I woke up back in Leopardclan. I stretched and let out a yawn. "Storm Dream!" a voice called. I realized it was Crystal Sky. I walked over to her as she stood in the center of a group of cats. "I need you to join Flying Eagle, Feather Moon, and Ocean Breeze on patrol. You're going to search the far bank to see if there can be another sign of a new camp." I tilted my head.
"Why can't we just rebuild the original camp?" I asked.
"What if this happens again? We could've died. I cannot risk my clan's safety again." Crystal Sky meowed. I nodded and followed Flying Eagle to the chosen cats. Feather Moon flicked my ear.
"Been awhile since we've been on patrol together, huh?" she chuckled. I purred in amusement.
"Yeah, it's been a while." I mewed. Ocean Breeze walked beside me and looked back at Silver Frost. Her sister waved at her as she left and Ocean Breeze waved back. Then she turned to the front with a sad sigh. I nudged her shoulder. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"Silver Frost should've came with us… but instead she's lying over there with a wounded belly." Ocean Breeze murmured. Then she dropped her voice to a whisper. "And it's all my fault." I gaped at her.
"No, it's not! You did the best you could." I protested.
"But if I'd just grabbed her in time, she wouldn't have gotten left behind." Ocean Breeze said. I sighed and nuzzled her ear.
"Hey… at least she's alive. That's the greatest gift any cat can ask for." I murmured. Ocean Breeze sighed then nodded.
"You're right." she said. I smiled as she lifted her head higher and had a little skip in her steps. Feather Moon nudged me.
"That was nice of you." she murmured. I shrugged in embarrassment.
"It was nothing, really." I chuckled. Feather Moon scoffed and looked to the front. Flying Eagle lifted his tail to signal us to stop. I halted in my tracks and sniffed the air. Flying Eagle pushed back the leaves of a willow tree to show a dip. I peered over the edge and saw that it was a path leading down to a clearing. I widened my eyes as sunshine spilled through the trees and into a clearing. A stream ran along the edge of the clearing and I looked up at the sky to see some leaves covering the area. "That would be good if it ever rains or snows." I observed. Flying Eagle nodded in agreement.
"This could be our new camp." he purred in delight. Ocean Breeze padded into the clearing and sniffed around.
"I don't smell any signs of danger." she called. I followed her and purred as the sunshine beamed onto my fur.
"The elders will definitely love this." Feather Moon chuckled as she settled on a rock and sprawled out her body to enjoy the sunshine. I shoved her off the rock.
"Get up, you lazy furball." I chuckled. Feather Moon rolled her eyes and giggled. Flying Eagle narrowed his eyes as he looked at the clearing.
"We could build dens around the edges but away from the stream so they won't get wet. How deep is it?" he said. I placed my paw into the warm water.
"About ankle deep." I reported. The stream was starting at a cluster of rocks bunched together where a small hole was allowing water to pass through. Then it was cut off into a circle of water by the far corner of the clearing. The cubs will like this too. Ocean Breeze bounced into the water and giggled as the water seeped into her fur.
"It feels great!" she purred. I smiled as she splashed in the water. Feather Moon smiled slyly and crept towards her.
"Here comes… the river monster!" she snarled playfully as she leapt at Ocean Breeze in the water. I backed away from the stream as droplets filled the air. I chuckled as Ocean Breeze squealed while trying to run from Feather Moon. The water was slowing her down and Feather Moon lifted her into the air. "Gotcha!" she snickered.
"Storm Dream! Help me!" Ocean Breeze cried in mock distress. I chuckled and jumped onto a rock and puffed out my chest.
"It is I! The brave and noble, Storm Dream! Here to save the day!" I announced. Then I leapt into the water and bowled Feather Moon over. Ocean Breeze jumped out the way with a squeal. Feather Moon snickered as she grasped my shoulders.
"Brave and noble this!" she sneered. Then she flung me into the air. I landed in the water with a splash. I chuckled and shook the drops from my fur. Then Feather Moon leapt into me and pawed my head. I laughed as she tickled my belly with her tail and I shoved her off. Then I tackled her in the water. We laughed as we rolled out the water and onto the bank. Then I growled in defeat as Feather Moon pinned me to the ground. "Ha! I won!" she chuckled. I rolled my eyes as she looked down at me. Her eyes were glowing with amusement and she smiled. I chuckled and nudged her off.
