For the entirety of our travel, Scourge and I walked in complete silence, me only being able to rely on Scourge's familiarity of the area as he led me through the Twolegplace.

The silence was both because of my intense anticipation, but also because... what could I even say? At this point, Scourge and I had done nothing but bitterly banter with each other. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I also could be certain that picking another fight wouldn't be wise, and surely he wouldn't be interested in casual conversation.

So, I said nothing. But to be honest, I was also just extremely weirded out to be traveling with another cat in some capacity, no matter who it was. While I had begun to make good associations with traveling on my own, after moons of feeling nothing but grief with being by myself, this was actually somewhat refreshing – just knowing that some other presence was there on your journey.

And I found that I was actually beginning to enjoy this small adventure with Scourge, when suddenly I was overwhelmed with the scents of several, several cats. All mingled together, they almost smelled how Scourge smelled but multiplied... and a bit... worse?

And I actually found myself having to suppress a gag by the time that Scourge and I arrived to a worn-down wooden fence – something that I somewhat recognized from smaller Twolegplaces that I have traveled in before.

Almost as soon as we had come to a stop, Scourge actually gave a lash of his tail, then looking over his shoulder as if he were checking to see if I was still there, his blue eyes dark and narrowed.

The eye contact quickly felt too long and uncomfortable, and I found myself taking a step back. "...What?" I muttered as I blinked.

After another moment, Scourge's eyes narrowing even more, he let out a sigh and then faced the fence again. "Brace yourself," he murmured, before beginning to slide through a small gap in between two of the fence boards.

I blinked once again in surprise, having to take a few heartbeats to process what sounded like a threat. And I have no idea how to take it... I thought, letting out a sigh myself before finally forcing my paws forward and through the fence behind Scourge.

I could practically hear my heart beating in my ears at this point. From nerves? Of course! But had to admit, I was just a bit excited to see this "camp" that this BloodClan – this tough, vicious group of cats – supposedly settled in. Up until this point, I could only imagine what lay beyond this fence.

And despite that, I still felt my mouth drop, shocked as I saw what was in front of me. Not necessarily a bad sort-of shocked, however...?

As I had anticipated, and smelled, there were many, many cats in front of me, all settled in this fairly small camp that just lied in between two buildings that met together, creating a very large, roofless den for everyone. I recognized several of the large green squares up against the walls of the buildings, and large wooden boxes stacked up that several cats were lying on. Scraps of food, crowfood, and Twoleg rubbish were scattered everywhere.

The cats in this camp were either eating off of these scraps, digging in the large green objects to likely look for some more, lying in the sun, and several where even mock-fighting each other.

And least, I hoped it was only mock-fighting.

All of these BloodClan cats had been occupied with these things as I emerged through the fence, but as soon as I came into sight, everything seemed to freeze, and all eyes seemed to be on me.

I couldn't help but completely freeze, a chill running down my spine, but simultaneously feeling hot with all of the gazes burning into my soul.

I honestly didn't think that I had ever, ever been around this many cats at once. That was one thing, but I also hadn't been looked at by this many cats at once.

It was truly horrible, and I found I wanted to be alone all over again.

I then managed to tense up even more as I then felt Scourge's warm breath right on my ear. "Calm down," he hissed to me quietly through his teeth. "They'll be able to smell your fear."

I tried my best to let my fur lie flat, but it really wasn't working. "They're going to be able to see it too..."

As Scourge then simply scoffed, continuing to walk forward and gesturing with his tail for me to follow, I could hardly believe that I was now taking comfort in the black tom, following closely behind him as he led me deeper into BloodClan's camp. It seemed that he was actually trying to bring me in casually without any cats batting an eye.

But this quickly doesn't happen. Based on what I had experienced in this place so far, I shouldn't have only expected that.

And my belly was beginning to feel hollow with intimidation and fear as a very large black and white tom with several scars along his body, and two green flames for eyes quickly approached Scourge and me.

I then found myself taking a step back as he looked at me up and down a couple of times. "Hm, found a big piece of prey on your walk, Scourge?" he meowed, his voice deep and hoarse. He then gave a smug shrug and faced his leader with mischievous eyes. "I have to ask, because if this is a cat that you've brought here, she can turn around and go back to the kitty palace that she came from."

Oh, nuh-uh.

In that moment, almost all of my fear seemed to leave me and was replaced by humiliation and anger, but before I could even retort, I was surprised as Scourge actually let out a frustrated hiss, stepping closer to the larger tom and actually somewhat shielding me. "Shut up, Bone," he nearly growled. "She's just some loner from the forest that I've run into one too many times in the past couple of days."

