ScarredandBroken: Your wish is my command~
Emeraldwing (x2): Yes, it is Bluepelt. Correctamundo you are xD
Bluepelt gawked up at the clouded sky. A prickle of apprehension stung her paws, and her legs hobbled, threatening to transform into brittle twigs.
"M- maybe it's just nature, and not StarClan," Greeneyes suggested, but Bluepelt could see that even he, for once, was unsure.
Their leaders and medicine cats shoved out behind them, forcing Bluepelt fully into the open after a rough nudge from Slashstar. She cowered under the lackluster sky, puzzled as to what their warrior ancestors were unhappy about.
She thought about her dream with the other three apparently "special" cats last night. Are we not supposed to tell our high ranks yet? Is StarClan angry with us?
The Clan deputies, Reedstripe, Otterpelt, Silverfire, and Stripepelt, all approached the leaders cautiously. "Should we usher every cat into shelter?" Otterpelt asked Dovestar.
"Yes, and do it quick," Dovestar replied briskly. She fully exited Lightstar's cave now, taking Jaywing with her. She turned to her sister and meowed, "Gather your apprentice and her brother, and bring them to your den." With another fretful look at the sky, the ThunderClan ruler added, "I don't know what this is about, but whatever it is it's not good. I want every cat sheltered, on the double."
Bluepelt found herself snagged by a stray claw and pulled into a particularly chilly cave. Luckily, Yellowglint, Blackfang, and Greeneyes were there too. They sat in the cramped space for the longest time until, suddenly, some cat screeched, "It's yellow!"
The RiverClan warrior craned her neck and examined the sky above. Sure enough, it sported a new sunny yellow cover; the thing that was strange was the fact that it was completely yellow, not a cloud in sight… just a circle a darker yellow color lurking behind the sheet- the sun.
Watch for the sign of the Colorful Sky. The omen that had been given to her nearly a moon ago, before the Clans had even left the lake, popped into Bluepelt's buzzing mind. She turned to her new friends, also spotting the shock and realization in their eyes. It- it must represent Yellowglint! Bluepelt glanced at the WindClan she-cat, and gasped when she saw that Yellowglint appeared to almost be glowing. How could that be?
Yellowglint shut her eyes and faced up towards the sky. A strange breeze ruffled through her fur, and just her fur, similar to how winds had touched only Ivystar's pelt earlier. Then, in a flash, Bluepelt's friend reopened her eyes. The sky gradually reverted to its classic blue color with a few wispy clouds sprinkled here and there. Bluepelt stared at it, dumbfounded, until her eyes began to twitch from the sun's harsh light.
Every cat padded out from the rocks slowly, whiskers and ears flicking rapidly as they all silently wondered what that could possibly have been. Yellowglint looked at her absolute happiest, not to mention her ultimate best, as well. Her pale ginger fur looked freshly groomed- though Bluepelt hadn't seen the she-cat's tongue even graze her fur lately- and Yellowglint's eyes shone like two single stars against the sun.
Few felines had seen Yellowglint's glowing moment- Bluepelt had strong suspicions it had been just herself. She shoved the WindClan warrior back into the cave they had stood in and growled, "What was that about?"
Yellowglint's pupils were a bit unfocused, and her tongue lolled like the world's dumbest dog's would. "Huh?" she mumbled.
"Snap out of your glorious trance," Bluepelt hissed. She didn't know why, but this was making her uneasy. This is unnatural in so many ways!
"No need to yell," Yellowglint said as soon she had been flicked on the nose with unsheathed claws, compliments of Bluepelt. "What's your deal?"
Bluepelt hunched her shoulders and huffed. This was going to take a while. "I said, what was that about?"
"Oh," Yellowglint guffawed. "That's what you're so worked up about? Oh, it was an amazing moment, Bluepelt… I just felt like I could do anything, when the sky was the color of my fur, and my eyes! The breeze ruffled my fur in just the right way, the sun shined perfectly… it was like Addertooth had just licked my face."
The RiverClan female rolled her eyes. She had knowledge of the whole Addertooth story, the "cute" Clanmate of Yellowglint's. "Well, that's nice. But why am I not like that most of the time, when the sky is blue? Or why isn't Blackfang rejoicing when there's a storm, with those dark clouds?"
Yellowglint snorted. "All ShadowClan cats are cheering when there's a storm."
"Just a stereotype," Blackfang muttered as he brushed by them. Bluepelt nearly jumped out of her skin.
