One of Patchflower's kits are named by Fallingfrost. ~ Kyubi

Chapter 7

"Missing by a Whisker."

2/7/18 - 2/8/18 - 2/9/18 - 2/10/18

~ Streamlily ~

A new moon, October, comes in and ShadowClan is still reeling from an oddity. Two days ago, Weedclaw failed to return from his guarding post, and his scent was leaving their territory. Cats have already assumed that he left the Clan.

Patchflower was hysterical at the discovery.

"He wouldn't do that to ShadowClan! He wouldn't abandon our kits like that!"

Five days afterward, Patchflower gave birth to three kits, Applekit, Blazekit and Jackdawkit.

Now, late morning, Streamlily is watching over Volekit, Stoatkit and Snakekit. The three kits were taken in by Heatherstar after Wishfeather returned to her warrior duties when her two kits were apprenticed.

Volekit grabs a moss ball and throws it to Streamlily - who catches it with her teeth.

"No fair! You can't grab with your mouth!" Volekit squeals.

Streamlily drops the moss ball and kicks it to the far right. Stoatkit races off as Volekit and Snakekit trip over each other trying to be first.

"I hope you're not trying to become a mentor to those kits."

Streamlily keeps her back turned on Adderclaw as he stares at her.

"I fail to see how you can mentor a cat who can't read your mouth or mind. But I suppose the great Streamlily can figure it out."

The white she-cat looks back to see Adderpaw sauntering away.

Weirdo.

Adderclaw is still a pain, but he's been using more of his time to poke at her and drop comments instead of scathing name calling. But that isn't the weirdest part! Just yesterday, Streamlily had to work with him on a hunting patrol and ended up alone with him.

He said nothing. He didn't try to ruin her catches. Adderclaw was somewhat capable of being a decent cat.

Emphasis on somewhat. She still wouldn't trust him with a perfectly good mouse.

~ Pheasantpaw ~

It had been two days since Hollyclaw disappeared. The WindClan deputy's absence caused a rippling sense of fear and despair that Brackenstar managed to control, partially. Brackenstar almost broke the warrior code by not naming a new deputy before moonrise, being caught up in a sense of anxiety that something horrible happened to the loyal she-cat.

Brackenstar still made his decision by naming Hawkflight as a temporary deputy. Even with the security of a deputy, Brackenstar refuses to give up on finding Hollyclaw, but he keeps this secret from WindClan with the exception of his medicine cat, Softdawn.

Pheasantpaw and Softdawn were eating when Brackenstar calls Softdawn over. The pale grey and white she-cat looks at Pheasantpaw.

"I'll be back. You can check on Cheetahspots and the kits."

Pheasantpaw nods and pads to the nursery. Almost immediately, Pheasantpaw is hit by a clump of rabbit fur.

"Oops!" Lynxkit exclaims, looking at Cheetahspots. The light brown she-cat is angered, but her tone is light and stern when addressing her son.

"Lynxkit, I keep telling you to watch where you throw things."

"It wasn't my fault - Lionkit threw the fluff too high!"

Lionkit glares at her brother. "I can't help it if you don't react like you should!"

"Kits! Stop squabbling and apologize to Pheasantpaw."

The tortoiseshell and white she-cat wants to protest, but Cheetahspots gives her a look that advises against it.

Both Lynxkit and Lionkit turn to the medicine cat apprentice and dip their heads.

"We're sorry."

Pheasantpaw's ears burn in embarrassment and shakes it off.

"Cheetahspots, Softdawn wanted to me check on these two."

"Did you hear that?" Cheetahspots said, standing up from her nest. "Stand still and don't give Pheasantpaw any trouble."

~ Grasspaw ~

Beechclaw and Grasspaw watch the search patrol return with somber expressions that evening. Olivestar is the first to approach the patrol.

"Did you find her?"

The lead, Bearskip, shakes his head. "Not a fur tuft, Olivestar. Her scent is stale, but it was washed away by the stream."

Olivestar is deflated by the report, Silversnow dismisses Bearskip and the patrol to speak to her leader.

"This is unusual for Frecklespots to just… leave." Olivestar said. "She has a son here, a mother, brother and two nephews. Why would she leave?"

