Patchfur's Reckoning

The calico she-cat looked up. She blinked her beautiful blue eyes. The moon shined on her pelt, making all sorts of patterns on her fur. Another cat entered the den. He was a white tom with silver dapples and gray eyes. He was carrying a rabbit. He set in front of the calico she-cat.

She purred in appreciation. "Thank you, Stone."

"Anytime, Patch."

Patch ate the rabbit in slow bites. She was pregnant, and her belly was low and was only a mouse-length away from the ground. She stood up after she finished eating. Stone had a worried look on his face. His shining eyes were filled with pure sadness.

"Stone?" Patch asked. "What's wrong?"

Stone sighed. "I've been alerted to twolegs ripping this part of the forest apart. We need to go, now."

"Now?!" Patch asked, horrified. "But I'm pregnant! It's going to take us the rest of our lives just to leave!"

"Patch, stop worrying. You still have a moon or two left until you give birth. Now, I know a tom who knows the forest like the back of his paw. If anyone knows a safe place for you and I, it's him."

Patch's ears perked up. "Is he nearby?"

"Yes." Stone said. "His den is a few tail-lengths away."

Stone helped his mate out of the den, and they began to walk. After a few minutes, they reached a dark cave in a huge boulder. It was almost completely taken over by moss, and part of the entrance was covered in vines. It looked *severely* inhabitable, and Patch could smell a horrible stench from the inside, like rotting prey and dirt. Suddenly, a cat emerged from the den. He was a reddish tom, his yellow eyes gleaming.

"Acacia." Stone greeted. "Good to see you."

Acacia chuckled. "Good evening, Stone. This must be your mate!" he said, turning to Patch.

"That would be correct." Patch said. "So, Stone told me that the forest was being ripped apart, and that you know of a safe place we can go?"

Acacia nodded. "In fact I do! There's a group in the moors and pine forest called Flareclan. They can help you."

Patch smiled. "That's great! Lead the way!"

Acacia began to walk on a very specific trail, winding through the trees and over a stream. Patch was thrilled. She had never smelled so many new things before! This *had* to be Flareclan's camp!"

Stone was running behind, as he insited that Patch and Acacia run ahead of him. He was just about to catch up, when a twoleg walked past, and picked up Stone with its huge paws and put him into a crate. Stone yowled for help, and Patch and Acacia ran after the twoleg, but it was too late.

Stone made eye contact with Patch and said "Take care of our kits for me. I love you."

As soon as he said that, his crate was shoved onto a twoleg monster. The twoleg monster roared and then went away.

"No!" Patch sobbed.

Acacia went up to her. "Hey, it'll be okay. Stone will live on in your kits, and their kits in turn. *Stone will always be a part of your family tree, and your mate*.

Patch sniffled. "Th-thank you. Let's head to Flareclan now."

Acacia nodded in agreement, and they continued onward. Luckily enough, three cats were passing by. One of them was a ginger she-cat with white paws. Her golden eyes gleamed in the morning sunrise. Following behind was a brown tom with white dapples and darker brown eyes. The last one was a tabico she-cat, her green eyes very mesmerizing.

The cats spotted Patch and Acacia.

"This is Flareclan territory, rogues!" the ginger she-cat spat. "Who are you and what business do you have with us?"

"I'm Patch, and this is Acacia. Our territory in the forest was ripped apart by twolegs. I lost my mate, Stone while we were coming here. Acacia said your clan was a safe place."

The cats in the patrol discussed this with each other.

"Alright, we'll let you in." the she-cat said. "Oh! And my name's Flamecloud. That's Thrushwing and Ivyleaf."

The patrol led the two cats to the camp. An off-white tom was sunning himself on a huge rock, and a tom (who looked suspiciously like a fox) seemed to be inspecting the vegetation around the camp.

"Fjordstar." Flamecloud said. "We found these cats on a patrol, and they seek refuge. Their named are Patch and Acacia."

"Hm..." Fjordstar said. "Alright. And Patch looks to be pregnant."

"I am." Patch said, dipping her head in respect.

"Alright. From now on, you will be known as Patchfur and Acaciafur. Welcome to Flareclan."

The she-cat named Ivyleaf led me to the nursey, where I would stay to nurse my kits. Ivyleaf had a kit as well, and it mewled in excitement at it's mother's return. Patchfur poked her head out of the nursery, and saw Acaciafur being led into a seperate den by Flamecloud and Thrushwing.

"They're taking him to the elder's den." Ivyleaf notified me.

I went back into the nursery and laid down. I was here in Flareclan, I had gotten what I wanted. But now, only one question was on my mind.

*Is Stone alright?*