Chapter 24: Spotted Owl
The Clan of the Morning Sun patrol traveled along quickly in tense silence back up the Dawn Mountain. They had crossed the border a while before, leaving their escorts, a few Clan of the High Peaks fighters there, including Melting Ice who had wished them luck in their search.
"It would be a shame for another Clan to lose yet another cat, and one so young," he had said sadly.
"Says the cat who belongs to the Clan who still might have had something to do with it." Sharp Wind had muttered. Mossy Moon had shut him up with a harsh glance, but the conflicting emotions on her face at the time showed that she was most likely thinking the same thing.
Spotted Owl plodded along in the center of the patrol, Mossy Moon and Cloudy Water in front of her, and Yellow Sky and Sharp behind her. Yellow Sky trotted near her, keeping a sharp eye on the young she-cat as she had been the entire trip so far. But Spotted Owl wasn't paying attention to her, as she was completely wrapped up in her thoughts.
Grass Moon denied that she and the Clan of the Clan of the High Peaks were behind Tall Pine's disappearance, she mused. I don't think I believe her. I mean, who else could be responsible? It's not Sharp or his companions. I know it's not. Right?
Yes. Yes. Of course, she reassured herself. The Clan of the High Peaks must have taken him. But why didn't they just admit it? Well, whatever they've done with him, he is my Clanmate, and no one messes with the Clan of the Morning Sun. We have to do something. We can't let them get away with it!
"Spotted Owl," Yellow Sky's hard voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hold up a moment. We need to talk."
"Uh—okay," the black and white dappled she-cat agreed, confused.
By that time, the five cats had almost reached their camp. The pair waited as the others headed in through the passageway, and then they moved a short distance away and took a seat in a deep golden pool of sunlight. Spotted Owl raised her gaze to the sky, where the setting sun, hanging just above the Dusk Mountain, cast its rays on their mountain home, turning the wooded slope a dark orange like it was kissed by flames. Around them, the forest was quiet and serene as the other animals prepared for the oncoming night.
Yellow Sky sat in silence for a moment, then stood up and paced back a forth a few times, deep in thought. Shaking her head, she slowly took a seat once more and turned to her trainee. "Spotted Owl, what were you thinking?" She demanded. "Why in the stars did you think it was okay to speak out of turn and be rude to the Clan of the High Peaks chieftain in their camp?"
The young-she cat blinked, surprised and stung at Yellow Sky's sudden rebuke.
The dark smokey gray she-cat rose to pace agitatedly again. "It was stupid, reckless, and unacceptable what you did. You were extremely rude to a chieftain of a rival Clan when you were supposed to keep quiet. You were lucky that Grass Moon was in a forgiving mood. She is a strong chieftain, but not always a rational thinker or the quickest to forgive. And don't forget that she still thinks we are responsible for her son's death! You could've made her furious enough to retaliate, right then and there. You could've cost us much more than just embarrassment. You could've gotten us all hurt or in deeper trouble than we already are with the Clan of the High Peaks!"
"But we aren't," Spotted Owl pointed out. "Nothing happened."
Yellow Sky let out a long sigh. "You don't seem to understand my point. What I'm trying to say is that what you did was reckless and risky, and could have had disastrous consequences. You didn't think before you acted, and that could've gotten your entire Clan into trouble. You need to stop being impulsive and learn some self-control. Until you do, I am going to make sure you are not involved in any more important Clan matters. And furthermore, you owe Mossy Moon an apology, and I expect-"
"Why do I need to sit through this lecture if you don't want to be my instructor anyway?" Spotted Owl muttered, irritated by Yellow Sky's flood of reprimands.
The senior fighter paused, turning her head to glare at the young she-cat. "What did you just say?"
"I said, why are you lecturing me and deciding on punishments if you don't want to be my instructor because I'm spending too much time with Sharp?" Spotted Owl said indignantly, much louder this time.
"Wait, that is not fair. I'm trying to-"
"But it's true," Spotted Owl interrupted again. "You gave me an ultimatum. Has that changed?"
