Chapter 1

"I think we should come back later," Boulderfang said.

"Have fun with that. I'm seeing what's going on," I said.

I rushed over to where the patrol had just gotten back. Something was definitely wrong.

"What happened?" Wingstar asked.

"I couldn't stop them. There was nothing I could do. I failed her. I couldn't save her," Silentstorm mumbled.

"They took her!" Duskpelt wailed.

"Silkshade? Who took her?" Wingstar asked.

"SunClan," Dawnfur answered for them.

"We weren't anywhere near the border," Pineclaw said. "They outnumbered us two to one. We couldn't even get away to fetch help."

"It's fine. Don't any of you worry. We'll get Silkshade back," Wingstar said.

"For now, come with me," Dawnfur said. "Deathpaw, you and Boulderfang have to wait."

"Okay," I said. I was still processing all I had heard. SunClan had taken Silkshade! She was in serious danger there!

I went to find Boulderfang. I wanted to talk to him. I found him in the warriors den.

"Did you find out what's going on?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said. "It's not good."

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!" Wingstar yowled.

"You know what this is about?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"As I'm sure some of you have heard the war with SunClan has begun," Wingstar said. "They attacked our warriors deep in our own territory. They even took Silkshade. I will try to seek a peaceful solution tomorrow. If that doesn't work you all need to be prepared to fight. Dismissed."

"That must be why you seem so distraught about the news," Boulderfang said. "Don't worry though. Everything will turn out."

"But what if it turns out bad?" I asked. He didn't have an answer.

"This is all your fault! If you hadn't sent us on that pointless journey things might've not got this bad!" We heard Silentstorm yowl. "Or if you had been able to figure out what that sign meant earlier! Now Silkshade could be dead and we would have no idea!" She stormed through camp and out the entrance.

"Silentstorm!" Songheart called and went to follow her.

"No," Dawnfur said. "She needs some space."

"I don't think it's your fault," Songheart told the medicine cat.

"I don't blame myself," Dawnfur said. "I just wish I could've done more to prevent it."

I woke up in the middle of the night. I went outside. I saw Songheart staring at the entrance.

"Is everything all right?" I asked her.

"I'm worried. Silentstorm is out there somewhere by herself and she has her share of enemies," Songheart said. "Silkshade is stuck in SunClan and we have no idea what they might do to her. My sister might've blamed Dawnfur, but I can tell she really thinks she should've done more to protect her. I just hope this doesn't go on for long."

"I think we all do," I said. "Well, if we're not counting Flurrytail."

A cat walked out of the warrior's den. "Some of us are trying to sleep," Boulderfang said, yawning. "So if you could keep it down, that would be great."

"Hello to you too," I said. "Lovely night, isn't it?"

"Of course it's you," Boulderfang sighed.

"Whatever. I was having a serious conversation before you showed up," I told him. "How about the three of us just check on Silentstorm?"

"That would be nice," Songheart agreed.

"Why not. I'm already awake," Boulderfang said.

We headed out into the forest. Even if Dawnfur didn't approve of us going out yet she was still at Moon Stone so she couldn't stop us.

There was an awkward tension in the air. I had no idea what that was about. It probably didn't matter to me anyway.

It wasn't too long before we located Silentstorm. She was lying in a hollow tree trunk. She was tossing and turning and moaning, stuck in a bad dream. Songheart laid down beside her sister.

"It's going to be okay," she soothed. "Everything will be fine."

We left Songheart with Silentstorm. "She's a really good sister and a really caring cat, isn't she?" Boulderfang said with a strange tone. I looked over at him.

"You like her, don't you?" I asked.

"Of course I do. She's a friend of mine," Boulderfang said avoiding my eyes.

"You know what I mean," I said. "You love her. Want to be her mate. That sort of stuff."

"Don't you dare tell her," he threatened.

"Of course I wouldn't! Friends don't do that! They just tease you in private," I said.

"Deathpaw! Honestly, you drive me crazy sometimes," Boulderfang said.

I remembered Songheart's strange behavior when the subject of Boulderfang was mentioned. "How could I be so blind?" I asked.

"What?" Boulderfang asked.

"She likes you too!" I told him. "You like her and she likes you and you'll become mates and have kits and..."

"Deathpaw," Boulderfang interrupted. "We're not there yet."

"Sorry," I said. "You should totally go for it."

"Can we talk about this some other time?" Boulderfang asked. "I've had enough of you discovering my deepest secrets for one night. And there are more important things going on right now."

I had forgot about the whole problem with SunClan for a moment. It had been nice. I guess I'll have to save messing with Boulderfang's private life for another day.

Note: Book Three is under way and I am excited! Boulderfang officially has a crush on Songheart... Not particularly happy about that. Don't forget to review, tell me what you thought and constructive criticism is always welcome. Next week we'll see how Silkshade is in SunClan. All for now!

- Everly W.