Chapter Fifteen

Patrols were constantly sent to keep an eye out for any trespassers. Skypaw was well aware that Halfcloud had left her out of those patrols. Cloudpaw and Shadowpaw had been sent on most of them, along with the younger apprentices. She had already fully recovered from her injuries, but it seemed like no one trusted her. And understandably so.

She sighed as she thought of the mess she had created. None of this would have happened had she not been so curious about Whiteflower. The Clan had kept Whiteflower a secret for a good reason. Now Skypaw had a feeling that they would never trust her again.

"You know, this sort of patrolling is keeping us fit and strong," Cloudpaw purred as she returned from the latest border patrol. From what Skypaw had heard they were staying mostly on the tree branches. Goldenstar had suggested they keep hidden until they knew what CaveClan was going to do to them. "I just wish you would join us."

"I know…." Skypaw looked down at her paws, realizing just how hurt she really was by the Clan's lack of trust. Cloudpaw looked at her in surprise when she realized that something was clearly wrong.

"Skypaw, you've been so quiet lately…. Is everything okay?" Her question of concern made Skypaw look up in surprise. "I know that you're upset about what happened to Featherwind, and that CaveClan cat. But… we need to stay strong, especially with the battle looming ahead."

Her heart felt like it was cracking at the thought of starting a war over her mistake. She had no doubt that Shadestar would try launching an attack sooner or later. All she could do was sit and wait it out. And hope that no cat would die from this terrible war that was approaching.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Cloudpaw stared at her in surprise, but she didn't get another word in as Skypaw suddenly took off without warning. Once again she knew she was going against the rules by leaving camp. And would likely receive the worst punishment anyone could give her. But at this point, she didn't care. She just wanted to get away from the tension.

Her wings carried her further than she ever imagined. She flew lower to the sky than usual, keeping an eye out for any wandering CaveClan patrols. They normally didn't reach this part of the forest, but it was more likely they would now.

Skypaw gulped when she spotted a patrol. Brackenpaw was on it, along with Brownpelt, Dustnose and Patchwhisker. Shadestar must really be taking this threat seriously if he was sending four cats on a border patrol. Her eyes widened when she saw how much bigger Brackenpaw was now. It wouldn't be long before he had his warrior name, if he didn't have it already.

"I hate this, why are we looking for things that aren't even real," growled Brownpelt as Skypaw flew down to a low branch. She was careful not to be seen; the last thing she wanted was to start another battle. Especially since this patrol had outnumbered her four to one.

"From what Ferntail suggested, these cats are very real," Dustnose hissed. "Just look at what happened to poor Mallowpelt! They did not have to kill him the way they did." Both Brackenpaw and Patchwhisker nodded in agreement.

Skypaw couldn't help but flinch as she pictured Leafstorm snapping Mallowpelt's neck in half. Her mentor had been so fierce and strong. She really didn't need to kill him. But Goldenstar's words had made sense when she said these cats didn't need to know WingClan existed.

"I can't wait to kill these cats," Brackenpaw sneered. "I bet they'll beg for mercy, just like any other rogue." Again Skypaw flinched at the ferocity in her former littermates threat. Brackenpaw had only gotten more violent, and she wasn't entirely surprised by that.

"That's enough, Brackenpaw. We need to keep our senses open to anyone who might be hiding in the trees above," Patchwhisker retorted. Brackenpaw shot the young warrior a cold glare, but said nothing. Skypaw could almost feel the tension that was almost as bad with these two as it was back in camp.

She waited until she was certain they were all gone. Once the patrol had left she jumped from branch to branch, using her wings for balance. At last she had reached the highest branch she could before taking off once more.

The patrol was heading back to the caves, much to her relief. But it wouldn't be long before another one took their place. That much was certain. Shadestar wasn't going to let up until he knew for sure what the WingClan cats were up to.

Skypaw didn't stop flying until she was almost exhausted. By that time she had reached the clearing where the flowers bloomed every newleaf. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized that they were actually all blooming.

Brilliant shades of blue, purple and yellow filled the clearing. Skypaw watched as bees hovered from flower to flower. A bird flew down and snatched one from the air. Against the blue sky, this had to be the most beautiful scene she had ever witnessed, other than the snow.

"I thought I might find you here." Skypaw flinched when she realized Shadowpaw had joined her. "Cloudpaw said that you were acting strange, she thought something might have happened to you."

Something did happen to me, she thought, staring down at her paws. I wish I knew what to do!

"Why aren't you blaming me for what happened?" she demanded, letting her fur bristle slightly. "Everyone else is." She didn't miss the look of hurt flashing in his eyes. It didn't make any sense – he had never cared for her before like this.

"Maybe because I know that what happened wasn't your fault," he replied, ignoring the hostility in her tone. "CaveClan has been itching for a fight, and they found it in us. All we ever did was hide like cowards, and I think you're right in saying we should stand up for ourselves."

For a moment Skypaw was caught off guard by his response. He really did care. And it seemed it wasn't just because Cloudpaw was his sister. As she looked him in the eye she realized he was telling the truth.

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling grief and anger with herself for being so mousebrained. Shadowpaw took her by even further surprise by leaning against her comfortingly. "All I ever wanted to do was feel like I belonged somewhere… and now even here in WingClan I don't fit in."

