Stone-Heart the Warrior Cat

[Briony]

♥ Introduction ♥

- Please Comment!!

Written So Far By:

Green Magpie

"Mom?" Lexie slammed the door behind her as she arrived home after school. Her cat, Stone-Heart, was the first to greet her; bumping his head against her legs, an elegant and completely subtle hint for food, he followed her into the kitchen as she bent down and opened the cabinet, removing two sachets of cat food - one entitled 'Chicken Breast with Onion and Lamb Gravy' and one 'Fresh Tuna with Chunky Bites of Turkey'. Mixing them together in a cheap red plastic bowl, she remarked,
"Stone, you eat better than we do."
"Mew," Stone replied agreeably. Lexie rolled her eyes and scratched between his ears. Stone, too busy for attention, was inhaling food much more efficiently than their hoover had ever done, so Lexie got up and decided she was hungry herself.

Clambering onto a cabinet, Lexie opened the top counters and threw her hand in for a Lucky dip. Withdrawing her hand, her fist closed around a bar of - well, something - Lexie took a step into thin air.

It happened very quickly.

Lexie fell back with a yell, her stray foot whacking against the lower cabinet and her arms flailing, her food bar smashing against the opposite wall. She soared backwards, her eyes screwed shut and her mouth pinched; and just when she thought a painful landing was inevitable, she landed on her beanbag, which had been sitting in the living room seconds before. She'd seen it through the doorway.

Stone stared up innocently as she got up and scratched her head. His food was still almost-full; a miracle and something that wouldn't have happened if he'd been eating the whole time she was getting food herself. Her cocked his head as she stared at him, eyes squinted suspiciously.
"You're a strange cat, you know that, right?" she asked him as he returned to eating her food.
"Mew," Stone replied agreeably. Lexie sighed. She was never going to get a straight answer out of that cat.

Then again, he was only a cat.

[Briony]

♥ Chapter One: Part One: My Cat ♥

Written So Far By:

Green Magpie

"Stoney boy, here Stoney!" Lexie, who seconds before had been on her hands and knees peering under the sofa, sat back on her heels with an angry sigh. Insolent, arrogant cat. He'd just vanished! Poof! Smoke, flashing lights, a mysterious chuckle, the whole enchilada. That was the thing about that cat; one minute he was there, the next he'd been to London and back in a matter of minutes. Except you didn't know that until the next morning when the newspaper came in, revealing a front-page close-up declaring 'Pussy-cat Rhyme Comes True' And your cat did actually visit the Queen and went under her chair. In the middle of a crisis-talk about the recession.

But that had only happened once. Or maybe twice. Lexie was too young to remember all of Stone-Heart's endeavours. Something of which she was rather glad.

Stone-Heart was much older than her - by years. And if she was already thirteen, almost fourteen, what did that make him? He was ancient in cat years. Mom had once said she'd grown up with him - that made him twenty-or-thirty-something, right? He didn't belong on the streets anymore. He was too old - all the younger cats would beat him up!

But when Lexie imagined this, she couldn't see it and knew she was being irrational. If he'd gotten past Buckingham Palace security once, with all their hidden lasers and reinforced steel shutters and diamond-rimmed 25-year-warranty CCTV cameras, she was pretty certain he could handle a few measly moggies.

But still. He belonged at home! Lexie got up and stared at the beanbag, now sitting innocently back the living-room after she'd dragged it back. It had been heavier than she'd expected; she'd even stumbled several times. She wondered if Stone-Heart had dragged it into the kitchen for her. If it was heavy to her, what would it have felt like to an ancient cat elder? A moving mountain?

At about seven that evening, Stone-Heart slinked through the cat flap and sat, drenched and looking sorry for himself. Instead of rushing for a towel, something she normally did, she suddenly spotted he wasn't just drenched by the rain. He was covered in blood. By the looks of things, it was a miracle he had made it home. Her fears of him being mobbed by moggies assured, she sat down on the floor feeling sick. Scooping him up carefully, trying not to hurt him, she cradled him close to her and rested her chin on his forehead. In a despairing voice she asked,
"Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?"

And she almost expected him to answer, "I've been up to London to visit the Queen."

Now that would would have a miracle.

[Briony]

♥ Chapter One: Part Two: The Misfortune of Stone-Heart ♥

Written So Far By:

Green Magpie

"Lexie?" The door opened for the second time that evening and Lexie jumped as her mother peered through the doorway.
"Mom!" Leaping up and accidentally throwing Stone-Heart to the floor, Lexie threw her arms around her mother. "I was getting worried!"
"Oh, well, don't worry about me," her mother replied breezily - rather too breezily. Brushing off Lexie's embrace, like usual, she gracefully danced towards a cabinet, eyeing Stone-Heart cautiously. "What happened to the cat?"
"Oh!" Lexie, slightly over-excited, bent down and picked up Stone-Heart for her mother to examine. But her mother had already recoiled from her outstretched hands which held the pitiful puss.
"That's lovely, sweetie." Her mother replied, disgust clear in her face.
"Hey, Mom, do you want to-"
"-Oh, no, sorry poppet! I forgot. Tonight I'm serving at the club. But when I get back we'll have something nice for tea, right?" Her mother replied, pouting for forgiveness.

