Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters created for this story. Please don't steal any of them.

Chapter 17

"Rowanwind. Rowanwind, are you awake?"

Rowanwind opened his eyes and lifted his head. He blinked a few times to clear the blurriness from his eyes before looking up at Frostflower. "What is it?"

"Maggotpaw and I are heading to the Moonpool," Frostflower replied. "It's the half-moon, remember?"

"Oh. Yes. Of course," Rowanwind said. He gave a large yawn. "Be careful."

"We will," Frostflower meowed. She turned and walked a few paces before turning to look at him over her shoulder. "Rowanwind, are you okay? You seem...exhausted."

Rowanwind arched his back in a long stretch. "It's been a difficult time since that battle where Meadowlark died. All the extra patrols..."

"You should get back to sleep, then," Frostflower meowed. "But maybe you should go sleep in the warriors' den, rather then beside the fresh-kill pile."

Rowanwind glanced to see the pile of carcasses. He hadn't meant to fall asleep right here, but his eyes had seemed to close of their own accord. It hadn't been the first time in the past three days it had happened. "Don't worry. I will."

Frostflower nodded and padded away.

Rowanwind watched Frostflower and Maggotpaw exit the camp. After another huge yawn, he slinked off to the warriors' den. It was about time he got a good rest. After all, it was the medicine cat's orders.

The next morning, Rowanwind slipped out of the den. The sun was well above the trees. He looked around to see the camp full of life and sound. Summerkit and Springkit were waddling around outside the den, watched closely by Quickpelt and Poppyflower. Rowanwind assumed that Softcreek was inside the nursery, tending to Coldkit. Thinking of Coldkit, Rowanwind remembered Oakpelt and how uneasy the entire Clan was with him now.

Rowanwind walked over to the fresh-kill pile, looking around to see if Oakpelt was in the camp. His half-brother was nowhere to be seen.

"Looking for someone?" Stormypelt fell into step beside him.

The two of them sat down beside the fresh-kill pile.

"I was wondering where Oakpelt was," Rowanwind replied, looking at his choices for a morning meal. He chose a plump mouse and began to devour it.

Stormypelt's whiskers twitched in surprise. "It's sunhigh, Rowanwind. You assigned Oakpelt to the sunhigh patrol today, remember?"

Rowanwind shook his head. "My mind has been stretched to its limit these past few days."

Stormypelt stuck her nose into his shoulder fur. "Everything is going to be okay, Rowanwind. Those Twolegs and their strange holes are gone. DarkClan have not attacked us for nearly half a moon. It is peaceful in the forest, for once."

"I'm not letting my guard down!" Rowanwind hissed. "That's just what DarkClan wants us to do!"

Stormypelt jerked her head back, as if Rowanwind had physically clawed at her. "I know, Rowanwind. But everyone, including you, needs a break every once in a while." She paused. Her blue eyes looked up toward the sky, parts of which was covered with fluffy, white clouds. "Your entire life has pretty much been dedicated to the war against DarkClan. I'm sure StarClan would agree with me that you need a break."

Rowanwind shook his head sadly. "StarClan are the ones who put me where I am now. They must expect me to fight DarkClan with every ounce of my strength, at all times."

Stormypelt slapped the back of his head with her tail. "Don't talk like that! It's clear in every hair on your body that you are tired! Not one ThunderClan cat would disagree with me that you need to relax."

"How can I relax?" Rowanwind demanded to know.

Stormypelt stood and nudged him to his paws. "Let's go find Thunderstripe and Gingerheart. We can go hunting. Or play in the lake. Just as long as we're doing something that takes your mind off of DarkClan!"

Rowanwind sighed. "Okay, okay. Let me just go tell Clawstar."

Stormypelt curled her lip in protest. "Fine. I'll meet you at the entrance."

Rowanwind walked over to the medicine cat's den. He poked his head inside. "May I come in, Frostflower?"

"Rowanwind! Of course you can come in," Frostflower replied.

He slipped inside and was about to pad over to where Clawstar was cleaning his tail when Maggotpaw interrupted him.

"Hello, Rowanwind!" Maggotpaw said, her tail waggling happily.

"How are you, Maggotpaw?" Rowanwind asked.

"Maggotstripe," she replied, her whiskers twitching.

"What?" Rowanwind blinked.

"I got my medicine cat name!" the apprentice said. "I'm Maggotstripe now!"

Whisker purred. "She hasn't been able to stop talking about it since she and Frostflower got back this morning."

