Chapter 22: Spotted Owl
Warmth embraced Spotted Owl, curling around her with the comfort of a mother's caress that she hadn't felt since she was a kit. She lay on her side with her legs stretched out. Her muscles were relaxed, and her sleep was tranquil and restful for once. She smiled, settling into the warmth with a sigh of contentment as she drifted like a falling feather down, down, down into the dark abyss of deep sleep welcoming her with open arms.
When she brushed the surface of consciousness again, she realized that the warmth had been snatched away, leaving her bare and exposed. She groaned as she yanked her legs in close to her body, curling into a ball to conserve heat. She was trying to fall back asleep when a chilly gust of wind whipped in the entrance to the den, blasting her fur. The young she-cat's eyes snapped open.
"Yikes," Spotted Owl yelped, fluffing up her pelt as she shivered. "That's cold. Don't you agree, Sharp-" She turned her head to see if he was awake but froze. Her jaw dropped open. The nest beside her was empty.
"Sharp?" Spotted Owl's mew echoed in the den as she pushed herself to her paws. She turned in a circle scanning the cave walls before bending down to claw apart the bedding as if he could be hiding under the moss. "Sharp?" As she sifted through the moss, the ginger tabby tom's scent rose from it, like birch bark and embers before a fire ignites, wafting into her nose. It's still fresh. He can't have gone far. Maybe he just stepped out to get some air. She took a deep breath, her nerves settling. Yes, that has to be it.
Spotted Owl hurried toward the entrance, pausing for a heartbeat to compose herself before she poked her head outside. "Sharp?" Her heart sank when she didn't see him standing outside the cave. She scanned the camp, dark and empty and stone-silent, but she still couldn't see him.
The dappled she-cat pulled her head back inside. Her breath came in rapid gasps, but she couldn't get enough air. No. No, no, no. Where is Sharp? Where did he go? Why? It can't be- It can't be because- I can't be wrong. I can't have misplaced my trust again. No, I refuse to believe it. She drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. There must be a reasonable explanation. I'll just find him and ask him to explain. Yes, that's what I'll do.
Turning, she padded back to the nest, where she leaned down and got a strong whiff of Sharp's scent. Heading back outside, she began to follow it, pushing down her anxiety as it led her through the passageway and out into the bramble thicket. The brambles were spiky shadows against a backdrop of gray shapes as she slipped along the path through them. But instead of continuing along the main trail, Sharp's scent headed along a fork in the path instead, toward the dirtplace.
He must have gone to make dirt. Spotted Owl's shoulders sagged with relief. See, that's a perfectly reasonable explanation. She took a seat, wrapping her tail around her paws. I'll wait for him here.
Spotted Owl tried to wait patiently, but as the heartbeat crept by, she grew more and more restless. Her tail tip began to fidget before she stood and paced. It's been way too long. There must be something wrong. Maybe he got lost. Maybe he's hurt or has a big thorn in his pad. I should go investigate-I mean help him.
The young she-cat snuck along the path, moving as silently and stealthily as a panther. She frowned as another scent caught her nose. Tall Pine? It's stale, probably from earlier this sunrise, she thought, dismissing the concern as she turned her attention back to her urgent task.
Keeping low to the ground, Spotted Owl slunk out of the dirtplace tunnel. She moved as stealthily as an enemy fighter getting ready for an ambush as she crept into the forest, one ear pointed at where Rabbit Nose and Blossom Dust were standing guard. But they didn't notice the dark shape stealing through the trees. It's better if they don't know that I'm gone, so I don't have to explain why and we can avoid any misunderstandings. She told herself, biting back a twinge of guilt.
Once she was beyond their sight range, Spotted Owl slowed. Among the leaves and gnarled dotting the forest floor, she located Sharp's scent again. It was growing staler, fainter by the heartbeat. Mouse-dung. He must be far ahead of me now. I'd better hurry before I lose his trail. She broke into a lope, moving as fast as she could while also following Sharp.
The scent trail led her in a wide half-circle around the Clan of the Morning Sun's camp, then began to climb higher on the mountain slope. Spotted Owl's paws scraped against rough stone as she stumbled through the darkness, paying more attention to the scent trail that the ground in front of her. The moon rose higher in the sky, floating in a sea of drifting clouds, so every once in a while, it poked its head out to illuminate her path. The evergreens grew sparser as she climbed higher, the night breeze making her shiver without the protection of the forest. I wonder why Sharp's climbing the mountain? She frowned. What could he possibly be doing this late at night? She paused, glancing over her shoulder at the Valley, all silver light and shadow, bathed in ghostly moonlight. We're getting quite far from camp.
As she began to walk again, Spotted Owl realized that she couldn't smell Sharp's scent. Ah, mouse-dung. Where is it? Putting her nose to the ground, she began to search for it. It's gotta be around here somewhere. I wish Tall Pine was here. He's a much better tracker than I am. Panic swelled inside her as the heartbeats crept past with not even a whiff of it. Where is it?
