Chapter 3: What the Future Holds

Smokey heard the car coming but he didn't care. Let it run me over too, he thought, thinking of Thistle. He closed his eyes and pressed his warm pelt against Thistle's slowly cooling one. The rumbling of the car was getting closer and closer. Smokey tensed his body, readying for the hit.

"You mouse brain! Get off of the Thunderpath!"

A ball of fur crashed into Smokey. He felt sharp teeth grip his neck and yank him off the road on to the safety of the grass. Smokey lay still on the soft ground, his eyes still squeezed shut, as if he could block out the image of Thistle's twisted body lying on the hard pavement.

He could hear voices around, muttering to each other.

"Hey, cat, are you okay? You didn't get hit by the monster, you're safe now," the same voice said.

Smokey slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the cats surrounding him. They were all very thin and wiry, with long legs and bright eyes. The cat nearest to him had gray tabby fur and was staring at Smokey with concern. Two black cats, one with white ears and feet and one with long, tangled fur were standing around him. A fourth cat was dragging Thistle's body to the side of the road. Smokey's stomach lurched and he turned on his side, throwing up. The gray cat took a step back.

"Let's take him back to camp," he said.

One of the black cats looked frustrated. "No way. He's not our responsibility. We saved him from that monster, that's enough," she said.

"He's sick. Come on, let's just get Cottonsky to check him out," the gray cat responded.

Smokey rolled on his back, done throwing up, and stared at the sky. The clouds were tinted with pink and blue; the heavy sun was sinking into the forest now. Smokey felt a soft breeze ruffle his fur and face. The cats continued talking above him but Smokey wasn't listening. He wondered where Thistle was now. Was she with their parents? Smokey hoped she was happy. His throat clenched and he gritted his teeth. The pain of losing Thistle was striking the tomcat like a lightening bolt.

"Help him up. Oh Ravenwing, stop whining. He's not in any shape to attack our camp. He's obviously all by himself. Now go help Webpaw."

Smokey felt himself being heaved to his feet. He balanced precariously for a moment and then turned his head towards Thistle's body. The fourth cat, a calico she-cat with green eyes, was hovering over his sister's body, her eyes narrowed.

"Thistle, I won't go without her," Smokey said, his voice shaking unevenly.

The black cat with white ears nodded at the calico cat and she dipped her head, clutching Thistle's scruff in her mouth. Smokey followed the gray tabby, not caring where he was going. Thistle was gone and everything was wrong.

xxx

The strange procession of cats trailed across rolling hills and moors until they at last reached a hill where the ground was shallow. Gorse and bracken made up a wall that covered the boundaries of the camp. Inside the dip in the ground was a clear area. Smokey couldn't help widening his eyes with surprise at the amount of cats in the vicinity. He had never seen so many cats at once, in one place. And what was even more strange was that none of them were fighting each other.

The gray cat led Smokey over to a wide rock that was split down the middle. Smokey felt the other cat's eyes watching him as he entered the cool den made by the split in the rock. The den was dimly lit and blissfully quiet. A white cat with hazel eyes was standing in the center of the den.

"Webpaw? What's going on?" she asked the gray cat.

"We found this cat lying in the middle of the Thunderpath. He was with a dead she-cat. She was hit by a monster. He isn't hurt but he's a little…" Webpaw trailed off, looking hesitantly at the white cat. "We thought you could help him Cottonsky."

The white cat smiled sadly. "I'll see what I can do." Cottonsky turned to Smokey who was sitting listlessly on the floor, his eyes blankly staring ahead.

"What is your name?" she asked gently.

"Smokey."

"Smokey, Webpaw here is going to bury your friend outside our camp. You need to rest," Cottonsky said.

Smokey shook his head. "She is-she was my sister," he stammered.

Cottonsky glanced at Webpaw, pain in her eyes.

"Don't worry. We'll give her a proper burial."

Cottonsky turned and shuffled around her den, nosing through herbs and plants, some of which Smokey found familiar. Finally the she-cat pulled out a few tan seeds and pushed them towards Smokey.

"Eat these. They're called poppy seeds. They'll help you get over the shock and they'll put you to sleep. You should rest now," Cottonsky said.

Smokey, not really caring what she gave him to eat, obediently lapped up the seeds. Almost instantly he started feeling drowsy. Cottonsky led him over to a heap of moss where he collapsed and curled up. Smokey shut his eyes and was asleep in a second.

xxx

When Smokey awoke, he was momentarily confused. Where was he? Was Thistle okay? Then reality flooded into his mind and he remembered that he was alone. Thistle was lying dead, buried in the ground and he, Smokey, was in a strange camp with unfamiliar cats. He blinked rapidly, trying to get rid of his sleepiness. Smokey glanced around. He was stretched out on a pile of moss. Smokey, parched, drank thirstily from a small pool of water in the crevice of the rock wall. Herbs and plants of all kinds lined the stone walls, heaped in an organized fashion.

A scuffling from outside of the den made Smokey turn his head warily. The white she-cat entered the den, her eyes softening at the sight of Smokey.

"Ah. You're awake. How do you feel?" Cottonsky asked.

Smokey didn't answer her, a crushing weight of despair had just settled on his chest. Thistle was really dead. The sudden realization caused Smokey to let out a pitiful yowl of torment. Cottonsky looked sympathetically at Smokey.

"I'm sorry for your loss Smokey. Your sister is with StarClan now."

"What's StarClan?" asked Smokey, immediately becoming concerned. Was StarClan some kind of Twoleg place?

Cottonsky looked genuinely distressed now.

"You don't know about StarClan? Webpaw was right, you really are like a different species," Cottonsky murmured. "StarClan is the fifth Clan of the forest. They live above us, in the stars. They watch over us and protect us. When a cat dies, their spirit goes to live in StarClan."