"Get off me, you great lump of fur!" I teased playfully. Feather Moon laughed and shoved me as she got off. I stood up while shaking the water from my fur. I flicked my ear to get the water out and Feather Moon shook her silver fur, sending drops from her whiskers. Flying Eagle turned to us.
"Alright, let's go back to tell Crystal Sky what we found." he said. I followed him out the clearing with the others. Then we ran back to the clan.
I padded over to Silver Frost with Ocean Breeze. "Silver Frost, you won't believe what we found!" Ocean Breeze purred. I sat down beside Silver Frost as Ocean Breeze told her all about the clearing. Silver Frost's eyes were wide with awe.
"It sounds wonderful! We have to live there!" she exclaimed. I smiled with delight.
"I agree." I murmured. Ocean Breeze bounced around in excitement. We watched as Flying Eagle talked to Crystal Sky. Crystal Sky had narrowed eyes as she thought about it. Then she murmured to Flying Eagle. Flying Eagle smiled and nodded. Crystal Sky jumped onto a rock and called the clan together.
"Flying Eagle's patrol has found a place where we can settle in. Everyone get ready to leave. Are all the patrols back yet?" she announced. Everyone nodded as they looked around for the other patrols. "Alright, then let's go. Flying Eagle lead the way." I helped Silver Frost to her paws with Ocean Breeze and we followed the clan through the forest. Thunder Light padded over to us with Feather Moon.
"Feather Moon told me all about it! I can't wait to see it!" Thunder Light purred. Then he looked at Silver Frost. Silver Frost flattened her ears in embarrassment of needing help to walk. Thunder Light noticed and he smiled softly. "Hey, Silver Frost. You wanna ride?" he asked. Silver Frost tipped her head in confusion then gasped as Thunder Light lifted her onto his back. Ocean Breeze widened her eyes.
"Be careful!" she exclaimed. I rested my tail on her shoulder.
"Calm down, Ocean Breeze. He'll take care of her." I murmured. Thunder Light pranced around with Silver Frost on his back who was squealing in laughter.
"Thunder Light, what are you doing you crazy furball?" she giggled.
"I'm giving you a ride!" Thunder Light chuckled as he started to dance. I shook my head in laughter and Feather Moon burst out laughing.
"What was that? The "ouch, my paw got stuck in a bear's mouth" dance?" she laughed. I laughed and shoved her.
"Stop being mean!" I chuckled. Ocean Breeze giggled and followed Thunder Light's moves. I rolled my eyes as they both danced with their heads held high. Silver Frost was laughing her head off as she hung onto Thunder Light's back. Then we made it to the clearing and everyone let out murmurs of awe. Silver Frost looked at it with wide eyes and Thunder Light padded down the path and looked around. Silver Frost looked at the stream with glowing eyes. I smiled at the clan's reaction. Flying Eagle looked impressed as well. Crystal Sky smiled and nodded.
"Is this our new camp?" she asked. Cheers filled the air and Crystal Sky chuckled before turning to Flying Eagle. I looked around for Light Eyes and Rising Star. Rising Star was settling down in a patch of grass, her plump belly full of kits. I smiled in delight. It won't be long until their due. I padded over to her.
"Where's Light Eyes?" I asked. Rising Star sighed as she bathed in the sun.
"Crystal Sky sent him to go walk with Killing Storm around the forest." she said. I widened my eyes in fear.
"When?" I asked.
"Sunrise." Rising Star mewed. I looked at the sky. It was turning dark. Why aren't they back by now? I ran over to Crystal Sky.
"Killing Storm and Light Eyes were sent out for a walk at sunrise and it's sunset right now. Isn't that a little suspicious?" I asked. Crystal Sky narrowed her eyes then widened them in fear.
"We have to find them." she said. As she called for other warriors I darted out of the clearing. Where are they? I stopped at the river and sniffed for a trace of their scent. Then I caught a whiff of it. I ran through the trees and my fur prickled as another scent filled my nose. Blood! I burst out of the bushes to see Killing Storm standing over a body. His paws were covered in crimson blood and his claws glinted in the fading light. As I walked closer, my heart stopped beating as I saw who the unmoving body was. Light Eyes...