Guest- I did mention Raven Hope. "Raven Hope and Air Leap chose to stay too" is the line.
Cloud Tail watched Tallpoppy stalk the lizard. It was the one prey Cloud Tail avoided catching. Lucky lizards. When I'm around they still have a chance.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy, striping the forest floor like the marks of a tiger. Beside, Cloud Tail was Jagged Peak and his temporary mentor, Deerfoot.
He's such a grump! Cloud Tail thought, glaring slightly at the gray-brown tom out of the corner of his eye. He makes me miss Fire Heart's yelling a lot more than I'd thought.
Just then, Tallpoppy pounced and quickly killed the lizard right there on the rock. Cedarpaw, who made up the rest of the patrol, came bounding up. He was nice too. But maybe all ShadowClan cats had a sour attitude.
But…that's not true. Everyone always believes ShadowClan is bad. Evil. But…they're not. They're just like a normal Clan.
"Do you think you've got it down now?" The cheerful gray tom asked.
Cloud Tail grinned. "...yes?"
Cedarpaw shrugged. "It's okay. You can just continue hunting mice and stuff. Everyone has their specialty."
Cloud Tail's grin dropped when Deerfoot spoke. "He should know anyway! It's a simple piece of prey, you simpletons!"
"Deerfoot," Tallpoppy meowed, padding over. The brown tom looked at her. "Shut up."
"As entertaining as this argument is, can we actually hunt?" Jagged Peak asked calmly. Cloud Tail was grateful he had joined ShadowClan as well. When Pebble Heart wasn't around, he hung around him, Holly and their kits. Mud Paws and Mouse Ear were always too busy tromping around the marshes and having mud fights and he did not want his pelt getting muddy!
Deerfoot growled and stalked off. Cloud Tail knew he should follow, but he didn't fancy the idea, so he headed in another direction.
He froze when he came upon the possibly driest place in the marshes to see a squirrel! Immediately he dropped into a crouch, and remembering some past advice Falling Feather had given him, he stayed very still, pinpointed it and pounced.
He trotted proudly back to the camp, not bothering to find his patrol. ShadowClan patrols always ditched each other apparently, from the patrols he'd been apart of so far.
Cedarpaw's right. I should just catch what I catch best. And I'm good at catching squirrels and mice.
Many days had passed since the big move. Gray Wing was doing some one on one hunting with Thunder today. After the fire, prey had been hard to find, of course.
As they patrolled, Gray Wing noticed something off. Something suspicious. There was dog dung here and there, and prey bones from them.
What was even more weird was the catscent he could scent. It was hard to distinguish it through the rank scent of dogs, but it smelled like a tom and a she-cat. Their paths never seemed to cross, but they both had been near the dogs at one point.
As for the dogs, it looked as if they would follow a trail through their forest before something else caught their attention and they'd leave back to the ThunderClan forest.
What is going on?
"We're gonna have to report this to Skystar," Thunder murmured, thinking the same thing. "We'll need to keep a better lookout." The ginger tom paused and sniffed deeply before his amber eyes widened in fear. Gray Wing was about to ask him what was wrong when his nephew hissed, "Thistlestar!"
"What?!"
"He's one of the cats that's been here! With the dogs!"
Gray Wing's heart pounded and he immediately knew what the ThunderClan leader was planning.
He wants the dogs to come kill us!
"Do you know the other cat's scent?" He asked Thunder, hoping against hope that no one else was working with him. Or else it's true and they're all truly with him!
Thunder sniffed again and his eyes narrowed with familiarity yet still confusion. "I…recognize the scent, but I can't put a name to it."
Gray Wing's chest started to tighten as he panicked for their safety. And then two were suddenly put together and he snapped his head up. "The black she-cat!"
"What?"
"I saw her talking with a tom named Slash!
He worked with One Eye, Star Flower and Fury!"
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to cause panic because she looked scared! She's being forced to spy. She needs help."
"Huh," Thunder murmured. "And here I thought, she was just a random rogue who got me caught in ThunderClan…"
"Okay," Gray Wing tried to think. "You go back to camp and warn Skystar."
"What're you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna find her. It's time we officially meet."
Spottedleaf was the first to know something was wrong with Thistlestar. She was the first to care. The leader had stayed in his den most days, which was weird. He had stopped training the apprentices himself and had stopped being so…rough.
But why?
Whenever he did leave it was to go into the forest. Spottedleaf noticed he came back, looking tired and ruffled most days
Tigerclaw had more or less been pleased to pretty much take over as leader. It seemed he had his own secret tasks to do for he always left camp for long periods of time too.
Bluefur was suspicious.
She always was.
Spottedleaf even saw her follow the toms out of camp and it scared her because what if they caught her following them flashed through her mind.
Don't be ridiculous! They wouldn't do anything to her. Maybe yell at her, but that's it.
Spottedleaf took her time, approaching Thistlestar's den. The Clan was sharing tongues around the clearing as she passed. Nowadays there were fewer fights and arguments at the border. Less bullying the other Clans. Less brutal training sessions.