Grasspaw looks at Beechclaw. "Did Frecklespots leave RiverClan?"

"I don't believe she would, but you know how cats will think." Beechclaw replies.

Grasspaw looks back to Olivestar and Silversnow, who has Swanpaw with them.

~ Swanpaw ~

The white tom blinks. "I don't know why she'd leave."

"Well, we were wondering if you know who was with her before her disappearance." Silversnow suggests.

Swanpaw thinks back to Frecklespots' argument with Cinderfall.

"I, uh, I overheard her and Cinderfall fighting."

Realization flashes in Olivestar's baby blue eyes.

"Do you know what they were fighting about?"

"... Me."

Silversnow blinks sympathetically, while Olivestar puts the pieces together.

"Did Cinderfall put his claws on Frecklespots?"

Swanpaw's eyes dart between the two she-cats.

"He… All they did was argue. He never hit her!"

"Did you see it, though?"

"I… no - but he wouldn't do that!"

Olivestar twitches her whiskers, and Swanpaw has a feeling she doesn't believe him.

"It's alright, Swanpaw. We'll deal with Cinderfall, and you should have a look at that wound on your shoulder."

Swanpaw looks at his left shoulder and sees a slash, bleeding small droplets.

Where did that come from?!

Before he knows it, Specklefern is in Olivestar's place with cobwebs and goldenrod.

"This is a deep one." Specklefern whispers, applying the goldenrod poultice on the wound. "You need to take it easy when you train."

Swanpaw didn't receive that slash! He would have been the first to know if he had been bleeding…

Wait… This wasn't the first time. Swanpaw's fur stands up and looks around to find Olivestar talking to Cinderfall, who is obviously offended.

He didn't do it. He wouldn't do that!

~ Cloudypatch ~

As if the disappearance of a warrior wasn't enough, but Aspenstone was nowhere to be seen in camp this evening until near sunset. Timberclaw and Poppyflower found Aspenstone just as he was about to cross the WindClan border where Hollyflame and the patrol were attacked.

Finchblaze is irked by the outright defiance of the normally docile tom.

"Aspenstone, you know full well not to leave camp on your own."

The gold brown tom glares at Finchblaze. "I'm a warrior! I can leave if I want to, I'm not an apprentice anymore!"

"You may be a warrior, but you're a Clan cat!" Finchblaze growls. "We would be rendered weak if you went missing, too!"

Aspenstone lashes his tail. "I don't care! You don't care enough to find her, so I will!"

"That's not true." Poppyflower said in an effort to calm her brother. "We do care about Gingershine, but we don't know if those rogues are still lurking around."

"So you're willing to let her die - like Beekit did?!" Aspenstone demands.

Timberclaw gasps at the mention of his dead son, Finchblaze narrows his eyes and thrusts his muzzle towards Aspenstone.

"You are out of line, Aspenstone. I suggest you back down right now, or I'll convince Littlestar to make you do apprentice chores for a moon when he comes back."

Aspenstone shakes his head, turning his back on Finchblaze and infuriating the ThunderClan deputy. "I'll make it two moons just for that! I'll put in four moons if you walk out that thorn barrier again!"

Cloudypatch doesn't see how punishing Aspenstone is supposed to make him stop. The gold-brown tom has been agitated for two days without knowing what happened to Gingershine, his desire and desperation is making him take matters into his own paws.

"Aspenstone!" Snowpelt blocks her former apprentice before he can enter the thorn barrier. Aspenstone's eyes blink rapidly.

"Don't blind me, Snowpelt!"

"Aspenstone, I understand how horrible this is. I would be the same way in your paws if anything happened to Rosefoot or Windstorm, but you're not helping yourself by getting in trouble. You need to take a deep breath before you do anything rash. Gingershine is a strong, smart she-cat. Whoever has her won't be able to keep her hostage forever."

Aspenstone's gold eyes dart over Snowpelt's shoulder and back to her, looking into her eyes.

"But what if she's ends up like Beekit?"