He then lashed his tail to the Twoleg food that I still held in my mouth from this morning. "She stole food from a human not too far from here, and I made her bring it here."

I then flicked my ears, watching for a moment and then continuing to follow as Scourge then began to pad forward again. But unfortunately for him, and me, many cats around were now beginning to stir, one of them actually letting out a contemptuous snort and running up to meet Scourge and this... Bone.

"So, any cat that happens to wander through here and manages to snatch some food gets a pass?" this tom – a ginger tabby with a patch of fur missing on his back – retorted.

"Geez, Brick, it's more than that you, idiot!" Scourge growled, coming to a stop once again. "She's had too much of a mind of her own around here despite saying that she's only passing through – causing trouble and taking food that she's not supposed to."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at these words.

"I'm trying to set her straight," Scourge then went on, actually flashing me the briefest unreadable glance. "If she catches anything in my territory while she's here, she brings it here."

Brick let out a huff at his leader's words, but before he could argue anymore, I felt my stomach twist up with nerves as I noticed another cat stand up and approach – a long-furred tabby she-cat with only one eye. Goodness gracious... I thought anxiously, trying with all of my might not to take another step back. These cats really are scary, scarier and scariest, huh?

This third cat also looked at me up and down once she was standing in front of Scourge and me. "Hm, are you sure about that, Scourge?" the she-cat meowed slyly in response to the tom's words. "She's quite the pretty cat. Do you think-"

I was bewildered by how quickly Scourge cut her off, letting out an almost outraged hiss. "And when in my life have I ever cared about something like that, Fury?" he barked back at her. "Geez."

I then was surprised when Scourge actually looked over his shoulder back at me for a moment, his gaze completely unreadable and dark all over again, before looking back at Fury. "I just figured that I could put her to good use here, rather than letting her continue to wander aimlessly around my territory and take our things."

I flicked my ears once again, Scourge continuing to shock me. He hasn't said anything like that to me yet. Is that actually true? Either way, I had no idea if I was supposed to be flattered.

But... I was?

"And speaking of putting cats to use..." Scourge then went on, cutting off my thoughts as he glared at Bone, Brick and Fury. "What are you all doing over here questioning my actions that you have no say in in the first place? Put yourselves to good use and go find some more food."

I then tensed up once again as Scourge lashed his tail towards me. "Mist has prey to offer and she's just arrived!"

I then looked nervously back at Brick as he let out another snort. "Her name is Mist?" he practically purred as he began to walk away, leading Bone and Fury towards the old wooden fence. "It just keeps getting better."

Scourge only let out another hiss in reply. "Shut up and stop wasting daylight," he commanded coldly to them, turning away and ignoring the dirty looks that his Clanmates gave to him as they all paused for a moment, all three of them seeming to hold back hisses as their fur bristled.

Scourge then paused for a moment, looking over his shoulder and giving the three cats another glare. "Out! Now."

I then could only watch as the three finally all left through the small gap in the fence, barely being able to hear their bitter mutters as they all slowly left earshot. I then looked back at Scourge, whose gaze had been following my own.

And as weird as it was, I felt myself feeling the smallest twinge of admiration for the tom all over again. He was tough as nails, but I couldn't help but appreciate just how easily he had been able to talk down these three cats who had initially appeared so tough themselves. Him being able to take over as leader and run the Twolegplace as he liked it certainly hadn't been all talk...

But even more than all of that, I was still completely filled with shock at the fact that Scourge had admitted to other cats that he had brought me here to potentially... stay? He'd mentioned it to them before he'd even mentioned it to me!

Weirdly, that thought didn't really scare or daunt me, and I found that I wanted more details. The logistics, I suppose.

And luckily, no other cats seemed to want to criticize my presence anymore, but I felt several eyes still on me as I padded up to meet Scourge. "So, you think that I can be put to good use here? Interesting."

I then tilted my head to the side, further letting this thought sink in. "Very interesting, considering you know very well now that I can't even fight."

Scourge quickly let out a sigh as he turned to face me. "You heard me earlier," he muttered bitterly. "I'd rather have you here than messing around the Twolegplace causing trouble."

I actually let out a bewildered snort as I tilted my head to the side. "And I've really been causing that much trouble?"

I then forced myself to stand my ground as Scourge took a step closer to me, showing his teeth as he growled his next words. "In the span of just about two days, you've invaded this territory, riled up a dog that I had to save you from, and you've taken food as if you have free reign of the place!"