Lexie's voice was cold.

"Why did you come back here, then?" she asked icily, carefully sliding Stone-Heart onto the table where he watched her forlornly.
"Just to pick up my purse, alright? Don't be so serious, sweetie-pie," her mother sighed, as she leaned down and kissed Lexie on the cheek, bumping her sharp jaw against Lexie's. "It gives you premature lines in your face." Her mother grabbed her purse from the sideboard, a tiny leather satchel.
And Lexie was forced to watch as she gave her daughter a finger wiggle, called: "Get to bed early, be ready for school tomorrow!" and disappeared into the hallway, the door shutting behind her. Lexie could hear her high-heels clicking against the concrete steps at the front of the house.

Lexie buried her face into Stone-Heart's fur, collapsing into one of the kitchen chairs. Her mother had forgotten, again.

Today was the last day of school. And her mother had promised the most amazing night of Lexie's life. Stone-Heart withdrew from Lexie's tight embrace and stared at her with unwavering orange eyes. He seemed to say,
"Don't worry about her, Lexie. We don't need her."

Jumping down from the table, he switched on the TV and disappeared under the sofa. He emerged seconds later with a DVD in his jaws and covered in dust-balls and forgotten foods that had wormed their way underneath. He ran back into the kitchen, up onto one of the counters and grabbed an old recipe book. Dropping it onto the floor, the spine breaking, he flicked through to a certain page:
Gooey Chocolate Fudge Cake. Lexie got the idea now.

Snuggled up with Stone-Heart on her lap, covered in blankets and cushions, spooning mouthfuls of cake into her mouth, and watching one of her old favourite DVDs, Lexie smiled happily and scratched Stone-Heart between the ears. He purred for a few minutes joyously, and then turned to face Lexie when she stopped. Smiling to herself, Lexie gave Stone-Heart a hug, even though she knew he didn't like them.

"At least you don't have a Heart of Stone," Lexie told him.
"Mew," Stone replied agreeably.
Lexie sighed. However annoying, greedy, fussy and cryptic he could be, she was glad Stone-Heart was with her.

[Briony]

♥ Chapter Two: Part One: Stone-Heart be True ♥

Written So Far By:

Green Magpie

In order of appearance: Stone-Heart, Evie, Fire-Soul, and Rayana

Stone-Heart deftly leapt down from the sofa and looked back up at the sleeping Lexie. Her golden hair was sprayed like a waterfall over the cushions she lay on, and one arm dangled from the side limply as she'd tossed in her sleep. Rubbing against the hand, as it stretched over the sofa, he purred quietly and affectionately. Lexie stirred slightly.

And then he was gone. Pounding down the hallway, he dived through the cat-flap, barely looking back as Lexie's mother, drunk, screamed and dropped her keys as the furry flash ran past her. He ran down a couple of streets, taking cuts through alleys. He was no longer afraid of the alleycats. They looked at him with a certain respect in their eyes. He deserved it, of course. Turning down the alley way at the side of Medusa Tower, the tallest skyscraper in town, he padded steathily over a plastic green bin and over the wire mesh that lay like a trap, with barbed wire to top it, on the otherside. Slipping through the final black railings slinkily, he suddenly arrived at the copse of trees, brambles and nettles that cornered Medusa Park.

Hoping Lexie hadn't been woken by his sudden fright - though she would certainly at her Mom's arrival - Stone-Heart raised his head and sniffed at the air suspiciously.

And then she was there. Stone-Heart's heart pounded as Evie appeared. And not because he was scared - although she scared the living daylights out of many cats. With one eye and half-an-ear missing after a battle, and several battle scratches across her body, Evie made cats run for cover wherever she went. But Stone-Heart knew, under the tough exterior, she had a truly kind heart. And that was why he liked her so much.

Stone had always liked Evie in a way he'd never dared to tell her. They'd always been very good friends, thanks to their ages being so close together - she was actually two days older than him. He remembered her as a kitten; the most beautiful cat he'd ever seen. Males had approached her and actually asked to be mates on the spot. She'd always reply,
"I'm waiting for someone special," and slink of with her tail in the air.

After the attack, she hadn't been liked so much. But that didn't matter. He still loved her. Though he'd never told her.

"Hello, Stone," Evie sauntered up to him and smiling drowsily. Of all the Warrior Cats in the world, she was the only one who truly understood his love for Lexie. She was owned by a young boy of a similar age.
"Hey, Evie," Stone-Heart smiled, purring as she nudged her head against him. "What's happening? Do you know?"

Evie rolled her eyes.
"You're Rayana's brother! You're supposed to know all of this!" Rayana was the clan leader, and it was true that he was her brother; they were litter-mates. Stone-Heart sighed.
"I wish. She'll be mad at me for not retrieving the thing she wanted. Though I did try my best." Evie stepped back and looked down at Stone.
"I hadn't noticed; you do look a bit worse for wear." Stone grinned and launched himself at her. Summersed in their play-fight, they didn't notice Fire-Soul slip into base.

