Drifting Undead

Timber's paws ached from how long he'd been traveling. The Nofurplace wasn't exactly close to Riverclan, and since it had only been... well, basically forever since he'd left, he didn't even know exactly where Riverclan even was. It took him three whole days after finding the clans to track down that "funky fish smell" he'd heard someone in Shadowclan grumble about once. That was all he remembered about the clan his father had come from. He frowned as he walked, knowing fully well that the sole reason he even remembered that was because he thought the words "funky fish" were funny.

What a joke, his sole memory of Riverclan... his only tie to the tom that fathered him was a muttered insult that he wasn't even supposed to overhear.

Ugh.

Following his nose, he'd stumbled across a wide river, and decided to follow it. It had to take him somewhere right? Maybe one of those half-wit clan cats he shared blood with would stumble across him and drag him off into the wilds. He wrinkled his nose at the river's smell. It was indescribable, and far from pleasant. He really hoped that he wouldn't have to live next to it while he stayed here. Maybe he could convince them to give him an old cushion away from it or something. He saw absolutely no appeal in sleeping near something so nasty and wet. What if it flooded?

Ugh.

He already missed the dry, warm black stretches of ground that criss-crossed the Nofurplace, and the old grey cushion he slept on during the day. Speaking of day...

Timber's sharp gaze slid up to the sky above, seeing the first flickers of dawn peeking up and edging the sky in soft shades of blue and pink. His frown deepened into a scowl. He'd have to find shelter soon if the sun was rising. Though he couldn't see anything around him that would be too great to sleep on. He'd have to keep walking...

Ugh.

Timber had been silently grumbling about the irritation of having to walk around during the heat of the day, and wrestling with strange plant life he'd never even seen before, when a feminine voice stopped him in his tracks. He quickly tried to piece together what all she had said while he was distracted, but she soon spoke again.

Rats.

He'd been caught. Quickly, he weighed his options as he crouched down to keep himself concealed in the tall grasses and greenery. He could run, probably. If he took off now she probably wouldn't be able to catch up with him... But then, she knew this territory far better than he did. Timber flexed his claws, realizing running wasn't an option. He wondered if he could take her in a fight. She was just a she-cat, there was no way she'd be any sort of match for him. He could knock her in the river and make a break for i-

Wait.

What am I doing?

This was a clan cat. She could lead him back to Riverclan, couldn't she? He grimaced at his previous line of thought. It probably wouldn't be the smartest idea to maul one of their people if he intended on asking for a place to stay... With that thought in mind, Timber rose to his full height and stepped forward, out of the strange plants. The female that greeted his gaze was much smaller than he expected, surprise widened his eyes for only a moment. He thought all clan cats were supposed to be big, fearsome savages... At least, that's what his former family had told him. This one didn't match the description at all... and suddenly he had his doubts about sharing blood with these cats. Well, maybe the savage part was right after all. She didn't exactly look thrilled to see him.

He shouldn't waste any time.

"Yo, you got a clan or somethin' around here or what?"

Seeing the suspicion and tension that steeled the she-cat's little body was almost entertaining. Did she not realize one swing of his heavy paw could lay her flat on her back? These clan savages must be brave or stupid.

Probably both.

Still, he wasn't getting anywhere with this musty hunk of pillow-fluff unless he gave a little information himself. While he could understand the caution, it was still annoying. He could be sleeping right now, or even eating. Timber really hoped they had food there. His stomach wasn't too happy at him at the moment.

"My intentions are between myself and whoever you follow, but I'm not really here to pick a fight if that's what you want to hear."

The tom stared blandly at her. What was a moor... or even a 'Raven Star?" Some meaningless Clan cat babble? "I have no idea what you're talking about. If you really need to know what I'm tryna do so badly, I'm looking for... someone. This is Riverclan, right? You smell like moldy fish, so I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place. Besides, if you're so concerned with me lying, knowing my intentions wouldn't really do you any good. How would you know I ain't lying about that, huh?"

His tail flicking with impatience, Timber considered walking right past her and continuing on his way. He'd have to find the place eventually, right? He'd take sleeplessness and starvation any day over wasting his time talking in circles with this rat. We're they all going to be this dense?

