Blue had decided to go home after quickly finishing his meal. Everyone else was still eating, but at a slower pace, wanting to savor the food that they were eating. They still had to give up whatever food that they could that morning, to the Peace Reapers. They were thankful they could still have this food, though.
While eating some of the bird that she had chewed off, Rainbowheart thought about how they would go about with their meeting with the Peace Reapers. Hazel said that Bloodstorm wants to probably recruit me. That's a high possibility.
On the other paw though, it could be that he wants to get the jump on us. He'll want me to come to an agreement with him, and if I say no, then they'll attack us. There's also the fact that other little thing...
"Hampton to Rainbowheart, hello, did you hear me?"
Rainbowheart's mind snapped back to reality. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed that the others had been talking to her. She looked at Hampton across from her, who had a questioning look on his face. "Sorry, can you repeat that?" she asked, embarrassed.
The grey tabby looked a bit irritated but repeated what he had said before, "I asked what the plan was for dealing with the Peace Reapers at the meeting; I know it's days before we go, but we'd all like to know what it is we'll be doing."
Everyone looked to their mentor for the next plan of action.
Rainbowheart didn't know where to start, but decided to go with the first thing that came to mind. "Well first, I'd like to ask something." There was seriousness in her voice as she spoke. "Has anyone stated information to anyone acquainted with Bloodstorm?" Before anyone could talk she also added, "The reason I couldn't say no to the invitation was because Bloodstorm disclosed he knew where the den was and threatened the little ones."
Jade's eyes widened, and she suddenly curled her tail around her kits tightly.
"I ask again, has anyone spoken to someone in the Peace Reapers?"
The others were a bit shocked. The loners looked at Rainbowheart as if she had eaten a rotten piece of prey. Was she accusing one of them to be a traitor?
"How dare you ask us something like that!" Hampton sprung up, defensive. "We came here to learn from you, not be subjected to suspicion."
"I understand that," Rainbowheart responded, slowly rising to her paws, "But the fact that Bloodstorm threatened my group with information he shouldn't know, is cause for my own concern."
"Well it could have been one of the others who never came for training," Cliff stated, more calm than Hampton, but obviously not enjoying being a suspect with the others. "They came here and saw the den and the kits. They could have blabbed. Or maybe someone's been spying on us from afar."
No one spoke after that. All that could be heard for the moment was the wind through the trees. The sun had begun to go down. They would need to leave soon, with slight sourness in mood from Rainbowheart's accusation.
Finally, a voice cut through the silence, "I think it was Blue." Everyone turned to look at the owner of the voice. Spike was sitting up straight, a hard look in his eyes. "I've seen him talking with one of the Peace Reapers."
Rainbowheart sat up quickly at the news, "When did you see him?"
Spike closed his eyes in thought, and then slowly opened them up, "Um, a couple of days ago. Definitely before you showed up. He seemed to have been talking to one of the punishers, a grey tabby with one eye; I think his name is Silver. They seemed real chummy. I didn't remember until now."
Rainbowheart nodded, but wasn't relieved just yet. If Blue was a spy, then he knew about the training methods they'd been doing. The cat seemed so nice though. Then again, his early departures suddenly put him in a place of suspicion.
"Thank you, this is good information to know. This only proves that he's been in contact with the Peace Reapers though." She looked around the circle. "If Blue is a spy, we may need to approach this situation in a different way than I thought."
"But even so, what can we do about it?" Nutmeg spoke up, her tone a bit wary. She couldn't believe Blue might be giving information to their enemy.
Suzie agreed with her friend, "It's not like we can spy on him." Everyone stared at the green eyed cat. "What?"
Buck smiled at the kittypet, "That's exactly what we can do. What do you think Rainbowheart?"
The black and white cat thought for a moment. "It does seem like our only choice in the matter, but who would do it?" Everyone knew that it couldn't be Rainbowheart, or Jade, or Streak that did it, since it was the warrior that Bloodstorm was obviously after.
"I will," Chris said, getting the others' attention.
