Chapter 5

Yowls of alarm and shock spread through the Clan as Brightfur retold what had happened at the border. Many cats had been surprised that Rosefang would reveal such interesting news. It seemed too easy, too obvious. Rainstar would not have just allowed her warriors to go around and reveal something that would make her Clan look weak. Mistybird and Toadfur had seemed reluctant to agree with what Brightfur and Tawnywing had said.

Willowcloud stood nearby, her fur bristling and smoothing as she tried to remain calm. The visions that she'd had earlier refused to leave her. The boulders and creek near PebbleClan had run red with blood. She knew whose blood had been spilled. The stench of the blood had held another scent that made her nose wrinkle in disgust. It was a scent that made her fur crawl on end when she looked towards the warriors' den.

No, she told herself. It isn't him. It can't be him. I know who killed Graystar, and I know that they will be punished. She couldn't believe that the cat she suspected was the one who'd killed the leader of PebbleClan. So many lives had been ended that day.

"Willowcloud, may I have a word with you?" Ruststripe's voice made her flinch. Willowcloud glanced to her left to see that Ruststripe was standing nearby. Thornstar sat beside him, eyes narrowed in distrust. "We all need to talk." He glanced accusingly at Thornstar, who stiffened under his stare.

The silvery gray she-cat glanced back at her mother before following them. Sparrowpaw was inside the den, sorting through what looked like new shoots of herbs. Her eyes gleamed with happiness and worry when she spotted Willowcloud standing in the entrance of the den.

"Sparrowpaw, why don't you go and listen to what Brightfur has to say," Ruststripe meowed when he looked at his apprentice. The dark gray she-cat's tail drooped slightly as she followed his order. Willowcloud mouthed goodbye before stepping further into the den. "Brightfur told me what happened to you in the forest," he added once the three of them were alone. "You couldn't move or see."

"Is this true?" Thornstar demanded. His hackles were beginning to rise, and his eyes glistened with something other than fear. When Willowcloud nodded absently, Thornstar's glare hardened. "No, you can't be…the one," he snapped. "I've already been told who the one is."

"And you were wrong," Ruststripe replied calmly. "You've been told the wrong thing. And clearly you have been punished for it." He glanced at Willowcloud, who stiffened under his gaze. "As for your visions…I'm not sure…."

"They happened while we were patrolling the forest," Willowcloud meowed. She shuddered at the memory. "I was witnessing…Graystar's death."

"Graystar is…dead?" Thornstar choked out the last word, shock edging within his voice. "How did it happen?"

Willowcloud swallowed as she tried to think of what to do. "He died at the claws of a…a DuskClan warrior," she lied. She glanced at Ruststripe anxiously, hoping that she could tell him the truth another time. Thornstar seemed to revere Ghostwind. She didn't want his hope to be crushed.

"Those mangepelts will pay for what they have done," Thornstar snarled. Without another word he whirled around and left them alone.

"What exactly did you really see there?" Ruststripe demanded once Thornstar was gone.

"I saw…Ghostwind," she whispered. Her eyes clouded over as she pictured her brother's teeth stained with blood—Graystar's blood. "He acted completely different. Like he knew where to go and who was in charge. Once Graystar was dead…he fled the den."

"So soon after Robinstar died," Ruststripe murmured. "I always knew that something was wrong with Rainstar, I just couldn't piece it together."

Willowcloud breathed in a sigh as she tried to understand what this all meant. Rainstar wasn't bad. The DuskClan leader had shown no signs of turning against the warrior code during the previous Gathering. She knew who was influencing Rainstar, as much as she'd rather not admit it. Ghostwind had done this to Rainstar, and was now trying to prove that he was the strongest warrior in the forest.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the sound of pawsteps approaching. Willowcloud glanced over her shoulder to see Ghostwind standing near the den's entrance. The pale gray tom's smirk never left when she stiffened under his gaze.

"Need anything?" Ruststripe asked when he noticed Ghostwind's appearance.

"Nettlesplash is giving birth," Ghostwind announced after a few heartbeats of silence.

"Sparrowpaw can take care of her," Ruststripe replied. "She has enough experience to know what to do."

