Yellowfang

As the shadow of Ruby's wings faded into the pine forest, movement stirred in the darkest corner of the camp. Yellowfang emerged from her hiding place beneath a drooping bramble, her thick gray fur matted and tangled as always. Her broad, flattened face wore its usual scowl, but something deeper lurked in her orange eyes as she watched the spot where the dragon had vanished.

A familiar ache twisted in her belly as she observed Raggedpelt. The dark tabby warrior stood motionless, his amber gaze still fixed on the sky as if Ruby's presence had left a visible mark on the air itself. His usual aggressive stance had softened into something that looked almost like wonder.

Yellowfang padded over to him, her paws silent on the needle-strewn ground despite her bulk. "So," she growled, her raspy voice carrying a sharp edge that didn't quite mask her underlying anxiety, "do you believe a word she said?" She tried to keep her tone casual, but her claws kneaded the earth beneath her feet, betraying her unease.

Raggedpelt's ear twitched, the only indication that he'd heard her speak. After a moment, he turned to face her, his expression thoughtful – a rare sight on the usually fierce warrior's face. "Sure," he said slowly, as if piecing together a puzzle. "I mean, I heard from the RiverClan patrols that they did have a dragon over there." His whiskers twitched with remembered irritation. "They were always boasting that if we didn't stay off their land, she would come and eat us all up."

He let out a heavy sigh, his breath stirring the fur on his chest. "Now I see that they weren't just delirious furballs." His eyes narrowed as he glanced at Yellowfang. "Though I'm not sure having her here is any better. Who knows what a dragon really wants with a bunch of cats?"

The unspoken tension between them hung in the air like morning mist, thick with all the things they never said to each other. Yellowfang felt her heart twist painfully in her chest, though her gruff exterior showed nothing but her usual prickly indifference.

Yellowfang lashed her tail in annoyance, her amber eyes blazing. "A dragon in ShadowClan—can you believe it? Of all the StarClan-cursed creatures to bring trouble to my den!" She spat on the ground, her whiskers quivering with irritation. "And yet, half the Clan's acting like it's some kind of wonder, all bright-eyed and mouse-brained."

Sedgewhisker narrowed her eyes, amusement mixed with concern. "It's not every day you see a dragon, Yellowfang. Most cats would be curious."

Yellowfang huffed, her fur bristling. "Curiosity won't save them if that beast decides we look like a nice snack. Dragons are nothing but fire-breathing fox-hearts with wings." She lashed her tail again, the fur along her spine rippling in agitation. "If she tries to slink into our dens or meddle with ShadowClan business, she'll have to answer to me."

Sedgewhisker purred softly, her whiskers twitching. "I'd like to see that—the mighty Yellowfang, scaring off a dragon with her claws and tongue alone."

Yellowfang let out a low growl. "She'll regret coming anywhere near this camp. I don't care if RiverClan welcomed her like some lost kit; ShadowClan has no need for dragons or their trouble." She glanced over her shoulder, eyeing the dragon's golden scales glinting near the edge of the camp. "If she knows what's good for her, she'll stay far, far away from my den."

Just then, Ragerpelt padded over, his eyes cautious but thoughtful. "Yellowfang, maybe she's just lost. Looking for a place to fit in, like any other creature."

Yellowfang snorted, whipping around. "A place to fit in? In ShadowClan? She doesn't belong here any more than a fish belongs in the marshlands." She looked Ragerpelt dead in the eyes, her gaze sharp as thorns. "If she really wants a place, she can go make herself useful in WindClan or find some hole to crawl into. But she won't get a single whisker of welcome from me."

With that, she stalked off, leaving Ragerpelt and Sedgewhisker behind to share an exasperated glance as the ragged she-cat disappeared into her den, muttering under her breath about dragons and mouse-brained Clanmates.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

A few hours later, Yellowfang was curled up in a rare moment of peace, her breath slow and steady as she dozed in the warriors' den. Suddenly, a chaotic rustling shattered the quiet as a clatter of branches tumbled through the entrance. Yellowfang jolted awake, hissing as she sprang to her paws, fur bristling as she swatted the intruding branches aside.

Her snarl faded, though, when a large, scaly head poked through the den's entryway, golden eyes blinking sheepishly. Ruby the dragon gave an awkward, apologetic yelp. "Oh! Sorry, Yellowfang. I thought I'd... er... make the entrance a bit bigger." She glanced at the mangled branches she'd knocked loose. "You know, so I could come in without... ripping anything apart. Seems it was a waste of time anyway." She sighed and pulled her head back slightly, her tail curling anxiously behind her in the snow.

Yellowfang blinked, squinting into the brightness that glinted off the frosted trees and reflected harshly off Ruby's scales. She flattened her ears and let out an irritable huff. "Hrrm. What are you doing here so early, you pompous beast?" she growled, her voice as prickly as a thorn bush.

Ruby ducked her head, her huge wings rustling as if she was trying to make herself small. "I just... thought I'd help," she muttered. "Maybe patch up some dens or clear out the snow." She glanced down, looking almost shy, though her long neck and glittering scales were anything but subtle.

Yellowfang rolled her eyes, curling her tail around her paws with a sigh that suggested she'd aged a hundred moons in mere moments. "If you want to help, try doing it without tearing down the camp," she grumbled, nose wrinkling. "Or without waking up every cat from here to Fourtrees."

Ruby's wings drooped, and she looked as if she were shrinking into herself. "I really am sorry," she said in a small voice. "I just... wanted to fit in." She lifted her head slightly, her gaze meeting Yellowfang's with a glint of hope. "I'll be careful next time. Promise."

Yellowfang held her gaze, her amber eyes narrowed, but something softened in her expression—just barely. "Fine, then," she muttered. "But if you're going to be stomping around, pompous beast, find something useful to do. Snow's piling up on the elders' dens. They won't want it leaking in, so clear it off. And try not to knock anything else down while you're at it."

Ruby's face lit up, her eyes sparkling like sunlight on ice. "I can do that!" She backed out of the den, her scales brushing the branches without snapping them this time. "Thanks, Yellowfang!"

As the dragon lumbered away, Yellowfang huffed and shook her head, settling back into her nest with a reluctant smile playing at the edges of her mouth.