OoOoO
Later, as the sun started tapping the tree lines to alert them of its nightly descent, Bluepelt laid in her nest at the edge of a small, chilly cave, staring at the edge of the flat earth. Right where the barren land blended into dusty grass, Bluepelt's former apprentice, Streamtail, was flirting with a young gray ThunderClan warrior.
"So… anybody you like in your Clan?" Streamtail purred. The she-cat turned away from the tom then only swiveled her head back, batting her eyelashes suggestively. It was a tongue-in-cheek exchange, but Bluepelt disliked the idea of Streamtail, barely out of kithood, already being interested in cats moons older than her.
Unfortunately the tom, Grayfur, clearly was attracted to her in return. He flattened his ears and averted her gaze, unable to answer her question. "I- I um, like your fur."
"Thanks," Streamtail mewed. Her blue gaze flashed slyly from bush to rock until she took notice of Bluepelt. The horror on Streamtail's face was inimitable, and Bluepelt gave her ex-apprentice a fierce glare. "Um, heh, excuse me for a moment," the tabby stammered to Grayfur. He, with a bewildered expression, watched as she bounded over to the older warrior. "Bluepelt-"
"What a pretty day, isn't it?" Bluepelt purred affectionately, trimming off all her previous gestures like fat off meat.
"You-" Streamtail started again.
"No, you-"
"I want you to listen to me," Streamtail snapped. Bluepelt started, blinked, then focused on the other female.
"O- okay, shoot."
Streamtail's long, wavy, tail- the thing that sparked the idea for her warrior name- lashed angrily. "What was that scowl for? Don't like the idea of me talking to the opposite gender?"
Bluepelt rolled her eyes. "Like-liking toms at eight moons is one thing, but making goo-goo eyes at one from another Clan is completely unnecessary."
"Stay out of my life! You're not my mother," Streamtail growled.
Her old mentor sighed. "True, but I was your mentor, and I was a second female influence to you. Did Silverfire and I teach you to love toms irresponsibly?"
Streamtail's nostrils flared. "The only reason I'm here is because my mother chose a mate after she became deputy. That's more than a little irresponsible. And you hang out with two other toms from ThunderClan and ShadowClan."
"That's what friends are, hon." Bluepelt now spoke with a wavering tone at the mention of Greeneyes and Blackfang. "There's a… a fine line between 'friend' and 'mate'."
"Sure, whatever you say," Streamtail drawled. She started prancing around Bluepelt, humming gleefully. "You know, that tabby has mighty green eyes. Sooo cute."
Bluepelt's hackles spiked. "Quit it, you immature kit, or you'll be pushing daisies!"
Clearly Streamtail was savoring this, as if Bluepelt's feelings toward others were a juicy trout. "Oh, and that black tom… that little gray nose of his is perfect!" she said reverently.
"Uh, hi…" The uncertain voice startled Bluepelt and Streamtail alike. The elder warrior twisted to see Grayfur over Streamtail's fluffy coat.
"Hello, G- Grayfur," Streamtail chuckled nervously, trying to take him in her tail and pull him away. However, the ThunderClan male appeared to have other plans.
He cracked a wan smile, and Bluepelt noticed his flawless white fangs. Must eat only once a moon… Despite this, Bluepelt could understand the enticement Streamtail expressed toward him. "You must be Streamtail's mother, Silverfire," Grayfur went on. Bluepelt was too allured by his deep voice to correct him. "She's told me a bit about you since we got to know each other."
"Hm, is that so?" Bluepelt mumbled.
Grayfur blinked. "Yes, and your mate is Stonedust? Streamtail doesn't have any siblings, or at least she told me. I had two sisters, but they were claimed by StarClan before the Clans left the lake."
"Tragic," Bluepelt murmured.
"Snap out of it!" Streamtail hissed. She barged between Grayfur and Bluepelt, eyes blazing. "Back away from him," she instructed her former mentor quietly.
Bluepelt shuffled farther away from him until her dull pelt was completely eaten up by the shadow of the cave.
Streamtail redirected her attention to Grayfur. "Oh, and she's not my mother. Does she look like deputy material? I think not," she chattered. "Anyway, this is Bluepelt. She used to be my mentor, ages ago."
"Yeah, since yesterday is eons ago and everything," Bluepelt snorted.
That was the last claw for Streamtail. Bluepelt winced as if one was being yanked out of her paw as her ex-apprentice turned on her with a mighty snarl. "Stay away from us!" she bellowed. "And don't talk to me again."