It seemed the Clan was giving up both following their leader or standing up to him.
Spottedleaf hovered outside the den for a long time.
She jumped, fur bristling when she heard a harsh hiss from inside, thinking Thistlestar had caught her.
But he didn't come out.
She strained her ears.
"What're you talking about? I've done it! The dogs are gone!"
Who in StarClan is he talking to?
"What do you mean some other cat led them away?! Does SkyClan know?"
Spottedleaf gasped.
"Shut up," Thistlestar's voice lowered. "Someone's outside." After a moment's pause he called out, "Come in."
Spottedleaf composed herself before padding in calmly. Thistlestar nervously smiled at her and she was afraid of it. And how his eye seemed to twitch.
He shook his head with a hiss and paused, eyes narrowed like he was listening to someone before he shook his head again.
"So what brings you here?" The leader asked.
Spottedleaf stared wide-eyed at him before something caught her eye. A faint outline of a form was standing right behind the leader.
She blinked but she knew she hadn't mistaken herself.
"Oh, nothing…just checking on you. You seem very tired lately."
Thistlestar stared at her longer than was necessary and soon she started to get creeped out. She was about to leave when Thistlestar spoke again.
"Nothing is wrong. Don't worry about it."
Spottedleaf whipped around at the harsh voice. It didn't sound like him at all. There was a dark shadow in his amber eyes and the faded outline had disappeared.
"O-okay." She dipped her head and backed out of the den, racing back to hers.
She took a deep breath to calm down. She hadn't been imagining it! She knew what she saw and it wasn't good!
Is it even possible for that to happen?
If only she had someone else she could ask. Someone who had been manipulated by it before…
She opened her eyes when she remembered one cat who had gone through the same thing after Goosefeather had dropped the hint in one of her dreams.
She raced out of the den.
Gray Wing paused. He could sense something.
It's her scent!
He looked around. She must be close. He was near the stream where they practiced swimming. The she-cat hadn't been around whenever he kept looking out on patrols, but now that he was trying to find her, she was around.
Gray Wing scanned the forest, he noticed a dark shape darting between the charred oaks.
She was making a run for it.
Gray Wing dove into a sprint, chasing after her. "Wait! Stop running! I just wanna talk!"
But as he raced into the forest, he quickly realized this wouldn't be so easy. He'd completely lost sight of the she-cat and strained to see movement in the darkening forest. The sun was setting.
Finally, he heard pawsteps and followed the sound.
He was quiet, watching where he put his paws. The she-cat was weaving between the trees, but she didn't seem in a hurry anymore. Didn't she hear him? Didn't she know he was following her?
Taking the opportunity, he ducked low into the shadows, treading lightly.
The black cat was edging along the border Gray Wing followed. He could scent her trail passing by the river. They had reached RiverClan's border.
Gray Wing picked his way carefully across the pebbly shore. He took in a deep, refreshing breath as the clean, cold air reached his lungs. He felt dizzy with relief. It felt so good out here in the open space. He was able to walk confidently without tripping or catching his paws. Even if he had always been a forest cat he was still clumsy in said forest. And he secretly envied WindClan.
The she-cat wasn't around and he realized he must have stalked past her. He ducked under a bush to wait.
Pawsteps sounded and a moment later, the she-cat appeared. She crossed the clearing in a crouch, smiling softly. She was in the hunter's crouch.
There was no sign of Slash. Had she simply come here to hunt?
At least talking to her would be easier now. He could figure some things out about Slash and this BloodClan gang.
He stood up and walked into the open.
The she-cat hadn't even noticed him yet. She was too focused on whatever her catch would be. Gray Wing peered around and realized a brown rabbit was nibbling softly on the grass.
"Hey."
She jumped in surprise and spun around, fear flashing in her eyes.
Gray Wing lowered himself to the ground to appear innocent. "I don't want to fight," he said. He backed a few lengths away, giving her space.
"Then what do you want?"
"Don't you recognize me?" Gray Wing asked.
The she-cat narrowed her eyes. "Should I?"
"Haven't you been spying on us forever? Do you know a ginger tom with white paws? He saw you and chased you during one leafbare. His name is Thunder."
The she-cat's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah! I hadnt meant for him to be in trouble with ThunderClan, but no one is supposed to see me."
"Figures. So…you spy on all the Clans? Shouldn't you know us by now? Know me?"
"I only keep track of Skystar in your group. And that orange cat…not Thunder the other one who looks like a flame. I have to keep track of the cats the other leader is interested in."
"Ouch, so I'm not important? And wait…I think you mean Fire Heart. What's this leader want with him?" The she-cat shrugged. Up close, Gray wing could see that she was quite thin. "Have you been eating alright?"
She took a step back. "I'm not used to hunting alone. My food is brought to me whenever I give a good report. If not, I eat scraps."
"Does Slash usually hunt for his group?" Gray Wing noticed her seem to flinch at Slash's name.
"Well…no," she said defensively. "So what?"
"And now you've deserted them it seems. You look hungry."