The black and white she-cat worked her way up the slope until she reached a thicket of evergreens not far from where they had been hunting earlier. There it is. She let out a breath as she caught the smell of embers and birch bark clinging to one of the branches. Starting to follow it again, she frowned as it began to lead her back down the slope. Where in the stars is he going?
Sharp's trail led Spotted Owl in a winding route around trees and across streams down the mountainside, seeming to wander aimlessly with no destination in mind. Eventually, she figured out that they were headed in the general direction of the lake. Though she tried to block it out, as the night wore on, she found it harder and harder to convince herself that this was nothing.
What could he be doing? Spotted Owl wondered. She felt as if worms were crawling around in her stomach, making her queasy. Her chest heaved, and her legs were sore, the impromptu run up and down the mountainside after a morning of training and an evening of hunting testing her endurance. Sharp's moving around, so he's not hurt. I passed the trail that we've used multiple times to head back to camp, so he isn't lost. But he doesn't seem to have a clear destination. So what is he doing wandering around my Clan's territory late? She bit her lip, refusing to believe the most logical explanation. Not yet, at least. She needed proof beyond any doubt.
Spotted Owl was lost in her thoughts, so it was a while before she realized that Sharp's scent was getting stronger. She slowed her pace as the ground leveled off, and the evergreens gave way to a thick woodland of oaks and maples. He can't be too far now.
The dried husks of ferns scratched Spotted Owl's sides as she wove through several large clumps. Her nose was glued to the ground as if stuck there with pine sap, following Sharp's scent trail. It was getting fresher by the heartbeat, so she lifted her gaze, excitement and nervousness wrestling inside her with the thudding of her heart. I've almost found him. I will finally find out what he's doing-and set my worries at ease.
She burst out from between two fern fronds, catching sight of Sharp, his pelt ignited into flame by the shaft of moonlight he stood on the opposite side of a small clearing. As he swung around, she froze and dropped to the ground, camouflaged behind a clump of ferns. The Band cat's blazing green gaze raked across the forest around her hiding spot. His pelt bristled, and tail lashed, once, twice, but thankfully, he didn't seem to see her as he turned and stalked away.
My stars. Once she was certain that he was gone, Spotted Owl straightened up, releasing a shaky breath. She pressed her paws into the frozen ground in an attempt to stop their quaking. She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing back the memories. With a deep breath, then another, they receded. Thank the ancestors Sharp didn't see me. Wha-what would he have done if he had? She swallowed. Before, I wanted to talk to him, to make sure he was all right. But now-now I'm not so sure. Sharp snuck out of camp and is wandering around our territory without direction. Just now, he looked pretty hostile, like he was expecting an enemy. Her ears pulled back. I'm afraid that the most obvious explanation might be the answer. Tall Pine was right.
Spotted Owl dropped her head between her forelegs as she began to hyperventilate. Tears blurred her vision as she struggled to keep herself calm. Tall Pine was right all along. I-I never should have trusted Sharp. He deceived us-me-all over again. He tricked me. He got me to trust him. I-I trusted him again! And now...he's betrayed us just like last time, wandering around doing...the Clan of the Bright Stars only knows what.
Wait. The fighter trainee's head jerked up. That's right. I don't know for sure what Sharp is doing. I was careful around him. I didn't start trusting him easily, not after everything he's done to me. I can't imagine that he is that good at deception. I have to believe that at least some of how he's been is real. He saved Amber Mist. He helped me down from that cliff. He- A faint blush touched her cheeks. I should give him a chance. I will be careful, and I watch him closely, but until something confirms it, I will not believe that he's been lying to me this entire time. I cannot. There is too much at stake.
Squaring her shoulders, Spotted Owl set off again. She tracked Sharp through the woods, following behind close enough that she could see his tail or his ears between the tree trunks or over a layer of undergrowth, but far enough away that there was only a slim chance he would detect her, especially since she made sure to stay downwind. When the Lake of Shimmering Waters' serene surface was visible in the distance, Sharp turned instead of continuing on, heading toward the Clan of the Morning Sun's border with the Clan of the Flowing Waters.
Mouse-dung, Spotted Owl cursed. He appears to be crossing the border-our border with the Clan we're currently on not-so-friendly terms with. This can't mean anything good. She picked up her pace, only to halt abruptly as her paw landed in a puddle of slimy mud. Eww, gross. She held her leg out in front of her, trying in vain to shake off the mud. Looking around, she groaned when she saw that the ground was only getting wetter. The smells of mud and water hung heavily in the air. To her right, the trees began to shift to the spiky clumps of reeds and cattails, obscuring rippling inlets of swampy water. I forgot about the marsh on our lower border. Fox-dung, I hate this.
Although Spotted Owl's stomach churned at the thought of trekking through the marsh, especially getting her paws wet, she summoned her courage and took the plunge. Eww… Gross… She thought as she squelched across the outskirts of the marsh. She hadn't gone more than a dozen tail-lengths when she arrived at the pungent scent markers designating the border with Sharp's scent bisecting them. The young she-cat paused, her toes almost touching the boundary, staring into the shadows on the opposite side. Here goes nothing. With a deep breath, she picked up her paw and stepped across.