OoOoO
Bluepelt discovered Yellowglint the next morning sitting nearby where Grayfur and Streamtail had been last night. The WindClan warrior was staring out at a field in the distance that seemed akin to the old moor.
Yellowglint nudged her friend as she settled down beside her. "Why so blue?" she asked jokingly.
Although Bluepelt got the crack, and found it amusing, she wasn't exactly in the mood for fun and games. "I could ask you the same question," she replied.
The other she-cat shrugged. "I dunno. I actually feel fine; I've been more refreshed and energized since the yellow sky thing yesterday." Suddenly Yellowglint stiffened, and Bluepelt tilted her head, watching the light ginger female curiously.
"What was that about?" she asked once Yellowglint relaxed again.
"I felt the vibration of the sky," Yellowglint explained half-heartedly. Bluepelt put a puzzled look on her face. "There's a storm coming in."
Bluepelt blinked.
"A storm of green," Yellowglint elaborated.
"Wait, wait, wait… back up there. You felt vibrations from the sky?" Bluepelt demanded. "How is that… how does that even make sense?"
Yellowglint's eyes expanded into round, innocent circles. "I dunno," she repeated.
"Never mind that. What do you mean by a storm of green?"
"Are you really that asinine?" Yellowglint shot back. "The sky is gonna turn green! That means Greeneyes will be on cloud nine in a few moments."
Bluepelt moaned. "Again?"
"I do hope you realize you've asked enough questions in this one conversation to fill a lifetime," Yellowglint stated. She twitched one set of whiskers. "Now, let's get onto another subject before you make my brain explode."
"Okay…" Bluepelt uttered. "Hmm… well, I'm really sick of this place. I think I'm ready to move on."
Yellowglint shuddered and nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it. I can't remember the last time at least half of my mind has been imagining a snake popping out from between the rocks and embedding its fangs in my shoulder."
"Lovely." Bluepelt smirked and swiveled her neck a bit so she could see the rock pile that had served as camp for the homeless cats the past few days. Now, in the failing light, the boulders looked like hunched badgers against the skyline. The slim shapes of countless felines froze against the stones, ears flattened as they glanced at the sky in fear. Wait… why is the light fading? It's early morning! Bluepelt ogled the sky, heart twisting in her chest.
"It happens again," Yellowglint whispered. Bluepelt was faintly aware of her friend prodding her stinging chest. "Come on, let's go find the toms. I can't wait to see how Greeneyes reacts!"
Bluepelt stumbled over her paws, but somehow made it back to the rock pile. Hoards of cats were thrown at her like persistent waves at the sun-drown-place; eyes flashed wildly and fur bristled prominently. The blue-gray warrior was led through the buzzing throng by Yellowglint, who swam through the crazy felines as expertly as a RiverClan cat through actual water. Finally Bluepelt recognized Greeneyes' sleek tabby coat and Blackfang's extrusive white muzzle. She was shoved in between the toms just as the sky started swirling.
Then it was green. A glorious, bright and bold grass-green. A sharp chartreuse, a muted emerald. All it took was one jerk of Bluepelt's head to see Greeneyes close his eyes and transfer the regular glow of his gaze to his now shimmering pelt. He was so shiny he seemed like a StarClan spirit. The sky spotlighted him, creating a perfect circle of light atop Greeneyes, dappling his pelt with the flawless appearance that made him seem endlessly handsome. All the she-cats nearby swooned for the too few heartbeats this scene lasted. Then, as suddenly as it happened, the sky reverted back to its regular hazy robin's egg blue color, leaving Greeneyes in a pure state of highness.
"… what just happened?" Bluepelt mumbled.
Just then, Greeneyes reopened his eyes. They were orbs that gleamed like never before. The tabby only had to blink once before they were normal again.
That's it. There's going to be a meeting tonight.
OoOoO
"It felt… amazing. It really did," Greeneyes gushed later at the overhang. "I felt like I was floating on the clouds, like there was air under my paws. I thought I could do anything!"
"Oh my goodness, it was like that for me too!" Yellowglint exclaimed. She leaned into the circle, fur raised in excitement. "And now I can feel… like, vibrations from the sky."
Greeneyes nodded. He totally believes her! "After the sky thing, my sight is even better than before. I can zero in on a tabby fox-lengths away and I'll be able to say how many stripes they have, and the placement of each one."
Bluepelt and Blackfang shared an unsure glance. "Okay, whatever you say…" she meowed slowly. "But I want to know why nothing has happened to Blackfang and I yet."
