Chapter 9
It was dark. The clan was asleep. Duskpaw was checking over Snowypaw one last time before she went to sleep. His health had increased greatly in the past six sunrises. Duskpaw spread the herbs over his wounds gently, careful not to open them again. Then suddenly he moaned. It was quiet and at first Duskpaw thought she imagined it, but then his eyes shot open.
"I'm sorry," he screeched. "Leave me alone," his pitiful cries echoed through the small cave. Duskpaw jumped back in surprise. Blinking she put her paws on his side to keep him down.
"It's okay Snowypaw," she cried. He shook beneath her and struggled to get loose.
"Let me go," he screamed. Duskpaw pushed harder.
"What's going on?" Twigshade asked. He rose from where he was sleeping and rushed over to help his apprentice. "When did he wake up?' he asked.
"Just now," Duskpaw panted. Twigshade nodded.
"What's happening?" Blackice called.
"Snowypaw woke up," Duskpaw called. Blackice hurried inside. He rushed to help them. "Let him see you," Duskpaw ordered. Blackice obediently stepped in front of his son.
"You're safe Snowypaw," he mewed calmly. Snowypaw grew still. His eyes were full of fear but he stopped struggling. He glanced around in confusion.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"The medicine cat den," Twigshade mewed. He glanced at Blackice and Duskpaw. "I'm sure the clan is confused so why don't you go tell them what happened. I need to check him," he mewed. Blackice hesitated.
"Come on," Duskpaw mewed pushing him towards the entrance. Slowly he walked away. Duskpaw followed him into the clearing. The clan was pacing around in confusion. Paletree leapt to her feet when the appeared.
"How is he?" she asked.
"He's awake," Duskpaw called loud enough for the clan to hear. They cheered loudly. Several of them rushed to her to congratulate her on her work. Duskpaw thanked each of them quietly and respectfully. When Orcafin reached her she could see tears forming in the big toms eyes.
"Thank you so much," he gasped between sobs. "I would be lost without Snowypaw," he cried. Duskpaw smiled.
"Thank you for helping me find the herbs," she purred back. The black and white tom straightened in pride.
"Now that you've saved my brother I'm going to help you find Silverpaw," he growled determinedly. Duskpaw was quiet. Silver tears formed in her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered. Orcafin dipped his head to her before moving away. Blackice and Paletree took his place.
Thank you," Paletree sobbed. She wrapped her tail around her and hugged her close with it. Blackice joined in too. Duskpaw gasped as they squeezed the breath out of her. "If there's anything we can ever do to help you," Paletree mewed, "let us know." Duskpaw nodded as they walked away.
"Let all cats old enough to hunt for themselves gather beneath the White Tree for a clan meeting," Maplestar called from her branch. She continued almost immediately because the clan was already gathered. "Today Duskpaw brought the joyful news that Snowypaw is awake. Now that he has awoken we need to know his current condition." She beckoned for Duskpaw to come forward. Gulping, Duskpaw stepped underneath the White Tree. From there she could see Orcafin hugging his mother, Paletree. Blackice was nowhere to be seen.
"Snowypaw's legs are still broken and will probably need another moon to heal. His wounds have almost completely healed but are in danger of being opened again. They will be completely gone by the time he can walk again," she finished. Maplestar smiled at the news.
"Let us cheer for Twigshade and his apprentice Duskpaw," she called.
"Twigshade, Duskpaw," The clan called out their names. Twigshade walked out of the medicine cat den at the sound of his name. "Twigshade, Duskpaw." He smiled at their praise before returning to the den.
"Now Duskpaw is there anything we can do to help with his healing?" Maplestar asked. Duskpaw was quiet as she thought.
"Well, if you could would you bring me all the spider webs you ever find and if any of you see marigold or goldenrod while you're out of camp, or a stick the length of Snowypaw's legs that would be great," she answered at last. Maplestar nodded.
"Is that all?" she asked. Duskpaw was quiet.
"Help me find Silverpaw," she said at last. The clan was silent. Then Orcafin stood up.
"I will do all in my power to find your sister," he growled. His mate, Foamfur, stepped up next to him.
"So will I," she agreed.
"We will too," Tundrafoot cried leaping to his feet. Stormstep stood beside him. Shardclaw stepped forward.
"As will I," he mewed. Maplestar stared at her clan with a look of pride on her face.
"So it is agreed. We will find Silverpaw," she cried. The clan cheered their agreement. Duskpaw stared at them in relief.
"Thank you," she whispered.
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Silverpaw watched through silted eyes as Seagullfur organized the patrols. She had been in the Oceanclan camp for seven sunrises now and Sealfeather had allowed Roarpaw and Sandpaw to carry her outside and watch the camp.
