Halfheart's Story

Warrior Tribes

(Contribute to Erin Hunter’s Warrior Series)

Half-Heart’s Story

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Blood Tribe
Leader: Blood-Shed
Second-in-Command: Shred
Warriors:          Half-Heart        Neptune   Terabyte
Reaper             Jaw-Drip         Alpha            Ice
R.I.P                 Bone                Axe           Storm
Talon                Breaker           Ajax         Infern0
Grazer              Siren                Bullet       Mystic
Tangle-Claw     Grave               Boss      Megabyte
Scar                 Flame               Chaos        Omega
Fang                Destroyer         Shade        Ninja
Beast                Fang-Thrust     Digit     Phantom
Brute                Blood-Fire        Dodger      Pistol
Toby                 Karma          Firecracker   Gage
Bruiser             Demon             Flint           Sega
Crusher            Bon                   Hunter       Howl
 Tribe: 79

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Dear Reader,
Despite being labeled a ‘traitor’, Half-Heart never gave up on her biggest wish; a safe future for her kits. Knowing that came true, look in the past and answer the following questions as you read;
Did Half-Heart ruin her life by having kits?
Was Half-Heart truly meant born in Blood Tribe?
-Owlscreec

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Slender, brown tabby paws stood before Half-Heart as she lay in the sun with her three newborns. “Sega.” she greeted absentmindedly as she washed her kits’ fur. “Blood-Shed wants to speak with you; he’ll be coming in a few minutes.” Sega replied, not returning her gesture. Excitement tingled in the white she-cat’s paws at the mention of her father’s name. “Is he coming to name the kits-” she asked, trying not to show excitement in her voice but Sega had already turned her back to chat with Phantom a distance away.
*(note: in Blood Tribe the leader gets to name all the kits/the moment they are born)*
Half-Half let out a sigh as she looked at her squirming kits affectionately. They were already a little over a moon old and Blood-Shed never even came to glance at them. Half-Heart shook the nervous feeling away; Blood-Shed was finally coming to name them. “Half-Heart.” an icy voice greeted, padding over to the white she-cat. The warrior looked up with a jolt, realizing it was only Blood-Shed and his second-in-command, Shred. For a moment, Half-Heart was puzzled; usually a leader would never bring his deputy along to name kits. But then again, she thought shrugging her shoulders, with Blood-Shed all the rules could change in an instant.
*(note: in Blood Tribe the rules never stay the same and can always change depending on who’s in charge)*
“The kits are fine, yes?” he asked, not seeming to really care as he looked down on them pitifully. Half-Heart slowly nodded her head, narrowing her eyes in wonder at his strange stare. “The news couldn’t have been worse then, right Blood-Shed?” Shred exclaimed, creepily smiling at his leader. “What is this?” Half-Heart growled, clearly knowing something wasn’t right. “Well, I’ve been thinking,” Blood-Shred began, pacing back and forth. “We’re short on food, and raiding another territory would be too much work for us right now, so, we don’t need any more warriors in Blood Tribe for a while.” “You can’t be suggesting that!” Half-Heart snapped in bewilderment. “We’ve done it for generations; it’s a pretty humane way if you ask me-for cats that is.” Blood-Shed retorted, running his claw along the ground, almost hitting one of Half-Heart’s kits.
*(note: when more warriors aren’t need, the leader may kill the kits free of permission/or leave the kits to die in the forest)*
“They’re my kits!” Half-Heart snapped back. “You’re their grandfather for Soul Sky’s sake! Why would I let you kill them!?” “I’m your leader!” Blood-Shed snarled in a vicious tone, towering threateningly over Half-Heart. “Don’t forget who you’re speaking to! Just because I’m your father and these are my grandchildren doesn’t mean I’m going to accept them any differently from any other unwanted newborn kit!” Half-Heart looked away from his intense glare, but decided it was better to answer. “Tomorrow night; just let me have a little more time with them.” she replied hesitantly. Blood-Shred didn’t answer but let out a satisfied grunt before leaving the area she was in to sit on his pile of bones. Half-Heart never realized how ugly everything around her looked; the ground was stained red with tried blood, bones were everywhere and the stench was unbearable. Half-Heart fidgeted around uncomfortably, she was absolutely sure she was lying on a pile of rotting bones too. This is not a place to raise kits, she exclaimed, it never had been. She knew she had to alert her mate immediately before things escalated. “Inferno!” she called, hoping the black tom could hear her. Luckily, the tom was just of earshot as he looked in her direction. “Could you fetch my mate for me?” she asked. Inferno grunted and slowly got up to search for him.