"Well, I would be eating now if you hadn't interrupted me." She looked over her shoulder. "That rabbit is gone now. It would have fed my sister and some of our friends. I have to sneak back there sometimes to check up on them. If I'm caught I'll be killed since I left them. But I'm worried for my sister…what if Slash takes his anger out on her because I ran away?"
"Hey, hey, it's okay. I can help you, but first I think you need more than a scrawny rabbit," he meowed.
The she-cat looked at him. "Why would you help me?"
Gray Wing smiled. "You act like we never found out about some of your good deeds you've been secretly doing for us. Saving my kits, leading Fire Heart to Cloud Tail, getting the dogs off our territory. Should I go on?
The she-cat hesitantly smiled. "You knew about all that?"
Gray Wing nodded. "Bumble was the first one to mention you and ever since we've been looking out for you, hoping to actually meet you."
The she-cat winced. "I couldn't get caught. But I've already betrayed Slash anyway."
"Then let's make a plan. We got rid of One Eye, so we can get rid of him too."
"Okay, just let me go check on my friends first."
"Be careful," Gray Wing said, touching his nose to her flank. He'd only met her a few moments ago and already he felt a bond with her.
"Will you be around?"
"Meet me at the Great Oak. It's…well a really big, great oak tree."
"Right."
"Wait!" Gray Wing called out before she could disappear. "We've never found out your name!"
She stared nervously at him for a moment before meowing, "I'm Fern." And left.
Gray Wing made a detour on his way back to camp. He was hungry and had been out all day hunting and helping Fern, the mystery spy he finally got to meet. Just wait till Thunder hears.
Then he spotted a rabbit not far away. He smiled. There's dinner.
The rabbit was heading for a small burrow in the grass a few lengths away. He was close, but he wasn't sure if he could reach it in time.
He charged forward down the slope. The rabbit sat up for a moment before scampering away, its tail bobbing. As it neared its burrow, Gray Wing pounced.
He bent to pick it up, evening his breathing out as he felt the usual sharp pain from running and the cold.
"Hey!" A small voice from behind made him jump. He turned around.
An orange tom-kit stomped across the grass toward Gray Wing. He was thin. He looked to be about Moth Flight's age.
"That rabbit belongs to my mother!" he snapped. "She was stalking it."
At that moment, a she-cat appeared from where she was hidden under a bush whose leaves had been burned off in the fire. He was surprised he hadn't noticed her in her scant cover. She had mottled ginger and black fur with green eyes. She was even thinner than her son, and a long scar stretched from over her muzzle, down to her neck.
A little she-kit stood up beside her with wide matching green eyes. She was ginger and white. As they approached, the she-kit stumbled weakly. They were starving.
The she-cat stopped in front of him. "I'm so sorry," she sighed. "You can keep that." She nodded at the rabbit at his paws, then grabbed her son's scruff and turned away, nudging her other kit in front of her.
The she-kit frowned. "Can't we just have a little of it? Maybe if we ask really nicely he'll let us have some."
"No," her mother mewed. "We can hunt for ourselves."
"It's alright," Gray Wing said. "I've been hunting all day and caught plenty for my Clan. You can have this."
The she-cat looked up at him, eyes narrowed.
"I have kits, too," Gray Wing said. "They're old enough to feed themselves now, but I know how hard it is to raise a family. Especially after my mate passed. They need this more than I do."
The she-cat softened a bit, but still looked wary. "This is a trick."
"It's really not."
"I've met your kind before," she muttered. "You don't care for outsiders–you just want me to take it so you have an excuse to start a fight."
"Yeah, that's ThunderClan. My Clan is called SkyClan. We take in every rogue who asks and they prove to be brilliant warriors….if you want you can come back with me. Skystar would love to have you. And any former outsiders there can tell you it's true."
The she-cat's eyes widened as the tom-kit wriggled out of her grip. "That sounds awesome! I've always wanted to be a clancat!"
"Yeah! And we can learn to defend ourselves! And hunt!" The she-kit agreed.
"So…what do you say?" Gray Wing asked softly.
The she-cat hesitated.
"Aw, come on, ma. Please!" The tom-kit begged.
"Please! Pretty please!" The she-kit begged.
"Oh…alright." She looked up at Gray Wing. "If you promise your Clan is fine with it."
"It's kind of a thing to stroll into SkyClan and ask to join nowadays," Gray Wing meowed, smiling. "Trust me."
The she-cat nodded, looking more relaxed. "Okay then."
"I'm Thistle!" The tom-kit suddenly announced, jumping up to Gray Wing's paws. "And this is my sister, Clover and our mom, Milkweed."
"I'm Gray Wing. It's nice to meet you all. Now let's get on, shall we?"
Gray Wing felt more calm after the day's events as he led the little family back to camp.
Though he knew he'd have to discuss the dogs and Thistlestar with his brother.
But everything will be okay. We always find our way through every problem. Because SkyClan never quits.
The spy was finally introduced! It was Fern (Leaf)! If you'd already guessed from the start then good for you.