"You can't think like that." Snowpelt whispers, coaxing Aspenstone away from the thorn barrier. "You need to have faith in StarClan to watch over her…"

"StarClan took Goldflame and Whitefur away from me and my sisters!" Aspenstone growls. "They also took Beekit and Lightstripe - why should I trust them?!"

"It was their time." Snowpelt quips. "Trust them to watch over Gingershine, and make it up to you for what could have been."

Aspenstone is silent as he lowers his head. Timberclaw dips his head apologetically to Finchblaze before padding to Aspenstone, thanking Snowpelt in the process.

"You need to think before you act." Timberclaw whispers to Aspenstone as he leads him to the warriors den.

Finchblaze takes a deep breath before turning to the crowd.

"What are you standing around for? The sun is still out, start hunting and scent marking!"

Cloudypatch flexes his claws. Gingershine would never leave so abruptly, especially when she has friends and family here. No. Something else is going on, and he needs to find out what.

"Duskshade, can I speak with you?"

ThunderClan's medicine cat looks up from his acorns as Cloudypatch stands in the den halfway.

"What is it? Are you feeling sick?"

"No, it's about your last visit to Moonpool."

Duskshade stiffens his shoulders and avoids Cloudypatch's gaze.

"I'm not allowed to discuss my visits with anyone except Littlestar. It's nothing against you, it's part of our code."

Fox-dung! I was hoping that he might have met Sedgepaw!

Cloudypatch reluctantly dips his head and steps out. The long haired, white and ginger patched tom glances up to the vanishing, orange sun.

You know what? I need to find Lionfur again. Littlestar will rip my fur off, but I need to know what's going on with these rogues.

Once he's sure his denmates were asleep, Cloudypatch pads out of the warriors den and through the thorn barrier. Cloudypatch's pelt stands on end from the deafening silence and his paws crunching on the fallen leaves.

Halfway through the moorland is when he sees two silhouettes heading his way. Cloudypatch tears off running until he passes through the Horseplace.

However, when he made it to the Twolegplace, eerie silence greets him. Cloudypatch couldn't find any other scents related to rogues he knew. As the long haired, white and ginger patched tom slowly pads through the empty monster path, his anxiety grows.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

A paw wraps around Cloudypatch's neck and pulls him back. Cloudypatch hisses and lashes his claws in air as his attacker dodges and glares at him.

"Cloudypatch - it's me you mouseheart!"

The long haired, white and ginger patched tom's eyes focus on the cat before him, as the zigzag, jet black stripes were seen on a light brown pelt.

"Lightningstrike?!" Cloudypatch swats his brother on his chest. "Are you trying to scare me to death?!"

Lightningstrike's green eyes narrow with indignation.

"Excuse me? You're the one who left at night without another cat with you, like Littlestar said! I was looking out for you!"

I don't need you looking out for me! Cloudypatch closes his mouth to keep himself from screeching at Lightningstrike.

Lightningstrike had kept his word to not tell anyone that Cloudypatch had seen Lionfur ages ago, it's only natural that he needed to be with him to make sure he wasn't in over his head.

The long haired, white and ginger patched tom licks his paw in an effort to save what's left of his pride. "Sorry…"

Lightningstrike decides not to prolong the matter.

"Just, why are you back here?"

"I need to talk to Jasper - she's a rogue I met last time I was here."

"Are you referring to that she-cat who wanted to kill you?"

Cloudypatch lashes his tail. "She wasn't going to kill me!"

At least I hoped so.

"Her territory was right here, down that alley."

Cloudypatch leads Lightningstrike down the narrow path when his brother nips on his tail.

"What?"

"Something is wrong." Lightningstrike whispers. "I'm smelling a lot of cat blood here, we need to back up."

Cloudypatch picks up a metallic scent, and instantly realizes Lightningstrike was right. The two brothers quickly leave the path and stand out on the sidewalk.

"Where'd she go?" Cloudypatch hisses softly, looking around.

"My best guess is she left here." Lightningstrike growls. "I wouldn't stick around for another attack. Look at that wall."

Cloudypatch turns and sees dried, smears of blood and tufts of fur sticking where the blood is dried.

A loud clang of metal catches the two brothers' attention. There's a dark brown tom being followed by several cats, their tails raised and stalking down the path.

