Chapter 6
"Silkshade," a cat whispered. "Get up."
It was Dawnfur. "Aren't you supposed to be at Moon Stone or whatever?" I asked.
"I already went. I need to talk to you," she whispered. "Get your friends up."
Once we roused Silentstorm and Songheart we headed into the woods where no cat would here us.
"What's this all about?" Silentstorm asked.
"StarClan sent a message," Dawnfur said. "Silkshade, you have to leave."
"What? Why would I do that?" I asked.
"Not permanently," Dawnfur said. "You just need to go for about a moon."
"Couldn't this have waited until morning?" Songheart yawned.
"No," Dawnfur said. "You have to leave now."
"Without saying goodbye?" Songheart asked.
"You must tell no one and leave without anyone noticing," Dawnfur said.
"Why do we have to leave?" I asked.
"This war cannot be prevented,"'Dawnfur said. "It can be done at a later time."
"So we have to leave just so war can wait until we get back?" Silentstorm asked. "What's the point then?"
"You don't have to leave if you don't want to," Dawnfur said. "Only Silkshade does. I just figured you wouldn't let her go alone."
"No one is going to know where we went?" Songheart asked.
"I'll tell Wingstar, but no one else," Dawnfur said.
"Duskpelt will be worried sick!" I protested.
"So will Pineclaw," Silentstorm added.
"I know this. You have to," Dawnfur said. "In a moon, return. We'll explain everything to the rest of the clan then."
"I will go," I said. "If it helps."
"If you go, we go," Songheart said.
"Then you must be off. Take care of each other," Dawnfur said. She went back to camp.
We traveled to the border. From there only StarClan knows what awaits us.
...
The sun was starting to rise. Soon enough cats would be realizing we're gone. We were in the forest where I was held captive. Cats had died in this forest. It did not hold too many good memories.
We stopped to hunt a bit. In this unfamiliar territory we had to be careful.
"Growl and Stripes died when they were supposed to be hunting here," I said.
"I remember," Silentstorm said, sounding irritated. "Why mention it though? They've only caused trouble in our lives."
"You're right about that,"'I said. "But Murderscar showed her evil by doing so. That's the importance."
"I honestly don't want to linger here," Songheart said. "It brings back bad memories."
"Can you not talk about it?" Silentstorm snapped.
That's why Silentstorm was acted like she is. This forest isn't just where Stripes and Growl died. Sparrowheart, their mother, died here too.
"We do need to find a place to rest," I said. "I don't think it should be here though."
I looked at Silentstorm. She didn't seem to be sad at all. She seemed scared. Then I remembered. She had almost been killed by Murderscar. She had been unable to save us. Her mother saved her life. This forest brought back terrifying memories for her. I never thought Silentstorm got scared.
"Hey, Songheart. Can I talk with you a moment?" I asked her. "In private?"
Silentstorm was looking around anxiously. We moved a little away from her.
"We need to get out of here now," I told Songheart.
"Why?" Songheart asked.
"Your sister can't handle the memories this place brings back," I said.
"This is the place our mother died," Songheart said.
"And Silentstorm almost did as well," I reminded her. "She would've failed us, the way she sees it."
"With all the other things that happened I almost forgot about that," Songheart said. "We should get going."
"Silentstorm, I think we need to leave this forest and find somewhere else to hunt," I said. "Come on."
"Okay," Silentstorm said.
After we left the forest Silentstorm did much better. That forest held to many bad things with it. We all almost died in it.
We managed to catch a couple mice beyond the forest. We found a nice bush to shelter in as well.
"I'll take guard," I said. "You two get some sleep."
Nothing much happened and we were on our way to wherever StarClan led us. Part of me couldn't help but wonder if StarClan could see us this far from home.