nearby before finally locating a small mouse foraging for food near a giant tree.
Once again finding herself downwind, Tanglepath lowered herself to ground, slowly creeping up on the unsuspecting creature around the large trunk. Lowering her ears, her tail twitched slightly wriggling her haunches and leaping onto the mouse. It squeaked in fear as the warriors claws sunk deep into its flesh. With one swift bite to the neck, Tanglepath felt the body go limp in her paws. Picking up the fresh kill in her jaws, she reappeared from the brush.
Catching site of him finishing burying the collar, she smiled and dipped her head back before dropping the mouse in front of Jaggedthorn. "It was no problem." Motioning towards the fresh kill, Tanglepath smiled happily. "I know we shouldn't eat before we have finished our warrior duties, but considering your current physical condition, I don't think anyone would mind you eating right now." She mewed seriously.
Jaggedthorn shrugged, frowning. “It seemed easier to go over rather then under. True enough as it was, he hadn't been in a particular hurry ether to jump or dig.
The tom smiled slightly. “Can you believe that not all kittypets and twolegs are what we've always been taught?” He asked, musing. He'd met a couple of kittypets in his twoleg home. Mayweather, Rosemary, Primrose, Zeke and Kevin had been his neighbors.
They'd become fairly good friends, spending their days in the gardens or racing across the tops of the fence. Though he had never grown accustomed to the kittypet slop, he'd never eaten it but a pawful of times when the weather prevented him from hunting in the garden. There was no flavor to it, though It did fill the belly.
He shivered feeling her teeth grasp the annoying twoleg contraption, growing warm under the touch of her paw. When she tugged he fell heavily on his butt. He broke into a grin, seeing it dangle from Tanglepaths mouth before she placed it at his paws.
Jaggedthorn looked at the collar for several moments, thoughts racing. He had no wish to keep it but simply leaving it there didn't sit well with him. Then he knew. The once burly tom dug a couple pawfuls of dirt from the ground, making a hole. Uncermonsily, he nudged the collar into the hole and swept the upheavled earth back over it.
Turning to Tanglepath he smiled brightly, truly happy for the first time in a long time. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” He murmured, dipping his head in show of respect.
Jaggedthorn watched her circle him. He frowned, thinking. “Tanglepath? Right?” He winced, running a paw over his head and shaking it. “I'm sorry, I uhh, I fell off a twoleg fence a sunrise ago on my journey.”
Turning his yellow irises on her he smiled thinly, eyes swimming with pain. “I imagine it must have. Ive been away for six seasons, traveling for four.” He flicked an ear, staring off into the distance as he struggled to remember.
“I was hunting when twolegs captured me. I tried to fight them but there was fix of them. They put me in a monster and took me somewhere. It took me a long time to get out, I earned their trust until they forgot the clear sliding wall entrance open one day. I've been traveling since.”
Jaggedthorn blinked rapidly, turning his gaze back to Tanglepath. He shrugged with embarrassment, lifting his head to reveal a dark green twoleg collar fastened around his throat. It had begun to tear. “I can't seem to get a grip on this dratted collar.” He grunted.
Hearing her long missing clanmate confirm he was in fact alive had set Tanglepath's mind to one of concern and yet happiness. As she calmed down, she stepped forward and circled Jaggedthorn as she checked him out closer. It was obvious he was in need of care.
As he took in her scent, she cocked her head in disappointment at his question. The fact he had not "fully" recognized her had just hit her straight on in the heart. "He definitely doesn't remember me much I suppose. But at least he recognized me a little." She thought. Quickly throwing on a concerned smile, Tanglepath pressed herself up against the long lost deputy for any support he may need for walking. Looking away from him, she gestured her head ahead of them. "It's not that far. Once we get you back to camp, you should be checked out. And also..." There was a brief pause as she glanced back at him curiously. "I want to know exactly what happened to you. In case you didn't know, alot had changed since you have been gone." She added softly.
Staring back towards the direction of camp, she gestured to help Jaggedthorn along. "I'm sure many clanmates will be happy to know your alive." Tanglepath mewed cheerfully. Briefly she glanced down at the ground out of shyness, her voice lowering. "I know i am."
Lost in thought Jaggedthorn didn't notice any newcomers in his vicinity until something suddenly dropped on him. Something sharp peirced his shoulder and he hissed, rolling to his side and sprang to his paws. The she cat facing his relaxed into shock and recognition.
When her voice uttered his name, tears sprang to his eyes. It had been so long since he'd heard words that he hadn't spoken. Blinking in surprise, he chuckled. “I'm not visiting from StarClan. I'm alive, breathing, for and blood.” He retorted sassily.
Jaggedthorn trembled at the effort of opening his mouth and tasting her scent. “You are are ThunderClan. I thought you seemed familiar.” Glancing around, the burly tom grunted, sitting down heavily. “Is it very far from camp?” He asked meekly
"I'll bring home a big juicy mouse!" She thought as Tanglepath's ears honed in on the sounds surrounding her. She heard a bird chirping away in the distance, no where near enough for her to pounce on it as it hid in the treetops. Her brown ears lowered against her head in disappointment as the himilayian quietly moved forward. Walking a bit ahead, a smell suddenly caught her attention. Her dark brown nose caught the scents of a vole...but it had long since passed by as it was now stale. "Mouse dung." She mumbled lowly.
The Thunderclan she-cat kept trudging forward, enjoying what sun was beaming through as she searched for fresh kill. It had taken a bit before she heard the crunch of leaves nearby. Figuring out the winds direction, Tanglepath moved downwind and slowly crept up on the noise near some brambles.
The smell struck the she-cat as odd. But she didn't care to think much of it. Tanglepath was currently in her element.
Lowering her body close to the cool ground, she lowered her brown ears, tail curled close to her body as she prepped herself to pounce over the brambles. Once figuring out her preys location, she wriggled her haunches and leapt out, claws unsheathed as she came out over the brush and landing on top of Jaggedthorn.
Unfortunately her claws sank into the exausted warrior before realizing she had landed on a unknown cat.
It took a few seconds for Tanglepath to realize just exactly who this cat was underneath the matted fur and malnutritioned warrior. "Jaggedthorn?!?" She mewed surprised as she quickly leaped off of him. From his appearance alone, the thunderclan she-cat had thought he was visiting from starclan since the last he was seen was so long ago. She lowered her ears, unsure what to say at first as mixed emotions arised. Fear, sorrow, love. He had left so quickly after receiving his title as deputy. Still even before that, Tanglepath had silently admired him from afar hoping one day she would catch his attention. But that had never happened.
Her bright blue gaze stared at him in wonder and fear. Her white brown tipped tail twitched as she looked at him intently, slowly backing away abit without realizing it. "If your visiting from Starclan...I'd have figured you would look...healthier." She said cautiously.
Leaves crunched underpaw as long furred black and white tom moved through the undergrowth. His eyes stared at the ground in front of him, as if he was on a mission.
The tom's long fur was matted and unkempt, his ribs shown through his fur and his claws were clotted with dirt. His scent reeked faintly of illness though he didn't seem to be terribly sick.
The Tom's thoughts focused on one thing. Home. It had been several season since he'd seen his home. He had been out hunting when twolegs had captured him, throwing him in a monster and taking him away. Only four sunrises before, Hollystar had named him Deputy.
Jaggedthorn grunted, staggering and slumping to his side as his paw caught a bramble in the ground. Sitting up, he scowled furiously.