Warrior's Refuge/Chapter 2

Chapter Summary
Graystripe's PoV
 * It is nighttime. In the barn, Millie lies with her eyes closed on some hay. Graystripe pads up to her and curls up beside her. He asks if she can't sleep, and Millie answers that she slept enough that afternoon. Graystripe questions how her eye is. Millie responds that it is better; still a little sore, but not too bad. Millie sympathizes Husker, Moss, Splash (KP), and the kits, and adds that the kits are so sweet. Graystripe agrees. Millie looks at where the barn cats are sleeping, and says that it must be so hard, feeling like every single day is a battle. Graystripe looks sad, and part of him want to tell her that Clan life can feel like a constant battle too, but he keeps quiet.


 * Graystripe contemplates on how he was pretty surprised when he realized how bad things were for the barn cats there. He pads through a field of cut-down corn, and thinks that regardless of the dogs, he can see fat, juicy mice all over the field. Graystripe spots a mouse nibbling at an ear of corn on the ground, and begins to stalk it. However, as he prepares to pounce, a young male Twoleg opens to door t the Twoleg Nest, and the two dogs come running out, the smaller one yapping. The Twoleg encourages them to get 'that mangy cat'. Graystripe begins running, and thinks that it stinks, supposing that the mice will have to wait. There is a line of bushes at the end of the field and he ducks into there, thinking that he would hide in there until he figures out what to do, but before he can finish his thought, he is distracted and wonders where they went.


 * Graystripe is scared when he sees the two dogs chasing Splash, only a tail-length or two behind him. Graystripe doesn't know if Splash tried to lead the dogs away from him or if they had been after him the whole time, but Graystripe thinks that he's too little to handle them on his own. He runs from the bushes, his face determined. As the dogs chase Splash through the corn field, Graystripe runs after them, yowling and hissing. He catches up and get there attention. The larger dog woofs and the small one yaps again, but when Graystripe runs, they start chasing after him.


 * Graystripe wonders what to do with them now as he runs into the gap between two sheds. He realizes that it's not the best choice he ever made when he sees a wall ahead of him. Graystripe turns his around, horrified, and sees the dogs slowly advancing upon him, blocking the exit. He tries to calm himself down, and thinks that he can try to fight them, but is outnumbered. He wonders if he could try to get around them if he jumped.


 * At teat point, a voice calls to him from above the wall, telling Graystripe that it's okay, and they will be right there. Millie jumps down from the wall, and Graystripe asks what she did that for, considering that now they are both trapped. Millie stands in front of him and tells him not to worry. She says he's got this. The larger dog orders them to run. Millie stands, unwavering and confident, and boldly growls that no, she won't. Graystripe watches her with awe. The dogs are surprised, and looks at each other, confused. The smaller dog pleads Millie, but she says no once again, and tells them to go away. The dogs stare at her for a moment, then slowly pad away. Graystripe happily thinks that he doesn't think he'd be more surprised if Firestar floated down out of the sky and licked him on the nose.


 * Then Graystripe envisions dogs chasing cats, and thinks about some of the things ThunderClan has had to face in the past, and once again realizes how valuable Millie is. He asks Millie if that always works on dogs. She admits that it doesn't, but she had to try, as she couldn't let them jump on him. Graystripe suggests going back to the barn, since he has to tell everyone how amazing she is.


 * In the barn, Graystripe explains to the barn cats that it was just amazing. He thinks that he had been shocked by what Millie did with the dogs, but it is nothing compared with the reaction from the barn cats. Splash asks if they really just went away when she said the words. Graystripe puts in that that makes twice that she saved his life. Millie modestly stammers that it wasn't much, and offers to teach them if they'd like. Splash asks if she could teach them, and Husker wonders if she could make the dogs leave them along. Millie answers yes.


 * Graystripe thinks that it's not what he'd call a difficult decision for them. Millie demonstrates saying no to Husker, who repeats what she says. Millie holds a paw up, so that the bottom of it faces Moss, who she is showing it to, and says stop in a a demanding voice. Moss copies Millie as she does it. Millie demonstrates to Splash by swishing her front paw and saying go away. Splash does the same.


 * Little Mew, Birdy, Raindrop, and Pad watch as Splash holds up a paw and says no and stop. Moss says stop and go away. Raindrop suggests trying it too, though Birdy recommends that they should do it better. Pad offers to be the dog, and imitates a dog by barking. Raindrop and Birdy are amused, and Raindrop laughs no and stop. Pad tells Little Mew to be the dog, and he agrees. The other kits giggle as Little Mew growls. Birdy says stop and go away. Little Mew asks what was that, and that he doesn't understand her. Birdy repeats, saying stop, but Little Mew says that he must be hard of hearing, and says that he should get closer as he leaps onto Birdy, who squeals. The four kits play fight together. Birdy tells her littermate that he's not being a dog right, and Little Mew pretends to bark in return. Millie closes her eyes and leans her head on Graystripe's shoulder as they watch the kits.