"Congratulations, Maggotstripe!" Rowanwind purred. "I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks, Rowanwind! I'm going to be the best medicine cat I can be!" Maggotstripe meowed.

"Now, what was it you came in here for?" Clawstar wondered.

"I'm going out with Stormypelt to find Thunderstripe and Gingerheart," Rowanwind replied. "Stormypelt thinks I need a break."

"That is a great idea," Frostflower said. "You've been looking more weary by the minute, Rowanwind. You need to go do something to take your mind off of your duties."

"Can I go?" Purepaw asked from the nest he was curled up in.

"Not yet, Purepaw," Frostflower said. "I want to put another poultice of goldenrod and marigold on that eye. If it's still swollen, I also want to put some stinging nettle on it. A few more days, and you should be healthy enough to leave my den."

Purepaw sighed heavily. "Okay, Frostflower."

"Tell Granitetail he is in charge of the camp while you are away," Clawstar told Rowanwind.

"I will," Rowanwind replied. He nodded to the cats before heading out to meet Stormypelt at the entrance.

"Ready?" Stormypelt asked.

"I have to ask Granitetail to watch the camp while I'm gone," Rowanwind replied. "Do you know where he is?"

"Last time I saw him, he was headed into the dirtplace," Stormypelt replied.

Rowanwind went over to the dirtplace and found Granitetail walking out with Softcreek. "Granitetail, I'm going out of the camp for a while. Can you keep an eye on everything until I get back?"

"Of course, Rowanwind," Granitetail replied.

Rowanwind glanced at Softcreek. "I thought you were in the nursery with Coldkit? I saw Quickpelt and Poppyflower watching Summerkit and Springkit playing."

Softcreek tilted her head. "It's okay. Coldkit was sleeping when I left."

Rowanwind nodded. "Okay. Well, don't leave him unattended for too long."

"He'll be okay," Softcreek said, an icy edge to her voice.

"Alright," Rowanwind replied, not wanting to make the queen angry. "I don't know how long I'll be out, Granitetail. I'll come and find you when I do get back."

"Take as long as you need, Rowanwind," Granitetail replied.

Rowanwind waved his tail in good-bye and went over to Stormypelt again. "Ready to go. So, what are we going to do?"

"I was thinking we could just take a walk, maybe play a little in the lake," Stormypelt said. "You haven't taken a moment to enjoy life in a while now, Rowanwind."

"Do you even know where Thunderstripe and Gingerheart are?" Rowanwind asked as they slipped out of the entrance tunnel.

"Yes. Thunderstripe took Palepaw to go practice battle moves with Rainfur and Nimblepaw. Gingerheart went with them."

They strolled through the forest to the clearing where the apprentices trained. Rowanwind spotted Palepaw pressing Nimblepaw into the leaves strewn on the floor of the clearing. Nimblepaw scrabbled under the black and white she-cat, but Palepaw wouldn't let her get up.

"Good job, Palepaw!" Thunderstripe called out happily. "You're doing much better with that move!"

"Rowanwind! Stormypelt!" Gingerheart purred happily when she spotted them.

Thunderstripe turned toward them. "Hey. What brings you two here?"

"Rowanwind needs a break," Stormypelt said. "I was wondering if you and Gingerheart wanted to go on a walk with us?"

Palepaw slipped off of Nimblepaw. "Are we finished training, Thunderstripe?"

Thunderstripe laughed. "Yes, we are. But now it's time for you to go help Sootpaw clean out the elders' den."

"Awww," Palepaw moaned unhappily.

"Rainfur, can you take the apprentices back to camp?" Thunderstripe asked the older warrior.

"Alright," Rainfur said. "Have fun on your walk."

The four friends waited for Rainfur and the two apprentices to disapepar into the forest before they headed off on a long walk.

Rowanwind and the others didn't get back until the sun was just behind the trees. When they returned to camp, they found their Clanmates frantically searching the camp. The fur on Rowanwind's shoulders rose as he looked around.

"Rainfur!" Rowanwind called, stopping his half sister as she ran past. "What's going on?"

"Coldkit is missing!" Rainfur replied. She gestured with her tail over toward the nursery. "Oakpelt is frantic. Everyone else in camp is really uneasy with him. You know, because of..."

"I understand," Rowanwind replied. "Do you think you can get him to calm down enough to be of any help to us?"

"I can try," Rainfur replied. She hurried off to the nursery.

"I told Softcreek to keep an eye on Coldkit," Rowanwind muttered angrily.

