Hihi! This is going to be my next installment for a while. I'm going away for a week or so and won't be able to get to my computer. Sorry for disappearing on ya again…
Disclaimer: Warriors isn't mine, blah blah blah, only my OC's are mine, yada yada yada…
Chapter 4Wolfheart yawned and stretched out her front legs, being carefully not to disturb the lumps of fur still burrowed into her side. As dearly as she loved them, she couldn't wait until her kits were apprenticed so she could return to the warriors' den. She looked down at the 5-moon-old kits. Sunkit's yellow pelt practically glowed in the darkness of the nursery, while Twilightkit's blended in so easily, she might not have been there at all. Only the sound of her soft breathing gave it away. Wolfheart looked for Windkit's ghostly silver-streaked pelt.
Every cat in MysticClan was woken by an unearthly wail coming from the nursery. Seconds later, Wolfheart came bolting out of it, frantically scanning the camp before sprinting from place to place.
Finally, Shadowstorm managed to corner his mate. "Wolfheart!" he practically yowled, "What in StarClan's name is wrong?"
Wolfheart looked up at him with big scared eyes. "Windkit's missing!"Murmurs of fear for Wolfheart's smallest kit rippled through the clearing. Aquastar's own yowl brought silence upon the Clan cats.
"We must find her. Rockfire, find another cat and go check along the southern borders. Nightrain, likewise with the eastern," she started issuing out orders to the Clan. Shadowfire and Icefeather went with them.
Blackstone stepped forward. "It's my fault that she's missing. I should've kept better watch."
Aquastar glanced at him. "It is no one's fault. You were looking for enemies, not wandering kits. Now, stop moping and take Swiftwind and Frostbite with you. I want you to speak with the other Clans and see if we can get help from them."
Ivypaw looked at the leader. "Why would other Clans want to help us?"
"They may not be of our Clan, but I cannot believe that any cat would ever wish harm to a kit, even if it was from outside their Clan." She nodded to the search party who turned and headed for MoonClan territory.
"Aquastar, should I go speak with the wolves?" Wolfheart asked, grief darkening her eyes. From behind her, Twilightkit and Sunkit were looking up at the leader with frightened eyes.
"But what about our other kits?" Shadowstorm meowed.
Sunkit looked up at his father. "We want to find Windkit as soon as possible. If that means mom has to leave us for a little while, we don't mind." Twilightkit sadly nodded in agreement.
Aquastar dipped her head. "Go, Wolfheart, but I want Solarflare to go with you." Instantly, Wolfheart sprinted off with Solarflare at her heels.
"The rest of you will wait until we get word from the search parties," Aquastar flicked her tail, dismissing the rest of the cats. Shadowstorm and Ivypaw both set about comforting the remaining kits.
At this moment, Mossear, who had been asleep, came out of her den. She let out a low hiss. Why was everyone all up in a tizzy? Tail lashing, she stomped to Mistmoon. "What on earth is al this racket?"
The light-gray she-cat turned to her. "Windkit has gone missing," she mewed softly.
Mossear's grizzled old pelt stood on end, her eyes widening. "We need to speak with Scarshoulder from NightClan."
Aquastar looked at the oldest of the elders quizzically. "Why is that, Mossear?"
"He is the oldest elder in all of the Clans. This happened before when I was just a new-born kit. He was an apprentice then. He will know what is going on."
Aquastar nodded. "I will go to speak with NightClan myself." Without another word, she whirled and raced out of the camp. Mossear blinked and, after a moment's hesitation, limped after the leader as fast as she could.
--
Brushblaze's yowl brought Falconstar out of his den. "Outsider approaching!" was the sentry's call. Other cats of NightClan padded out of their dens, each looking at their leader. A single twitch of his ear told them to stay where they were.
"Let this intruder into the camp!" he answered. "We are strong enough to bring him down if he poses any threat!"
Moments later, a storm-gray she-cat entered, panting heavily. Falconstar's gold eyes opened in surprise. "Aquastar? Why have you come here, and so alone?" a small snarl accompanied his last remark.
"She isn't alone, Falconstar." Mossear's gruff old voice preceded her entrance. All of the cats looked at her in surprise.
Snakescale's mocking growl broke in before Falconstar could say anything. "MysticClan thinks it can bring us down with only a leader and an elder, does it?"
Aquastar, who had regained composure remarkably fast, answered him. "We have not come looking for a fight. One of our kits is missing. Mossear believes that once before a cat went missing just as mysteriously, and we were hoping Scarshoulder might know something about it."
Upon hearing his name, a gray tom limped forward, a long pink scar showing painfully through his fur. "Vanishing cat, eh? Yes, this happened before. In fact, it was also a cat from your Clan. A red tom named Firefur. StarClan had told the medicine cat of SunClan that they chose that cat to go on a special mission, but that was all they said. Still, we all hunted for him. We found him later on, dead, drowned in a river. If this is a kit that they have sent, odds are, it's already dead." A small twinge of remorse entered his voice then. "I wish that StarClan hadn't had a kit go. It's sad to lose such a young life. Though you may find it dead, I would at least have you find it so it can have a proper burial with its Clan. All cats have a right to that."
"Oh no…" Aquastar breathed.
Falconstar turned to his Clan. "We must find this kit before the worst happens."
Scarshoulder glanced up. "If a grown warrior couldn't do it, a kit doesn't stand a chance. But if you're so insistent, the last cat was headed for the mountains."
"Thank you," Aquastar meowed. "I must pass this onto my Clan."
"NightClan will help, too. Take Russetpelt with you. She is our best tracker."
--
Firerunner paced back and forth in front of Dawnstep. "Windwalker doesn't stand a chance! You have to send her back!"
"You must have more faith in your charge, Firerunner. Windwalker almost has everything she needs to make the journey," Dawnstep said calmly.
"Almost?!" Firerunner stared at the First Wanderer in horror. "Why not send her when she has everything?"
"Because she will not find the missing necessity until she crosses the river. I believe you remember it well."
Firerunner spluttered. "I couldn't survive that! What makes you think an untrained kit will?"
Dawnstep looked at him, a twinkle of humor in her eyes. "She is almost an apprentice." The she continued more somberly. "Besides, you will be able to help her cross it."
Dawnstep glanced over at a small pool. "And the river is not hungry for the life of a kit."
Firerunner walked to it and peered into the water. In it, he saw Russetpelt of NightClan, Smallpebble of SunClan, Redfoot of MoonClan, and Emberflame and Hawkwing of MysticClan leaving for the mountains, hoping to track down Windwalker before she got too far.
Dawnstep padded up beside him. "The river will not take the life of the kit, but the life of one of these cats," she mewed softly.
"Who?"
"I do not know this. But we will all find out soon enough."
SQUEEE! CLIFFHANGER!! You're all gonna kill me, aren't you? But you'll have to wait until I get back! Mwahahahahaha!!