When Nightsong woke up, she was still a little jittery from last night. She had told Cloudstorm what happened, and he told her she fell asleep out in the forest so he took her back to their den.
Right now, she was out on a patrol, with many other of the warriors. She wasn't really paying any attention to what was happening; her mind kept wandering off to that battle a few nights ago.
Why was Spiritstorm there? Had she joined MouseClan? Or was it just another strange image in Nightsong's head? The answers were endless.
When she was done thinking it over, she realized that the patrol was heading home. She followed Rainpelt, who was the closest to the back. When she caught up with her, Rainpelt meowed, "You okay? You seemed pretty spaced out the whole patrol."
Nightsong nodded. "Just a bad dream last night, that's all." She wasn't completely lying. Rainpelt smiled with a sigh of relief and walked on. Nightsong wasn't sure why the shy she-cat was so interested in her all of a sudden. She never talked to Nightsong before.
When she got back, she sat down beside a tree and sunned herself. The newleaf sun was out and shining. It felt nice and warm on her thin fur.
Soon, Cloudstorm came up to her. "How was the patrol?" He mewed, sitting next to her.
"Fine." She answered. She didn't want to tell her she wasn't paying attention.
"I just got back from Rosestar's. She says that we can go to the Gathering tonight."
Nightsong realized with a jolt that tonight was in fact the Gathering. She hadn't gone in a while. Before, she had been to sick to attend.
Graypaw raced from across the clearing to meet her. "You two promised that me and Blizzardpaw could go hunting!"
Nightsong nodded, getting up. Her joints were strangely stiff this morning. She must've slept weird.
Cloudstorm turned his gaze to the small gray apprentice. "Yes, and where is Blizzardpaw?"
"He was on the patrol with Nightsong... I didn't see him yet this morning." Graypaw mewed/
Nightsong, Cloudstorm and Graypaw went around camp to look for Blizzardpaw. He was in Poppyflower's den, getting examined.
"Blizzardpaw, what happened?" Cloudstorm asked, pushing his way into the den.
"I stepped on a thorn while I was on patrol." He answered, wincing at some poultice Poppyflower was putting on his pad.
"Can you go hunting today?" Cloudstorm asked, though he was mainly asking Poppyflower.
"I wouldn't take him today. Right now, he just needs to rest his paw. Tomorrow should be fine, though." The gray medicine cat answered, still focused on the cracked pad.
Cloudstorm nodded and left the den, Nightstorm and Graypaw following. Cloudstorm stepped aside, beckoning with his tail for Nightsong to come over to him.
"Did you know he cracked his pad?" He asked. Nightsong saw for the first time, his eyes flare up with anger at her.
"N-No, I'm sorry... I didn't keep near him during the patrol. I guessed I must have missed it when he did that." She stammered. He never talked to her like this before.
"What's wrong? You seem out of sorts today..."
"I saw Spiritstorm during the battle with MouseClan. It's been bothering me so much... I'm not sure what's going on right now." She answered, glad he wasn't mad at her.
All day until the time for the Gathering, Nightsong had taught Graypaw how to hunt. He learned obediently. He was a perfect first apprentice for her. Well behaved, well mannered, intentive, quick to act and learn.
They headed back and grabbed some fresh-kill. Nightsong devoured a magpie and praised Graypaw on his good work today. He set down all of his prey. He had three pieces of fresh-kill. Not much, but they weren't out hunting for long.
It was time for the Gathering now. The cats were gathering at the entrance to the forest. Cloudstorm walked up beside Nightsong and they prepared to leave.
Suddenly, Nightsong got a bad feeling. She looked at the sky and saw dark, endless clouds in the sky. She sniffed the air. It was going to storm soon.
What happened that had made StarClan so angry?