Stormypelt touched his shoulder with her tail-tip. "Rowanwind, you have to remember...Coldkit isn't Softcreek's. He's the son of a forbidden love affair. She won't like having to watch over him now that she knows exactly where he came from."

Rowanwind spat. "It doesn't matter where he comes from! He is part of ThunderClan, even if he is half RiverClan!"

"Rowanwind!" Stormypelt hissed. "I know you care for him because he is your half brother's son, but you have to remember the way others see him! You can't assume that just because you approve of him being here, every other cat does too."

Rowanwind turned to her. "Do you approve of him being here?"

Stormypelt seemed taken back by the question. "Rowanwind, I...you know that I haven't been a Clan cat for very long. I'm really very baffled at how much our Clanmates seem to dislike having Coldkit around. But I think Coldkit belongs in ThunderClan. He would be helpless without us watching over him."

Rowanwind sighed heavily. "Come on. We better go help search."

Granitetail raced over. "Rowanwind! Coldkit is missing! We have everyone possible looking for him."

"I already know what's going on," Rowanwind replied. "Rainfur told me. Where are all the places we've already looked?"

"Clawstar's den and Highledge, the nursery, the elders' den, the warriors' den, the apprentices' den, Frostflower's den, the newest den where the kittypets have started sleeping..." Granitetail rattled off everywhere they had looked. "He wasn't in any of those spots."

Rowanwind racked his brain, trying to think of a place nobody had looked yet. He thought back to earlier, when he had gone to tell Granitetail he was leaving...and he'd found Granitetail and Softcreek in...

"The dirtplace!" Rowanwind said hurriedly. "Coldkit may have followed Softcreek's scent over there. Has anyone tried tracking his scent?"

Granitetail nodded. "Darkeye and Silvermoon are. They aren't having much luck. Coldkit has been missing since you left, and the scent has faded because of everyone rushing around the camp."

"Granitetail, you keep looking around camp. Ask everyone when was the last time they saw Coldkit. Stormypelt, you come with me to check the dirtplace," Rowanwind said.

Granitetail gave a nod before running off.

Rowanwind and Stormypelt quickly headed over to the dirtplace. Side by side, they began to sniff around the area outside the dirtplace. A few moments later, Stormypelt gasped and said, "Rowanwind! I think I found his scent!"

Rowanwind went over to the bramble wall that Stormypelt was standing by. She pointed her paw at a low area beneath the brambles that was big enough for an apprentice to fit into. When Rowanwind bent down to sniff at it, he bombarded by memories as Coldkit's scent reached his nostrils...

"You're sure?" Goldenstar's voice echoed in his head. "Yes. The only interesting thing that's happened is his catching a fish," Ashfang's voice replied. She paused. "Goldenstar, I would very much like to know why you're so interested in Rowanpaw and his training. You said you would tell me." There was a sigh from Goldenstar. "That is between me and Frostflower." Ashfang hissed softly. "There's a prophecy involved, isn't there? That's why you're being so secretive!" "You're very clever, Ashfang," Goldenstar's voice said. "But it is none of your concern." "It is my concern if it has something to do with my apprentice and my Clan!" Ashfang's voice was thick with barely supressed anger. Rowanwind's eyes watered as he remembered how Ashfang had stood up to Goldenstar. "I remember you mentioning Cedarpaw last time we spoke. Are you trying to figure out if this secret prophecy names Cedarpaw or Rowanpaw?"

"Rowanwind, are you okay?" Stormypelt's voice broke into his memories.

Rowanwind blinked a few times. "I'm sorry. I was just...remembering something from my days as an apprentice."

Stormypelt touched his cheek with her nose. "Were they bad memories?"

"No. I was...remembering something I overhead Goldenstar and Ashfang saying."

"An eavesdropping memory," Stormypelt said softly. "You must have been a naughty apprentice." She flicked her tail at the thorn bush. "Well, is that Coldkit's scent, or not?"

"Yes, it is. Good find," Rowanwind replied, praising his mate as well. He glanced at the entrance to the dirtplace. "I'm wondering if he followed Softcreek's scent to this spot. He must have seen someone coming and hid so they wouldn't see him."

The two cats searched for more traces of Coldkit. When they entered the dirtplace, Rowanwind found a very strong trail of Coldkit's scent.

"He went this way," Rowanwind affirmed. "He must have found the way out through here, and is out in the forest."

"Oh, no! We have to go find him!" Stormypelt said. "He could trip and get hurt!"