"Aw, a lover's tiff?" Fire-Soul asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes. The two of them straigthened almost immediately, thinking Rayana had arrived. Stone hissed when he realised it was just Fire-Soul.
"Just Fire-Soul? What do you mean, just Fire-Soul?" Fire-Soul asked directly at Stone-Heart. Stone-Heart jumped; in his haste he had forgotten the other cat could read minds. He hastened and barriered his mind, a simple yet tricky process only Warrior Cats can do. It remains impossible to describe the sensation to a human.

"Order!" Rayana strutted onto the scene, her tail flicking in the air. The three other cats filed into a single file line, Evie in the middle. Rayana stopped at Stone-Heart, looking him up and down. Stone saw a brief flash of worry in the eyes so like his as she looked back at him.
"News?"
"I was unable to retrieve the item you wish, Rayana. There was an ambush planned before us." Rayana continued to Evie, a frown darkening her expression.
"No news, Rayana." And finally to Fire-Soul.
"I have no news, either, Rayana." Fire-Soul murmured. Rayana nodded and said in a quiet voice,
"We must return home with news of this ambush. Immediately." And that was all it took for Stone's heart to fall.

[Briony]

♥ Chapter Two: Part Two: Rayana's Grudge ♥

Written So Far By:

Green Magpie

Lexie was getting worried about Stone-Heart. Again.
That silly cat had vanished, even though he was injured, hurt and weak, and been gone for hours. She knew she was being over-protective, but this was just getting stupid. It was like he had somewhere to be at certain times.
Honestly - daydreaming again.
"Lexie, I'm sorry..." And her mother was off again. Lexie swivelled to face the wall. Stone-Heart had given her his namesake: a stone heart. She was tired of her mother already. Last night she'd returned home drunk. Really badly drunk. But it still felt like Lexie was the one left with a hangover.
Same as usual.
Stone-Heart slinked through the catflap looking bad-tempered. As Lexie's mother, bent on reconciliation, tried to examine his wounds for Lexie he hissed and ran, a grey-striped blur, up the stairs. Lexie frowned and charged up after him, hauling herself up the banister. Stone-Heart was curled up on her purple bed-spread, his chest heaving.
"What's got your tail in a twist?" Lexie tried to sratch between his ears but he backed away warily. Lexie knew she looked scandalised. "Stone? What's up?"

But he just jumped off her bed and down the stairs. Contrary cat, Lexie thought to herself crossly.

Feeling lonely, Lexie pulled her coat from the back of her door and pulled it around herself. Even though it was July it was chilly outside and the grey rain clouds were low in the sky. A bitter wind whipped at the walls.

It was too cold for July.

Lexie opened the front door. Her mother was smoking in front of the TV; a way to destress herself, watching soap operas all day. Laughing at other people's problems. As she turned to shut the door, she spotted a ragged brown cat sitting on top of their green bin. Just staring at her. And not in a nice way.

Lexie gulped to herself, and then felt stupid. It was unlikely the cat would attack her. She smelt all over of Stone-Heart. She wondered what the cat's name was and found she knew it already: Rayana. It was an unusual name, and Lexie had never heard it spoken before, but it seemed to fit.
"Rayana," she pondered out loud as she passed the cat. But when she looked back, the cat had gone. "Weird cat," Lexie thought suspiciously. She backtracked to the bin and peered on top. Nothing there but a woodlouse. Lexie, confused, decided on a walk to the park.

Maybe there wouldn't be so many freaky cats around Medusa.

Lexie swallowed and sighed. Even the name didn't sound reassuring.

[rinslet walker;]

It's amazing!Great descriptions and I think you are really a budding writer!

[Briony]

♥ Chapter Three: Part One: Medusa Park ♥

The park was surprisingly baron for a Saturday. The grass seemed grey and lifeless and the trees seemed drab. The leaves and flowers summer had brought were wilting.

Even Lexie had enough sense to know this was not a good sign.

Kicking the grass about with her trainers, she wondered whether her friends were having a good times, wherever they were. Spain. America. Japan. Egypt. Bermuda. Fuji. India. Iceland. Antarctica. The list was seemingly endless. She, however, was staying home this summer. Mom didn't have enough money from her modelling business to buy a plane ticket for either of them and instead they were going to splash out at home. Due to their current... friendship status, this was unlikely to be as fun as promised.

It wasn't helped by the fact neither one would speak to the other.

Lexie reached the swings and sighed. Medusa Park wasn't in its finest condition - the swings had been turned over on themselves several dozen times and were, by far, out of her reach. She looked up at them and raised a hand. No point.

Stone-Heart emerged from a copse of trees in the far corner; he looked surprised to see her there.
"Recovered from your hissy fit?" Lexie asked glumly, reaching down to scratch him once again behind the ears. He purred and wound between her legs; seeming to notice her mood for sitting on the swing, he leapt once onto the railings and then onto the top of the swing. He then preceded to carefully unravel the swing for her.
"You're an amazing cat, did you know that?" Lexie marvelled.
"Mew," Stone-Heart replied agreeably.

[rinslet walker;]

Will you write more?

[rinslet walker;]

I hope you continue...

[no~body]

I love it, but are you going to continue?