Smokey cocked his head. "That sounds a lot like Dreamland," he said.

"You have different terms for life and death because of how you grew up," noted Cottonsky.

"What are these Clans everyone keeps talking about?" asked Smokey, trying to keep his mind off of Thistle.

"There are four Clans in the forest: ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan and ShadowClan. You are in WindClan's camp at the moment. Each Clan has its own territory and boundaries. Each Clan is made up of a hierarchy of cats. I'm WindClan's medicine cat. I take care of sick and injured cats and StarClan sends me messages and warnings," Cottonsky explained slowly. "The cats you met last night are called warriors. They defend our clan, hunt, and fight. Webpaw is an apprentice. He is training to become a warrior. Then we have the elders, the queens and the deputy. There is a leader for each Clan. WindClan's leader is Fallenstar. His deputy is Puddledrop; you met her last night too."

Smokey's head began to reel from the information. He had heard of these cats before but he had never seen them before last night and he didn't know that they had a whole system of living. No wonder those ShadowClan cats attacked them!

"So what's with your names?" Smokey asked. "They seem very confusing."

Cottonsky smiled a little. "When a cat is an apprentice, they take the name 'paw' until they become a warrior. If cat is a Clan leader, they take the name 'star.' And if a kitten is born, they take the name 'kit' until they get their apprentice name. It's not as complicated as it sounds."

"So that cat, Webpaw, his name will change?" inquired Smokey.

"Yes," Cottonsky nodded, "when he becomes a warrior in a few moons, he'll receive a new name. Like mine. I used to be called Cottonpaw, but now I'm Cottonsky."

Smokey bowed his head, understanding slightly. These Clan cats certainly had an odd way of living. They seemed to be making everything much harder and more complicated than it had to be.

"Now Smokey, Fallenstar, the Clan leader, would like to speak with you. Are you up to it?" Cottonsky asked. Smokey was reminded vaguely of his mother, asking him whether he felt strong enough to go out and catch dinner.

"Yes, I'm fine," Smokey said briskly, rising to his paws.

Cottonsky nodded at him and then slipped out of the den, motioning for Smokey to follow. The black tom squeezed out of the split rock and trailed after Cottonsky, ignoring the whispers from the cats lounging in the clearing.

"Why did the patrol bring him back?"

"Who IS he anyway?"

"I think he's a loner…"

Smokey kept his head low, staring at the ground. Finally the two cats came to a flattened rock. A white and brown cat was folded out on top of the rock, letting the sun warm his pelt. As Cottonsky and Smokey approached, the cat jumped from his perch and sat with his tail curled around his legs, waiting for them.

"Smokey, this is Fallenstar," Cottonsky said, nodding respectfully at the brown and white tom.

Smokey had enough experience with alpha males to know that this cat was used to attention and admiration. Smokey submissively dipped his head and flicked his ears at the other tom, then stood perfectly still. Cottonsky was looking at him curiously; he could see her hazel eyes glinting at his polite actions. Fallenstar also looked somewhat surprised.

"Smokey. I have heard from Cottonsky that you were found on the Thunderpath with your sister?" Fallenstar asked.

Smokey wordlessly nodded his head.

"Cottonsky has also told me that your sister, Thistle, died from being hit by a monster. I am very sorry. Were you two traveling through these lands?" the leader questioned.

At this Smokey looked up at Fallenstar, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. All these Clan cats thought the same thing: protect their land. Smokey knew that Fallenstar was worried that he and Thistle had been planning on living on WindClan land.

"No we weren't traveling. We were running. The cats from that other clan, ShadowClan, found us in their territory and chased us out," Smokey replied.

Suddenly, as if an avalanche had crashed into his face, Smokey realized Thistle's death could have been prevented.

"It was their fault," he whispered.

"What?" said Fallenstar.

"Those cats. They scared Thistle into running on the road. She was so afraid she forgot to look…" Smokey's heart was pounding now. A hot rage was building within him. Those ShadowClan cats would pay for what they did to his sister.

Fallenstar and Cottonsky glanced at one another, an inscrutable look passing through their eyes.

"Do you have any other family?" Fallenstar asked.

Smokey shook his head, his mind still whirling with anger.

"And how old are you?"

"Eight moons."

Fallenstar suddenly got to his feet. "Puddledrop! Come here," he called.

A black she-cat with white ears and feet appeared at Fallenstar's side, her eyes bright and shining. Smokey recognized her from the group of cats that had rescued him.

"Yes Fallenstar?"

"Smokey is eight moons old. Do you think he's young enough to train? Is there hope for him?" Fallenstar was behaving very strangely now, his tail was whipping back and forth with agitation and he began to pace up and down by the flat rock.

Puddledrop looked at Smokey, sizing him up. "He's strong. He already knows how to fight and hunt. I think all we would need to do is train him to become a warrior and follow the code. Goldeye could mentor him," she said.

Smokey felt alarm rising in him. What were they talking about?

Fallenstar nodded and then peered at Smokey. "Would you like to join WindClan?"

Smokey felt a jolt of surprise run down his spine. "What?"

"WindClan needs strong cats. I think you could make a good warrior. You have no place to go and we are offering you a home and a family," Fallenstar said.

Smokey looked unsure. He glanced over at Cottonsky, who nodded at him.

"Your sister would want you to be happy," Puddledrop said quietly, still staring at Smokey.

"If you join WindClan, there will be opportunities to fight ShadowClan cats. You can avenge your sister," Fallenstar said.

Cottonsky suddenly looked angry. She gave Fallenstar a sharp glance and then knelt down next to Smokey, who was seriously considering the leader's words.

"Do this for yourself," murmured Cottonsky.

Smokey turned and looked into the she-cat's deep hazel eyes.

"Alright. I'll join your Clan."