A Helping Hand (Closed for all exiled cats)

Molly was taking a later evening walk as she normally did nowadays. She had been in Twoleg-place for a while and she had figured her way around. She knew where to find things and how to care for herself. She had even acquired many friends in Twoleg-place, including her mate Widget, of whom she was carrying kits for. But still, its hard not to miss where she came from and the family she had. She turned a corner and a strong wave of mixed scents hit her. It took her a minute to figure out that it was from clan cats, not one specifically, but many. It smelled like the gatherings she went to as an apprentice. Filled with both excitement and anxiety, she cautiously followed her nose and found a group of cats that were the source of the smell.

ooc: mobilee
ic: Aspenpaw looked up as he heard someone padding towards them and locked eyes with the cat. He got to his paws. "Who are you?" he mewed, eyes narrowing. He couldn't quite see what the cat looked like in the dark alley and he couldn't recognize her sent so he guessed she was a rogue. He glanced toward the others, "Guys wake up someone's here." he mewed to the others, trying to also wake up the others that had fallen asleep already.

Molly was slightly surprised at the apprentices threatening tone, but then again he didn't smell of Windclan, so that made some sense. "D-do you know of any W-Windclan cats here?" She asked shakily.

Ooc: mobile

Aspenpaw nodded at her question, curious as to why she wanted to know if any WindClan cats were here, "Yes the deputy and 2 others I believe." He mewed flicking his tail.

Ashwing stuck her head out of the makeshift den. A familiar scent hit her nose. "Horsestep... Is that really you?!"

Molly let out a sigh of relief as she heard Ashwing's much more gentle voice. "Y-yes! But my names Molly now. What are you doing here?" she mewed in response as she padded into the dark alleyway.

Ashwing sighed. "You know how, at your last Gathering, the moon turned red and the sun disappeared?" she started stiffly. It was still painful to think about what had happened.

Molly was slightly worried at how scared Ashwing sounded. "Yes? What does that have to do with anything?" she mewed curiously.

"It turned out, that was the Dark Forest- the place cats go when they are too evil for StarClan. The Dark Forest cats came to our Gathering and tried to assert their rule over us. Some cats joined them. They said that StarClan had abandoned us, that our ancestors were dead. They claimed that we, the leaders of our Clans, couldn't be the leaders anymore- except for Crowstar, who joined them. Saltpelt was chosen to be leader of WindClan. We who believed in StarClan fought back, but we were greatly outnumbered. They defeated and exiled all the leaders and loyal warriors, who are sadly not very many. Hurt and defeated, we ran before they could kill us." Ashwing's gaze lowered, pain filling her voice. A tear escaped her green eye. "It seems I really am a weak leader... Nobody wanted me but my own son. And a few apprentices."

Molly listened intently, horror filling her mind and expression as Ashwing continued. "That's terrible! How can they even do that!?" she yowled with mixed fury and anxiety. "Well, if it helps at all, I dont think you're not a weak leader. I would've followed you, no matter where you went..." she mewed quietly trying to help Ashwing feel better. Molly looked around at the other cats in the dark alleyway, noting how out of place they were here. "I-I can help you settle here! Even if its only a temporary home, I can show you the best places find to hunt and find clean water!" she offered with enthusiasm.

Ashwing let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, would you? That would be fantastic...! Show me everything."

Molly was glad to see her former deputy happy again, if only for a few moments. "Its a bit dark outside but sure! We can chat on the way!" she mewed with excitement as they walked out of the alleyway. "This place is confusing at first, but its easier to manage the longer you're here..." she commented. "My friend Pepsi, she's a loner as well, told me that and helped me learn how to live here. I've made a lot of friends..." she monologued as they walked the winding paths of Twoleg-place. "...including Widget" she added shyly as she usually did when mentioning him. "We're almost there, but Ashwing? Can I tell you something?" Molly asked sincerely.

"Sure," Ashwing answered easily. Being with Horsestep  Molly helped her feel better.

Molly was both afraid and overjoyed to hear that. "W-well..." she started. "I-Its hard to say, b-but.." she mewed shakily before quickly blurting, "Im expecting kits!".

Ashwing smiled. "Congratulations! That's wonderful! How much longer?"