Sharknight dipped his head to her as he passed. He and his apprentice, Krisppaw, were heading to the training arena. She could tell by the way Krisppaw's eyes didn't shine quiet as brightly as they did when she was called to go on a hunting patrol. At least she gets to do something, Silverpaw thought, aggravated.
"Hi Silverpaw," Tidefur mewed. The white queen had left the nursery sense her son Treepaw had became Fishscale's apprentice. The queen liked spending time with Silverpaw and was usually the one who brought her freshkill.
"Hi Tidefur," Silverpaw sighed. Tidefur tipped her head at her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I've missed so much training," she answered. Tidefur looked at her sympathetically.
"You're still ahead of Treepaw," she offered. Silverpaw twitched her whiskers in amusement.
"That's a relief," she purred. Tidefur smiled.
"Good to see you still have a sense of humor," she grinned. Silverpaw smiled. "Well don't worry Silverpaw," she looked around, "I'm not supposed to know this but Sealfeather is working on a way to strengthen your legs without you walking so they'll heal faster." Silverpaw looked at her in surprise.
"Really?" she asked. Tidefur nodded.
"I swear," she whispered.
"Tidefur I need you to go on a patrol with Divetail, Crabclaw, Dorsalfin, and Pelicanwing," Seagullfur cried. Tidefur dipped her head to him.
"Bye Silverpaw," she mewed before walking away.
"Bye," Silverpaw called after her. Left alone again she returned to watching the camp. Dolphindive kits, Crashkit and Palmkit, were playing outside the nursery. The squealed and squeaked without a care in the world. Silverpaw watched them, envious of their care freeness.
Palmkit glanced at her and saw her staring. She nudged her brother and the two raced over to her. "Hi Silverpaw," Crashkit squeaked. Silverpaw smiled at them.
"Hi Crashkit," she purred.
"What about me?" Palmkit wailed. Silverpaw nosed the grey and white she-kit gently.
"Hi Palmkit," she said sweetly. Palmkit smiled and batted her brother.
"She likes me more," she bragged. Crashkit shoved her onto her back.
"She likes me more," he growled. Silverpaw pulled the kits away from each other with her tail.
"Whoever can get me freshkill first will be my favorite," she mewed. The two kits jumped to their paws and scampered to the freshkill pile. She watched them in amusement. Looking back at the nursery she saw a tiny nose pop out. It was followed by a creamy-white she-kit. She looked around with big blue eyes before she scampered out. That must be Kelpshine's new kit, she realized.
The tortoiseshell queen had given birth three sunrises ago. She had lost her whole litter except for Lunarkit. To keep her safe the queen had forbidden her from leaving the nursery until she was bigger. She must have gotten tired of being cooped up, Silverpaw thought. She watched as Lunarkit looked around the camp. The rest of the clan was busy listening to Seagullfur and didn't notice the tiny creampuff.
Lunarkit crept along the cliff wall, steadily growing closer to Silverpaw. Silverpaw pressed herself into the ground, trying to hide. Lunarkit was chuckling to herself when she reached Silverpaw.
"No one knows I'm here," she whispered. Silverpaw twitched her whiskers.
"Are you sure about that?" she asked rising as high as she could without standing up. The she-kit whipped around in surprise. Her blue eyes were stretched wide in fear.
"I'm sorry," she squeaked. Silverpaw retained a straight face.
"Oh really?"
"Yes I'm so sorry, please don't eat me," she squealed. Silverpaw couldn't' hold it back anymore so she let out a massive laugh. Lunarkit looked puzzled. "What is it?"
"You don't eat clanmates," she purred. Lunarkit smiled.
"Oh so you're my clanmate," she purred. Silverpaw grew silent.
"Well know I'm not your clanmate but I won't hurt you," she mewed awkwardly. Lunarkit tipped her head in confusion. "I'm from Frostclan you see," Silverpaw explained. Understanding flashed in her eyes.
"Oh your from one of the other clans that we live by," she squeaked. Silverpaw nodded. "Then why are you here?" she asked.
"I was wounded and your clan gave me a home. I would go back to my clan but I'm injured and I'm not fit to travel so I'm stuck here," she sighed. Lunarkit looked sad.
"Don't you like it here?" she asked.
"It's a wonderful camp but there's no place like Frostclan camp," she said sadly. Talking of her old home made her miss it even more. Lunarkit snuggled up against her.
"I'm sorry," she mewed. Silverpaw wrapped her tail around her.
"Thank you," she whispered. Just then Kelpshine stuck her head out of the nursery. Her eyes were full of worry as she scanned the camp. Silverpaw beckoned her over. Kelpshine hurried towards her.
