Chapter 17

Frost had begun to settle over the plants by the time Willowcloud was woken up from her sleep. She found herself struggling to keep asleep during the night. Her dreams had been haunted by images of Ghostwind and Silverleaf, battling it out in a field of blood and bodies. Willowcloud tried to push the thoughts away as she shook the sleep away. She was worried that these dreams had some meaning to them. It was clear that StarClan was trying to tell her something.

Her fur remained ruffled as she emerged from the den. It was cold out - far colder than Willowcloud could remember.

It's getting worse, she thought. If this cold weather keeps up, leafbare will come early.

Surprise flared within Willowcloud when she leaned forward. A sparrow had been placed by the entrance of her den. Willowcloud blinked before she looked around in confusion. Embertail was in no condition to hunt. Leopard had disappeared the day Embertail arrived, so he couldn't have caught the sparrow.

"I thought you might be hungry." The warm voice that made her heart flare made Willowcloud jump.

"Where did you go?" she demanded.

"To places," Leopard replied with a flick of his tail. "I don't stay in one place for long. Bad habit I suppose." His green eyes were gleaming when he saw a flicker of remorse in Willowcloud's gaze.

"I thought something had happened to you," she grumbled.

"And here I was hoping you would miss me." His purr rumbled deep within his throat. "But I can understand why you wouldn't want me around."

Willowcloud shook her head as she looked down at her paws. Leopard had disappeared when Embertail arrived. Perhaps he didn't know about the medicine cat's condition. Either way it meant that she would have to explain where Embertail had come from.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet," she murmured after a few heartbeats passed.

She was relieved that he made no sound of complaint. That was the thing she liked about him. He was unusually quiet for a tom. His stories had often fascinated her when they spoke during the last few days. Now he was back, and she hoped he would stay for good.

Embertail was laying outside her den when Willowcloud approached her. The pale brown she-cat's eyes flickered open when she detected movement on the rocks. Her gaze narrowed after she noticed that Willowcloud wasn't alone. Suddenly her eyes widened when she saw Leopard's slim form join Willowcloud's side.

"Leopard, this is Embertail—" She was cut off when Embertail let out a furious hiss.

"I recognize you. You were that loner that came to us several seasons ago."

"I mean you no harm," Leopard replied calmly. He lifted his chin and met her gaze levelly. "Though I'm sure you have regrets in letting me join."

"I doubt Graystar would have regretted it at the time," Embertail muttered crossly. "He was always a bit too proud for his own good."

I know she doesn't mean that, Willowcloud thought. Embertail missed Graystar. She could see it in her eyes as she spoke of his name. Leopard seemed to catch the grief as well. His pelt flattened for a moment and his eyes darkened with sympathy.

"You had no name the last time you came to our Clan," Embertail said in an almost accusing tone.

"Someone gave me a name." Leopard glanced at Willowcloud, whose fur grew hot with embarrassment.

"I see." Embertail gave her chest a lick before looking down at the patches of fur that were missing. Her ears flattened in embarrassment when she realized that Leopard was staring at them in amusement. Willowcloud would have smacked him in the back of the head if it weren't for Embertail's rude comments.

Willowcloud felt her mind drift towards the dreams that had haunted her during the night. She wondered if telling Embertail was worth the risk. The medicine cat could still have ties with her Clanmates. If she chose to, she might turn on Willowcloud.

The air had begun to warm up by the time the sun rose. Willowcloud was relieved by the warmth of the sun. She knew that the arrival of leafbare was inevitable. She just didn't want to face it on her own. Now she had Leopard and Embertail to endure it with.

"Right, I think it's time we set off to see what is happening at the borders," Willowcloud murmured after Leopard had stopped speaking. Embertail was still glaring at him, but she'd managed to stop spitting insults at him.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Embertail asked. "The Clans are already on the edge after what happened at the…Gathering. If they scent any cat on the edge of the borders…there's no telling what they'll do to you."

"I have to know what is happening," Willowcloud meowed determinedly. "I want to…know how Sparrowfur is doing. And my mother."

I want to know if Mistybird still cares, she added silently.

"I will go with you," Leopard whispered. "I know the borders well." When Willowcloud gave a nod of approval, Leopard rose to his paws. "I trust you will be safe here," he added when he looked at Embertail. She merely shrugged in response.