*(note: in Blood Tribe, if you have a mate you may not say his/her name or punishment is required)*
Moments later, Half-Heart recognized the tom’s gentle, green gaze as he neared. “Hey Half-Heart!” he greeted, giving the kits a lick. “You can’t say my real name!” she hissed in alarm, hoping no one had heard him. “Blood-Shed would kill you!” The tom sighed. “I know.” he meowed quietly. “Now what did you want to see me about?” “Well, Blood-Shed decided we don’t need any more warriors so, he’s going to kill our kits tomorrow night.” The warrior looked stunned. “You agreed to let our kits get killed?!” he whispered in an outraged voice. “Wait, you didn’t know?” Half-Heart meowed. “I thought Blood-Shed had gone to tell you!” “Why would you agree?!” he repeated, not seeming to care about her concern. “No, of course not you stupid mouse-brain!” she snapped. “I would never agree! I was lying.” “I don’t know which is worse, you defied our leader or you agreed.” he mumbled. “What are you going to do now?” There was dead silence as Half-Heart searched for a reasonable answer. “I-I’ll have to run away.” she finally answered, looking at the ground uncertainly. “What?!” he hissed. “That’s crazy! Blood-Shed would find you, and if he didn’t-where would you even go?” The white she-cat shook her head, her multi-color eyes focusing on her mate. “I don’t know.” she admitted. “But I can’t stay here and let them die.” The orange tabby sighed, clearly knowing he couldn’t change her mind. “When do you plan on leaving? Somewhere before tomorrow morning right?” “Probably.” she replied. “I’ll come to say goodbye.” he meowed. A question was itching to be heard but Half-Heart decided not to stay anything.
Half-Heart quickly ate her fill before her mate flicked his tail; it was finally time to leave. “I just saw Blood-Shed head into his head, everyone else is asleep.” he whispered before helping Half-Heart carry the kits out of Blood Tribe’s hangout. The edge of twoleg place came closer and closer into view as they steered course away from Blood Tribe. The grass grew taller, as if completely abandoned by the twolegs and the rest of the world; thankfully a good thing for hiding. “Well,” the tom meowed as they stared up at a huge fence. “I guess this is where we go our separate ways.” “Why don’t you come this us?” she asked shyly. The brown cat shook his head instantly. “You know I can’t; if they find out we’re both gone, they’ll try to kill our families. I’ll stay behind and tell them I tried to capture you and bring you back but you were already long gone by the time I found out.” Half-Heart nodded her head sadly. “I guess things can’t always work out the way you want them to. I guess this is goodbye then.” The warrior gave her a quick lick on the cheek and looked at his kits before turning around and slowly padding away. Half-Heart looked away, heartbroken; she loved them both but she knew her kits would be defenseless towards any danger and she had to do what was best for them. Tiny wails of protest arise from her kits as if they sense what’s happening. “Shh.” she whispered into their ears softly. “We’ll be just fine; our new home will be nice and warm, sheltering us from any danger.” Half-Heart’s kits start to grow silent, falling asleep where they were. The she-cat smiled before gently picking them up with her mouth and carrying them to a safer place.
A familiar crying sound brought Half-Heart to her senses as she lifted up her head. A twig jabbed her nose and few leaves fell from the hedge she had sought refuge under. Her belly grumbled and she could tell her kits were the same. She hadn’t eaten enough to produce any milk and leaving them under a hedge while she went hunting wasn’t a good idea. Skipping breakfast, Half-Heart tiredly picked up her squirming kits and started looking for their destination. “I would’ve never imagined becoming a kittypet.” she mumbled in a barely audible voice as she stopped before a twoleg house. Not scenting any cat around the house, Half-Heart guessed the twolegs didn’t have any animals living with them.
It seemed like forever before anybody opened the door to hear her kits whining with hunger. Half-Heart saw a concerned expression come over the twoleg’s face as she clapped her bare paws over her mouth. The white she-cat tilted her head as she heard a strange scream emerge from her mouth, as if calling for someone. Loud footsteps soon followed after as two small cubs appeared before the door and squealed in delight at the sight of Half-Heart and her kits. Half-Heart didn’t know whether to be alarmed or relieved as she was gently scooped into the twoleg’s arms and her young cubs gently picked up her kits.
