Chapter 13
"Wake up," Boulderfang said.
"It's the middle of the night," I told him. "We sleep at night."
"You can't practice night hunting in the middle of the day, can you? Come on, sleepyhead," he said.
We left camp. The forest was like a whole different place in the dark.
"Here's where we will hunt," he told me.
It was a clearing in the trees where you could see stars shining down on you.
"So many stars," I said.
"Gorgeous, isn't it? I've been waiting for a clear night to show you this. I always have planned to show this to my apprentice someday," he said.
"I wonder which one is Redmoon," I whispered.
"I sometimes wonder which one is Stripetail, my father," Boulderfang said. "He died when we were kits. Sickness took his life. It was before even Silentstorm and Songheart were born."
"How many stars are up there? How many dead warriors?" I asked.
"Far more than either of us can count," Boulderfang said. "Let's hunt a little, shall we?"
Hunting at night is so much different than hunting during the day. You can't rely on sight much. You have to be careful not to run into things. It was wonderful, though.
"She is gone, but for how long?" we heard Flurrytail ask. "She'll be back, I know that much."
"Runs away in times of trouble and returns when all seems peaceful. Just like a kittypet. Well, there never will be peace in her life," Coldclaw said.
Boulderfang and I looked at each other and knew what we should do. We had to get closer. We snuck through the underbrush until we could see the two of them.
"Her friends always chasing after her to protect her. They would probably be much better off without her," Flurrytail said. "Silentstorm would make a good ally if she wasn't such a kittypet lover."
"I agree," Coldclaw said.
"She'll always keep returning until someone gets rid of her permanently. If I have to kill every cat in NightClan get rid of that kittypet I will without hesitation," Flurrytail said.
I backed up a little. These words scared me. I tripped over a root and fell.
"What was that?" Coldclaw asked. I froze.
"I'll check," Flurrytail said. Boulderfang came over beside me.
"Go," he whispered, but Flurrytail had already found us.
"Boulderfang! My dear brother. Your apprentice is here too," Flurrytail said. "Don't be shy. Come on out. I suppose you've met Coldclaw."
"Listen to every word I say," Boulderfang told me. He stuck close to my side.
"What are you doing here?" Flurrytail asked.
"Night hunting," Boulderfang answered.
"Out here?" Flurrytail pressed.
"We wondered what the noise was about. You two are quite loud," Boulderfang replied.
"You and your little mate," Flurrytail spat. "Don't think I haven't heard about your conversation with Grasstail. News travels fast."
"Then you've heard she's not my mate," Boulderfang said. "Some cats are quick to assume."
"Now you know my little secret," Flurrytail said to me. "It's a secret you'll have to keep. Talking about it hurts you much more than it hurts me."
"We have another cat coming later," Coldclaw said.
"You are right! She should meet our guests. We could easily dispose of the young one," Flurrytail said. "My brother would never speak of our secret if we did that. He'd know the risks."
"She knows how to fight," Boulderfang said. "And so do I."
"I know all of her little moves. I've watched her train. I know yours pretty well too," Flurrytail said. "This would help our friend with her whole revenge on Silkshade and Duskpelt thing."
"I won't say a word and neither will my apprentice," Boulderfang said. "Not to any cat."
"You haven't so far, but what fun is just letting you two go?" Flurrytail asked.
"Not near this much fun," Coldclaw said.
"We must be going," Boulderfang insisted.
"You can go, but she can't," Flurrytail said.
"I'm not leaving my apprentice to be crow-food," Boulderfang said.
"Then you've made your decision," Flurrytail said.
"I have," Boulderfang said.
He flung me onto his back and took off through the woods. It didn't sound like they were following us, but we didn't look back just in case. We stopped when we got back to camp.
"I'm going back to get the prey," he told me. "If I'm not back soon you might want to tell someone."
"Okay," I agreed. He went back into the woods.
I had already known the secret about Flurrytail. Now, it was much more dangerous. I knew even without Silkshade or her friends here I had someone to protect me. I didn't go into the den until Boulderfang came back. Then I drifted off into a restless sleep.