Chapter 20

Three Moons Later…

Cloudstorm hissed as the squirrel fled, scurrying up a tall tree.

"Oh, miss! But nice try," Hazelstep mewed as she kicked some dirt over the mouse she had just caught. "Hey, I smell vole." She disappeared in the undergrowth, leaving the white tom alone.

He sighed and scented the air, trying to catch a whiff of prey. He could smell the faint scent of raven, but he knew most birds wouldn't be around during leaf-bare. Lately, he and his kin had been greatly troubled. After almost four moons after leaving, Dewleaf still hadn't returned. All she had wanted was to figure out about her heritage, but it wouldn't take four moons for a cat to find some other cats and chat for a while, would it? What if something bad happened to her? What if she never even reached RainClan? She could even be dead by now! We have to try and figure out what happened to her!

He felt fear surge within him. What if it was true? She could be dead! Perhaps run over by a monster on a Thunderpath, or a close encounter with a fox, dog, or badger, or…

Cloudstorm hissed with fear when he heard a loud rustle behind him. He whipped around, his teeth bared, then relaxed when he saw that it was just Hazelstep, her mouth empty.

"No luck with the vole," she said, shrugging. "Sorry if I frightened you."

Cloudstorm turned away and mewed, "That's okay." He padded forward a few steps, scenting the air. He caught a whiff of mouse and crept forward, careful not to snap a twig or step on a dead leaf. When he was a tail-length away, he bunched up his legs underneath him, then leaped. The mouse didn't even know what hit it when he caught it with his forepaws, giving it a quick, killing blow. When it went limp, he buried it, then padded back to where he had last seen Hazelstep. She was nowhere in sight. Perhaps she went to stalk some prey, he thought.

He scented the air again, padding through the forest. His mouth was held half open so he could smell more easily. When he didn't smell anything more, he returned to where Hazelstep was, shaking his fur, trying to stay warm. The gray she-cat, who had a short pelt, looked even more cold as she shuddered. "I think we can go back to camp now. There's not much prey around, and it's cold."

Hazelstep nodded in agreement. "Let's go."

Cloudstorm began digging up the prey he had caught, which was just a simple mouse and a vole. He picked it up in his mouth, then trotted briskly toward camp. He glanced back to make sure Hazelstep was behind him, then raced through the tunnel, dropping the mouse and vole on the fresh-kill pile. Then he padded straight toward the warriors den. Before he could get there, though, a meow stopped him. He turned and saw Clovernight calling him from beside the Highrock.

"What is it?" he asked, padding over to his sister.

Clovernight turned and led him into the leader's den. "Smokestar wants to talk to us."

Once the got situated inside the den underneath Highrock, Cloudstorm glanced at his leader and sat down, flicking his tail.

Smokestar nodded. "I'm glad you're both here, but I'm going to need Feathercloud here, too."

Cloudstorm glanced at Clovernight. "Would you like to go fetch her?"

Clovernight narrowed her eyes, but sighed, "Alright, I'll go."

***

Cloudstorm could feel Feathercloud's eyes penetrating his pelt, but he refused to even look her way. He was still angry for lying and betraying them, then listening to Thorntail instead of standing up for her kits.

Smokestar cleared his throat, then said, "I know why Dewleaf left, and where she went. But what I don't know is when she'll be back. And what's become of her. She said she wouldn't be gone long, she'd just talk to some of the cats and stay a few sunrises, then come back. But it's been four moons, and I'm worried."

Cloudstorm nodded in agreement. His sister did so, too.

"I can't afford to lose any warriors right now, but new-leaf will be here soon. When prey begins to return, I want you to go and try and find her."

Cloudstorm nodded, glancing at Clovernight. She nodded, returning Cloudstorm's look. But Feathercloud looked guilty.

Smokestar seemed to notice, because he asked, "Feathercloud, is that a problem?"

Cloudstorm felt a low growl form in his throat as Feathercloud held her breath. Finally, she mewed, "Well… I---I'm going to be having Thorntail's kits soon. I'll have to move to the nursery soon."

Cloudstorm's eyes widened. He'd have half siblings?

Clovernight and Smokestar seemed surprised, because they both gasped with shock.

Feathercloud shuffled her paws uncomfortably.

Smokestar shook his fur, regaining his composure. "Well, uh, that's fine. Cloudstorm and Clovernight can go. I want at least two warriors to go together, so that they can support each other."

Feathercloud dipped her head, then turned to look at Clovernight and Cloudstorm.

The white and gray tom turned away and growled. "Was that all you wanted, Smokestar?"

The leader nodded. "Yes, Cloudstorm, thank you."

Cloudstorm stalked out of the den, doing his best to ignore Feathercloud. Clovernight rushed away into the warriors den.

"Cloudstorm," Feathercloud said softly.

He turned away, ignoring his mother.

"Cloudstorm, listen," Feathercloud pressed.

He hissed and whirled around to face the silver she-cat angrily. "What do you want from me?"

Feathercloud's face was twisted with pain. "Cloudstorm, listen to me---"

"No!" He turned and began to pad away, his long fur bristled.

"Cloudstorm, can't you just listen?" the queen asked, her voice strained. "Just give me one moment!"

He sighed. "Fine." But he didn't turn around to face her.

