Lightning was not exactly calm when they heard that both Robinear and Thrushnose had nearly been caught in FloraClan territory. They'd ordered a meeting immediately, and listened intently as the two she-cats told their tales.

Now they all sat-- Thrushnose, Robinear, Greyfur, Branch, Primrose, Amber, Lightning, and little Dove-- in a large den that almost resembled those of the Leaders back in FloraClan, but this one's floor was covered in dirt instead of moss and was considerably smaller.

"We're not hunting in FloraClan territory again, alright?" announced Lightning. "It's far too dangerous-- what is this, the fifth time that someone was spotted? It's a miracle we haven't lost anyone yet. And Primrose--" Lightning raised their tail and Primrose's mouth snapped shut, "--we don't actually get that much prey from inside their territory. You can hunt in the fields quite well, can't you? I'll put you in charge of teaching the others." Lightning's gaze lifted to meet the eyes of everyone in the circle. "Oh, unless anyone has any suggestions? Sorry, that was a little rash of me..."

Robinear glanced around and saw the other cats in the circle nodding in agreement. Amber rose her tail and coughed lightly. "Lightning, I can hunt as well."

Lightning nodded. "Great. You can assist Primrose in teaching everyone." Their gaze swept around the circle again before nodding ever so slightly. "Alright, so the next issue in the room...Branch."

Branch's ears drooped. "I'm an issue? I'm offended."

"Good," mewed Lightning. "Anyway, obviously there is the slight issue that his brother murdered out previous second in command...but apparently he would like to help." A couple of cats turned and whispered to each other. Lightning turned and dipped their head towards the small light grey cat seated in the corner of the room. "Dove, thoughts?"

Dove flicked her tail. "How many cats?"

Branch's posture straightened slightly. "Scarlet, Soot, Cicada, Ollie, Fluffy--"

Dove rolled her eyes. "Numbers, not names, Branch."

"Right," he mewed, glancing at Lightning quickly. "Eight, including me."

Lightning yawned. "I remember there being more..."

Branch flicked his tail. "Most of 'em ditched me when I started looking all around for you."

"Smart cats," Lightning muttered. "Anyway, what do you think, Dove?"

Dove titled her head. "We've got about three times their numbers, so if they do turn on us we should be able to take them down. That murderer, though, is not staying with us. I'm not sure that we could take him down fast enough."

Branch winced. "Ah, one problem though...he's my brother."

"So?" Dove's tail lashed across the dirt, causing dirt to fly up in Branch's face in a move that Robinear couldn't tell if it was calculated or not.

Branch's ears twitched. "Excuse me? I can't live my only living brother all alone--" His face suddenly fell when he remembered who he was talking to. "Ah, right. You all..." He cut himself off, and his voice changed to something almost pleading. "But...he's my brother."

Lightning glared at him. "He's insane. There is something wrong with his brain, Branch."

Branch titled his head. "Still, I can't just--" He looked at them all, then turned to Lightning, and something in his expression crumbled. "I'll...I'll find him a home in the city. Happy?"

Lightning's gaze softened then, as if realizing what he had needed to go through. "Thank you, Branch."

Branch's tail lifted up ever so slightly, and Robinear couldn't stop her whiskers from twitching slightly.

"So, it's settled, is it not?" asked Lightning, glancing around the assembled cats. "Unless anyone has any objections?" they added kindly.

Everyone in the circle shook their heads.

"Good," Lightning mewed. "Meeting dismissed. Amber, would you like to teach Robinear and Thrushnose how to hunt in the fields?"

Amber dipped her head. "Of course! You two follow me," she mewed, gesturing to the two she-cats.

The cats all filed out of the meeting den, and Robinear followed Amber, suddenly feeling like a trainee once more as she followed her out towards the open fields. Thrushnose was right at her tail-- in fact, she was nearly stepping on it. Robinear purred slightly and wrapped her tail around her legs to stop her mate from tripping on it.

It was then, suddenly, that the memory of her son's face came to her, twisted with hatred and anger. Robinear stumbled. Thrushnose, not expecting it, collided with her, but quickly turned to face Robinear in worry.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her tail draping across Robinear back and her yellow eyes searching the silver tabby's with concern.

"Eaglepaw hates me," Robinear said numbly.

Thrushnose blinked. "Surely he doesn't hate--"

"He wants me dead," Robinear said in that same, broken voice. "If that isn't hatred, I don't know what is."

"Robinear--"

"Robin? Thrush? You two coming?" Amber's voice caused them both to whip their heads towards her. "We've got hunting to do."

Hunting. I can do that.

"Coming. Sorry, Amber," Robinear called out. She sent Thrushnose a quick glance that told her I'll be fine and hurried up towards the light grey she-cat, who was waiting for them a bit ahead.

Amber's whiskers twitched. "It's fine! Hey, Breeze, Berry," she called suddenly towards two cats in the distance, one brown and one ginger. "I'm teaching the newbies how to hunt in the fields. Want to help?"

The two cats hurried over, and Robinear noted that they were both female. The two she-cats exchanged a glance before the ginger one replied with, "We'd love to!"

