11
Splashskip crouched at one side of the Thunderpath, a shiver of apprehension running up his spine.
Rusty and Illusion hadn't returned after being away for two days. Mistystar had only expected their journey to last a night at least, and Splashskip had been sent to retrieve them.
Shooting across the Thunderpath, Splashskip caught a stale scent of Illusion, Rusty, and a cat he didn't recognise. He tracked the scent, and almost crashed into a pale cream she-cat. She broke into a snarl, scratching her claws swiftly across Splashskip's nose.
He yowled, pouncing onto her and digging his claws into her side. She snarled, raking her hind claws down Splashskip's belly. Splashskip sank his teeth into the cat's shoulder and threw her aside.
"You're a clan cat, aren't you?" she snarled, backing away from Splashskip. "Why are you trying to kill the cat that saved her?"
Splashskip panted, but didn't attack the cat again. "Where is Illusion?" he growled, digging his claws into the turf.
Turning on her tail, the cat led Splashskip through the forest, and into a clearing where Illusion was lying.
She opened her eyes as Splashskip approached, and her face lit up. "Splashskip!" she gasped, shuffling forwards. Splashskip shoved past the cream she-cat, bounding up to Illusion and touching noses with her. Splashskip noticed the stale scent of blood, and red-brown staining the ground. Illusion was lying on her front, and nothing seemed to be wrong with her, apart from the fact she hadn't moved to greet Splashskip.
"Are you ok?" Splashskip asked, licking over Illusion's ear.
Illusion held her breath, her voice faltering. "Rusty," she breathed, almost inaudibly. "He attacked me." She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to forget the moment she realised Rusty had betrayed her. "He tried to kill me. He was never a clan cat. He was just in Riverclan so he could gain my trust, then kill me."
Rage fired through Splashskip, and his lip curled in a snarl.
"Illusion, I'm so glad you're still alive," Splashskip could only just muster the words through his anger, letting his nose touch her shoulder. His gaze turned to the cream she-cat. "Who is this?" he growled, flicking his tail at Milk.
"She's Milk," Illusion mewed, no emotion showing in her voice.
"Why is she here?" Splashskip snarled, his neck fur bristling.
"I'm the one who saved her," she snarled back. Splashskip's neck fur lay flat, and he glanced at Illusion. She sent him a small nod.
Splashskip sank his nose into Illusion's fur. "Can you walk? Can you swim?" he asked. She breathed in sharply, before rising wobbly to her paws. The ground was stained with blood underneath her, and dust clung to her belly.
She managed a few steps forward, wincing. "I can make it," she breathed. Letting Illusion lean against his shoulder, Splashskip led the two other cats back towards Riverclan territory. Milk had expressed an interest in joining Riverclan, but Splashskip was unsure if she could adjust to clan life.
"How am I going to swim across the stream?" Illusion asked uncertainly, dipping her paw in the water. She was painfully weak after their journey, and swimming wouldn't do her wounds any help.
"You swim?" Milk asked, horrified. She stared at the water, apprehension flickering across her face.
Illusion nodded, slowly wading into the water, fear streaming through her as her paws lifted off the stream bed. Splashskip swam beside her, keeping her from being carried downstream by the current. She reached the bank, and waited for Milk to cross.
The cream cat watched the water, fear plastered across her face. SPlashskip sighed, rolling his eyes. He bounded across the water, his paws barely breaking its surface.
He coaxed her into the water, and held her from drifting down the stream. She splashed the water fruitlessly with her paws, and Illusion could see Splashskip grind his teeth with frustration.
"I did it!" Milk meowed happily, shooting out of the stream, water streaming behind her.
"We need to get you to Mothwing," Splashskip murmured, approaching Illusion hurriedly. "I'll tell Mistystar what happened."
Illusion shuffled over to the medicine den. Mothwing looked up from the herbs she was sorting, and gasped. "Illusion! You're back!" she purred.
"Yes," she panted. "I'm hurt. I need your help." Crouching down and rolling onto her side, she showed Mothwing her wounded belly.
"Illusion! What happened?" Mothwing spun on her heels, collecting some herbs and chewing them into a pulp.
"Mistystar will explain soon," Illusion replied, lying down her head and closing her eyes. Her lungs hurt from the journey, and her stomach felt numb and wet.
After what felt like an entire moon, she heard Mistystar call from outside. "You may join them for Mistystar's announcement, but come straight back to me," Mothwing ordered. Illusion padded slowly outside, sitting stiffly beside Splashskip.
"I have heard that on their exploration, Rusty attacked Illusion, and left her to bleed to death. Luckily, Milk found her, and saved her life." Murmurs broke out through the cats, and some, including Buzzardsky, glanced at Illusion and Milk.
"Milk has now requested to join the clan," Mistystar continued. "I will grant her this wish." Mistystar performed the warrior ceremony, newly naming Milk as Dawncloud.
"Now, addressing the threat of the Tribe," Mistystar continued. "I have been informed they are much larger than us, about the size of all of the clans combined. They are dangerous. Once River, their leader, finds out that Illusion still lives, he will probably hunt the clans down. We need to be ready."
The cats broke out in uproar, fearful yowls erupting from the cats. Terror flashed in their eyes. Only Dawncloud was calm.
"Silence!" Mistystar yowled. The cats were immediately quiet. "There is a Gathering tonight. I will warn the other clans, but the Tribe has made no attacks yet. Be careful, but don't be paranoid. We will be safe. You may go."
Illusion shivered with fear. River wasn't coming for the clans. He was coming for her.