A/N: Hello! If you haven't noticed, this is a completely different chapter. I felt like the last one I jumped into too fast, so I'm going to place that one into my chapter, inside of this one. Thank you all so much for the reviews. Please enjoy.
I woke that morning with a frown on my face. Sparrowsong was still alive, luckily, but she had retired. How much longer will she stay?
I shook my head. Standing up, or however close I could get to doing that, I stretched and crawled out of the warriors' den. Several cats were standing in the clearing of camp. Yewstar was having a quiet conversation with Berryfoot.
Dark clouds were forming in the distance, but the scent of rain was nowhere to be found.
"Strange," I murmured, and pushed farther outside. Dark was chatting with Ferntail, when he turned and greeted me.
"We were just discussing the plans for today's training! You just wait, it'll be fun." Ferntail meowed cheerfully.
I looked quizzically at the two. "Since when was training fun?"
Dark shrugged. "Well, we just thought that since you're getting very fluent in walking, you'd like to try hunting."
"Hunting? We all know that's hardly a good idea." I held back a laugh at this mouse-brained thought, but still… knowing that it could be possible…
Ferntail's cheery expression changed to a concerned one. "Oh, Star, of course it's a good idea. You're up for it, right? Are you uncomfortable?"
"No, I'm fine," I assured her. "I just… you know what, there's no shame in trying."
Dark seemed happier, and my sister gave a little cheer.
"What are we waiting for, then? Let's head off."
—x—
"Now, the key is to be as quiet as possible. Keep all of your weight on your haunches… oh, right." Ferntail sighed, glancing at my stubby pawless rear legs. "Hmm… this is quite a work in progress."
"You can say that again," agreed Dark, studying my structure. "Here's a weird idea: what if we build a cast that hoisted up your body?"
I snorted. "You've been eating too much again."
"No, it's an idea." Ferntail nodded to Dark. "We could ask Flamewhisker how he makes casts for injured cats."
The idea was growing on me. "Could we add stones that roll?"
"Yes! And tie it together with grass… maybe stick it together with sap…" Dark muttered. "It's all coming together! I can't believe we never thought of this before."
Ferntail shrugged. "It is a complicated thought."
I started to crawl into the direction of camp. "Let's head back. We could study the casts when we get there."
The two warriors nodded and followed me.
"I'm so excited!" squealed Ferntail.
I rolled my eyes, purring. "Not as excited as me."
—x—
When we arrived at camp, Yewstar's conversation with Berryfoot had expanded to an argument. The clouds were now hovering over camp.
"We need to evacuate." I caught her rasp, and edged closer to the entrance of the den.
Berryfoot argued, "But we live on a field! Nothing will catch fire."
Yewstar turned away. "Trust me. This is a strange storm. No rain."
"We can all see that. The grass is most definitely incapable of catching, though. Especially if rain starts!"
"I had a dream—no, a nightmare. I saw what would happen if we stayed. I'm the leader, Berryfoot, and as much as I trust you, I trust the Great Spirit more." She leaped onto the ledge of crystals with surprising agility for her age and declared, "Cats of HillClan! We are in great danger if we stay here within our camp walls. I have dreamed about the disasters to come, so we must evacuate camp immediately."
Everyone looked surprised.
"Where will we go?" someone shouted.
Yewstar shook her head. "I am not sure. But my warriors, my queens, my kits, my apprentices, and elders, we must leave. Trust in your leader."
"But… it seems like a harmless storm! This is very sudden, Yewstar." meowed an elder.
"I know. But this storm hasn't appeared out of nowhere for no reason. It's different. Please, trust me."
They slowly nodded as Yewstar jumped down and, taking their kits, followed her.
It was as if they couldn't see me. I couldn't spot Dark or Ferntail anywhere. They must've gone to the medicine den.
But the one cat still left in camp, I could see. "Sparrowsong! Why are you still here?"
She sighed. "It's my time, Star-Crossed. It's better to die now for me than to live with my aches and pains, my worries… But you should be going. Go, go after them! You've trained a whole season! If you stay here with me I'll never forgive you. Now, go."
I stared at her. I couldn't leave her, but the way that she looked at me… her eyes pleading, like I belonged here and not with her up with the Great Spirit. I slowly crawled away.
"Hurry, or you'll never catch up with your Clan!"
I dragged myself more quickly forward, gaining confidence in every pull. But the fact that I'd never see Sparrowsong again, it drained me. No, I told myself. Keep going. Sparrowsong knows what she's doing.
I climbed over a hill to view the plains. A booming crackle sounded behind me, and the scent of smoke filled my nose. I couldn't believe it. No, this was too soon. Too sudden. Too… real.
I looked behind me, and I saw my former camp ablaze. My eyes were watering from the smoke. Then something startled me. A trail of flames was leading out from the camp. The grass was catching fire!
I raced forward with all of my might, worrying about Dark and Ferntail and most of all, Sparrowsong. And I thought of what would happen if Dark hadn't helped me learn to walk. I would be in there, dead with Sparrowsong.
I flashed a look at the camp. The flames were spreading out, and fast. Several moving shapes caught my eye, feline shapes, one cream, one gray, and one brown. I made my way toward them. Dark turned around and bounded toward me.
"Star! Star-Crossed! Are you all right? Where are the others?" he called.
"They… they left." I said, catching my breath. The fire was a safe distance away, at least then.
Dark's eyes narrowed. "Without you?"
I nodded.
Ferntail and Cedartail came panting over. "Is she okay?" she asked Dark, then without waiting for an answer, turned to me. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Sparrowsong is the only one hurt, I think."
"Where is she?" Cedartail looked around worriedly.
"She's… well, she thought it was her time to… leave."
Cedartail's legs crumpled. "I was her first apprentice. She couldn't have left… the Great Spirit couldn't have taken her! It's too soon!"
Ferntail's eyes flashed with amber light reflecting off of the fire. It was too close. "Run!" she yowled and lifted me on her back, taking off surprisingly fast with my extra weight. But I suppose I'm quite light, aren't I?
I looked around, eyes wide, for any sign of my Clanmates. There was nothing to be seen except the approaching flames behind us and nothing to be heard but the roaring of fire.
I could tell Cedartail was struggling with the fact of his mentor's death by his clouded eyes and less powerful strides.
"Look!" shouted Dark, signaling to another hill. What we saw gave everyone the energy to keep going—cats!
When we were finally close enough to be heard, we called to them and Ferntail let me off her back. I crawled the rest of the way.
"Thank goodness we found—" Dark stopped.
These cats weren't our Clanmates, they were Chasers.
A broad-shouldered tom came our way. "Who are you? More HillClan cats, I suppose. The fire scared your whole miserable Clan away, didn't it? Well, if you're looking for hospitality, find someone else! Your kind is not welcome here, after what your ancestors have done!"
Dark didn't utter a word, scooped me up, and headed away.
So, what do you think's wrong with Dark? He always stands up for himself! And Star's Clan left her behind, not to mention an elder. What's up?
Also, good chapter, right? This idea came out of nowhere in my head so I put in it the chapter. It's a bit sudden, but I think it works. Follow, favorite, and review for more