"Lunarkit," she sighed with relief. Lunarkit looked up in surprise at her mother's voice.
"Hi mom," she purred. "Can I stay here?" she begged as her mom picked her up.
"Absolutely not," she huffed. "I hope she didn't bother you," she checked looking at Silverpaw. She shook her head.
"It was nice to have the company," she purred. Kelpshine looked relived. She waved good bye before heading back to the nursery. Lunarkit looked back at her sorrowfully.
"Bye," she called. Silverpaw waved back before she laid back down.
"Kits," she whispered in amusement.
"Yes what would we do without them," Roarpaw sighed. Silverpaw looked around in surprise. "Sorry if I startled you," he laughed. She shrugged.
"You startle me? That'd be a laugh," she joked. Roarpaw smiled.
"Anything I can get you?" he asked.
"Well I sent Palmkit and Crashkit to get me some freshkill early but they still haven't returned. Could you find them?" she asked.
"I'm on it," Roarpaw nodded.
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Duskpaw stood at the Oceanclan border. Orcafin and Stormstep were smelling the ground on their side of the border. Duskpaw watched them through narrowed eyes. Orcafin seemed to be giving it his all (he had got dirt up his nose a few times) while Stormstep was only halfheartedly smelling for Silverpaw's scent.
"I can't smell her at all," he whined. Duskpaw twitched her ears.
"You've only just started," she said calmly. Stormstep grumbled to himself as he got back to work. Duskpaw glared at him.
"I think Stormstep's right Duskpaw," Orcafin mewed. She glanced at him. "She's been gone for so long her scent is completely gone." He looked sympathetic but determined. Duskpaw sighed inwardly.
"You can go," she mewed. The two toms nodded before padding away. Orcafin paused. He looked back at her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she lied. Orcafin gave her a hard look before he followed Stormstep away. Duskpaw watched them leave with. She stared over the border into Oceanclan territory. She just knew her sister was there. Her heart seemed to beckon her there, tempting her over the border.
"Duskpaw," a voice screamed. She whipped around. "Duskpaw," it cried again. It was coming from deeper in the woods. She leapt to her paws and hurried towards it. Stepping around a tree she could see Stormstep and Orcafin standing over Blackice. They looked at her with tear filled eyes.
"I think he's dead," Stormstep whispered. Duskpaw stepped forward. She crouched next to his head and cocked her ears to listen for his breath. It was silent. She couldn't even hear a heartbeat.
"I'm sorry," she whispered turning to Orcafin. "He's dead." Tears fell from his amber eyes. Stormstep pressed his fur against him. Orcafin stepped away from him and raced off into the trees. Stormstep followed him. Duskpaw sat in the clearing with Blackice's body.
She inspected his body. There was a slash on his neck that must have been the cause of his death. "The murderer has struck again," she whispered. Just then Paletree, Maplestar, Tundrafoot, and Creamfoot busted through the bushes. Their eyes were sad and dark. Creamfoot raced to her daughter's side.
"Come dear," she said ushering Duskpaw away. Duskpaw blankly followed her. Creamfoot lead her behind a fern bush. There she gently wrapped her tail around her shoulders and held her close. "Tell me what happened Duskpaw," Creamfoot ordered gently.
"Tundrafoot and Stormstep were helping me look for Silverpaw when we couldn't find any scents so I said they could leave," Duskpaw started, "After they left I heard them calling my name so I ran to find them and they were standing over Blackice," she finished. Creamfoot stared at her.
"You were with them all morning?" she checked. Duskpaw nodded. She didn't understand why it was so vital she was with someone all morning. "Thank Starclan," Creamfoot breathed.
"I don' understand," Duskpaw mewed in confusion. Creamfoot looked into her eyes solemnly.
"Some cats are beginning to suspect you," Creamfoot said. Duskpaw gasped. Her head spun and her legs felt weak. Her clan thought she was a murderer!
"Why?" she asked, tiny tears forming in her clear green eyes.
"Well you were the one who found every body," Creamfoot pointed out. Duskpaw was quiet.
"Silverpaw found Snowypaw," she said quietly. Creamfoot didn't respond. Duskpaw looked at her.
"They've been talking about her too," she said at last. Duskpaw felt anger burning in her. This was coming from the clan who last night had pledged to help her find her sister! She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Closing her eyes she thought about what she had just learned. "Are you okay Duskpaw?" Creamfoot asked.
Duskpaw raised her head. Her sadness had been replaced by determinedness.
"I'm going to find the murderer and I will clear my name," she growled.
A/N:
Hmmmm. It's getting tense! Please review and sorry it took so long to get this one up here. We've just started to paint. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.