CHAPTER 2

"What were you thinking, Briarlight? Taking on a whole WindClan patrol?"

Briarlight sighed. Birchfall had been lecturing her throughout the whole way back to camp. As she slid through the thorn tunnel into the camp, Birchfall meowed lastly," Think before you do anything, especially when it involves another Clan,"

Then he stomped away madly to where Whitewing, his mate, was sunning herself in front of the elders den. Dewpaw padded past her, heading to the apprentices' den.

Briarlight still felt anger in her paws. I hate WindClan. Especially Bluepaw, that stupid apprentice! If you ask me, he should have five more moons of being an apprentice!

She dragged herself over to the medicine den, preparing herself to be yelled at by Jayfeather for not bringing back goldenrod. Once in the den, she saw Lilydust sitting in the farthest nest in the den. Jayfeather was sitting in front of her, wrapping something on her paw.

Briarlight dragged herself over to the medicine cat, and meowed," What happened, Lilydust?"

Lilydust's green gaze flashed over to Briarlight. "When I was on the dawn hunting patrol this morning, I was chasing a really fat rabbit through some brambles, and then I cut my paw. Why? You gotta' problem with that?"

Briarlight rolled her eyes, remembering that Lilydust was really stuck up. She definetly didn't seem like one of Brackenfur and Sorreltail's kits at all.

Briarlight now saw that Lilydust's right leg was cut, and Jayfeather was putting cobweb around the cut to soak up the blood. "Is there anything I can do to help, Jayfeather?"

Jayfeather kept wrapping the cobweb on Lilydust's leg, but meowed," No. This is a minor wound. I thought you could see that, Briarlight," Briarlight felt her stomach sink. "And where's that goldenrod? I thought you went to get some." She mewed in response," You haven't heard? The whole rest of the Clan has. The WindClan dawn patrol showed up and kicked us out."

Jayfeather stopped wrapping cobweb, and started to pat it down with his own paw."Us?"

Briarlight decided to leave out the part about how Foxleap had to come with her, and skip straight to the part about Birchfall and the dawn patrol. "The ThunderClan dawn patrol came and made me come back to camp. And here I am," Jayfeather nodded and then flicked his tail, signaling that he was going outside for a bit.

Briarlight blinked, and then moved to the back wall of the medicine den, to finish sorting herbs. An unusual silence spread through the camp. Briarlight's right ear flicked. She glanced behind her, and saw that sunlight was not shining through the bramble screen as it was a few moments ago.

Is something happening outside? she wondered. Briarlight saw that Lilydust had not seemed to notice. What's happening? Why can't Lilydust hear the silence too?

She pulled her hind legs around the bramble screen and out into the camp. The eerie silence still engulfed the Clan. Briarlight looked up at the sky, and saw that a huge, almost black cloud was blocking out the sun. It drifted very slowly.

Briarlight saw Squirrelflight and Leafpool standing together under Highledge. Bramblestar was nowhere to be seen in the camp. He must've led the mid-morning patrol.

Lionblaze and Cinderheart stood outside of the Nursery, staring at the blood-curling cloud.

Cinderheart's gray tabby tail was curled around Tigerkit. Stormkit and Rainkit were next to Lionblaze. Daisy was still inside of the Nursery.

All three elders were huddled together in front of the elders' den. Graystripe watched it lazily, his amber eyes barely open. Sandstorm's green eyes were closed, and she leaned into Dustpelt's shoulder fur.

Briarlight spotted Amberpaw, Dewpaw, and Snowpaw lying together by the fresh-kill pile, whispering together. Everyone's too scared to say or do anything. Even me!

Briarlight then realized that her two paws were frozen in fear. It seemed like the whole forest had stopped moving. The rustling trees were now silent. The soothing call of the birds was cut off. Even the distant sound of the Twolegplace, which was beyond RiverClan territory on the far side of the lake was completely silent.

Everything seemed quiet. Too quiet for Briarlight's liking. The camp entrance rustled and Bramblestar pushed his way through. He looked around the camp. Briarlight watched him climb the slope to Highledge, and he called to the Clan.

"Look this way!" Almost half of the Clan looked at Bramblestar, his loud voice snapping them out of the mesmerizing cloud. "I am as clueless about this strange cloud as all of you are, but I'm sure that…"

"StarClan might be angry!" worriedly yowled Daisy from the Nursery. Bramblestar glanced at her, but then continued," That could be true, Daisy," Daisy's eyes widened and she gulped loudly. Bramblestar took notice and meowed quickly after," Or it couldn't! I'm sure that we are all fine. We could all use a good night's rest…" at that moment, the dark cloud moved out of the sun's way.

Bramblestar blinked appreciably at it. He then looked back down and meowed," See? Just a cloud." Briarlight could tell that he was struggling for the right words. He beckoned to Squirrelflight and they both disappeared into his den.

The camp returned to normal, as the cloud drifted away.

Too many things worried Briarlight. Foxleap, the deafening cloud that silenced the entire forest, Tigerkit taking her place as Jayfeather's helper. She shook her head to clear it. She had to stop worrying so much. Briarlight warily padded back into the medcine den, where Lilydust was resting peacefully, sound alseep.

She heard Lilydust stir in her sleep. Lucky Lilydust. She never had her backbone broken from a falling tree. She never has to worry about having a mate. It's usual for her. She then recalled a distant memory, fading in the back of her mind.

Some cat saved my life many, many moons ago, when I was a kit. What was her name, what was her name... Then it became clear. The cat's name was Honeyfern, the most loyal, sweet, generous, giving, and most beautiful cat in the Clan. Why'd she sacrifice her life for me? Of all the cats who could have died that fateful day, it had to be Honeyfern, and to save who's 'special' life? Mine!

Maybe it would've been better if Honeyfern had never died for me. I would've been happier in StarClan anyway. It doesn't matter that I had no idea what was in store for me back then. If I'd have died, everything would be perfect!

For once, Briarlight didn't regret her last thought.