It was early in the morning, a full day after Orchid had brought her kittens (Tangle, Shade and Pebble) to the barn and they had made flower crowns. Taylor had invited Feather to sleep on the haystack to sleep with them. But after some talking, Feather had ended up with this fleece blanket that they had both shared for the night.

It was nice.

Even though it didn't last long, it was good while it did.

Feather had woken up at the break of dawn and was now trying to gather the materials she had seen Taylor used for her eyepatch. It had completely wilted and fell off and it still stung out in the open. If she was going to stay here, she was going to be helpful. Not only could she watch over kits, she could gather herbs and medicine! Like she did in her old life!

Like I'm doing now, not just back then. Feather thought, she didn't have to rush finding out her past, right?

She breathed out and felt determined, she was going to be helpful and the best roommate for Taylor!

The first thing to do was to help get materials to get her patch replaced, so she tried to list the materials—by flicking her tail, she was able to remember better. Strange that.. but not now!

Moss, leaves...

Cobwebs!

The first thing Taylor usually got was cobwebs, so she thought that would be a good thing to start with. Feather went over to corners of the barn where she had seen spiders the day before. She hooked her paw and started to wind up cobwebs around her striped paw.

Taylor was suddenly behind her, startling Feather out of her own fur, but she tried to keep her cool.

"What are you doing?" Taylor asked, looking wide awake and confused at Feather.

"Oh, uh.. helping! I thought since you are letting me stay here, I might as well help." Feather said, adding anxiously, "Is that not okay, Taylor?"

Taylor blinked, expressionless, looking at Feather's cobweb-wrapped paw.

"No it's okay, just was.. surprised?"

Feather raised her brow, "By what?"

"Oh, nothing!" Taylor said, avoiding her gaze.

"I know that look, you're hiding something!" Feather accused, she wasn't going to let another disagreement make her feel terrible! ... Maybe that was the selfish way to look at it. She should really work on that. "Okay, I mean that I don't think it's okay to hide something."

"No? I don't think so. I mean I'm not hiding something!" Taylor exclaimed hotly, before going on, "Let's get your new patch on, your old one fell off."

Feather went silent, they were hiding something. Again.

Trying to hide their emotions. Again.

I thought we finally warmed up to each other, I guess there's a lot they don't want to tell me.

Taylor got the cobwebs off her paws. Then some moss and some other materials they had gathered in a separate area and helped it onto the scarred gash. Feather had tried to start a conversation... but she couldn't do it.

I can do it. I will do it!

Feather breathed hard, preparing to make a long-winded apology.

"Taylor, can we—"

She was interrupted by a large crash

They both jumped at the loud sound as three cats barged in, eyes pierced and with scruffed fur. As if they had just trampled through a muddy forest.

It hit her.

"The forest cats? Taylor, why are they here? And not in the forest? That goes against their whole name!" Feather questioned, looking at Taylor, alarmed.

"Those forest cats are Tansystalk," Taylor pointed to a tall, golden-brown tom. "Hareflame," pointing to a anxious ginger-brown tabby tom "And... I actually don't know her." A smaller red molly shook, barely older than the kittens that had come over yesterday. She was trying to look fierce... and failing horribly.

"Why would these guys bring a kit along?" Feather asked, "Do they need you to kitten-sit as well?"

"It's HazelClan's new deputy to you...? Who are you? Nevermind. Doesn't matter." Tansystalk loomed over them, but trailed off, as if not sure what to call Feather. It was as if he was reliving a traumatic experience.

She didn't like it.

"Congrats on the promotion, Tansy." Taylor seemed indifferent, but tried to be kind. "What happened to the previous one? Lotus?"

"What's someone of a seemingly high rank doing here?" Feather said, "Seems like a waste of time to me."

"We don't have a bone to pick with you, Kittypet." Tansystalk spat. "The barncat on the other hand..."

"Excuse me! I am a plenty to pick a bone with!" Feather fumed, as Taylor put their tail in front of her face, shushing her. "Mphm."

Feather went to the other side of the barn, her ear alert as she tried to get a bite to eat.

"Sorry about her, she hasn't settled in yet." Taylor said, flustered, turning to the tall golden-brown tom. "Tansy, what are you doing here anyway?"

"Well, Hareflame and Cloverpaw saw you in our territory. Again."

"And? That was a week ago, we were just hanging around about your stream," Taylor replied smoothly. "It would be a good tourist spot, if you let some cats in."

"Because you can steal our prey that we need?" Hareflame tried, "It is going to be the end of greenleaf soon and we need to-"

At that exact moment, there was a high pitched squeal as the four cats turned to Feather killing a mouse, who was the one who squealed, not her.

"Was hungry." she justified, muttering as the limp prey was in her jaws. She walked over, waiting for them to get out of the barn so that she could get another for Taylor.

Taylor gave Tansystalk a look, "I think the mice find enough food here that you may be worried! They may migrate here instead of that mucky mess." They stated, "If you come with a kind member of your.. Hazel-whatever. Then maybe you could hunt here." Taylor grinned.

"HazelClan, actually." Cloverpaw, the little kitten, let out barely a squeak.

"Okay," Tansystalk sighed, "Sparrowstar— Candlestar won't forget this."

Feather blinked, she.. recognized that name. Sparrowstar... who is he? But she tried to keep her face still as the tallest and the kitten started to leave.

Hareflame hesitated, his yellow eyes darting at Feather and Taylor.

Tansystalk rounded back, "Let's go, Hareflame. We have a Clan to go back to."

"Bye then." Taylor waved their tail, adding, "If you're nice, you're welcome any time to hunt!"

And with that, the three were gone. Hareflame. He looked as if... he knew her. Feather shook her head. She didn't need to think about that now, she needed to talk to Taylor.

But she couldn't muster up the courage. Again.

As Taylor walked out of the barn, leaving Feather alone.

I messed it up... again.

Feather's eyes welled with tears as she went over to her fleece blanket, leaving the mouse she had caught out in the open. Looking at her, taunting her.

She shut her eyes and tried to ignore thoughts that tried taunt her... she didn't want to be here.. in whatever memories that left her.

- 8/5/22 (1200 Words)