Yellow Sky's eyes hardened. "No, it hasn't. You may not see it the way I do, but I am just thinking of what's right for you. I know that you want to be the best fighter in your Clan, and I can train you, but not if you continue to fool around with Sharp-"
"I am not fooling around! He's helping me get better and teaching me things you aren't!"
"Let me finish!" Yellow Sky thundered, springing to her paws.
Spotted Owl froze, staring up at her instructor, her eyes huge with something Yellow Sky was reluctant to name as fear.
"S-sorry," she stuttered, clamping her jaw tightly shut as she stared at her feet.
Yellow Sky shifted her paws, uncertain now. She sat back down before continuing, "As I said in our last conversation, I do not believe Sharp is adequately equipped to teach you, as he is not trained in our techniques and he has not been with us for long. I will continue as your instructor and do my best to help you become an amazing fighter, but you have to commit because I am not willing to teach someone who is only partially invested. That is why I am leaving it up to you, but I need to know your answer soon. If you meet me at the passageway at sunhigh tomorrow, I will know that your answer is yes. If not, I will assume you've chosen Sharp."
"Okay," Spotted Owl agreed meekly after a short pause.
Yellow Sky rose and began to head for the passageway. She paused, looking back at her trainee. "And Spotted Owl—I know you weren't close with your brother, but I am sorry." With that, she turned and padded away.
Spotted Owl sat for a moment longer, listening as her instructor's footsteps faded away into the tunnel. It was only when she could no longer hear them, that she stood and walked slowly through the entrance and into the Clan of the Morning Sun's camp.
Inside the stone gorge, dusk had fallen as if a bird's heavy wing was hung over the camp. Long shadows fell left and right, cast from the rough stone walls and the small rock formations protruding from the ground in several different parts of the camp. The normal energetic activity had also quieted as her Clanmates prepared for bed, but a few cats still mingled outside the dens, a couple of small groups sharing prey as others ducked in and out of caves.
"Spotted Owl!"
The black and white dappled she-cat jumped in surprise at the sudden voice. She glanced around her and saw Blossom Dust hurrying toward her.
"Spotted Owl, how did the patrol go? What did the Clan of the High Peaks say? Do they have Tall Pine? The light brown and golden she-cat asked urgently, halting in front of her. Drifting Leaf stopped a tail-length behind her daughter, and the two of them gazed at her expectantly.
"I don't know," The young she-cat said, shrugging. "Mossy Moon asked Grass Moon if her Clan knows anything about Tall Pine's disappearance, but she denied everything and refused to help us. I tried to get her to talk, but Grass Moon still denied any involvement, and I got into big trouble with Yellow Sky because I wasn't supposed to be talking. I just had to sit through a long lecture from her about how I apparently was rude and could've gotten the entire Clan into trouble-"
"Did Mossy Moon ask if they saw or heard anything? Anything that could help us find Tall Pine?" Drifting Leaf interrupted.
Annoyed, Spotted Owl shook her head. "Nope. Nothing."
"We learned nothing? That entire patrol was a waste of time! Is Mossy Moon actually going to do anything?" Drifting Leaf asked in distress, her voice rising.
"I don't know, go ask Mossy Moon," Spotted Owl retorted. "Why do you keep hounding me with these questions? I don't know everything! Go ask someone else and leave me alone!"
"Spotted Owl, this isn't about you," Blossom Dust said softly.
"Really? Then who is this about?"
"Tall Pine!" The light brown and golden she-cat cried exasperatedly. "Our brother! Her son! Who just happens to be missing! Have a little compassion. Oh, wait, that's one quality you seem to be lacking, especially for your family."