*2 Moons Later*
“Lilac!” a cat called as she sat atop a fence nearby. Half-Heart looked up at the she-cat; almost forgetting her new name. “Sorry Rollyn; I kinda dozed off for a few seconds.” she apologized before jumping up on the fence to join the she-cat.
Two moons after Half-Heart met her twolegs, she was finally settling in and got herself a new, more suitable name; Lilac. Her kits were being well taken care of and Lilac felt she had been eating a little too much of their plain kibble. But she didn’t mind, it was the first time in her life she didn’t have to hunt for food.
She had also met new friends in the short while she arrived. Rollyn, a brown tabby she-cat better known as Rose with a friendly personality and knows her way around this place better than anyone. “It’s ok Lilac; sometimes I doze off too.” Rose meowed stretching out on the fence. Despite being a kittypet, Rose was as skinny as a mouse in winter. “Hey guys!” meowed Hitch, padding up from behind Rose. Hitch was a black and white tom who was fairly kind as well; unless you upset him. “You settling in well Lilac?” Hitch asked, trying to sit down. Lilac nodded her head. “Yes; being a kittypet isn’t all that bad.” Rose cocked her head. “What were you before?” she asked. “Rouge?” “You could say that yes.” Lilac replied awkwardly. “How about your kits?” Hitch asked, changing the subject. “Are they being well fed now?” “Oh! I wanna see them again!” Rollyn exclaimed as she jumped onto the grass below. “Are they sleeping by the window again?” Lilac nodded her head proudly. “They’re still so cute!” Rose commented as she pressed her furry face up against the window. “I never got to ask but, what are their names?” Lilac shrugged. “My twolegs haven’t given them names yet.” she explained. “What?” Rose exclaimed looking at Lilac with worry. “But they can’t leave! I wanna watch them grow up!” The white she-cat looked at her friend with confusion. “What do you mean? They’re not going anywhere!” Hitch looked at her doubtfully. “Usually, if a twoleg hasn’t named them yet it means they’re planning on giving your kits away to separate homes.” “It happened to me so I know.” Rose explained. “I never got to see any of my brothers or sisters again and probably won’t.” “B-but,” she stammered. “I thought this place was safe!” “It is; depending on what kind of owners you have.” Hitch explained. “I can’t stay here; I need to leave.” Lilac murmured pacing back and forth fearfully. “Hey, hey!” Rose exclaimed, jumping down from the window sill. “What’s the big rush? Why do you need to leave? You just got here a few days ago!” “You don’t understand.” Lilac hissed fustratedly. “I need to find a safe place where my kits can’t get taken away; where they’ll always be protected.” All of a sudden, Lilac got an idea. “I need to find my friend.” she meowed, whirling around to face Hitch and Rose. Both kittypets looked at her in bewilderment. “D-does your friend live close?” Rose finally asked. The white she-cat nodded her head. “Not far from here; in the forest is all.” Hitch looked at her with a terrified expression. “You’re going to become rouge again?” he asked in confusion. “But why?” “No!” she snapped. “That’s the last thing I want to do! I’m going to ask my friend for help; she’ll know a safe place for my kits to live.” “We’ll come with you.” Rose insisted as she came into Lilac’s home with her. “It won’t be easy for you to carry three kits by yourself. Right Hitch?” The tom looked at them uncertainly through the kitty door. Rollyn glared at him challengingly. “Fine…” he mumbled picking up a tabby. “But we have to be back before dark.”