Though there was no doubt in the young cat's courage and spirit, Rainbowheart had to protest for once. "I'm sorry Chris, but I don't think that is such a good idea."
"What, but why? I can do it, I really can," the green eyed tom pleaded. "Just because I'm young, doesn't mean I'm unable to do the things that the rest of you can. Just give me a chance." Chris gazed at the others, trying to get them to agree with him.
"I have to agree with Rainbowheart, it's not a good idea to send you out there to spy on a possibly dangerous threat," Brick said, a smirk in his voice. "That's why I think that it would be better if I go with you."
He turned to Rainbowheart, "This isn't a job for one cat, and I think that Chris and I can both get the job done. All we're doing is watching Blue to see if he's doing something suspicious. No need to worry." He winked.
"Besides, it is our fight. It's not like we are a part of your clan, so you don't really need to worry about us right?" Buck had spoken, with a hint of bitterness. He obviously was cross at the fact that Rainbowheart still hadn't reconsidered fighting with them. Sore much?
The warrior shifted her paws, at the tom's tone of voice, but didn't let anything show in her voice. "Sorry, I guess you're right Chris. You do deserve a chance. So I'll leave Blue to you both then." Deep inside, she couldn't help but feel like Buck was being a kit right now.
"Well now that that's settled, I think that it's time for us to be heading home," Blair stood up, and dipped her head. "Thank you, for the meal, and for helping us."
"We'll be sure to come at the same time tomorrow. Good night," Jewel said, and then walked off with the other kittypets. They all then disappeared into the foliage, in the direction of the twolegplace.
Brick and Spike suddenly got up. Brick mewed thanks for the food. "I think that we'll go with them, just to make sure that they get home safely."
Streak whispered into Jade's ear, "Yeah that's it." Both she-cats chuckled, making the two toms frown.
"Whatever; see you guys later," Spike said, and he and Brick padded away into the forest.
Hampton shook his head and scoffed, "Chasing after kittypets. They could do so much better."
Cliff looked at his friend in disbelief, "What are you talking about? Just last night you were saying how you thought that J- mrf." Hampton suddenly shoved his tail over the jabbering cat's mouth.
"Hey do you guys mind if we stay with you? Our place got taken over by some punishers this morning, so we don't have anywhere to go," Hampton said, obviously changing the subject.
Streak rolled her eyes, and Jade giggled at the grey cat's nervous actions.
"I don't mind, but I'll need some help making more nests," Rainbowheart stood up, and buried the scraps of prey she had left.
"That's ok, we can help," Cliff said, not feeling like being taken care of anyway.
"Follow me then. Streak, Jade, can the both of you gather up the feathers that are lying around?" Rainbowheart asked.
"Sure thing," Streak replied, and the sisters began gathering up stray feathers.
The black-and-white warrior turned to Buck and his group, "I guess I'll see you all tomorrow then." She gave Buck a solemn look.
"Actually, Star was wondering if she could stay too," Buck stated, carelessness in his voice.
Rainbowheart looked at the odd-eyed she-cat, "Um… sure if you want to."
"Thank you. I feel as though it would be best if I help you take care of Shell. After all, you are only slightly knowledgeable with herbs, am I right?" Star said, her head tilted and mismatched eyes holding question and knowing.
Rainbowheart blinked her eyes, "You know how to use herbs?" That was a surprise to the warrior. She didn't recall the blue-grey cat informing her of this. It really would have been useful information before.
Star didn't answer, and instead drew her attention to Buck "I will be fine here. We shall see you three in the morning," she stated, dismissing him.
The big tom grunted, and motioned for him and his friends to the edge of the clearing. They vanished.
Star padded past Rainbowheart and stood next to Hampton and Cliff, "I shall help you gather the moss that is needed for the nests, and maybe I can find some herbs on the way back."
Rainbowheart opened up her mouth to again ask the blue-grey cat, but stopped. She was tired, and didn't feel like Star would actually explain herself. She padded into the lead of the cats, and they took off to gather more moss.
When they had all gotten back to the den, Rainbowheart instructed the new denmates to make their nests by hers, Streak's, and Jade's. Since they had a sick cat staying with them, and nowhere else to sleep, they would have to make do with the cramped space away from Shell.