Cloudypatch and Lightningstrike follow them to the grassy side where they can see the river. Cloudypatch sees the same dark brown tom as he jumped on a cat while his cohorts follow his lead.

"A fight?" Lightningstrike whispers.

Cloudypatch hears a yowl from the distance. "Jasper, help!"

The long haired, white and ginger patched tom gasps.

"Oh, StarClan, that's them!"

"Cloudypatch - wait!" Lightningstrike stands to block his brother before gesturing him to follow his lead.

~ Jasper ~

Jasper yowls as she digs her claws into Arrow's shoulders. The skinny, dark grey tom wails at the feeling of her claws digging into his muscles, and being dragged off of Gretchen before Jasper releases him and kicks him away with her hind leg.

Fennel runs up to Gretchen for support as Jasper lunges at a calico, who dodges and whirls around to face her.

"Get out of our territory, murderer!" She spat.

The calico, Quinn, swipes her claws and nicks the bridge of Jasper's nose. The dark orange-red she-cat shoves Quinn back with anger invigorating her, she slashes over Quinn's eyes and bites her throat before throwing her over a dark brown tom.

"Liam!" Jasper yowls.

The dark brown tom snarls at her. "You've brought this on yourself! We don't need another Ringo taking over, got it?"

Jasper's tail bushes twice her size and she narrows her eyes, venomously.

"Don't you dare compare me to that deviled tom!"

Just when Jasper was about to attack, a white and ginger tom jumps Liam from behind, biting down in his shoulder. A light brown tom knocks down Vernon, a large, grey tom.

Skippy and Midnight chased away Yarrow and Tammy long after. Quinn, noticing the two newcomers, turns around and flees. The long haired, white and ginger patched tom squares up to Liam, looking like a giant cloud with orange smears, and the light brown tom rushes to his side, snarling at Liam.

The dark brown tom growls in frustration, looking at Jasper.

"I'm done with playing nice, Jasper! You can either leave our territory or leave the town all together!"

Liam runs off after his gang and disappears around the corner.

~ Lightningstrike ~

"Cloudypatch?"

A dark orange-red she-cat is glaring down on his brother.

"What do you want now? Lion left us long after you came by, there's nothing for you here."

"He left?" Cloudypatch's blue eyes widen. "Where is he? I have questions that he needs to answer!"

"Like, what?" Jasper asks with a lash of her tail. "In case you didn't notice, we have our own set of problems to deal with."

"Hey, you don't have to bite him." Lightningstrike snaps, despite Cloudypatch's pleading glance. "In case you forgot, we helped you out with those rogues."

"I-!"

"Jasper." A tan tom with dark brown splotches approaches the aggressive she-cat.

"We need to return to the lot before we attract attention to ourselves."

"Good idea. We'll talk there." Cloudypatch said.

"We never said you could come!" A small, orange tom glares at him and Lightningstrike.

"Either you let us come, or we'll follow you. Your choice." Lightningstrike sniffs.

He can feel his brother's glare on his flank, but he didn't pay any mind. Jasper gives out an irritated sigh. "Fine! You two are going to have to make little problems for us, or we will send you out to the dogs."

~ Cloudypatch ~

Sitting on the "couch" is uncomfortable under his paw pads. Lightningstrike insists on being next to Cloudypatch - and after almost getting into a fight with Scrappy - Jasper broke it up and allows it.

The dark orange-red she-cat leans her back against the couch, allowing her back hind legs out and her tail drooping over, looking like a Twoleg.

"I'm telling you right now. Lion walked out as soon as he was healed and we never heard from him again, but there was talk on the street that he was seen with Rascal's group when they're raiding the hunting spots."

"How can they be certain that it's Lionfur?" Cloudypatch asks.

Jasper draws her paw over her ear.

"I cannot say that I've ascertained the truth. We've had bigger problems with Rascal and this dark tabby who seems to be in league with him."

Lightningstrike coughs, shouldering Cloudypatch and narrowing his eyes on the white and ginger tom.

"Jasper." Cloudypatch says. "ThunderClan was just attacked by rogues last moon."

"And you think my group is involved?"