He watched her consider his words for a moment, rolling them around in her head as if trying to analyze them and extract hidden information from them. After that her entire demeanor changed. She was right. He had heard of the Clans. Though he wasn't about to just blurt out the fact he was from the Clans until he'd found his father. He didn't know the tom, but he needed something from him, and all he could do was hope that blood relation would be enough to buy him enough time here to get back on his paws. Not that this munchkin would have half a clue about any of that, yet. He also wasn't about to admit he didn't actually know the name of his own dad. He already knew how suspicious that would make him sound.

It didn't take long before Riverclan came into view. He paused, looking out over the area. It was quieter than he expected... quieter than he remembered Shadowclan to be around this time. Maybe Riverclan slept earlier than Shadowclan? Still, it seemed... so barren. He remembered the massive wall of prickly plants that protected his old home in the swamp. Riverclan had none of that, just a dwindling river nearby. Then again, what sane cat would want to jump into a river... for any reason really. Speaking of, how in the world were they supposed to get over there?

The she-cat beside him started up again, revealing her name and commanding him to stick close to her. He didn't even have a chance to answer before she stepped forward, into the water. He cringed, watching her cross without a problem.

"Timber... my name is Timber."

Well, Timberkit. Though being known as a kitten was more than embarrassing enough outside of the Clans, so he quickly dropped that part of his name. Biting back his distaste, he followed her into the stream. He made a point of doing his best to step into the shallowest spots possible, but in only a heartbeat all four of his heavy paws had been thoroughly soaked in the unpleasant chill.

U g h.

Hopefully he wouldn't have to do this often.

As soon as he was back on dry land, Timber shook each individual paw violently as he tried to keep up with Honeytongue. For something so tiny, she was quick on her feet. She finally stopped, and while she called out for some Ivy Star, he busied himself rapidly grooming the moisture from his legs and paws. These Clan cats must be insane to willingly live so close to so much water.

He soon grew aware of the eyes gathering on him, but he had enough sense to not stare them down threateningly... as much as he wanted to.

The tom instead focused on the pretty silver she-cat in front of him. This must be the Ivy Star that that little furball of a cat mentioned. He looked her up and down, his sharp green eyes sizing her up. This Clan cat struck him as a person of authority. Maybe she was his father's second? He wasn't sure what it was. Maybe the even look in her eyes, or the way she held herself. Regardless though, she most definitely not his father. Mild irritation flickered in the back of his mind at the yellow she-cat beside them. Was she deaf or something? This clearly wasn't the right cat.

Ugh.

Whatever, he might as well just talk to this cat. Ignoring her wouldn't help, and maybe she'd be able to lead him to wherever his halfwit father might be. Lifting his chin proudly, he rose to his paws and looked down at the Ivy Star before him. "I'm lookin' for someone. The tom you people follow, he's around here right? I gotta talk to him 'bout somethin'."

He narrowed his eyes at her, tail flicking in further irritation. Escort him? And wait, what did she mean she was in charge? Where was his father? He flexed his claws, sinking them into the ground as he quickly ran through various ways he could convince the she-cat in front of him to give him the information he needed.

She could be lying. Maybe she was only in charge while he wasn't around, or maybe she just didn't trust him. Either way, playing along was his best bet for now. Lying wouldn't get him anywhere when he had no idea how the Clans worked. He couldn't bluff his way through this without a better understanding of their rules and life, and he wasn't stupid enough to think he could fight his way out of here if she caught an attitude.

"Cool it. I ain't here for a fight, furball. Last I heard, Riverclan followed a guy. Not my fault I ain't up to date" He muttered, his intense green stare still meeting hers head on. He didn't even know the guy's name, how was he supposed to explain to her who he was looking for? He wracked his brain for any fuzzy memories of his father, but came back with nothing...

Or... wait. Maybe...?

The hazy faces of his littermates flashed through his mind's eye for only a heartbeat. He knew he had stood out from them in one very specific way... maybe it was relevant?

"I uh... was told me and him have the same eyes?"