"Don't let them get to you." Shadowpaw shifted from his position and stood up. "You do belong here, in more ways than one." Skypaw eyed him warily before he let out a sigh. "Come on, there's something I should show you."

For a moment Skypaw was confused, but she decided it was better to follow him anyways. After everything he had said and done so far, she knew she could trust him. They padded through the field on foot, much to Skypaw's surprise. She would have thought that Shadowpaw of all cats would prefer flying over anything else. He didn't stop leading the way until they had reached the edge of the clearing.

Skypaw looked around warily when she realized that this must be a burial place. Freshly churned soil coated an area where she guessed was Featherwind's burial ground. Shadowpaw bowed his head at his mother's grave before looking at Skypaw seriously.

"I'm sorry about your mother," she whispered, flinching when she realized that must be why they were here. "She was the one who first found me." She had remembered what Nightwing had told her about the young warrior. Featherwind was always so kind and caring towards the Clan, and did everything she could to help them.

"That's not why we're here," Shadowpaw murmured with a shake of his head. "Look around, and you'll find out why." Skypaw stared at him in confusion once more, but he had already jumped into one of the trees nearby.

Her eyes traveled towards a burial area that was covered in leaves of all different colors. She tilted her head to one side when she noticed a patch of flowers that were growing over the area. All of the others seemed so bare and dull. But the flowers growing around this grave were white, and bent down towards the ground.

White flowers…. Why would there be white flowers leaning over a grave? she wondered. Then her eyes widened as realization struck her. White flowers, that must mean Whiteflower! But why would Shadowpaw take me here?

She tilted her head to one side once more as she padded over to the sight. That was when she noticed how still the air was. The forest itself suddenly seemed much darker. Skypaw looked up and realized that she couldn't even see the sky above her.

"Skypaw…." She jumped at the voice that whispered her name. She looked around warily until spotting a figure in the distance. It took her a few heartbeats to find out that the figure was a cat. And that the figure had long, silver, feathery wings. "Skypaw, it has been too long since I last saw you."

Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she realized the cat was staring at her. She hadn't even known at that moment they looked so much alike. The she-cat had dark blue eyes that glowed with starlight. Skypaw was taken in by her beauty, and couldn't speak.

"A-Are you Whiteflower?" she finally managed to ask. The white she-cat nodded and looked at Skypaw curiously. "I've heard so much about you, and-and I just wanted to know why you did what you did," she admitted. Though truthfully she had already understood why she did what she did. She just wanted to hear it from Whiteflower herself.

"I did what I had to in order to protect my kits," she replied, her voice soft as she locked gazes with Skypaw. "I knew that they would be killed had I stayed in WingClan. I could not bear to watch them die the moment they were born."

"But why would you take a mate from outside the Clan?" Skypaw asked once more, her fur bristling slightly as she remembered how angry Leafstorm had been. Surely taking a mate from outside the Clan was against the warrior code! Whiteflower just sighed and shook her head before taking a step forward, her muzzle almost touching Skypaw's forehead.

"Love can make you do crazy things," Whiteflower whispered. "I know that what I did was wrong. But I would never change it for the world. You are truly the most beautiful kit I have ever seen, and I would not change you for the world." Her eyes widened in disbelief when Whiteflower said that. But before she could say anything else, Whiteflower was already disappearing. "Just remember that I am always with you, in your heart," she added in a gust of wind.

The moment Whiteflower was gone, Skypaw found herself collapsed on the ground. Grief and anger churned within her when she realized she was alone. She had never known who her true family was. No one bothered trying to find out for her. Now she suddenly understood why.

I'm just a mistake that should have never happened, she realized. Redflower was right. She should never have been born. Skypaw didn't bother standing up; she couldn't move even if she wanted to. She was frozen there with fear and dread. Until she felt someone brush up against her. She didn't bother looking up to see that it was Shadowpaw who lay beside her.

"You know the truth now, don't you?" was all he asked.

Skypaw simply nodded and buried her muzzle into his shoulder, fighting the urge to sob as the news shocked her into silence. All she wanted was for this to be a dream. A horrible nightmare that she could wake up from. If she did than maybe she would find herself back in CaveClan, nestled between Brackenpaw and Leafpaw. But she knew that would never happen again. Her life was forever changed, and she wasn't sure if it was a good change after all.

AN: And now all all the answers are let out. I wonder what everyone will think of this chapter, and of Whiteflower now? I love hearing your feedback, it's always appreciated!

Lightclaw's Shadow - You shall soon find out... and yes, I totally ship them too XD

Ginger Pup - She isn't too bad, once one gets to know her ;) And lol, people are already shipping them :P

Foreststar of WindClan - lol I don't really blame you. And Cinderstorm most definitely needed to be put in her place ;)

Mermaid1108 - Well, technically Skypaw was raised in CaveClan and was rescued by WingClan so... I'm not too sure about that.

boscyboo - It's a good thing she wasn't! And thank you, I'll have to give it a look at when I have the chance; my schedule has gotten so crazy now that I barely have time for writing D: But if I use it I'll be sure to give you credit for the cover!