Chapter 5
"Is she the one?"
Muted voices made Hawk's ears twitch in confusion. Who were they? She let out a low-throated growl of warning, tensing her muscles.
"Who are you!?" She bristled, and blinked open her eyes.
A dark grey tom stared back at Hawk serenely. "Greetings, Hawk." He purred. "Welcome to your new home."
Hawk stared intently at the cat. He had a dark grey pelt, glistening blue eyes, and... wings?!
Almost instantly, Hawk regretted her sudden move on the aggressive side of things. A sudden bursting headache made her scrunch up her eyes once more. Nonetheless, she let out a low throated growl.
Once the sudden jolt had gone away, Hawk narrowed her eyes, and saw that the two cats were sitting together in a tense, low-voiced discussion. She pricked her ears to hear any tidbits about the conversation, but when she could hear none, Hawk tried to figure out her surroundings and what had happened.
She was laying down on a soft green cushion of moss, while rock walls loomed all around her. She was in some sort of cave-like den that could probably fit about five cats comfortably.
A closer inspection revealed that there were two other nests available for use in the cave. One was pushed to the side, but the other was clearly in use, decorated with small bright flowers. Hawk couldn't remember what had happened to get her here, though, not until she looked down at her own body.
A sudden gasp escaped her, causing the two cats to sharply glance up at her, before continuing on with their conversation.
Tightly woven cobwebs laced her forepaw, binding in some sort of sweet smelling herb. Blood crusted on the edge of the cobweb. Tilting her head, Hawk also saw patches of cobweb along her back, and several little scratches.
Looking at her body all the memories return to her as fast as the swift blow to her head had knocked her head. She had been trying to get to Blaze, then she'd stumbled upon a little kit with wings, then she'd come right in the path of the avalanche.
I hope the little guy's okay... Hawk thought about it without thinking. Instantaneously, she winced inwardly. Adder would claw my fur off if she knew, Hawk reflected uneasily. Was her mother furious, or panicking now that her last kit was gone?
Hawk was fed up with lying around while the two cats spoke to her as though she were even duller than a kit. Jerking her head around to face the two winged beasts, she hissed.
"How'd you even find me?! And what's the big idea with you calling this my 'new home'?"
The pale ginger tabby she-cat gasped when Hawk spoke, eyes narrowing to slits. She fanned out her amber-shaded wings elegantly, and narrowed her eyes.
"What gives you the right to speak to us like that, rogue?" She snapped.
Before Hawk could open her jaws to protest, the dark grey tom flicked his tail at the amber-winged she-cat in a calming gesture. Reluctantly, she settled herself down, guarding the exit to the den, and began grooming her wings. Still, her narrowed eyes were settled on Hawk.
"Apologies for your discomfort." The dark grey cat's voice cracked when he spoke, and Hawk realised that he must be very old. "My name is Talonstar, and I only come with offerings of peace."
Hawk narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She was keenly aware that she was outnumbered. There were probably even more cats outside, just waiting to take her down. As Hawk watched Talonstar, she noticed how he was trying to hold his temper. Even if he hid it well, she guessed he was quite furious.
"Peace?!" Hawk retorted when no cat spoke for several heartbeats. "You're literally trying to take my family's land, aren't you?"
Talonstar spoke calmly, although his tail was thrashing to and fro. "Your past life is irrelevant now that you're going to be one of us," he meowed low in his throat. "My Medicine Cat, Dawnclaw over there has convinced me you need to stay. So I have ordered my warriors to make you stay."
Hawk twisted her head around to glare at Dawnclaw. She ran a paw over her ear smugly. "That's right," she meowed. "We have intel that suggests your path is entertained with ours. That and taking you away from your little gang means it's one less cat to eliminate on our way to survival."
Talonstar let out an awkward chuff of air. "And," he meowed loudly. "You saved Specklekit. It is surely only the kind thing to do to keep you here until your wounds have healed."
Sure that's what you want.
"You seem like you'd make a fine fighter," Talonstar continued. "And we like those here. There's no requirement saying you need to be smart or clever to be a member of FalconClan."
Hawk growled but said nothing. Perhaps it was for the best if these 'FalconClan' warriors thought she was bee-brained. It might help her sneak around without as much suspicion. Still, she felt bitter at the fact that they clearly felt extremely superior when compared to her.
Dawnclaw smirked. "Those cobwebs will heal up quite nicely," she meowed. "Before you know it, you'll be taking flight."
Talonstar whirled around, and shook his head emphatically. "She needs to prove her worth first," he meowed calmly.
Dawnclaw shrugged and returned to her grooming. As Talonstar turned to face Hawk once more, he fanned out his dark grey wings elegantly. The pale dawn light from outside of the den shone on them, lighting up tiny sparks of blue. Talonstar puffed out his chest.
"Prepare to join my ranks, little rogue. Once your wounds are healed, it will be time." Talonstar smiled and flexed his long claws in and out. "Now you won't be playing any tricks will you?"
Hawk smiled at the FalconClan leader. "I wouldn't dream of it."
I'll show them, She thought coldly as Talonstar turned and strutted out of the den. Just wait until Adder learns that I can give her inside information. I'll figure out these cats' weaknesses, then we can fight them.
More than that, though, Hawk desperately hoped that she would find her brother somewhere in the ranks of these clan cats. Maybe he hadn't been running from her, but instead trying to lead her to another clan! Maybe he'd even convinced them to help drive out FalconClan. Hawk had heard from her mother that there were likely three groups of cats around.
I'm coming for you, Blaze!
Hawk suddenly narrowed her eyes as Dawnclaw padded over to her. The pale ginger tabby with the amber wings padded up to her slowly.
"Watch your step," she meowed to Hawk. "Avalanches are frequent on this snowy landscape. One little slip up, and you'll find yourself in the middle of one."
Are you threatening me? Hawk narrowed her eyes. While Talonstar had just been snooty and proud, there was something ominous in Dawnclaw's eyes that made her uneasy. Whatever Dawnclaw had against her, it was personal.
"Were you the one that healed up my wounds?" Hawk asked politely. "Thank you ever so much."
Her mocking flattery was rewarded with a simultaneous look of fury and respect gleaming in Dawnclaw's eyes.
"My apprentice helped," Dawnclaw meowed casually. "I'll re-patch them soon enough."
Hawk nodded absently, and curled up in a ball. She was going to pretend to be tired so that Dawnclaw could leave her alone. Then, she would try her paw at escaping. Maybe FalconClan wouldn't be around, and she could leave and find Adder. Her mother would know what was the best move from here.
Hawk listened as the sound of Dawnclaw's retreating pawsteps left the cave. Then, she got to her paws. It was warm in the den, and it smelled quite pleasant. Still, Hawk felt on edge.
She waited a few more heartbeats before getting to her paws. Almost instantly, pain shot up into her body from several places. Hawk clenched her teeth as she put weight onto her injured forepaw.
Then, she looked towards the light. Freedom was so close. Taking a deep breath, Hawk bounded towards the exit to the den, and skidded out.
Her momentum carried her a few more pawsteps. Suddenly there were sharp intakes of breath from all around Hawk.
"So Specklekit really was saved by a rogue?!"
"I thought they were supposed to be less scrawny."
"Look at that eye scar!"
Hawk let her gaze travel up from the ground. Her heart skipped a beat, and began pounding madly in her chest. As her gaze raked the land around her, Hawk realised that she was completely surrounded by cats... with wings.