Walking on the fences of every twoleg den made it much easier and quicker to get to her friend’s den. There were a few snaps echoing out of a huge burrow in the ground as they finally arrived. “This, is where you friend lives?” Rollyn asked in astonishment. “If I remember correctly this is her den.” Lilac answered back. The black and white tom cautiously creeps up to the den to give it a good whiff. “There’s fox scent everywhere around here!” he exclaimed jumping back in fright. “That’s here!” the kittypet meowed excitedly. “Scarlet! It’s me, Half-Heart!” “Long time no see Half-Heart.” greeted a voice from the shadows. Rose and Hitch stare in horror as a broad, long snout escapes from the den, following the slender but muscular build of a fox. “I-It’s a fox!” Rose shrieked as she hid behind Hitch, who was also trembling in fear. “No it’s ok!” Lilac reassured her friends. “Scarlet, meet Rose and Hitch; Rose, Hitch, meet Scarlet.” Scarlet swung her bulky head around to face the terrified kittypets. “Hello, Rose. Hello, Hitch.” Both cats look at the fox, dumbfounded. “D-did that fox just…?” Rose tried to say but her mind went blank at the thought. “I know this looks crazy and sounds crazy but, me and Scarlet go way back; we’ve been friends for a while. She knows how to speak a lot of different languages but you grow used to it over time.” “Your friend is a cat talking fox?” Hitch repeated. “And you’re going to put the lives of your kits in her paws?” Scarlet cocked her head and looked at Lilac. “What this about taking care of kits Half-Heart?” she asked, messing up on a few pronunciations. “Why does she keep calling you Half-Heart?” Rose asked curiously, seeming to forget about the fox. “That was my rouge name.” Lilac lied. “Uh oh.” Hitch exclaimed, looking at the darkening sky. “We should be heading back to our twolegs Rose; or we might miss out on dinner.” “I can go without dinner for a night.” Rollyn protested, looking back at Hitch stubbornly. The tom stared at her expectantly. “Rose. We have to go. You know Blood Tribe could show up tonight.” The brown she-cat’s fur rose. “Not those mange-pelts!” she whined fearfully. “Wait-you’ve heard of Blood Tribe?” Lilac asked unbelievably. “Yeah!” Hitch exclaimed. “You’d be dead meat if you didn’t! They’re the most vicious group of cats anyone could ever encounter; they pass through twoleg place all the time! You know them too?” Lilac nodded her head. “I’ve had a few close encounters with them before I became a kittypet.” Rose’s eyes went wide with disbelief. “You’ve actually survived!?” she exclaimed, astonished. “Blood Tribe never lets a single cat live if they spot you!” “Well,” Lilac began nervously. “I was well acquainted with them; as a rouge I would run errands and act as their spy.” “But that means they’ll come after you!” Rose protested. “You can’t stay out here with Scarlet! Blood Tribe could easily take you down along with your friend! You have to come back to twoleg place!” Lilac shook her head. “I can’t go back there; if they see me with you, they’ll want you dead just as much as they want me to suffer.” Rose sighed, seeming defeated by her friend’s stubbornness. “Well alright.” she muttered as she tapped her friend on the shoulder in farewell. “But stay safe; don’t forget to come back or I’ll eat all your food!” The white she-cat looked after her friends gratefully as Hitch and Rollyn disappeared from sight. “Why you are here Half-Heart?” Scarlet asked sitting down. “Scarlet, I ran away from Blood Tribe.” she meowed nervously. The keen fox blinked in surprise. “Why leave Blood Tribe?” she asked. “They kill you if find you.” Lilac shook her head frustratedly. “I know but, Blood-Shed wanted to kill my kits and I didn’t want to let it happen. Now I need help relocating my kits to a safe home; where they can live in the wild with other cats to protect them.” Scarlet locked her beady eyes onto Lilac’s kits. “I see. Kits very important then. Tomorrow we discuss more; first rest and eat then talk.”
The scent of fresh blood filled Lilac’s small, sharp nose as she heard the sounds of early morning. The white she-cat opened her green and blue eyes to find a large creature, almost the same size as a rabbit lying lifelessly beside her. “What is this?” she asked propping herself up from a laying position to greet Scarlet with a dip of her head. “Called marmot; nice and juicy to fox.” she explained taking a large bite out of her catch. “Try some.” Lilac sniffed the marmot curiously before nibbling on the animal curiously. It wasn’t as tasty as she had thought but Lilac was too hungry to complain and ate her friend’s kill in huge gulps. She could feel her kits pushing up against her tummy as they waited for their breakfast to come. Lilac gave them each a lick across the ear before continuing her feast to help her milk supply.