The two of them padded off to leave Embertail behind. Willowcloud was worried that the medicine cat would wander off. She knew that Embertail was in no condition to return to the Clans; the medicine cat had been limping the day she arrived, and her wounds had not yet healed. She shook her head and pushed the thoughts away. Embertail was a good cat, who was close to StarClan. She couldn't deny the fact that she and Leopard would need a cat who had the knowledge of herbs to help them.

Rocky outcrops were quickly replaced by open fields. Willowcloud could see the Twoleg nest looming in the distance. She knew that it had been abandoned many moons ago. At the time when her father had been a warrior, kittypets had lived in the nest with their Twolegs. Stories were told of how DuskClan's leader before Rainstar had taken her in as a kittypet kit. The mother had been threatened to be killed in the spot of a kit was not given.

Why would anyone want a kittypet to join their Clan? Willowcloud wondered. Kittypets were usually lazy and cowardly. Orangestripe had proven himself worthy by fending off a family of badgers at one point in his life. Rainstar on the other paw was cunning and ruthless. Her intelligence made her seem more like a rogue than a kittypet. She scoffed at the idea, once again making herself look like a fool in front of Leopard. He glanced over his shoulder in concern, while she merely grinned back.

The fields had been replaced by lush woodland by the time their movements had ceased. Orange leaves were visible on the branches, telling Willowcloud that the full brunt of leaffall had already struck LeafClan territory. Birds were a bit more numerous in this part of the forest. Willowcloud felt at home here, despite the fact that she had grown used to living by the gorge.

"This is LeafClan territory," Leopard breathed. His eyes were round with wonder as he observed the forest. "I've seen many forests in my life, but this one seems a bit more…charming."

"Odd thing to say," she murmured. Her gaze flickered towards the thick undergrowth. A patrol could come out any moment. "We need to hide," she added in a low whisper.

When Leopard made no sound of agreement, she slipped away towards the trees she knew best. Hollowed out holes were the most obvious places to hide. Her Clanmates were stupid enough to not check on them, much to her relief. Leopard followed suit, though he seemed uncomfortable spending time in such a small space.

Willowcloud was right to hide when she did. Sure enough three cats were weaving in and out of the undergrowth. Their tails were held high in confidence as they explored their territory. Willowcloud recognized them by scent. Spiderfur, Robinpaw and Poppyfeather. All three cats appeared oblivious to the trespassers hiding in the tree.

"When do you think it will happen?" Robinpaw was asking as he stopped to sniff the air.

"When what will happen?" Poppyfeather hissed.

"Rainstar's battle," he replied. "She threatened the entire Clan during the Gathering just before it was over."

"She hasn't made a move since the Gathering," Spiderfur pointed out. "I doubt that she will…she's waiting for Ghostwind to order her around." A smirk fell upon his face when Poppyfeather glared at him.

"I don't want anything to do with that traitor," she spat. "He's done nothing but brainwash everyone."

At least one cat talks sense, Willowcloud thought. She'd forgotten that she wasn't alone. Leopard's quite breathing had startled her when she sighed. Poppyfeather seemed well aware of Ghostwind's plans. She was one of the few cats to remain defiant. Willowcloud knew that Ghostwind would try to take care of that.

"I wouldn't say that around him," Spiderfur grumbled. "Ghostwind is a good cat. He's rebuilt the Clan, and made it stronger then ever."

"And hedgehogs fly," Poppyfeather hissed. "Let's get back to camp. There's nothing out here." Her eyes narrowed when she spotted the hole Willowcloud and Leopard were hiding in. For a moment Willowcloud thought she might give them away. Relief washed over Willowcloud when she swung around and led her companions back towards the camp.

Willowcloud managed to squeeze herself out of the hole. She caught her breath while Leopard followed. "That was…interesting," he meowed

"Those were my former Clanmates," she murmured. Sorrow dripped from her voice. She was surprised by the amount of pain she felt when she spoke of her Clanmates. "But I could care less about them now."

"It seems like you do care," Leopard pointed out.

"I don't." Willowcloud said the two words in a low voice. "Come on, there's someone I want to look for before getting back," she added when Leopard blinked in amusement.

Her gaze narrowed as she led him through the undergrowth once more. The sunhigh patrol had come and gone by now. She was thankful that no cat had questioned her scent, or the scent of Leopard. In fact, the patrol had seemed wary at the time when they spoke of Ghostwind. Robinpaw had acted like his father, behaving as if Ghostwind was the best thing that had happened to LeafClan. Spiderfur had always been on Ghostwind's side, though his relationship had always been questionable. Poppyfeather…Willowcloud wasn't sure what to think of her mother's friend.

