Short Stuff (closed)

Like his son did just days before, Tinystar sat alone near the cave entrance as cats milled around in the depths of the cavern. His small body was still covered in blood stains and his long tail, though functional, hurt with ever twitch. He should have been tired, especially after all he'd been through over the past few sunrises, but couldn't keep his eyes closed for more than a few moments and the stubby legged leader's pelt itched with anxiousness. He hated this place; the cave that tribe cats called their home. It was so closed in, so damp and cold, and he couldn't imagine living here all his life, so sheltered from everything that was out in the world to explore and be a part of.

His short pelt and little body put him at a grave disadvantage for the constant chilly mountain weather and he was in a continuous discomfort, especially with his wounds which had just recently begun healing.

Of course there was strength in numbers and part of him was a fool to think that he and Finchstar could have lived very long alone back at Highstones, but even so, all he wanted was to return back home; to the forest. He wanted to see his family and clan again... Mintwhisker, Amberdawn... every night he prayed to the stars above that they were alright and not washed up dead somewhere, and each night, he could feel a sliver of whatever hope he had left flutter away like a leaf that was caught in the wind. Well, even if they were dead, they would be up in StarClan, which was probably a better place to be now than displaced from their home, fighting for their lives and now fighting for their dignity.

The large tabby tom was far from wounded and exhausted as he used to be when he first arrived here. The remaining members of his clan were recovering fast and were now hunting alongside the tribe cats, earning their share of prey every day. Thanks to Starclan, no trouble had happened among the walls of the caves and the Tribe members were actually pretty gentle and kind to them. Daisy of the Silver Fields was especially kind and generous to him though he didn't quite understand why.

However... despite all that, he still felt a bit hopeless and lost. His family was gone... almost everyone. His daughters and sons... his grandkids... The only one left was Goldeneye yet they were not even mates and he didn't love her like the way he used to do. Jaystar was alone, in despair and still having the burden of leading a clan because Starclan said so. Was his destiny to suffer being so away from home? To lose everyone and be unable to stop? Why did Starclan let him stay when they knew this was going to happen? To punish him? His family didn't deserve it. Scorchclaw... didn't deserve it...

The Riverclan leader found himself walking through the caves and tunnels, alone, until his gaze caught the shape of the older yet smaller leader. Tinystar seemed lost in his own thoughts as well. For a second, Jaystar wanted to keep walking and let the Skyclan tom be but something inside him... told him to not do so because even if hated to admit, maybe they both needed some company. The silver-furred cat made his way to the other tom and sat next to him, but not too close. After all, he still wasn't in good terms with Tinystar. "Greetings... is the Tribe treating your clan well, Tinystar?" He mewed with not much emotion and not really looking into the tom's eyes.

Having been lost in a dreary train of thought, Tinystar had failed to hear the tom approaching. Practically jumping out of his pelt from his sudden appearance, the little tom's head snapped upwards to see the RiverClanner having sat down next to him. Why in StarClan's name was Jaystar sitting beside him and talking as if they were closer than they actually were? Surely the sleek pelted tom knew how the SkyClanner felt towards him, and yet, he dared to try and start conversation? Maybe he was just bored, but even so, there were plenty of other cats stuck in the cave to talk to.

Finding himself somewhat appalled by the idea of sitting down with the cat whom he'd lost a significant amount of respect for, he wasn't able to stay cold for very long, seeing as though he'd previously been in a somewhat sorrowful mood, and his sympathetic side began to seep in. Maybe Jaystar was just feeling lost like he was, and he had to admit, talking to someone might help take his mind off things... But even so, he had a hard time believing that whatever conversation they would have could possibly go very long, for the two cats had almost nothing in common, though it wasn't like that really mattered.

"They have been kind thus far," the stout leader began, turning his gaze back towards the entrance of the cave as he spoke. Muscles tense, the entire situation was new to him and he hadn't a clue as what to do or say, seeing as though he'd never really had a casual conversation with the rival leader. "How was the journey here for you all?" he asked, curious as to how the other clans had fared when they'd left Highstones.

It had been a difficult few days. Hunting for so many cats — and hunting alongside Clan cats that barely knew how to maneuver in the mountains — was really bothersome. If it were up to Rainbow, she’d make sure only Lion Tail of Shadow Clan were fed by the Tribe — and maybe Daisy Flame because her sister liked him so much. But other than that, she would want the other Clan cats to fend for themselves, whether they had the skills and knowledge to or not.

But alas, Stoneteller had told the prey-hunters to hunt for the Clan cats as well. What a bother!

Rainbow grasped a mountain hare in her jaws and padded over to the River Clan leader Jay Star, and the much smaller to-be-like Tiny Star. She placed the hare before them and smiled down at Tiny Star, pulling off the most convincingly sincere smiles she could muster, a small purr rising up in her throat. ”Here you go, little one. Share this hare with your Clan friend here so you can grow up to be big and strong!” So you can be big and strong enough to leave....