Ghostwind seemed reluctant to leave as Ruststripe turned to face his sister. The smirk on his face turned to a look of annoyance. Willowcloud felt uncomfortable under his cold stare. She knew that he was trying to find out what they were talking about. Eventually the pale gray warrior turned away and left them.

"It seems as though…those visions come to you when you approach the spot you were attacked," Ruststripe murmured once he was certain they were alone. "This news could be viewed as good or bad to some."

"What does it mean though?" Willowcloud asked. Her mind was churning with thoughts as she wondered what use the vision could have. Surely the Clans would parish no matter what?

"It means that if you saw anything that would effect our Clan, you will warn me first," Ruststripe meowed. "I want to know whether this is news worthy or not," he added when Willowcloud eyed him curiously.

Ruststripe made no attempt to follow her when she bounded out of his den. Patches of silvery gray fur were left behind as it got snared on the branches. Willowcloud closed her eyes as she approached her mother. Mistybird was sitting outside the warrior's den, casting anxious looks towards the nursery. A wail of pain erupted from the grim silence that filled the clearing.

"What's happening?" Willowcloud demanded.

"It seems Nettlesplash is having trouble with the birthing process," Mistybird replied. "Tawnywing is giving her a few pointers, but Brightfur is a wreck. I'm worried that she might have stillborn kits." Mistybird stiffened when the pain-filled wail turned into a moan.

Sparrowpaw suddenly emerged from the nursery, eyes brimming with pride as she was greeted by half of the Clan. Mistybird and Willowcloud watched her anxiously, curious to see what would happen next.

"She's given birth!" Sparrowpaw announced gleefully. "Two healthy kits, a tom and a she-cat," she added when Tawnywing glanced at her questioningly.

Willowcloud felt relief wash over her. Sparrowpaw approached the two with her tail curled in excitement. Mistybird gave her daughter a soothing nudge as she realized that this was Sparrowpaw's first litter of kits on her own. Ruststripe must have trusted her enough for it to not matter.

"Congratulations my love," Mistybird purred. "You will make a fine medicine cat, and I look forward to your service."

"Maybe I'll earn my full name by the next half moon!" Sparrowpaw chirped.

This was the first time in moons Willowcloud had seen her sister look so happy. Ghostwind had been hanging over Sparrowpaw's shoulder for those last moons. She no longer looked like the same jumpy apprentice that others looked at strangely. Willowcloud purred in approval at her sister's change in attitude.

"More kits mean that our Clan will grow stronger," Tawnywing meowed when she approached the three of them. "I hope Thornstar has enough sense to help PebbleClan in their time of trouble."

If Thornstar has his brain in the right place, he will not trust Ghostwind, Willowcloud thought as she watched her brother approach them. She watched as Sparrowpaw recoiled from the glare Ghostwind sent her. Mistybird seemed to sense that their brother wanted to talk. She glanced at Tawnywing before leading the senior warrior away.

"So, we're all together now," Ghostwind said in a sneering tone. "I'm glad we can finally talk, seeing as most of the Clan will be too interested in Nettlesplash's kits." He paused for a moment as Whitepelt walked past him. The older cat gave him a nod before slipping into the warriors' den. "What did Ruststripe tell you?"

"He told me that I need to rest," Willowcloud lied.

"You're lying!" Ghostwind bristled. "I can see it in your eyes…you're keeping something from me and the Clan!"

And I'll keep it until I can trust you, Willowcloud decided. She exchanged a worried glance with Sparrowpaw, whose breathing had become ragged at this point. She pressed her tail against Sparrowpaw's shoulder comfortingly, hoping that would calm her sister's anxiety down.

"You're acting like a mousebrain in front of the Clan," Willowcloud whispered threateningly.

"I have the entire Clan under my paws," Ghostwind whispered back. "None of them suspect a thing. And if I catch you snooping around my personal life…well, let's just say it won't end well."

Willowcloud stared at him in disbelief as he stalked away from them. Sparrowpaw had dragged herself away from her by the time Ghostwind was finished scolding them. None of the others seemed aware of what was exchanged by the warriors' den. If she told the Clan her thoughts now they would accuse her of treachery. Either way wouldn't end well.