Chapter 1

The fir forest was silent as Darkcloud pulled the unconscious cat across the forest floor. She wasn't strong enough to pick her up on her back after saving her from the river, so she had to drag her to camp. Her legs were tired from fighting the current, but she kept dragging on.

As she dragged the cat she noticed how unnaturally quiet it was. Usually mice were scampering into and out of their holes, or owls were swooping in and catching them. Maybe even a wild dog howled up to the moon in the sky. But nothing made a sound as she moved along, slower than a worm inching across the ground. She couldn't smell any fresh prey scent, or anything else, other than stale trails. Am I so noisy that I scare away the prey? She thought. Or is there another reason for the deathly quiet?

As if to answer her question, a bush behind her rustled. She let go of the cat and unsheathed her claws, cursing herself for not checking whether something could have been following her or if there was a badger hole or any other thing that could be dangerous. She faced the bush and waited for whatever it was to reveal itself. The bush stilled, and she stayed there, frozen. Then, the wind changed direction and flew in her face.

Darkcloud recognized the scent and relaxed. She sat up and bowed her head in acknowledgement as a white tom walked out of the bushes. He was watching her with a look that seemed to say 'You're in trouble'. She walked up to her mate and affectionately licked his shoulder. "Whitefang," she mewed. "Whatever are you doing here?"

Whitefang stared at her, but his eyes softened. "Worrying about you. You disappeared from the nursery, and none of the queens knew where you had gone! I was worried sick!"

Darkcloud smiled and rubbed her black pelt against his shoulder, purring. "Oh, Whitefang, you silly mouse-brain! It's always like you to worry too much!" She chuckled. "I was only going for a small walk around the forest to stretch my legs. It has been too many moons since I've been stuck in the nursery."

A smile tugged slightly at Whitefang's lips, but he said in a stern voice, "The kits aren't to be left alone, Darkcloud. You know that."

Darkcloud blinked and nodded. "Not to worry, for Darkflower agreed to watch them long enough for me to have a small stretch. She also said she wouldn't tell a single soul," she smiled at this. "Including you, Whitefang."

Whitefang sighed and shook his head. "Darkcloud, you shouldn't have left the nursery, even for a small walk. What if you had encountered enemy clans invading on our territory, or a badger? I'm sure you wouldn't be able to handle a small patrol by yourself."

Darkcloud sighed. "It was a risk I needed to take, Whitefang, no matter the cost." She looked up at him. "I can't be cooped up in the nursery forever. Barkstar hasn't said when the kits would be apprenticed, and I couldn't wait any longer." She stretched her legs. "Even now, my legs are still tingling from laying down for all of those moons."

Whitefang chuckled. "Yes, I know. You probably would have snuck out sometime later on if it wasn't tonight. Although, I have to say…" he looked behind Darkcloud towards the unconscious heap. "What are you dragging back to camp? A soggy piece of fur?"

Darkcloud smiled. "No, it's actually alive, believe it or not. It's just unconscious." She told him the story of how she passed the river and found the kit struggling in the river. When she finished, he nodded slowly, thinking to himself. Finally he asked her, "What were you planning on doing with her at the camp?"

Darkcloud looked towards were the camp lay, deep in the heart of the forest. "I don't know…I was hoping we could help her. She's barely older than a kit!" She looked back towards the slowly rising and falling of the soggy pelt. "She needs a medicine cat to treat some wounds she has."

Whitefang nodded. "Then I will help you. It must be hard for a numb cat to drag a limp kit across the forest." Darkcloud smiled, glad he agreed with her. He picked up the kit gently by the neck, and they walked back to camp. The sun was already coming up from the ground, grazing the tops of the trees. Little bits of sunshine came in through the leaves, making the forest glow. When they arrived at the camp's entrance, the sun had finally come up off the ground and was starting its ascent to the top of the sky, where Starpelt hid somewhere. They walked on towards the hollowed out tree, where the leader of WoodClan, Barkstar, resided.

When they stopped at the entrance to call inside, they heard Barkstar say, "Come in." They looked at each other before they stepped inside.

Well, that's it for now! Like it? Then review! Don't like it? Review anyway! w Please, no flames, constructive criticism only! Or praise, that works, too! w Good-bye!