Chapter 10

A day had passed since their encounter with WindClan. The Clan was still on edge with the border troubles as patrols were constantly sent out. Firestar was determined to show Mudstar that they weren't about to give up so easily, or forget what had happened.

Stormsong was eager to take Larchpaw out for training. The little tortoiseshell's tail was fluffed up against the bitter cold as a wind picked up.

Leafbare was still in full swing and had a strong grip on the forest. Icicles dangled from branches above them. The air itself was cold and dry compared to the usual snow that was always falling. Stormsong wished she could use her powers to keep the Clan warm. But she had chosen to keep them hidden from the Clan until they were needed. She had used her powers against Shadowpelt, and she knew that she would regret it.

"Today we're going to practice some fighting moves," she told Larchpaw as the young apprentice bounded after her. Larchpaw nodded expectantly and trotted towards the training hollow.

Stormsong blinked in surprise when she saw that Squirreltail and Brambleclaw were there. The dark brown tabby was giving Squirreltail advice while Birchpaw pounced on a leaf that had fallen from an oak tree.

Squirreltail was just as surprised as Stormsong when she realized they weren't alone.

"Oh, we'll leave now," Squirreltail mewed with a shrug. "Come on Birchpaw." The light brown tabby glanced at Larchpaw in dismay before following them.

Confusion washed over Stormsong as she watched them leave. Squirreltail and Brambleclaw were hiding something. They were spending too much time together for it to be normal.

I have a feeling in a couple of moons we will find out what is happening, she thought with a sigh.

She looked at Larchpaw and thought of what moves the young cat could learn. She had fought well in the battle against WindClan. Larchpaw had skills that would prove useful in defending the borders against cats like Frostwind.

Stormsong instructed Larchpaw in fighting moves that would prove useful in future battles. Larchpaw dropped into a hunter's crouch and studied Stormsong carefully. Her green eyes narrowed into tiny slits before she lunged forward and pounced on Stormsong's paws. Stormsong saw the move coming and jumped back, letting Larchpaw land on the ground.

"Not bad, but you need to look away before you attack," she told her apprentice. "Try it again."

Once again Larchpaw crouched. This time she observed a branch to the left of Stormsong. The silver and black she-cat narrowed her eyes just when Larchpaw leaped. The little apprentice landed beside Stormsong and managed to nip at her paws.

She jumped in surprise at the sudden attack. A purr of approval rose within Stormsong's throat when she looked down at Larchpaw.

"Well done," she whispered. "Why don't we try going hunting, I'm sure there's some prey around here to find," she added after Larchpaw rose to her paws.

The fresh-kill pile had been empty when she left the warrior's den. Stormsong knew that prey was hard to find during leafbare.

She allowed Larchpaw to hunt on her own while she searched for any prey. Sure enough there was a scrawny looking black bird pecking at the snow nearby. Her fur brushed against a branch before she halted. The black bird looked around in alarm, but she leaped forward before it could get away.

With a final nip at the neck the black bird was dead. It dangled limply from her jaws as she dragged it across the ground.

When she dropped the black bird in a little hollow inside the snow, she searched for any other prey that might be around. Disappointment gleamed within her eyes when she realized that the black bird had alerted every prey that was around.

Sunhigh came and went with little prey to be found. In the end she'd managed to catch the black bird and a mouse. Larchpaw had more success in her hunt, much to Stormsong's relief. She'd caught two mice and even a squirrel that had come out of it's nest.

"I think we can call it a day," she announced. "When we get back I want you to help clean out the elder's den."

Larchpaw opened her mouth to argue, but than thought better of it. Stormsong nodded in satisfaction and led the way back to camp.

The forest and camp itself were eerily silent. Stormsong's pelt bristled with unease when she pushed her way through the gorse tunnel. She noticed that cats were gathered around the nursery. Brackenfur was pacing around as if something terrible was about to happen.

Stormsong shook her head and dropped her prey on the fresh-kill pile. Larchpaw did the same and joined Birchpaw beside the apprentice's den.

"Sorreltail's giving birth," Whiteleaf mewed when Stormsong asked what was happening.

That explains everything, she thought when she heard a wail sounding from the nursery.

"We can't just sit around here and do nothing," Firestar meowed. "I want patrols sent out to check the borders. WindClan has been getting serious about increasing their territory, and I'll have none of it. Graystripe, send out the patrols."

The long-haired warrior limped towards the cats waiting outside the nursery. Stormsong had noticed just how much pain he must be in. He wasn't even walking normally now. Instead he kept up at a limping pace and staggered when he couldn't stand for real long.

She didn't have long to think about it because Leafpelt stepped out of the den. The light brown tabby's eyes were glowing with warmth when she looked at Brackenfur.

"Congratulations, you are the father of four," she purred.

Brackenfur's eyes glowed with pride before he padded into the den.

I wonder what it would be like to have kits, Stormsong thought as she retreated to the warrior's den. She imagined what her kits would like if she had any. She thought of who the father could be and how he would treat them.

"That could be us." She jumped when she heard a voice whisper from behind. She whipped around to see Ashfur standing nearby. His dappled gray fur shown in the sunlight as he studied her. "I've noticed the way you were staring at Brambleclaw and Squirreltail... that could be us one day," he added.

"I don't think so," she hissed. "I'd rather die than have kits with a stuck-up snob like you!"

Before Ashfur could react she stalked past him and made her way out of camp. She wasn't even sure why he'd bothered. They had never been close and he was moons older than her. The whole idea made her belly clench with sickness.

Her claws scraped against the snow and she realized that she had unwittingly reached sunningrocks. She gazed across the river and wondered if any patrols would see her. One cat in particular she was interested in more than anything else.

As if her thoughts had reached him, a familiar figure loomed in the distance. Stormsong's eyes widened in disbelief when she saw Hawkfrost standing nearby Mothpool and Frogpelt. All three cats looked like they were having fun. It was the first time she had ever seen Hawkfrost like this, playing in the snow and acting like a kit.

"Why don't you guys go back," Hawkfrost suddenly meowed. She could hear him despite the distance between them. He stood on one side of the river while she stood on the other. "I'll see if I can catch something while we're out."

Frogpelt had offered some help, but Hawkfrost turned down the offer. Mothpool exchanged a look with her brother before leading Frogpelt back to their camp.

"I know you're out there!" Hawkfrost's voice suddenly became darker as he glared at sunningrocks. "Come out or I'll have to-" He stopped when Stormsong padded forward.

Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits when she glared at him.

"Don't think I haven't forgotten what you did to me that night at Fourtrees," she spat angrily.

"I know... you have a right to be angry at me," he murmured. "It was stupid of me to run like that... I didn't know if I could tell you how I really feel..."

Hawkfrost stared at her for what felt like moons. Stormsong felt herself drawn into his icy blue eyes. For a moment she had forgotten about her argument with Ashfur, and the night when Hawkfrost had left her standing in Fourtrees alone.

"Stormsong, I think... I know that I love you."