“Now we talk.” Scarlet woofed as Lilac finished eating. “Scarlet, I need to ask you something important.” Lilac meowed as she quickly licked her lips. “Do you know a place where my kits and I would be safe from twolegs and Blood Tribe?” Scarlet looked at her paws for a few seconds before answering. “There a place down by a lake where cats live in tribes; I have been chased out of territory before.” Scarlet explained. “Twolegs don’t visit there and Blood Tribe never heard of it. Shelter, water, and food plentiful and cats develop fighting and hunting skills too.” Lilac looked at her friend excitedly, her heart pumping uncontrollably fast. “Do they live close by?” she asked hopefully. Scarlet nodded. “Takes half day to get there from here.” she explained. “But outsiders not welcome.” Lilac’s heart sank instantly. “Why would you suggest it?” she snapped in annoyance. “Only kits are welcome.” Scarlet explained looking at her friend calmly. “B-but, that would mean I would be separated from them.” Lilac protested as she looked down at her feeding kits. “This only other option than twoleg place.” Scarlet responded before looking at her friend sternly. “Your love for your kits strong; you know what right decision is.” Lilac looked at the ground with a heartbroken face. “Scarlet, can you give me more information on these tribes?” she asked, her voice barely audible. Scarlet held a long pause before answering. “Winter Tribe, Star Tribe, Swift Tribe, Tornado Tribe, and Rainbow Tribe is what they call themselves. I don’t know which tribe I would take them to but all fairly welcoming to kits.” “S-so I won’t even know which tribe they’d be living in?” Lilac asked, looking desperate. Scarlet shook her head. “I afraid not but as mother you will recognize your kits easily among them.” There was a moment of silence before Lilac shifted into a more comfortable position and let out a sigh. “Thank you Scarlet. This means a lot to me and a lot to them.” Scarlet dipped her head. “W-will you take them now? They’ve had enough food to last them till nightfall.” “Yes.” Scarlet replied before gently taking her friend’s kits in her jaws. “Will I ever be able to see them again?” Lilac asked, standing up to watch her friend leave. Scarlet looked back at her with a poker face. “One day.” was all she replied with before flicking her tail in farewell and disappearing over the hillside. Lilac tried to catch a last glimpse but to know despair. Her heart was broken but life moves on, one day she would be able to see her kits again; even if it meant only for a few moments. The white kittypet started to head back to twoleg place. I hope my twolegs don’t think I’ve gone missing, she thought worriedly. There was no way she wasn’t going to live with twolegs, they were her safest option and she had worried friends waiting for her.
**3 Seasons Later**
Lilac had to leave; her heart had had enough of waiting for the right time. After she had given up her kits to Scarlet 3 seasons ago, Lilac returned to her twolegs as planned and told her friends everything that had been happening over the past several moons. Her life was finally going the way she wanted it to but she felt a lonely part of her heart calling out for her kits. “I need to see them again.” she murmured in a choked up voice. “Did you say something Lilac?” Rollyn asked, her head looking down on her friend from up in a tree in her backyard. “It’s nothing.” Lilac meowed casually. “Just thinking out loud is all.” Hitch looked down at her from his spot beside Rollyn. “We know something’s up; you’ve been looking clouded the past couple of moons. Tell us what’s wrong.” Hitch insisted. “Yeah we’re friends!” Rollyn persisted, jumping down from the branch and beside her friend. “You told us about your past remember; Blood Tribe and all your wrong doings. We’re here to help.” Lilac sighed, seeing how she wouldn’t be able to get out of this. “I’m leaving.” she explained. “What?” Rollyn exclaimed, her fur standing on end with alarm. “What for?” “You can’t just leave us!” Hitch snapped, looking taken aback. “I’m sorry you guys but…” Lilac paused abruptly. Rollyn and Hitch went silent, seeming they had made their friend feel guilty. “It’s ok, I guess.” Hitch muttered. “I guess you miss your kits a lot to be doing this.” “How did you know?” Lilac asked, as she looked up at the tom. His green eyes pierced into Lilac. “We’re your friends; we know what you feel.” “And we’ll do anything to support you; we’ll come with you to Scarlet’s home.” Lilac looked at Rollyn gratefully. They know me too well, she thought as she got up to start their walk to her friend’s home.
The sun was blazing in the middle of the sky as they made it to Scarlet’s home. “That didn’t take as long as last time!” Rollyn exclaimed, falling to the ground, still exhausted. “Scarlet! It’s me Half-Heart!” Lilac called, waiting for her sly friend to appear from the den. “I’ll look inside.” Hitch volunteered when Scarlet didn’t appear. Moments later, Hitch reappeared shaking his head. “She hasn’t been here for moons; her bedding is completely dry and scattered all over her den. Her scent is also barely visible!” The white she-cat raked her claws across the dirt fustratedly. “But, Scarlet told you where the tribes were right?” Rollyn asked hopefully. Lilac looked at her friend happily. “In fact I do!” she exclaimed before looking back at her friends. “I’m fine by myself from here on out.” Hitch and Rose looked after their friend sadly. “Take care Lilac; we’ll miss you.” Hitch murmured sadly. “Hope we can meet again someday!” Rose shouted after them. “Don’t you worry about us! We’ll be fine!” Lilac waved her tail in goodbye. “I’ll never forget you, Hitch, Rollyn!” she called before trotting away, over the same hill she saw Scarlet first disappear from her sight.

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Tiger's Rise

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