Amber purred. "Thank you! Robin, Thrush, this is Breeze," the brown she-cat waved her tail, "and this is her sister, Berry." The ginger she-cat twitched her ears.

"Nice to meet you," mewed Thrushnose politely.

Robinear quickly dipped her head towards the newcomers. "Hi...I'm Robinear."

Berry nodded. "We know," she mewed. Robinear blinked, confused, but her eyes flashed in understanding when Berry gestured towards the cobwebs on Robinear's chest. "And we've seen you around before this."

"And heard of you," Breeze added. "Everyone has heard of the sister of Greyfur."

Robinear blinked. "Oh. Uh, I see." One of her ears twitched slightly. I'm not really used to being recognized as important...

Amber cleared her throat. "So, hunting..."

The four she-cats turned their heads in half-surprise. "Right, sorry," mewed Breeze, flicking her tail.

Amber turned and began walking towards the more distant field, the four she-cats following behind her. Thrushnose cleared her throat lightly and mewed, "I haven't met many toms, are there just mostly she-cats here?"

Berry and Breeze purred, and Amber's whiskers twitched. "Don't be silly!" Berry mewed. "There is an almost equal amount, although thanks to you two we now have a slight majority."

Breeze's tail twitched in amusement. "And don't worry, we won't go stealing your mate from you. You guys are far too cute together."

"Besides, I have a mate anyway," Berry added. "And while Amber and Volethroat aren't official...it won't be long now."

"Shut up!" hissed Amber, her tail suddenly whipping to the side so hard that it nearly hit Thrushnose across the face.

Berry's whiskers twitched. "It's too easy to annoy her," she mewed. "Seriously, though, you two are adorable."

Thrushnose ducked her head, and Robinear could feel her pelt burning with embarrassment.

"We're here!" Amber mewed a bit louder than normal. Robinear noted with amusement that her fur was still slightly pricked defensively. "So, I'm going to have to teach you two newbies how to catch the rabbits. They're awfully quick, and their ears aren't just for decoration. You forest kitty's stalking isn't going to work here. Get kind of close, leap, and if you miss, try to chase it."

Breeze blinked. "And disturb more prey?" She turned towards her sister, nodding slightly. "Berry and I grew up here, so we can catch them if we run, but these two..."

Amber nodded her head, looking slightly sheepish. "Oh, right, you two won't be nearly fast enough. My bad. You're just going to have to practice your leaping, alright?'

Feeling a bit insulted but determined to prove herself, Robinear nodded. Her mate beside her nodded as well, catching Robinear's eye with the same grim determination that the silver tabby now felt.

"Would you like to split up, or..." Amber's question hung in the air as she looked at the two she-cats.

Robinear felt Thrushnose stiffen beside her, and an overwhelming worry washed over her. "Can we work in pairs?" asked the silver tabby softly, silently curling her tail around the fluffy white she cat's. "After yesterday, I'm a bit wary of being alone."

Robinear could hear Thrushnose's sigh of relief when Amber nodded. "Of course you can. I'd like each of you to go with Berry or Breeze, though, since they know what they're doing. That seem alright?"

Robinear turned to catch Thrushnose's eyes, and the she-cat nodded slightly. "That seems fine," Robinear mewed.

"Great," mewed Amber. "In that case, Berry, you can go with Robin and Breeze, you can go with Thrushnose. Unless any of you have a preference?" she added quickly, as if worried she was coming across too bossy.

"No, that's fine," mewed Thrushnose. Robinear, Breeze and Berry nodded as well, leaving Amber to nod in satisfaction.

"Alright, so everyone can head out a different direction to make sure we don't mess up each other's hunting. Good luck!" mewed Amber. She turned and pointed back in the direction of camp. "I'll hunt to the west. You guys can take the north and south."

Berry and Breeze nodded, while Thrushnose and Robinear paused, confused, trying to remember what that even meant.

As Amber disappeared into the distance, the two sisters seemed to realize that the former FloraClan hunters had no idea what Amber had just said. They exchanged a quick glance before Breeze mewed, "East is where the sun rises, west is where it sets. If you're facing east, turn to the right and you're north, turn left and you're south."

Robinear just blinked.

Berry sighed. "It's alright, Breeze, we won't be able to teach them ourselves. Let's just go." She nodded her head towards Robinear, who followed her, though still with a hint of confusion. "We'll take the north," the ginger she-cat announced.

"Right," agreed Breeze. "We'll take the south, then," she mewed to Thrushnose, gesturing towards the opposite direction of Berry and Robinear. "We'll see you two in a bit!"

"I'll see you soon," Robinear called to Thrushnose, letting only the tiniest bit of worry sneak into her voice, just enough to show her mate that she loved her and that she wanted her to be alright.

Thrushnose just nodded, her fur ruffling slightly with the movement, before turning and beginning to walk in the opposite direction.

Hello, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

So, uh, what to you think of the two new characters? How do you think the hunting will go?

I hope this slightly longer chapter makes up for the delay!

~Ember