Thin-tail went to check on Cloud. Cloud was sleeping on one of the healing hole's grass beds. He was curled in a small white ball. His eyes opened as Thin-tail entered the room.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Thin-tail asked him.
"No. I was probably going to wake up anyway," Cloud yawned. His wounds were healing well but he was still in bad condition. He wouldn't be able to do anything yet.
"How are you doing?" Thin-tail asked.
"Could be better," Cloud replied. "Chestnut says I have a week or two before I'm healed enough to leave the healing hole."
"A week or two?" Thin-tail didn't think it would be that long right? They needed all four of their fighters to defend the thicket. Cloud was the second best hunter and a decent fighter as well.
"Yeah. Chestnut doesn't know for sure though. It could be longer-"
"Longer?!" Thin-tail exclaimed. "You don't seem that bad!"
"Chestnut says I have a few bones that are almost broken. She says those could take a bit to heal."
"I guess so... But we need you. We need the whole group. Every cat we have."
"I know but Chestnut doesn't want me to walk around much. I have to listen to her. No matter how much I know about plants I'm not a healer like her. I know what the plants do but not how to use them."
"True. It doesn't change how much we need the group to be healthy though."
"I know it doesn't. Chestnut's the one who knows about healing though."
"Well, of course she does. I'm not questioning her ability."
"If you say so."
"I'm not!"
Cloud yawned again. "Ok. I believe you."
Chestnut walked into the hole. "Get some rest," she ordered Cloud. "Thin, Storm and Wave need you out there."
Oh no. Thin-tail thought. She rushed outside and saw a group of five cats just inside the entrance to the thicket. Storm and Wave sat in front of them. Thin-tail padded over, trying to look calm.
"This is our thicket!" she heard Storm yell. "You can't just wander on in here whenever you want!"
A cat from the group was sitting in front of the two cats, her tail lashing. Her voice was calm. "And how were we supposed to know you lived here?"
"Um, hello?" Storm said angrily. "Do you cats not have noses? Our scent is everywhere here!"
Thin-tail walked up to Storm. "Storm calm down." Thin-tail stepped in front of the cats and looked at the lead cat. She dipped her head respectfully to the white cat. "Hello," she said kindly but assertively. "I'm Thin-tail. And who may you be?"
The white cat looked at her, respect glistening in her blue eyes. "White-heart," she said. "This would be Maple, Pine, Gold, and Storm-flight."
Thin-tail sat down in front of the cat, White-heart. She flicked her tail at Storm and Wave in turn. "Storm and Wave."
White-heart quickly glanced at Storm before looking back at Thin-tail. "Well, I would like to ask, would it be ok for us to stay here for a while? A raccoon attacked our home and we need somewhere to stay while we rebuild or find somewhere else to go."
Storm growled and hissed at the cat. Thin-tail flicked her tail at him to silence him. "Of course you can stay for a little while. We have some extra tunnels we can prepare into holes for the five of you."
White-heart dipped her head thankfully. "Thank you. We can help you with the holes. It shouldn't take long we only need three."
"Great," Thin-tail said. "We have exactly three tunnels."
"You can call me White by the way."
Thin-tail didn't like it, but she said, "And you may call me Thin."
She truly hated the nickname but she would have to deal.
Storm pinned his ears in shock and anger. "You're letting them in?!" he hissed. "We don't even know them!"
White looked at her paws. "I understand. If it's too much then-"
"No!" Thin exclaimed. "It's ok! Storm's just a little... aggressive. It's fine. Unless you wouldn't feel comfortable. He just needs to get used to you. He needs to know you won't be a threat. Right, Storm?"
Storm hissed in response.
"See? That's a yes," Thin said, smiling.
White had her ears pinned in fear. She slowly let them come back up. "Ok... Let's help you with the holes then."
***
After a long afternoon of digging and gathering grass, Thin was exhausted. White's group was moved in and Storm and Gold were out hunting. Wave was gathering herbs with Maple and Storm-flight was gaurding, leaving Thin and White by themselves in the middle of the thicket.
"So, you're the leader of this group?" White asked suddenly.
"What? No, I'm not. We don't have one."
"Really? They certainly followed your orders well. You were ordering Storm around like it was nothing."
"Hm. I was wasn't I?" Thin wondered.
"You were. Storm obeyed you perfectly fine too. And your tone was so firm and assertive. Anyone would think you'd been leading for multiple seasons."
"You're just saying that."
"I'm not. You'd be a great leader." White flicked her tail and walked off to the pile of prey that had been set up by the entrance. Thin waited for White before going over and picking a squirrel out of the pile. Maybe White was right. White barely knew her and thought she should lead. So did Wave. Maybe... Just maybe... Maybe she was special after all?