"Or worse," Rowanwind meowed. "We have no idea if any DarkClan cats are out patroling our land."

Stormypelt's pretty, blue eyes widened. "Let's hurry!"

The two followed Coldkit's trail out into the forest. Every once in a while, they would lose the scent and have to search for it. For each step Rowanwind took, he got more and more worried that they would find Coldkit too late...

By the time they heard the kit's frightened squeal up ahead, the sun had disappeared behind the distant mountains and the forest was thrown into deep shadows that would scare any kit.

"Coldkit!" Rowanwind jumped through a holly bush and landed in a small clearing beneath a few large oaks.

Coldkit was sitting between two roots of one of the larger oaks. He stumbled to his feet when he spotted Rowanwind. "Rowanwind! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Rowanwind allowed the frightened, shivering kit to rub against him. "Coldkit, what were you thinking? You know you aren't allowed out into the forest, especially not alone...and especially not these days!"

Coldkit sniffed. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to go so far! I got lost!"

Rowanwind smoothed the kit's fur down with his tongue. "We're just glad that you're okay. You didn't get hurt, did you?"

"No," Coldkit replied in his tiny voice. "But I'm cold."

"We'll lick you to warm you up," Rowanwind said. "But then we have to take you back to camp. Everyone is looking for you."

Coldkit's little, yellow-green eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes," Rowanwind replied before he and Stormypelt began to warm him with their tongues.

Once Coldkit was feeling warmer, Rowanwind grabbed the kit by the scruff of his neck and began to drag him back to camp. Rowanwind knew that Coldkit was old enough to walk by himself, but he wanted to carry Coldkit to emphasize the fact that he was still too young to be venturing off into the forest alone.

When they got back to camp, Rowanwind dragged Coldkit over to the rock where Clawstar addressed the Clan. The ThunderClan cats began to gather around him. News that Coldkit had been found flew fast through the camp, and within moments the entire Clan was seated in front of Rowanwind.

Clawstar, Frostflower, and Maggotstripe walked through a path the ThunderClan cats left for them.

"Is he hurt?" Frostflower asked immediately.

Rowanwind shook his head. "He was just cold when we found him."

"Where was he?" Clawstar asked.

Rowanwind twitched his whiskers. "Stormypelt and I followed his trail out into the forest. He got out through the dirtplace. I think he followed Softcreek and hid so she wouldn't see him before he left the camp."

Oakpelt suddenly pushed his way through the crowd. "Coldkit! Are you okay? You aren't hurt, are you? Where in StarClan's name did you go?"

Clawstar hissed and stepped between Oakpelt and his son. "Oakpelt, I will take care of this. You may be Coldkit's father, but you brought him into to us under forbidden circumstances. Must I remind you of that?"

Oakpelt cringed away from the glare of his leader. "No, Clawstar. I remember," he said, very quietly.

Clawstar turned back to Coldkit, who had flattened himself to the ground. "Coldkit, you know that kits aren't allowed out of camp. It is in the warrior code. You will have to be punished for breaking the rules..."

"You can't exile him!" Oakpelt gasped out.

Clawstar hissed, making Oakpelt go quiet.

"I won't exile kits," Clawstar said. "I would not be able to live with myself." He turned once again to Coldkit. "As punishment, Coldkit, you will have to wait half a moon later than you would normally to become an apprentice."

Coldkit's ears flattened against his head.

"Softcreek," Clawstar said, turning to the queen, "I suggest you take better care watching over the kits in your care."

Softcreek nodded solemnly. She glanced at Rowanwind, regret in her eyes. He knew she was thinking about the fact that he'd told her she needed to keep an eye on Coldkit, moments before the kit had disappeared.

"Alright," Clawstar said. "Everyone can go back to their normal duties."

One by one, then in groups, the ThunderClan cats dispersed. Softcreek walked forward, Summerkit and Springkit behind her, to collect Coldkit. Rowanwind watched the kit walk along behind his adoptive mother back to the nursery.

"Thank you for finding him, Rowanwind" Clawstar said. "I know that it angers you that we treat Coldkit the way we do, but it is difficult for us to forgive Oakpelt's betrayal as easily as you did."

Rowanwind flicked his tail-tip agitatedly. "Who says I've completely forgiven him?"

He glanced over to see Oakpelt by the fresh-kill pile, watching Coldkit disappear into the nursery. Oakpelt's eyes shimmered wetly in the moonlight. Rowanwind turned away and pressed his nose to Stormypelt's cheek.

End of Chapter Seventeen