Chapter 9

Silkshade, Silentstorm, and Songheart were still missing. It was the only thing anybody was talking about. I just want to forget about it for five seconds.

The two cats who talked the most about it were Duskpelt and Pineclaw. They both were worried sick and it showed. Duskpelt looked like he didn't get any sleep last night. Cranepool was with Pineclaw comforting him. Dawnfur didn't have any idea how to help Duskpelt with this. He seemed to turning to Skyfang for help.

"Hey, Duskpelt," Wingstar said. "How about you take a quick nap? I'll take care of patrols."

"I can't sleep. And to be honest, I don't want to. What if we learn something about Silkshade's disappearance?" Duskpelt told her.

"At least eat this," Dawnfur said, giving him a mouse. "You need your strength. You can't do anything to help if you die of hunger."

"Okay," he agreed. He ate the mouse.

"I might have put some poppy seeds in there so he can get some rest," Dawnfur whispered to Wingstar.

"Deathpaw! Come on!" Boulderfang called.

"I'm coming!" I told him.

We left camp with Flurrytail and Mountainpaw. We were going to hunt together. As we left I saw Wingstar and Dawnfur carrying a sleeping Duskpelt to the warrior's den.

...

We arrived back in camp later that day carrying our prey.

"Leaf-bare will be easier with less mouths to feed," Flurrytail commented.

"But there will be less paws to do it," Boulderfang said.

"Don't pretend that kittypet or her kittypet loving friends ever did anything," Flurrytail said and walked away.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Dawnfur asked Pineclaw.

"I slept," Pineclaw said.

"That doesn't answer my question," Dawnfur said.

"I had some nightmares," Pineclaw said.

"With no mothers to worry the fathers are taking on enough worry for two cats," Dawnfur muttered.

"Go get some more rest," Wingstar told him.

"I didn't know you were helping Dawnfur with her medicine cat duties," Cranepool teased.

"My clanmates are my responsibility," Wingstar said.

"How much did you stay up," Dawnfur asked, looking at Cranepool suspiciously.

"Pineclaw kept moaning and tossing and turning all night! I had to make sure my brother was okay!" Cranepool said.

"How much?" Dawnfur asked.

"Almost all night," Cranepool admitted.

"Then you can go get some rest," Dawnfur said. "You can't work yourself to the point of exhaustion."

"Is that all?" Wingstar asked.

"I believe so," Dawnfur said. "I can't check every cat. I'll go make sure they are getting some rest."

Despite my worry, I had slept well. I felt lucky to be sleeping in the apprentice's den. With a bunch of cats awake there's no way I could've slept.

Skyfang came through the entrance yawning. Dawnfur soon was over to her. When she realized who it was she gave an amused purr.

"Up all night?" Dawnfur asked.

"I was. You caught me," Skyfang said.

"Get some rest," Dawnfur said.

Why was Skyfang awake? I understood why Duskpelt and Pineclaw couldn't sleep. Cranepool was up with her brother. Where did Skyfang come in to this?

"Hey, Dawnfur," I said.

"What is it?" she asked. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Quite well, actually," I told her. "Why was Skyfang up all night?"

"Your father and her have became really good friends after I decided to be a medicine cat," Dawnfur said. "I have work to do. Your sister needs training. Herbs need gathered. Time is wasting."

"I'll see you around," I called after her.