I then furrowed my eyebrows as Scourge then rolled his eyes, sitting down and wrapping his tail around his paws. "And every time I confront you about something, you act as if you've done nothing wrong?"

I further tilted my head to the side, now cocking a single eyebrow. "And you can't handle that? As leader of BloodClan, I'd think that you could take an outsider talking back to you."

I then gestured my tail towards the fence where three very annoyed BloodClan cats had just exited through. "You sure didn't have a problem getting them to do what you wanted."

"That's because they listen to me when I assert authority," Scourge then muttered, his eyes narrowing. He clearly was trying to keep his temper.

But as usual, that didn't scare me, and I actually gave the tom a mocking nod. "Ah, so you're just used to every cat bowing down to you," I teasingly observed out loud.

Scourge's eyes managed to narrow even more, making his gaze a dark blue. "No. I'm just used to cats knowing better than to question my authority."

"Well, there haven't really been any consequences for that for me, huh?" I replied back smartly. And when Scourge didn't reply to that, I couldn't help but push on. "I once again ask, you can't handle that?"

"I can handle it, Mist," Scourge then retorted quickly, standing up and sinking his large claws into the ground. "It is just extremely annoying and unnecessary."

I found I could only let out a satisfied grunt as I gave the tom a slow nod, my gaze burning into his. "I see..."

And after a few moments of Scourge simply staring back, I was surprised when he sat down again, his gaze actually softening somewhat. "And... sure," he whispered almost inaudibly. "I don't see it often."

I only stared back at the tom for a moment, still feeling incredibly satisfied that I managed to get under the tough leader's skin, but also intrigued as to why I was able to do it so easily and not get ripped apart. "Fair enough," I muttered quietly before continuing to probe. "But how does any of that explain why I'm here? I seriously can't wander around by myself or hunt my own food?"

"No," Scourge almost immediately replied, almost seeming relieved to somewhat be changing the subject as his blue eyes glowed with assertiveness and determination once again. "Everything that happens around here goes through me – passing through or not."

"Oh, please," I sighed, letting myself finally sit down. "I seriously doubt that any of your cats could even obtain the prey that I got in the way that I did."

I then widened my eyes, shocked by just how arrogant that had sounded. Goodness gracious, Mist. You aren't the only cat on earth that can climb. And even if you were, there's no need to brag about it like that.

So, I then shyly looked down at my paws for a moment. "Well, I assume, at least," I then muttered.

Scourge then let out a sniff, sitting down as well. "Well, sure," he surprisingly agreed. "They can't climb. They aren't squirrels."

I rolled my eyes, snorting at the tom's snide response. "Whatever," I groaned dismissively.

I then nearly let out a gasp, flicking my ears as I then quickly realized something. "Wait a moment..." I then murmured, slowly returning my gaze back to Scourge with narrowed eyes. "How did you know that I had to climb to get that food?"

I then stood up once again, taking a pawstep back. "Ew, were you watching me?"

Scourge immediately rolled his eyes, letting out a hoarse, annoyed sigh. "Please! Watching you? Come on. I happened to be passing by," he nonchalantly answered. "You were so busy trying to reach the sky that you didn't notice me."

For a moment, I could only continue to stare, completely bewildered back at the black tom as this realization kept sinking in. "You were watching me." Why would he take the time to watch me? And then wait to get after me after I'd gotten the catch? He is such a strange one...

Scourge then furrowed his eyebrows, tilting his head back at me. "Are you just as dense as you are annoying?"

I then couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Oh, come on..." I then looked away for a moment, suddenly having so many questions for the BloodClan leader that I didn't even know where to start... or if I'd even remember them all.

I eventually decided to just stick with the original root of this conversation, before I'd come to the realization that Scourge had watched me snag that Twoleg food. "Well, I am curious though..." I mused after a few more heartbeats. "Can many BloodClan cats climb like that?"

To my surprise, Scourge actually didn't seem to need much time to ponder that question, giving a shrug and briefly glancing over his shoulder at the many cats behind him. "No. No, they can't."

He then let out an annoyed huff, looking to his side and very intentionally not making eye contact with me. "I... watching you..." he then began, for once not seeming to know exactly what he wanted to say as soon as soon as he spoke. "I was impressed, as much as it sickens me to say it."