"That's a lie!" Midnight hisses. Jasper gives the young tom a hiss of silence.

"One of the rogues was… a pale grey tom and a big tom that looks like a mixture of silver and white."

"Pale grey?" Fennel is on the ground looking up to the couch. "That sounds like Logan, he's apart of Rascal's gang."

"And that silver tom is most likely Rascal." Jasper deduces.

"Rascal lives around here?" Cloudypatch asks.

"I must advise against looking for that two-faced raccoon." Jasper growls. "He won't hesitate to turn your insides into outsides, if you catch my drift. We had to move here in order to keep ourselves from being ambushed while we sleep."

"So you're not even going to stand your ground and fight?" Lightningstrike blurts out. "If it was ThunderClan versus him, we'd beat them without a problem."

Jasper's yellow eyes narrow. "How many of you are there?"

"Forty-eight, I think, if you count the apprentices."

"Well, of course you would think like that!" Jasper snaps. "I would rather keep my gang from dying senselessly at the paws of this creep and that tabby."

"But what if you have no choice?" Cloudypatch presses her. "If it ever comes to the point where you have to fight Rascal, what, then?"

Jasper slowly rises from the couch, her flame-colored pelt is ruffled.

"I've answered your questions. Now, you need to leave."

Cloudypatch opens his mouth to protest, but Jasper said. "Leave, or I'll force you out."

The long haired, white and ginger patched tom obliges, jumping from the couch with Lightningstrike following, glaring at Jasper beforehand. Fennel follows the two brothers while whispering an apology to Cloudypatch on the way through the fence.

Once they returned to their territory, Lightningstrike snorts.

"A lot of help she was."

Cloudypatch's whiskers and tail were limp with disappointment.

"I can't believe Lionfur just did that… If he actually joined Rascal…"

"Which he probably did." Lightningstrike sniffs. "You can't trust anything that comes out of his mouth, Cloudypatch."

"But I thought Sedgepaw would snap him out of it! He wouldn't keep going if it meant betraying her even more. What is he doing?"

"Who knows what goes on in Lionfur's head?" Lightningstrike stops near the path to the thorn barrier. "I prefer it if you didn't tell Littlestar this time. There's too much going on for you to tell him that Lionfur broke his word."

Cloudypatch, just then, sees Finchblaze padding out from the brackens with Flashpad flanking him. Lightningstrike follows his gaze to their father.

Finchblaze glances at Flashpad, who is unnaturally sheepish.

"It looks like you were telling the truth, but don't think you can leave without telling us first. Got it?"

Flashpad nods, avoiding his gaze. "Yes, Finchblaze."

The very light grey tom steals a smug smirk at Cloudypatch as his yellow eyes turn to a cold, icy blue, and heads back to camp.

"As for you two." Finchblaze growls. "I would love to hear all about this deal you made with Lionfur. Oh, wait, that was you!"

Cloudypatch recoils at the intensity of Finchblaze's glare.

"Don't treat him like he's a back-slasher." Lightningstrike bravely stands nose to nose with their father. "He made Lionfur promise to leave ThunderClan and never attack us."

"And yet that didn't work, did it?" Finchblaze asks, mockingly. "He went off with the very same rogue that attacked Hollyflame's patrol, right?"

Cloudypatch's heart drops to his stomach. He heard everything.

The long haired, white and ginger patched tom feels like a kit under Finchblaze's scolding glare. He disappointed him, again, and he doesn't know if he'll make it up this time.

"Cloudypatch is not at fault. Lionfur is the one who went back on his word." Lightningstrike insists stubbornly.

Finchblaze refuses to look at the crouching, white and ginger tom, and brushes past Lightningstrike. "First thing at sunrise, you're going to tell us everything you know, Cloudypatch. And don't think for a second that you'll get a cuff on the ears for what you did. Got it?"

The long haired, white and ginger patched tom nods feebly, his paws feeling heavy as boulders when trying to pad after Finchblaze with Lightningstrike next to him.

"He thinks I'm a traitor." Cloudypatch moans quietly. Lightningstrike shakes his head.

"You're not a traitor. Anyone who says so will have to deal with me."