It was nice to have shelter, what wasn't nice was that they had a ginger furred stalker following them ever since departing the forest.
     Rain patterned and bounced off the rocks outside, the inclined slope letting the sheer waters flood down the side, stopped only by an occasional shrub or small tree rare against the scape. The inside of the cave wasn't exactly warm, but it sheltered against the drafts and winds. Thirst had been long satisfied, the puddles outside providing easy solutions, but hunger still lingered.
Sparrow settled down in the corner of the room, the smooth surface went jagged near the front where you could enter and exit at will, he knew he'd wake up sore to the bone; never, since the Big-Claws invaded his own home, did he ever travel so much, and even then he stopped more often. He recalled the pack had stopped frequently because Ash, the elderly storyteller, had become sick and eventually died before reaching the destination. Shortly after, his mother, Heron, passed from the same illness; if it weren't enough, their best Hunter, Scout, perished of an untreated open wound during the skirmish to keep the mountain territory. That had left himself-a Hunter- and Magpie, a warrior, lead by an old, slim alpha and few companions. All the pups, queens, elders and apprentices had died, their chances of survival had been slim...
His grim recollection was interrupted by the gentle purring of the little-claw, who had settled down besides him, the sound gave him a warm feeling through his fur, enough even to battle the damp remnants of their battling through the torrent. Alas, it only lasted a moment, for Sparrow lowered his head to the icy floor and drifted off into an unsettling sleep crowded with memories and dreams, twisted and gnarled.

     "Sparrow, Sparrow get up!! The spies returned!!" The gleeful yaps of Falcon nudged him into waking, he perked his ears at the young pup's excitement, his dusty brown fur had been groomed, probably tended to by his mother before departing the nursery.
     "I'm up, I'm up!" He returned playfully, stumbling out of his furry nest, mostly broken down moss and twigs, much less quality than his superiors.
"Falcon, it isn't a good thing!" Snapped a harsh voice from outside, his russet and brown sister had definitely been awake for a while, she had attained a grumpy personality already. The only time he ever found her more understanding and bearable was when they were training together as apprentices. Even then...
"Why not?" He barked curiously, tipping his head to the side. Sparrow watched wearily, never understanding why his brother never responded nervously to such a hostile tone.
     "For one!" She hissed, "They are called PATROLS, not SPIES. You make everything sound so dramatic." The she-wolf huffed, amber eyes glinting, "TWO! They said it's some sort of predator, Alpha is calling a meeting about it so-"
     Her bickering and scalding lecture was cut short by a howl that bounced off the large, rock walls of their base, upon a large ledge of jutting out boulders stood a rather thin figure. Authority was held in their posture and blue eyes shimmering with control, even a little bit of fear in fact. The figures began congregating around this structure, ears intent and snouts raised. The three siblings bounded off to join them, not before Magpie could slap Falcon over the ear with her tail though.
"Dogs and wolves of the Echo Pack! The patrol has brought rather.. startling news, but we will continue all the same" announced the bold leader from atop the stones. "Big-Claws have been spotted in nearby turf. They shouldn't be a threat as long as we keep distance, this is a reminder for anyone venturing outside camp in this stretch of time."
     Magpie turned her furry head towards the other two, "See?" She whisper-boasted.
     "Yea, yea. But you made a huge deal about how Falcon worded it and everything." He protested sarcastically, with a roll of his eyes, though squirming inside at the thought of this disrespectful return of words.
     "Pup grew its fangs" she scoffed, half amused, before turning away.

POV Switch

His amber gaze glistened uncertainly as he edged into the cave, pelt soaked to the bone, hoping to whatever he could that the wolf wasn't awake. In the shadows of the makeshift den glistened a pair of eyes; and to his luck, it wasn't anything threatening. These were the eyes of a kit, one blue, one like his own; both glazed with weariness and frustration.
     "Hey!" He whispered across the blank, dark canvas of the floor, ears perked then pinned back as it bounced across the walls.
     "What do you want?" The other squeaked, caution etched into their tone.
     "To find out what was happening. Forgive me for being nosy, but is your traveling companion not a wolf?" He answered.
     "What's your name?" She added distrustfully, avoiding the reply altogether.
     'Not as if she could use it against me... Hopefully.' He thought anxiously, lashing his tail, 'but they're new here, it's only a matter of time... Just lie' he decided, and opened his mouth with a fervent word; "Blaze"
     "Well Blaze" She clearly, quietly answered, "Yes, Sparrow is a wolf, we are traveling, nosy furball."
     The ginger tom couldn't help but snort in amusement slightly at this blunt reply, "And no reason in particular that he hasn't mauled you yet?"
     "None of your business. I've told you enough."
     "Mind if I stay? The rain is awfully powerful." He noted with a sly twitch of his whiskers.
     "Sure, but if you're dead in the morning it's not my fault. And remember, who has the wolf on their side."