She was a fast learner, Rainstorm had to admit, crouching among the snow. Over the past quarter of a moon, she had paid close attention, acting like any willing apprentice. Mistypaw, he thought as he watched her.
She was already a pretty good hunter despite the scarcity of prey that came in leaf-bare. Unlike other non-clan cats Rainstorm had heard of, Misty didn't back down from a challenge, determined to get it right. She had already managed to get in a blow or two during battle training, probably due to her limited practice with Night.
Suddenly she sat up. "What is StarClan?"
Rainstorm was hardly surprised. "StarClan are our warrior ancestors. It's where we go when we die, to watch over the living in the forest."
"And medicine cats. They interpret signs from StarClan, right?"
"Yes, and then we do what is their will."
Their training sessions were often interrupted by periods of questioning. Misty seemed determined to learn everything she could about the Code and the warrior way of life.
It wasn't long before Snowpelt found out and he agreed to help with the training. Rainstorm was relieved when he caught the glint of old humor in his brother's eyes as Misty tackled him. For a moment it was as if none of this had ever happened, as if they were still apprentices scuffling in the training hollow. As carefree as ever…
But they could never go back. Never again would they play outside the apprentices' den and never would Blackpaw join them. In her place now was Misty.
That thought had come to him unbidden and he blinked in confusion. But it was true. Misty was so much like his sister.
"Okay, let's see that move again," Snowpelt said, shaking the snow from his fur. He seemed so relaxed. But Rainstorm could see the tense set of his shoulders and he knew the warrior was anxious. More so than most others in the clan and Rainstorm wondered at that. Snowpelt wasn't the jittery, nervous type.
Misty obeyed him like an apprentice would for a mentor, crouching down, tail flicking. She pounced and Snowpelt sidestepped out of the way. He lifted a paw to bat at her as she landed but she rolled away from the strike, slipping underneath her opponent and kicking at his belly with her hind paws. He leaped nearly a tail-length in the air, unbalanced, and stumbled to the side. Rainstorm watched them scuffle about before Snowpelt finally used the advantage of weight and held her down.
"You're improving," Snowpelt said and stepped back, allowing the younger cat to scramble to her feet.
"What's this?"
The three cats spun around in alarm at the new voice. Rainstorm felt his claws slide out instinctively.
Smalltail was standing at the edge of the clearing, Tawneystripe's apprentice Lionpaw by her side. Rainstorm groaned inwardly, remembering how Smalltail had promised to take Lionpaw out for a bit of hunting.
"Who's she?" Smalltail persisted. "She's not a clan cat. What's she doing here? Come to think of it, what are you doing here?"
Rainstorm hesitated, trying to think of a good enough response for the prickly she-cat.
"Well?" Smalltail said again.
So Rainstorm decided to settle for the truth. Rapidly, he explained to the warrior the reasons for these training sessions, reluctantly describing the dream from StarClan.
When he had finished, Smalltail shot a look at Misty. To Rainstorm's relief, the glance was not hostile, but held a warmth unexpected in the cat's eyes.
Just behind her, Lionpaw's eyes widened, but he held his tongue. Rainstorm realized he really didn't have anything to worry about. He should have known he could trust Smalltail. The warrior may be prickly and irritable at times, but she was a loyal ThunderClan warrior and friend at heart.
"We'll have to tell Raggedfur."
Rainstorm had half-expected her to say something like that. After all, he was kind of like their unofficial leader. He exchanged a glance with Misty and she looked a little uncertain. But Lionpaw approached her and said a few friendly words that seemed to calm her.
It wasn't long before word spread and Raggedfur and Tawneystripe joined in on the secret. They made Misty welcome and Rainstorm was glad.
"Misty?" the voice called as the loner apprentice ate, staring out at the woodland beyond the barn.
"Misty?" the voice insisted, louder this time and with a touch of worry. Then a paw prodded her side and Misty started, facing the cat. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, fine," Misty responded, licking her paw and drawing it over her ear.
"You sure?" Night asked, the concern still evident on her face and in her voice. "You're always gone during the days and I can never find you. I assume you've been hunting, but you hardly return with anything and I just don't see the sense in it, given the plentiful supply of mice in the barn. Is something troubling you?"
Misty shook her head.
Night narrowed her eyes. "You haven't been looking for any of those clan cats have you?"
"No," Misty lied. Though technically it wasn't a lie. She wasn't looking for the clan cats. She'd already found them. But that didn't make the truth sound any better. She kept her mouth shut.
Night sighed. "If there were trouble, you'd tell me, right?"
Misty nodded, afraid that her voice would betray her guilt. She would be returning to what Night called "trouble" the very next day.
"Okay, stay light on your feet, just like this…good, you're really improving. Just shift your weight a bit--that way when someone attacks you, you can easily get out of their way."
Misty did as Rainstorm instructed, shifting her weight and feeling light on her paws.
"But what if I want to stand my ground?" she asked.
"Judge the size and strength of your opponent first," Rainstorm counseled. "Most likely, you'll need to dodge the attack before you can get in a blow of your own." To demonstrate, he lunged toward her. With a squeak of surprise, Misty scampered out of the way.
Rainstorm landed on all fours and turned to face the she-cat. "It's when your adversary's back is turned that you strike. To catch me by surprise."
As if on cue, Misty swiped her paw through the air. Rainstorm ducked and her paw passed less than a mouse-length over his ear.
"You're doing well," Rainstorm praised. "If you lived in the clan, you'd be nearing your first assessment."
"Really?" Misty's eyes gleamed. "Can you assess me?" she asked eagerly.
"I don't think so."
The cats whipped around, startled by the menacing growl. Rainstorm's blood drained into his paws.
"Betraying the clan, are we?" Shadestar said. "Thought that since you had no apprentice of your own, you'd go off and find one?"
Thistletooth and Flamepelt were on either side of the leader. Thistletooth sneered, his eyes glowing with smug satisfaction. For once, surprising Rainstorm, Flamepelt didn't look arrogant. He didn't meet anyone's eye. Behind Rainstorm, Misty took a step back.
"Well?" Shadestar demanded when he received no answer. "What do you think you are doing? You are to return to the camp now where I can keep an eye on you. And unless you want to see that filthy kittypet die, I suggest you not come back."
"But--" Misty began, then trailed off under Shadestar's threatening glare.
"You'd better go," Rainstorm murmured to her. "Don't worry, I'll be alright." Not looked back, he headed into the forest, flanked by the enemy of his own kin, forced to return like a prisoner.
He was escorted to the warriors' den where he was met by Smalltail.
"He knew," Rainstorm told her. "But how?"
"I know," Smalltail replied grimly. "Think about it. How did he know to raid RiverClan when he did? The night before our planned attack? And how else could he have possibly found out about your training the loner?"
Rainstorm had a feeling he already knew what she would say next, but he let her continue.
"There is a traitor among us," she said. "One of our own."
Rainstorm couldn't help but look out at the camp, at Raggedfur and Bluefeather, at the young and quiet Lionpaw. He felt a cold shudder along his spine.