Star had been lucky enough to find a patch of plants, that Rainbowheart couldn't identify, that would be helpful with getting Shell better quicker.
While the white-faced cat was working, it was noted that Streak had padded over to join her near Shell. From what could be seen, Star seemed to be lecturing the black cat on how to use the plant.
Rainbowheart looked on as they chatted. It was strange to her. Streak had never stated anything about wanting to learn about healing. Had she missed any signs showing that the other cat wanted to know about herbs? She remembered telling her some basics but that was it.
In any case, Rainbowheart wouldn't have really been able to teach her that much. She'd let Star handle this, if Streak really was interested.
Everyone was now settled in their nest, one falling asleep after the other. Through the darkness, Rainbowheart could faintly see the soft-breathing shapes of Hazel and Rockslide, who had decided to sleep next to Shell to keep her warm.
Rainbowheart didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but she soon found herself awake in StarClan, or at least what she thought could be StarClan. She looked around, knowing that she was here for a reason. A beautiful ginger pelt suddenly came into her line of sight, and she padded over to Foxflower, who was accompanied by a small blue-grey tom with a white belly.
"Foxflower, Dewstar," Rainbowheart dipped her head. When she looked up, she saw that both cats had exchanged glances that held a secret from her. Their pelts seemed a bit ruffled, and they were breathing a bit abnormally. Were they fighting?
"It's good to see you again Rainbowheart and it is also good to see that you have found cats willing to join you," said Dewstar. The blue-grey cat's eyes flickered with worry, but after a few blinks it had disappeared. "Though it seems that you have veered off of your path."
"If you had a problem with it before, you should have come and told me," Rainbowheart started with a bit of irritation. "I'm not getting involved any further than I need to. I'm just training some cats."
"You got involved further when you decided to go to that meeting, instead of drop everything and leave." Dewstar seemed to be growing impatient.
"Nothing bad is going to happen if I have anything to say about it." Rainbowheart was trying to figure out the change in the cat's demeanor. "How do you expect me to make a clan anyway without a medicine cat?"
"Was it not clear when we sent that odd-eyed she-cat to you?" Foxflower seemed to question with surprise it was not obvious.
Rainbowheart blinked. "You mean Star?"
"Yes, Star. She is a very unusual cat, but seems to know enough. It was quite easy to manipulate her involvement to get her to you." Dewstar seemed a little overly proud of his statement. "That aside, I still must insist that you leave as soon as possible. Take some of the loners with you if you can, but I must warn you to not get too involved emotionally in their conflict. You will only be hurt."
The tom was so sure with what he was saying.
Rainbowheart stood her ground, and stared the leader in the eyes, "I will leave when I feel that those cats are ready to fend for themselves. I plan on talking to the cat known as Bloodstorm, to see if he can come to some sort of agreement."
"That cat is a dangerous threat. If you meet with him, you will endanger yourself, and the future generation of your clan," Foxflower tried to reason, eyes drooped.
"It's not like I am going to fight against him. Can't you both see what I'm saying?"
Dewstar hissed in frustration, "Just hurry up and get out of there, before something happens and regrets are all that anyone will feel." The blue-grey tom got up and padded off into the misty night.
Rainbowheart looked to Foxflower for an answer. "What's with him? What's going on Foxflower?" There was something bigger going on. There had to be.
The cat averted her gaze, "It is not my place to say, but remember that whatever happens, it is your decision to make. I will not judge you based on what you do next. Whatever happens happens, whether it's for the better or not." Foxflower suddenly touched her nose to Rainbowheart's and then whispered in her ear, "Only you can decide your clan's, and everyone else's future."
Foxflower got up and began to pad away, being engulfed by the night of StarClan. Rainbowheart was left there by herself, wondering exactly what was going to happen.
What isgoing to happen?
Is Blue really a spy?
Are Spike and Brick she-cat stalkers?
Why does Dewstar have a stick rammed up his ass?
All of these answers might be answered next time! (half of them might not)
:D