Willowcloud could already hear the sounds of her Clanmates as they drew closer to the camp. Leopard's ears flicked from side to side as he listened to the noises. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure that everything was alright.

A cat hissed in annoyance when a thorn stabbed in her pelt. Willowcloud recognized that sound anywhere. Her heartbeat quickened as she let out a quiet hiss. The cat stiffened, tail raised and whiskers stiff in alarm. She whirled around, yellow eyes bright with panic until she recognized Willowcloud's slim form.

"Willowcloud, thank StarClan you're alive!" she gasped. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted Leopard crouching beside Willowcloud. His defensive posture made Willowcloud purr in amusement. She didn't need defending when it came to her Clanmates. She knew their every move, and more. "Who's he?" she added in a colder tone.

"Sparrowfur, it's good to see you," Willowcloud purred. "This is Leopard…he's not from the Clans." She flashed him a wary glance before looking back at her sister. "How is the Clan?"

"Not good." Sparrowfur frowned as she said those two words. "Ghostwind has been influencing everyone. He told me to make another sign, but I refused. He's threatening to kill Ruststripe and Mistybird…I don't know what to do."

"Who is Ghostwind?" Leopard asked. His voice was low and smooth, but his gaze was bright with curiosity.

I forgot I haven't told him, Willowcloud told herself. I'll have to tell him when we get back.

She hated telling any cat who her brother was. Ghostwind was uncaring and had left a scar on her future. She wasn't sure if she would ever return to the Clans, even if he fell. Her own Clanmates had refused to listen to her own story of how Brightfur had died.

"I won't let him get away with it," Sparrowfur murmured after a moment of silence passed. "He can do what ever he wants with me, but hurting family will get him nowhere."

Sparrowfur's determination surprised Willowcloud. She'd never seen her sister behave this way, even when they were denmates in the nursery. Sparrowfur's attitude had been altered by the way Ghostwind treated her. That had changed when Sparrowfur confessed what she'd done to Willowcloud.

"I wish there was something I could do," Willowcloud whispered. She leaned forward and brushed her muzzle against Sparrowfur's.

"Don't worry about it," Sparrowfur replied confidently. "I've found cats who don't follow Ghostwind. They know what he truly is, and what he's capable of." Instantly Willowcloud thought of Poppyfeather, whose life was in danger because she could care less about Ghostwind and what he said. "We've been talking about how to take care of the problem. Even a few cats from DuskClan are willing to help."

"Are you sure I can't do anything to help?" Willowcloud was determined to make herself useful, even if she had no ties with the Clans any longer. Ghostwind was a threat to her own future - if he survived then he would surely claim the gorge as his territory.

"Not in the condition you're in!" Sparrowfur looked down at her paws. "I don't want you to get hurt for something you're not part of."

Willowcloud's jaw clenched as she tried to piece what Sparrowfur was trying to tell her. Leopard pressed against her shoulder comfortingly. She glanced at him warmly before looking back at Sparrowfur.

"If any cat needs help, tell them to seek the gorge," Willowcloud finally sighed. "Embertail is living there at the moment…she fled from Aldertail's grasp." Sparrowfur looked shocked by what Willowcloud had announced, but nodded in agreement.

"Right, I will do that," she murmured. "Please take care of yourself," she added as she nudged Willowcloud's muzzle with her own.

"I will." Willowcloud rose to her paws, feeling a surge of hope rush through her. Sparrowfur was still alive, and so was their mother. If they survived, maybe they would live at the gorge with her and Leopard.

We could form a Clan of our own, if it was needed, she decided after turning around to leave. StarClan hasn't sent me any messages about it…if only they were more vocal about what we should do.

She suddenly remembered something that Mistybird had told her long ago when she was just a kit. StarClan didn't send messages of their own free will, nor did they voice what the Clans should do. The Clans had been given free-will, something rogues and loners lacked. She knew that Sparrowfur was gathering cats to stop Ghostwind. That much helped her feel hope - something she had not felt for moons. And hope was exactly what the Clans needed in such dark times.

A/N: Finally got this chapter finished. It's a long one too ^^

Anyways, a few things I thought I should point out - Willowcloud and Leopard were hiding in a rotting tree. There are plenty of hollows to hide in the forest, and Willowcloud just happened to find one at the nick of time. And Poppyfeather didn't give her away for reasons I shall not say. That would give things away, now wouldn't it?

Thanks to ImXDragon and String of Pearly for your reviews! You both have earned...Leopard plushies! And he growls every time you squeeze him :P Enjoy!