The area Thin had been training was pretty close to the thicket. Wave and her got back in no time. The sun was beginning to set when they got back though. They'd trained the entire day.
White came up to Thin. "I sent out Storm and Silver for the sunset scouting group and Pine and Maple to go hunt."
"Good but you really should stay with Chestnut in the healing hole," Thin meowed. "You're getting close to having your kittens."
White purred. "I know," she meowed. "But that doesn't mean I can't do my job."
"Yes. That's exactly what it means," Thin disaggreed. "Now go back to Chestnut."
White dipped her head. "Yes, leader."
Thin made sure she went into the healing hole before jumping on the branch. "Everyone gather beneath the branch-with-no-name!"
Wave almost fell over laughing.
When everyone had gathered, Thin loudly meowed, "With White soon to have kittens I will choose a temporary co-leader to take her place." She waited for a bit. "Wave, step up."
Wave stepped forward, clearly shocked.
"Wave, as the new temporary co-leader, I trust you'll be as loyal as White and will co-lead to the best of your abilities?"
"Of course, Thin... Tail." He'd almost forgotten to say Thin's full name.
"Then I welcome you as the new temporary co-leader of thicket group. You will co-lead this group well."
Wave dipped his head and jumped onto the branch below her.
"Wave will now be addressed as Wave-stripe from all fighters, trainers and fighters in training until White can come back to her duties as co-leader. You all are dismissed."
Thin jumped down from the branch with Wave close behind her.
Suddenly, a black cat with cream stripes and a dark blue underbelly burst into the thicket. She hid under a branch and Thin watched as one of Fade's fighters burst in shortly after. As far as Thin knew the fighter's name was Acorn or something like that.
Thin walked up to the cat. "May I help you?" Thin was looking at the black cat through the corner of her green eyes.
"I was chasing a black cat. I didn't realize I had crossed into Thicket Group territory." Acorn dipped her head. "I will be on my way as soon as I find this cat. Have you seen her?"
The kitten sized cat looked at them with wide blue eyes and shook her head multiple times.
"No," Thin lied. "I haven't seen the cat you are looking for. You may go now."
"If you see her then bring her to Fade," Acorn meowed, walking off.
Thin walked up to the small cat. "It's ok," she said. "We won't hurt you."
The cat's ears were pinned in fear and her eyes were wide. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't realize I'd run into your home." The cat began to back out of the thicket.
"No! It's ok. You're fine. What group are you from?" Thin didn't recognize the cat's scent.
"I- I- I'm not from a 'group'," the cat said. "I'm just a normal stray."
"Well what's your name?" Thin spoke calmly and gently.
"B- Blue." The cat began to unpin her ears but she was still crouched against the branches.
"Hi, Blue," Thin said. "I'm Thin-tail, leader of Thicket Group and this is Wave-stripe, temporary co-leader."
"Hi, could I um, hide here for a while?"
"Of course! There's an area of branches you can stay in for the night."
"Thank you."
"Anytime." Thin showed Blue to an area of branches. They were covered in leaves and berries and were perfect for hiding overnight.
"This is perfect! Thank you so much!" Blue ran into the branches and curled up in the dust.
"Here, I can get some grass." Thin rushed outside and grabbed a mouthful of grass for the snall cat. She was only slightly bigger than a kitten.
Blue got up and let Thin put the grass down before laying back down again. The cat curled into a ball and fell asleep almost immediately.
"We'll check on her in the morning," Thin said before walking over to her hole.
She lay down in her grass bed. She fell asleep but not very quickly.
She dreamed of the day she would no longer be training. She leaped excitedly on the branch. "Everyone gather below the branch!"
When everyone had gathered she jumped down into the crowd. "Wave, take over."
Wave nodded and jumped onto the branch above him. "Today I, temporary co-leader of Thicket group, have decided that we have a cat ready to be a fighter. Thin, step up."
Thin stepped forward, smiling.
"Thin-tail, you've been trained to hunt and fight and have grown to be a true cat. You are ready to be a fighter. I, temporary co-leader of this group, welcome you as a true cat and fighter of Thicket Group." Wave jumped down from the branch and touched his nose to hers, just as Thin had with Storm-flight. Thin's entire body felt filled with excitement. "Thin-tail, as temporary co-leader of this group I welcome you to Thicket Group as a true cat and the second fighter to be made. You will defend the group with your life and hunt with the other fighters like a true cat." Wave finished and lifted his head.
"Thank you," Thin said.
"I also welcome you back as leader of this group. You will be loyal to it. And you will lead to the best of your abilities."
She woke up and said, "Yes. I will."