"Give it time," Yellowglint chided as if she were Bluepelt's mother. "I gained my power yesterday, Greeneyes got his today. One of you will get yours tomorrow."
Although Bluepelt nodded uncertainly on the outside, her response to that on the inside was contradictory. Inside, her heart fluttered and her stomach lifted giddily. I never thought I would be so special, like the legendary Power of Three cats! I always liked Dovewing, from what my mother would say. She sounded so amazing… and now I can be like her, my idol!
"Bluepelt? Are you imagining peace for the Clans or what your power will be?" Yellowglint waved her thick tail in front of Bluepelt's face; instead it was a whip for her muzzle.
"Oops, sorry for not giving you your daily required amount of attention. How big a dosage do you need this time?" Bluepelt snapped in reply just as she snapped out of her daze.
OoOoO
"Get up, sis," Amberleaf growled into Bluepelt's ear the next morning. Her sister was standing over some cat curled up nearby Bluepelt, and the cat grumbled as it turned away from the siblings. "We have to look in on a training session."
"But we already had apprentices…" Bluepelt moaned.
"Yes, but you got yours snatched away prematurely and mine died before he could become a warrior," Amberleaf brusquely objected. "Now, let's get going. The more I walk, the faster the dew on my pelt wears off."
Bluepelt recalled Ospreypaw, her sister's apprentice who had drowned in the lake about two moons before the big Gathering that announced the Clans would leave. He had been a brave and steadfast little one, bearing a light brown pelt dappled with white and brilliant amber eyes. One day, Amberleaf returned from a training session, flustered and with a sodden body draped over her shoulders. Apparently poor Ospreypaw had tried to swim in the lake and kept sinking deeper. By the time Amberleaf retrieved him, he was just a body, with no more life within. Thus ends the tale of Ospreypaw, Bluepelt thought bluntly.
A small, peaty clearing, proclaimed the training clearing now as long as the Clans were settled at this temporary camp, stood out as much as a dot of ink in the middle of pure white paper. Surrounded by trees, the modest expanse was pretty protected from predators. Despite the fact that Bluepelt was partial to water over trees, she enjoyed the shade that massaged her pelt as she and Amberleaf entered the area.
"So why did we have to watch this?" Bluepelt asked, eyeing her surroundings. The fluffy WindClan apprentices, Dawnpaw and Eaglepaw, were play-fighting as their mentors, Yellowglint and Ivystar looked on, unimpressed. Yellowglint! Bluepelt squealed to herself excitedly; but she forced down the thought of spending time with her friend. This is a professional time. I must set a good example for the kits… or apprentices… or whichever they are. Nightpaw, a ThunderClan tom, was talking to his trainer, Otterpelt, quietly. Not as many apprentices as there used to be, Bluepelt realized with a pang. Streamtail is so stuck-up now… definitely not the same cat anymore.
"Dunno. I was just asked," Amberleaf drawled; by the downward edge to her tone Bluepelt could tell her sister was already losing patience being in the presence of younger, bouncy cats. Ospreypaw certainly had a disadvantage with her as his mentor.
"Alright, now that our guests are here," Otterpelt meowed, raising his voice and turning away from Nightpaw. "we'll begin." The ThunderClan deputy stepped forward and dipped his head to the she-cats. "Welcome to our training session. We're delighted to have you here with us today as you show you the wonderful skills Nightpaw is learning at the moment."
A petite black male stood rigid next to Otterpelt, nose wrinkled.
"Nightpaw," Otterpelt prompted patiently.
"RiverClan," Nightpaw snarled. "Gross fish-br-"
Otterpelt cut into his insults. "Apologize on the double, Nightpaw, and introduce yourself. I invited another Clan to see your training to assist them with training their own young when need be. Please act your age."
He's technically not at the correct age for his rank, Bluepelt thought. Oh well.
Nightpaw grumbled, shuffled forward, and bowed his head. "I am Nightpaw, apprentice of ThunderClan. Welcome to my training session with my mentor, Otterpelt, deputy of ThunderClan. I'm sorry for calling you both fish-brains, or fish-breaths, or fish-"
"… they get the point, Nightpaw," Otterpelt meowed, this time less patiently. "Now, let's begin. Feel free to sit over by the moss Nightpaw prepared for you earlier and observe."
Bluepelt was still stumped as to why RiverClan was allowed to see in on ThunderClan's training techniques. Nevertheless, she happily collapsed back onto the moss at the rim of the clearing, only praying that Nightpaw didn't sneak a thorn into the bedding. Amberleaf muttered something and took her place next to the blue-gray warrior, amber gaze fixed firmly on Otterpelt and Nightpaw.