. . .
The moon was low in the sky by the time Spotted Owl crossed the border again. Her jaws stretched wide in a yawn as she paused on her side of her border, relaxing now that she was safely back on her own territory. She struggled to keep her eyes open, exhaustion slamming into her like a giant boulder. I want to go back to my nest and sleep. Of course, Sharp decides to hike halfway across the Valley and then only return to camp just before dawn.
Sharp's scent trail stretched out in front of her, headed directly for the Clan of the Morning Sun's camp. He had led her all across the Clan of the Flowing Waters's territory, through the forest and across several streams, along the nearside of the Blue River, and even partway up the Water Mountain. Yet, even after covering so much territory and following him for the better part of the night, Spotted Owl still had no idea what he was doing, not even a hint. My best guess is that he lost something and is searching for it. She shook her head, mystified.
I'll just have to keep an eye on him and see if I figure it out. But I wish that I could just ask Sharp straight out. Her heart clenched. But I'd better not, just in case. I also wish that I could talk to Tall Pine about this and get his help figuring it out. But I can't do that either.
With a weary sigh, the dappled she-cat forced her paws to start moving, only to freeze as a scent wafted into her nose. Is that Tall Pine? Why in the stars do I smell his fresh scent all the way out here in the middle of the night?
A sense of dread built inside Spotted Owl like a thunderstorm as she followed the scent, everything else fading away. It led her along the border, deeper into the marsh. She splashed through a pool of water, not feeling its chill at all, and climbed the bank on the other side, her claws digging into the mud. She halted behind a clump of reeds as Tall Pine's scent drifted to her on the breeze. Poking her muzzle between the firm stalks, Spotted Owl stiffened as she saw what lay on the other side, shock rolling through her like waves of fog.
A clearing lay before her, ringed with clumps of reeds on three sides. On the fourth, dark waves lapped against the muddy shore. In the center of the clearing stood Tall Pine, half-hidden by the shadows cast by the reeds. His head was bent as he spoke with a shorter she-cat who had a glossy gray and white pelt and owl-like blue eyes.
Frosted Leaf. A growl brewed in the dappled she-cat's throat. Her mind reeled. What in the stars is Tall Pine doing here late at night with a pretty Clan of the Flowing Waters cat? There's no question that he must be meeting with her in secret. He must've snuck out of our camp using the dirtplace. But why could he be with her? Could he be...could he actually be breaking the Clans' Code? Fury boiled inside her. How dare he criticize me for who I'm spending time with, when just look at who he's with, breaking the Clan's Code at that.
Spotted Owl slid her claws in and out as she waited, watching them as if she was a circling eagle. Tall Pine was saying something to Frosted Leaf, though his voice was too soft for the young she-cat to hear. Frosted Leaf nodded, her gaze fixed on her paws, and mumbled something back. After another few heartbeats, she met his gaze. They touched noses before Frosted Leaf rose and padded away. Tall Pine stared after her.
Good. She's gone. Spotted Owl shouldered her way through the reeds, stepping out into a shaft of moonlight that illuminated her white fur. "Tall Pine."
The black and white tom froze like a startled deer, every inch of him ridgid. Slowly, he turned his head to meet her gaze, his eyes becoming as vast as the night sky. "Spotted Owl, I-"
Spotted Owl stepped forward, her body trembling with barely restrained fury. Her fur stood on end, bristling like a pinecone. "You what? I saw you with Frosted Leaf. What excuse could you possibly have for that?"
He shook his head, eyes wide and pleading. "This isn't what you think."
"Oh, isn't it?" She snarled, her lip curled. "I think that this is exactly what I think. You have deceived your Clanmates, snuck out of camp in the middle of the night, and met up with a cat from another Clan. I'd wager a moon of dawn patrols that this isn't the first this has happened." His averted gaze only exasperated her anger further. "You have been lying to your entire Clan-even your family. You have been breaking the Clan's Code. Y-you are a codebreaker! A traitor! How dare you scold me and act all high and mighty when you are a traitor?" She took another step forward, shoving her face into his. "You have no right to ever criticize my choices ever again. From now on, you will stay out of my business. You will stay away from me. You are not my brother. I don't ever want to talk to you again!"
With a growl as deep, Spotted Owl whirled around and began to stalk away, her tail swishing behind her like a snake ready to strike.
Tall Pine dashed after her, only to slow after a few paces. His brow was furrowed, his eyes shiny with tears. "Spotted Owl-"
The fighter trainee ignored him. She didn't look back as she vanished into the shadows.
Oh, snap! What a chapter! That was a lot of action and a lot of drama and I would say that I'm sorry...but I'm really not. Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed reading. Things are getting interesting! Please leave a review if you can!
Fun Fact: Blossom Dust loves when it rains because she likes to curl up in her nest and feel warm and safe and she finds the sound very peaceful.
- A Warrior At Heart