Hawk hadn't taken the time to learn much about the clan cats at all. She despised the clan, constantly finding herself more irritable and on edge the longer they were here. Despite Stoneteller's words that they were guests and should be treated properly, and the reassurance it would be over soon, her claws itched for the freedom of open space. The to-be stalked across the cave with a usual cross look across her face. But before she could disappear, something caught fhe corner of her eye. Rainbow's words were just audible from her position near the leaders. That was one of the things she'd managed to hear: the runty cat was a leader.

"Don't patronize him, Rainbow, I'm sure he's just as much a leader as the rest." She snorted, coming up alongside her tribemate. As much as she wasn't fond of the presence of many cats, Rainbow that Graces the Sky was one of the few bearable ones. On one of the many patrols she'd been forced to attend with the increase of cats to feed, someone had mentioned the tiny leader actually lead one of the groups of cats. It was hilarious. If Stoneteller was around, she might have held her tongue, but this wasn't the case. Allowing a low, sharp laugh to break from her throat, Hawk of Jagged Talon's chocolate tail flickered back and forth with more ease, "I can't believe there are actually cats who allow someone who looks like a to-be to lead them. Personally, I would never stoop to such stupidity." Jabbing at the little cat was the most enjoyment she'd found in the past few days. It lifted some is the frustration off her chest, easing, but not quite erasing.

The tom kept his gaze on the cave's entrance as well but he wasn't as Tinystar was. Yes, they weren't friends at all and he doubted he would ever like him but he wasn't his enemy. He didn't truly despise him. And in times like this... anyone would like some company. "Starclan guided through Pricklebush, who read the omens with the great ability. It is thanks to him that no life was lost during the journey here but I can't say it was easy, though." He mewed before a third member showed up.

The tom turned his green gaze over the Tribe she-cat who approached the small leader with prey. Though it wasn't the first time Tinystar was mistaken as an apprentice, it didn't mean it wasn't less funny. Jaystar had to contain a small chuckle and he looked at the gentle she-cat with a tired smile. " Thank you for your kindness but I think you're a little confused here about three things, Rainbow. We're not really friends, he is older than me by many moons and..." Before he could continue, another Tribe cat showed up, less friendly than the last one. He remembered almost every first word of their names and he was pretty sure she was called Hawk. Jaystar narrowed his eyes slightly at his comments and his tail flickered a bit annoyed by how rude he was being. From his apprentice-hood, he knew what it was like to be bullied because of physical and personality traits and as the witness of such actions made his blood burst with anger yet he remained still, giving Hawk a silent, annoyed look. "You must be Hawk, right?" He mewed a little cold but not in an aggressive manner.

"I'm glad to here that," Tinystar mewed in reply with a slight dip of his head. If only their journey was as peaceful and not so pain stricken...

Before he or Jaystar was able to say anything else, a she-cat, most likely from the tribe made her presence known and butted her way into their conversation. When she first spoke, Tinystar was genuinely confused and wondered if she actually though he was an apprentice, seeing as though it wasn't uncommon for cats to think so... But after a moment of studying her facial expression, he could've sworn that she held a glimpse of smugness on her muzzle, even if it were only for a split second.

Not saying a word as Jaystar began to speak, his stomach growled and he turned his baby-blue gaze back down to the food that laid at his paws. This she-cat may have come off... odd, but he was hungry and could push aside such inadequacies aside, for now at least. Only partially listening as Jaystar replied to her, the little leader leaned down. Mouth watering and about to take a bite of the hare, he snapped his head back up when a revolting scent hit his nose. Looking back to the piece of prey, he noticed that maggots squirmed through its' fur and into the large rabbit's ears.

Having entirely lost his appetite, he sat back up and held his neck up so that his head was as far away from the rotting crow-food as possible. "What is the meaning of this?" the stubby legged tom mewed stoically as he locked his gaze onto the she-cat, not paying much attention to the other tom who had begun to chastise him for his size. He would deal with her later.

While some cats may have given such an action the benefit of a doubt, Tinystar highly disbelieved that grabbing a piece of decaying prey from the fresh-kill pile could hardly be an accident and he wouldn't have been surprised if the tribe cat gave it to him with a clear purpose.

Rainbow’s sweet expression turned wicked with cruel amusement, and she snorted with a smirk. ”What’s wrong, Tiny Star? Don’t look so revolted; after all, you uncultured rogues eat disgusting scraps of crow-food everyday, I’m sure! Not like someone as tiny as you have the skill or strength to even take down a baby mouse, so this is all you can get to fend for yourself, right?” She arched her eyes and gave a loud mrrow of laughter, her tail swishing back and forth, looking quite pleased with herself.

Then she blinked open her eyes again and looked down at him. ”Unless, of course, you really are a kit just pretending to be a leader of your Clan. In that case, allow me to help you eat!” Raising her paw up, she slammed it down against the back of Tinystar’s head, using momentum and honed muscle to press his muzzle deep into the rotten hare. She didn’t keep him held down for long — she didn’t want to actually kill him — and she lifted her paw away with a cruel snort. ”Tastes just like home for you, doesn’t it, Tiny?~”