Nightpaw, being only at five moons or however old he was, wasn't advanced, or proficient, or even basic in the fighting moves. In fact, Bluepelt, even in a sleepy haze, would determine him as below basic. His movements were fluid, and he swiped at the air like a blind elder, almost clipping Otterpelt's ear a few times. When he was scolded for nearly injuring his mentor, Nightpaw turned vehement, and he swung his forelegs any place possible, claws flailing.
"Alright… let's move on to, um, hunting moves now," announced Otterpelt. The brown tom rubbed his head, which had been victim to one of Nightpaw's hitting sprees, and slouched down on the ground a good distance away from his apprentice, but not before scratching up a clump of moldy leaves from leaf-falls past. "Stalk that leaf, Nightpaw. Show them your… ow… hunting crouch."
Nightpaw beamed, suddenly an active volcano rather than a dormant one, spewing out lava left out right. Thankfully, it wasn't actually lava- it was talent he was spewing. The dark-furred tom lowered his chest to the ground but kept his rump in the air, lowering his tail until it barely grazed the springy grass at his feet. His ears were erect and swiveling front and back, picking up any sounds prey could emit. His dark blue eyes were frozen in place on the leaf-clump. His nose twitched continuously like a rabbit's. It was flawless.
It took three steps and a jump for Nightpaw to land squarely on the leaf-clump. Bluepelt felt pride seep into her, warm and thick like honey, as if he were her own son. "Well done, Nightpaw!" she praised.
Amberleaf nodded in agreement.
Otterpelt smiled and bobbed his head up and down at his apprentice. "Extremely fine job," he exalted. "Now if you can just catch a real one and master a fighting move, you can have the day off tomorrow."
"Okay!" Nightpaw cried. He disappeared into the shrubs.
The ThunderClan second-in-command turned to acknowledge the sisters. "Thank you for looking in on Nightpaw's training. Hopefully it wasn't much of a waste of your time. As for me, I should follow him. See you around."
OoOoO
"Pfft, you serious, Yellowglint? That one's sooo easy- I've been practicing it for ages!" Dawnpaw exclaimed, staring incredulously at her mentor.
"Well, demonstrate it again for our guests," Yellowglint replied without even sneaking an amusing glance at Bluepelt. When Dawnpaw parted her jaws to whine again, she added, "And it's an order, not a suggestion. Get on it."
Dawnpaw sighed and crouched, spiraling around to face her brother and waggling her hindquarters in the air. Eaglepaw mirrored her exactly, except for his tail, which was lowered.
"Dawnpaw, tail!" Yellowglint hissed.
"Sorry!" Dawnpaw squeaked. Her tail flopped down like it had been bitten suddenly.
The cream she-cat stared steadily at Eaglepaw. The gray tom gazed back, face cleansed free of humor. These youngsters were serious.
"Ready, and…" Ivystar murmured. "Go!"
In one swift movement, the littermates leaped forward and collided, battering each other with sheathed paws. They fought like fierce LionClan and TigerClan warriors against each other in battle. Bluepelt felt like a lonely LeopardClan cat sitting out. Amberleaf, looking fatigued, would be a rogue.
Dawnpaw and Eaglepaw almost appeared to be snagged in the air for an impressive amount of time. When they were finally back on the ground again, they continued to smack each other like amateur kits.
"Alright, quit," Yellowglint ordered. No response from the youthful felines; instead they chose to keep going at it. Eaglepaw slipped under Dawnpaw's belly, somehow nipping all her legs in the minimal heartbeats he was under her. Bluepelt's jaw dropped. Even she probably wasn't that skilled, and this pair only had a few days of training so far! She felt herself developing a small fear for WindClan now as some hisses and spits arose in the air from the siblings.
"Stop!" Ivystar roared. The apprentices halted, then detached themselves from each other. A tiny triangle of skin was gone from Eaglepaw's ear, and blood welled at small cuts on Dawnpaw's ankles were his teeth had met with tender skin.
"Oops," Eaglepaw mumbled as he took in how ruffled his sister was.
"Sorry," repeated Dawnpaw as she took in how battered her brother was.
The WindClan leader planted his paws in the ground, growling as he stared from apprentice to apprentice. "'Oops' and 'sorry' is right," Ivystar meowed tightly. "At least you both aren't as rough in hunting. But we can't do that under these terrible trees." He shuddered. "I feel so trapped."