"How dare you!" Spotted Owl snarled. "I am not-"
"Enough! Both of you!" Drifting Leaf shouted suddenly. "Blossom Dust, Spotted Owl, what you said was not kind. I expect better from both of you, but I'm shocked Spotted Owl. Do you really care that little? Tall Pine is apart of our family, your brother and my son. Blossom Dust is right; this isn't about you. This is about Tall Pine. He's missing, and he could be dead! My son could be dead and we know nothing! No clues, no hints, nothing! My son could be dead, and here you are squabbling about petty things! My. Son. Could. Be dead!" On her last words, Drifting Leaf's voice broke, and she doubled over, sobs wracked her chest. Blossom Dust pressed herself against her mother's side, supporting her as she shared in her grief.
"I…" Spotted Owl started, but stopped, unsure of what to say, as a terrible realization dawned on her. "I'm sorry." She whispered, shaking her head as she turned away from her mother and sister. She had no place with them and their grief.
Blossom Dust turned away as well, her small body supporting their mother's larger frame as she led the dusty brown and golden she-cat away across the camp, murmuring something softly in Drifting Leaf's ear even though she also was trembling with overwhelming emotion.
"Let all cats of the Clan of the Morning Sun gather below the Rockperch for a Clan meeting!" Mossy Moon called, appearing on the Rockperch.
Slowly, the Clan of the Morning Sun cats emerged from their dens, blinking their eyes sleepily, but they still obeyed their chieftain's summons. Pretty soon, every member of the Clan from Quiet Sun to Amber Mist, despite her mother's attempt to send her back into the nursery, was clustered around the Rockperch. Everyone, except Drifting Leaf and Blossom Dust, who, having already heard the disheartening news, had vanished into one of the unused caves to grieve in peace, and Spotted Owl, who turned tiredly, her tail drooping and shoulders sagging, and shuffled toward her own den.
The trainee's den was vacant, as Blossom Dust was with Drifting Leaf and Fern Dapple and Jagged Path were attending the Clan meeting. As for Tall Pine….only the stars knew where he was.
If he's still alive, Spotted Owl thought darkly, flopping down on the soft moss of her nest. Oh, stars! He could be dead! The Clan of the High Peaks could've killed him!
"Tall Pine could be dead…." She whispered aloud in the silent cave. "The Clan of the High Peaks could have killed him."
Spotted Owl curled up into a tight ball in an effort to staunch her fierce sobbing as wave after wave of intense sorrow and anger washed over her. Her annoyance with Yellow Sky and inner turmoil at the ultimatum meant nothing to her now. Neither did her petty squabbles with her siblings, her frustration with them, nor Tall Pine's constant nagging. Even her desire to become an exceptional fighter, the best in her Clan, was forgotten in the face of this devastating situation. He was her brother. And he was gone. They had no leads, no clues, nothing to help them find him. They were no closer than they'd been two days before. Tall Pine was as good as dead.
"I'm sorry…" Spotted Owl whispered through her tears. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Suddenly, she became aware of a warm form curled reassuringly around her, and she recognized Sharp's familiar scent. Shifting her body a little, she settled back into his comforting embrace.
"What are you sorry for?" Sharp whispered, his breath hot in her ear.
"Tall Pine," she murmured, not saying anything more, but she knew he understood.
"I'm sorry as well," he whispered back.
"Me too," Spotted Owl said drowsily, allowing her exhausted body to rest, safe in her best friend's embrace.
Yay! Chapter 24 is posted! This chapter wasn't actually planned, but I'm glad I took the time to write it! It gives us a understanding of how Spotted Owl is changing and growing. And, while, it isn't a good event that triggers this change in her, sometimes we get broken down, but we can come back stronger because of it. And sometimes we need a terrible thing to happen to really put things in perspective and be able to grow.
Replies To Reviews:
The Unnamed Guest - I'm also glad to be getting more reviews! I think my next update will answer many of your questions and suspicions. You'll have to wait until next week! Yes, Grass Moon's reaction isn't the nicest, but who can blame her? She just lost her son! I put a little bit of myself in all of my characters, so my reaction would probably be a lot like Grass Moon's. But I wouldn't blame anyone for gloating about karma.
Question of the Day: What is your opinion of Yellow Sky's ultimatum? Who do you think Spotted Owl will choose?
Thanks for reading!
- A Warrior At Heart