Chapter 6
"Why should we have to leave?" The yowl of a defiant cat made her fur crawl with unease. "This has been our home for moons!"
"It is StarClan's will," meowed another cat. Their appearance was hazy. Raincloud could barely make out their form throughout the fog that surrounded her. "One of our own has died because we chose to stay. I am sorry, but we must leave."
"We aren't leaving." The growl of a cat made Raincloud blink in surprise. She could actually see what the cat looked like, and his appearance surprised her. He was a huge dark orange tom, with piercing green eyes that sent chills down Raincloud's spine.
"Russetstar, we can't stay! It's getting colder, and the forest is going to freeze!" The desperate mew of a queen echoed throughout the silent crowd.
"We have survived this long, and we will continue surviving," Russetstar snapped. "SunClan is staying."
Raincloud held back a gasp of surprise. SunClan? What in StarClan's name did he mean by that?
Than realization hit her. These were the three original Clans. The ancestors of MoonClan, StreamClan and FireClan. Raincloud leaned closer to see if she could get a better look at these cats. But the fog was getting heavier, until she couldn't even see Russetstar.
The forest had disappeared all together. Annoyance flared within Raincloud as she thought of what had happened.
The Clans had left their old home because it was getting colder. Leafbare had lasted for what felt like seasons. And SunClan had stayed behind because they didn't feel the need to leave. Raincloud's mind began to spin as she wondered what this all meant.
She opened her eyes to find herself back in the warrior's den. Relief washed over her shoulders when she realized that it was just a dream. Nettlepelt and Russetfrost were still fast asleep. They had been guarding the camp's entrance during the night.
With a stretch of her legs, Raincloud padded out of the den. She quickly spotted Shadepelt emerging from the nursery. His eyes were bright with pride, and Raincloud couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Sooner or later the Clan will find out, she thought. What will you do than?
"Raincloud, can you join Poppyfoot and Rowanfire on a hunting patrol?" Oakpelt approached her, whiskers twitching in amusement when Raincloud held back a sigh of annoyance.
The last cat she wanted to go out with was Rowanfire. The older warrior had a fiery attitude, and Poppyfoot might as well be just as bad. But at least Poppyfoot could put Rowanfire in her place. Besides, the Clan needed to be fed first.
She simply dipped her head respectfully and padded over to where Poppyfoot was waiting. Rowanfire was busy washing her face before she joined them. Raincloud's ears flattened when she spotted the older warrior's brother sitting nearby. His apprentice, Goldenpaw, listened eagerly as he gave her a few tips.
"Hunting patrol," Raincloud muttered when Rowanfire finally looked up from her grooming. The mottled ginger she-cat looked at Raincloud in annoyance. "Oakpelt's orders," she added under her breath.
Rowanfire simply rolled her eyes before standing up. She stretched out her back and padded after the camp's entrance. Poppyfoot was already waiting for them outside. Raincloud looked over her shoulder once more before bounding after them.
At once Poppyfoot led the way through the undergrowth. The forest seemed alive with life after they stopped near the silver birch. Raincloud's ears pricked forward as she listened for the sounds of prey. Nearby a mouse or a vole was scuffling through the rotting leaves. Birds chattered noisily when they noticed the hunters.
"We'll cover more ground if we split up," Poppyfoot murmured. "Rowanfire, you take that path, Raincloud, you take the other. I'll hunt here." Rowanfire looked like she was ready to argue when Poppyfoot shot her a cold look. The younger cat ducked her head in embarrassment before whisking away.
Concern shadowed Raincloud's face when she noticed the look Poppyfoot gave Rowanfire. Though they had never gotten along, it was never to the point of killing one another. Raincloud doubted it would never lead to that. Rowanfire was a skilled opponent in battle. She could easily defend herself if she needed to.
She followed the path Poppyfoot had pointed at. Prey was abundant in this part of the forest. It had been some time since they last hunted around the silver birch. Raincloud managed to catch two mice before spotting a squirrel climbing down one of the trees.
Instinct kicked in, and Raincloud dropped to a hunter's crouch. The squirrel was vulnerable. It's head was down on the ground as it searched for seeds or nuts. Raincloud's ears flattened as she took careful steps forward. Within a heartbeat she had leaped forward with her claws unsheathed. The squirrel's tail shot up in alarm. Raincloud didn't give it time to escape as she snapped it's neck. The birds above had given a shrill alarm call, alerting any prey that might have been out in the open.
Rolling her eyes, Raincloud carried the squirrel back to where she had buried her mice. Once she managed to pick them up as well, she followed the path back to Poppyfoot.
"Wow, you caught all of that?" Poppyfoot's eyes widened when she saw how much Raincloud had caught.
"It isn't much, but it will feed the elders," she admitted.
"Yeah, and hedgehogs will fly," Rowanfire scoffed after returning. Sitting at her paws was a pigeon, two shrews and a vole. Raincloud narrowed her eyes at Rowanfire's impressive catch. "Now this, will make such a nice meal," she crowed.
Don't claw her ears off, Raincloud told herself. As much as she wished she could do so, it wasn't right. Rowanfire was an arrogant furball. Sooner or later she would learn the hard way to keep her mouth shut. Raincloud had a feeling Poppyfoot hoped it was sooner. The black she-cat looked like she was seething with annoyance.
She followed the rest of them back into camp, eager to tell Bluelightning about her dream. Part of her was afraid he might just brush it off as a bad piece of fresh-kill. But the dreams she had were so vivid. And they kept haunting her every few nights. What struck her the most was that these cats were from a Clan. A Clan that was long forgotten by the others.
Raincloud dropped off her prey on the fresh-kill pile after they returned. Her tail flicked across Poppyfoot's shoulder in thanks for the older cat's help. Poppyfoot had offered to take the mice after only catching a vole their whole time out.
Bluelightning was in the medicine cat's den, sorting through freshly cut herbs. Ashcloud was fast asleep, curled up in a nest of moss and feathers. Raincloud tilted her head to one side when she realized how old he was getting. It wouldn't be long before he retired to the elder's den.
"Raincloud, I hope all is well," Bluelightning murmured when he looked up from his work.
"Actually, I was hoping I could share a dream I had with you," she admitted. Bluelightning's tail flicked from side to side as she sat down in front of him. Quickly she explained the visions she'd had recently. And the forgotten Clan. Her brother's eyes widened when she mentioned that. "And it keeps happening every few nights. Each vision gets worse. Last night someone died."
"StarClan is trying to tell you something," Bluelightning sighed. "Ashcloud said the same thing a few nights ago. He woke up gasping for breath, like someone had been choking him in his sleep."
A shiver ran down Raincloud's spine. She was thankful her dreams hadn't been that real.
"So... what does that mean?" she asked warily.
"I think StarClan wants you to visit the Moonrock," he explained. "StarClan wants to share something with you. And I have a feeling it's about your destiny."
But my destiny was to end Silverstar's reign! Raincloud thought angrily. That arrogant she-cat had almost destroyed the Clans. And now there was something else that effected Raincloud's life? I just want to live a happy, normal life again, she told herself.
She knew that would never happen. Her life had been altered by StarClan. Bluelightning was right. She needed to visit the Moonrock and find out what her ancestors wanted. Again.
AN: Yep, finally updated. Another update will likely be tomorrow or maybe even today if I'm in the mood. Depends. Thanks to Cookies and Cream for your awesome review! You're an awesome person! :D