Speaking of sickening, at those words, I almost completely shocked myself when I felt the smallest bit of affection well up inside of me. "Ahh, I see," I then meowed as I slowly nodded my head. Wow, not only have I managed to receive a compliment from him, but he has now admitted to me that he did me bring me here because he sees some sort of potential in me... curioser.

I then couldn't help but let out a sniff as something else crossed my mind. "You want to know something?" I then murmured to Scourge, my eyes now narrowed into two mischievous slits.

"Not really."

"I don't think you're that annoyed when I talk back to you."

I then had to hold back a purr when Scourge let out a hiss, standing up once again and flashing me an indignant look. "And you further become annoying by making that statement!"

"Okay, then," I then meowed casually, giving a shrug and tilting my head again with still narrowed eyes. "And yet, you brought me here, said you were impressed by me, and said I could be of use."

For a few moments, Scourge didn't reply, staring off to the side as he seemed to ponder my words. "I did, didn't I?" he eventually muttered through gritted teeth.

I then, for some reason, felt another shiver run down my spine as he then met my gaze again, his expression slightly less cold. "Well?"

I actually had to give a quick shake of my head to bring myself back to focus. "Well, what?"

"Do you plan on accepting my offer?"

I raised my eyebrows back at him, for the first time processing the fact that he actually hadn't been pulling my tail this entire time.

Well, for all that I knew, he still could be. However... "So, this is actually an offer?" I couldn't help but ask Scourge.

The black tom then let out a groan, rolling his eyes for the hundredth time today. "Why does talking to you have to be so complicated?"

I flashed the tom a slightly apologetic, but simultaneously amused look. "Sorry," I then muttered before looking down at my paws, genuinely having to take the time to think on this.

As any cat would be, I was completely overwhelmed by this prospect. But at the same time... I was honored that Scourge has actually seemed to observe the skills that I did have, and that he felt that he could make use of them.

And I especially found it interesting that after me reiterating to the tom several times that I was only passing through the Twolegplace, he still had seemed fairly adamant on bringing me here, despite how much of a nuisance I had apparently been to him thus far. I mean, I was still shocking myself with how confident and quick I had been able to be with these cats.

I wasn't completely sure, but... something about this place had seemed to bring out a new side of me. Sure, I'd always been determined and just a bit stubborn, but I suppose I had never been given a reason to talk to my parents in the way I'd had to speak to many of the cats here. I'd never been tested in this way. But I suppose that something about my past – maybe the confidence that my parents always had in facing newcomers, or sometimes with each other - had given me somewhat of a backbone.

The kind of backbone I needed to be able to handle a place like this.

But was it necessary to stay here and handle it? All I had ever known was traveling, never settling down and never having a destination.

But with that kind of life, it also meant that... I never truly had an obligation towards a certain place up until this point.

Where did I truly have to go after this? What would I be missing out on if I stayed?

And along with that... traveling had only made me think of... my past. A past that I had traveled through here to try and escape briefly.

And as I had hoped, this place had certainly helped me to accomplish that. This place and this life was weird and new, but... it was weird and new. It didn't remind me of anything. And clearly, I fit in to some capacity. And the fact that the leader of this place has noticed me made it all the more intriguing.

Barley's warning to me all of those moons ago about this place seemed to hold true, but... was it anything that I couldn't handle?

After a long, deep breath, I finally broke my gaze from my paws and met Scourge's dark, but curious gaze. "I'm in," I tried to meow clearly and confidently. "Thank you."

I then couldn't help but sniff, looking down at the food that I had brought, which I had set down some time ago now. "So, does that mean that I finally get to eat what I caught?"

I then nearly dropped my jaws in shock when Scourge quickly shook his head. "Mm, you're not in that easily."

"Are you kidding me?" I exclaimed, my eyes widening. After all of that?

I could only watch, bewildered as Scourge padded up closer to me, his gaze now sharp and full of determination. "You may clearly show skill in hunting and... badmouthing, but you're right, it's like you said – you can't fight." I then flicked my ears as he narrowed his eyes once again. "And if you continue to show that you can't fight, then we have a problem here. You need to prove to me that I'm not working with nothing if I actually take the time to teach you."

At this point, I found that I could only listen, full of dread and intrigue at the same time.

For some reason, my gut told me that I might know where Scourge was going with this.

"While you've never fought before, it's like I've said – every cat worthy of being here has it innate within them somewhere. Show me at least that you have that."

I simply stared wide-eyed back at the tom. "By... doing what?"

Scourge only stared intently and darkly back at me as he then answered, "We're going back to that alley that you found your first meal in, and you're going to fight off that same dog. By yourself."