WindClan definitely differed from the other Clans with its strong dislike of trees. Then again, trees were main targets for lightning, and a fall from a tree could cut a cat's life short. Many factors considered trees dangerous. Bluepelt shook herself when she realized Ivystar was still going on. Why am I thinking about trees anyway?
"… I don't know what got into them, just sibling rivalries, I guess..." Ivystar droned without allowing Dawnpaw or Eaglepaw to speak for themselves. The gray tabby squinted through the treetops and groaned. "Oh great, and now the sky is gray. Can hardly see under those horrid things," he complained.
Bluepelt stiffened. Then she bolted, making a beeline right out of the forest. Cats called behind her; Amberleaf, Ivystar, and the apprentices stood confused, while Bluepelt could hear Yellowglint's paws pounding on the earth behind her.
Sure enough, Ivystar's comment about the sky proved true. Long, thick clouds marched across the sky, stretching across the formerly blue expanse to create a plain pale gray canvas. Behind these clouds was Bluepelt's brewing power, she was sure of it.
"Not again!"
"Why now?"
"I don't feel so good…"
Protestant meows clogged the air, but Bluepelt ignored everything, just focused on the sun creeping behind the clouds. Yellowglint materialized beside her at some point. Greeneyes' and Blackfang's familiar scents clouded around her nose.
Then it happened.
A beam of light blue light sliced through the clouds, gradually diminishing the foggy cover until a bold blue sky showed. It looked just like a normal greenleaf sky so much that at first Bluepelt felt her heart fall. Was it not happening after all? But then Bluepelt felt a serene calmness wash over her. She opened her jaws and let her tongue bathe in the glorious sweet smell of freshwater and wildflowers. The sun cast a spotlight on her, and though Bluepelt couldn't see herself, she knew she was beautiful.
Her blue-gray pelt was turned silver. A breeze pushed back her whiskers, plastering them against her cheeks. She lifted her tail, placing it just below the breeze's invisible path so only the tail-tip could be tapped by nature's blowing breath.
The joy actually lasted quite a few moments, but it went by far too fast for Bluepelt. She opened her eyes and felt the power behind her eyelids. Abruptly that power was transported to her mouth, and her tongue tingled. Cautiously Bluepelt opened her lips and discovered an array of scents she had never noticed before. Then she stopped concentrating, and found her scent glands working as normal rather than in overdrive. I have a new power with scent… but mainly taste, because it involves my tongue! She puffed out her chest. I am now the taste master!
The sky paled into a regular blue rather than the sharp cobalt it had been, and Bluepelt looked to her left. There was Yellowglint.
"I can taste… so much…" she whispered to her friend. Yellowglint blinked slowly in acknowledgement.
"I can feel… so much…" Yellowglint mocked wistfully.
Greeneyes padded up and grinned. "I can see… so much…"
Blackfang tilted his head. "So that means I will be able to either smell or hear… so much."
As one, the Four laughed, the deep laughs from the toms and pitched giggles from the she-cats all blending into one diverse, excellent laugh that could stop the world from rotating.
It was a wonderful laugh.
OoOoO
Up in StarClan, Bluestar, Yellowfang, and Firestar looked on happily. "This is great!" Bluestar enthused. "Now we just give Blackfang his power, and then they're all set to fight the coming evil," she finished with a slight frown.
Yellowfang shook her head.
Bluestar's thin frame snapped to face the scarred old medicine cat. "What is it now, Yellowfang?" she growled. "Don't tell me something is wrong."
Yellowfang sniffed and sat perfectly still, sharing a short-lived glance with Firestar. "Okay then, I won't tell you anything."
Right away Bluestar groaned. "You don't mean… ?"
"Stalkingpaw has already joined us," Yellowfang meowed unhurriedly. "So has Oakkit, Cloudpaw, Icepaw, Nettlethorn, Stormclaw, Lightningflight, Gingergaze, Spicefeather, Birdpaw-"
"I get it," said Bluestar. "You don't have to name every cat that's died in the past few moons. I want an answer. Is there a problem… that has to do with Blackfang?"
Instead of Yellowfang, Firestar answered this time. His flame-colored coat bristled as he spoke. "I am disheartened to admit that yes, there is. I'll try to keep this issue from barging in between Blackfang the power he is scheduled to receive tomorrow."
"Go talk with Blackstar," Bluestar commanded. "At once."
Ruh-roh, as Scooby-Doo would say. What's wrong with Blackfang? Find out in the next chapter of... *drumroll plz* COLORFUL SKY!