"Look, I'm sorry I lied to you. But what could I do? It was bad enough that the whole Clan looked down upon you three because you were half-Clan kits! And Thorntail was so kind to you, if you think about it. He treated you like he would treat his own kits, don't you see?"

Cloudstorm forced his fur to lay flat, but anger still radiated off him in waves.

Feathercloud went on, "I know you don't like him since he took the place of your true father, but you shouldn't blame him! He meant well."

Cloudtorm narrowed his eyes. "I won't blame Thorntail. I'll blame you," he said darkly as he continued on into the warriors den, not even glancing back at his mother. He could picture her gaping at him, feeling a blow in her stomach. It serves her right! She should know how it feels!

***

Clovernight hissed. "Eaglepaw, just leave me alone!"

The gray tom seemed unfazed at her hostility. "Well, why don't we go hunting or something?"

"You can go hunting with your mentor!" Clovernight replied through gritted teeth.

"But Feathercloud moved to the nursery!" Eaglepaw said.

Clovernight lashed her tail. Right, I forgot about that. I wonder which lucky cat gets Eaglepaw as their apprentice now. "Well, who's your new mentor?"

Eaglepaw shrugged. "I don't know. Falconpaw got Forestlily as his new mentor."

"I know. Why don't you go ask Smokestar about your new mentor?" Clovernight suggested.

Eaglepaw shook his head. "I can do that later. I just want to spend some time with you."

Clovernight rolled her eyes. "Well, Eaglepaw, I'm flattered. But I honestly can't. I--I'm… busy. I have to hunt for the Clan."

"Well, I'll go with you!" Eaglepaw purred.

"Fine," Clovernight growled, padding out of the camp. "Just stay out of my way."

She stalked into the undergrowth, looking for prey. The ground felt cold underneath her paw pads, and she suppressed a shiver.

New-leaf will be here in about half a moon, she thought to herself. Then we can go find Dewleaf, wherever she may be…

After creeping around a little, she caught the scent of a mouse. She stiffened immediately, then saw the gray mouse sitting atop a root of a tree, oblivious that a predator lurked nearby. She bunched her legs underneath her and prepared to leap. Making sure the mouse didn't she her, she leaped, her claws outstretched.

All of the sudden, "Hi, Clover----"

Clovernight let out a screech as she leapt over Eaglepaw, who had appeared out of nowhere. Her legs thumped against his back and she fell to the ground. Her front right paw and leg were twisted into a strange position, making her hiss. Suddenly, pain seared through her, and she let out a wail.

Eaglepaw huddled beside her, his eyes wide with fear. "What happened?"

"This is allyour fault!" Clovernight snarled, wincing at the effort. She licked her paw a few times, then tried to get up. She felt Eaglepaw flinch away from her, but she barely cared. She got up, using her other three legs, and tried to hobble toward camp, but she fell down immediately, causing more pain.

Eaglepaw approached her cautiously, his ears flicking with discomfort. "I'm sorry, Clovernight," he said quietly. "Can I help you?"

Clovernight sighed. "Yes." I can't believe I'm accepting help from this annoying furball! She got up again, balancing clumsily on three legs. Eaglepaw supported her right side, letting her lean on his shoulder, so that she could walk.

Slowly, the two made their way to camp. When they entered through the thorn tunnel, Eaglepaw called out, "Clovernight is hurt!"

Almost immediately, Mosspelt and Frostpool emerged from their den. Ashenfur pulled Eaglepaw away and began questioning him. Smokestar came down from the Highrock to see what the commotion was about.

"Oh, that doesn't look too good," Mosspelt said as she examined Clovernight.

Clovernight blinked. "It doesn't feel too great, either."

Frostpool licked her ear soothingly. "Don't worry, we'll fix it."

Mosspelt helped the black and gray she-cat into the medicine cat's den. Frostpool brought over some yellow seeds.

"Poppy seeds will ease the pain. Here, eat them."

Clovernight lapped them up like an obedient kit, then winced. Mosspelt was nosing at the twisted paw, her eyes wide. "What's wrong?"

Mosspelt looked away, then sighed. "Your wound. It looks almost identical to the wound that caused Silverstorm to retire to the elder's den." Then she added hastily, "Hers was much worse, but yours still looks bad."

Clovernight gulped and laid her head back down onto the mossy nest, her chest thumping with fear.

"How did this happen?" Frostpool asked, her eyes kind.

Clovernight growled. "Eaglepaw. I leapt for a mouse at the same moment he just popped up in front of me!"

"Calm down," Mosspelt hissed. "Don't strain yourself, Clovernight, you'll only make it worse."

Clovernight sighed and closed her eyes. The poppy seeds are making me drowsy… She yawned and mewed, "Am I supposed to be sleepy?"

Mosspelt nodded. "Yes, now relax. It'd be more helpful if you were sleeping while we did this."

Frostpool touched Clovernight's ear gently. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Clovernight mumbled a word of thanks before drifting asleep.

So, what did you all think? I deleted my previous poll and made a new one, the old one wasn't working right. Anyway, make sure you vote on that.

What did you think of the chapter? It was a lot shorter, but oh well. Please review! Thanks!

Sorry, I'm too lazy to put recommendations up today...