Chapter 2

The days ahead

When Aspenclaw awoke, it was almost sunhigh. The nest next to him was empty. He nosed it and found that it was cold. Willowbreeze had left a long time ago. He got up and walked out of the den. He headed for the fresh kill pile and grabbed a brook trout from the top. He went in the shade by the warrior's den to eat. He watched the roamings about camp. Smokepaw and his mentor were arguing about whose fish was bigger. Shellnose's was clearly longer, but Smokepaw's was fatter. Reedsong was busy sorting herbs while her apprentice treated Hollowtree who had a thorn in his paw. Bramblekit was playing with a small stone while her mother Featherpelt watched.

Aspenclaw finished his fish and rolled onto his back. Even though he wasn't tired, he found himself dozing. A paw in his side woke him up. He looked up and saw the deputy, Mellowsky, standing over him.

"Are you going to laze about all day or will you go on patrol?" She asked sternly. He rolled over quickly and shook out his fur embarrassed. "I... uh… I'm ready for patrol." She nodded. "Good. You'll be with Smallstripe." She motioned over to where the small tabby was standing with two other cats. Aspenclaw hurried over to them and they pushed through the willows that sheltered the camp.

In a different part of the valley, Willowbreeze was sitting at the edge of the stream waiting patiently for a fish to pop up. Beside her sat Whitestone, her half brother. Their mother had met a Shadowclan tom not long after her first litter and had another littler with him. Both of the second litter kits had gone to Shadowclan, but Whitestone had found his way back as an apprentice.

Both sat quietly for 10 minutes before Whitestone splashed his paw into the water and pulled out a fish. Willowbreeze saw the rest of the fish swimming towards her. She slashed at them and managed to grab a big one as it swam by. She slammed it on the shore and bit it until it stopped moving. She smiled triumphantly at Whitestone whose fish was still flopping around.

"My fish is bigger than yours!" She gloated. Whitestone's fish finally stopped moving and he looked up at her. "Yes but your glory will be short lived!" He ran towards her and pushed her into the water. She shrieked with laughter before plunging under water. She swam upstream until she was behind him. She popped up, grabbed his flank, and dragged him into the water. He came up spluttering and swam to shore. He shook his fur out as Willowbreeze climbed on the shore.

"Not fair! You know my fur doesn't repel water like yours!" He cried as he licked water from his long white fur. Willowbreeze sauntered forward. "You deserved it!" She purred. He glared at her through narrowed eyes. "And I'll do it again before the day is up," he threatened with a playful smile. "And I'll dunk you again!" She replied. She walked past him to get her fish and winced as she felt a slight movement in her belly. She looked at her stomach curiously. What was that? She couldn't be…? No. Not possible.

"What's up?" Asked Whitestone moving closer.

"Nothing. Just water in my ear is all." She quickly grabbed the fish and trotted back to camp. Keeping well ahead of her half brother.

She dropped her fish off at the pile and went straight into Reedsongs den. She walked in the dim den and found only Skypaw quietly cleaning the dens.

"Skypaw? Where's Reedsong?"

Skypaw looked up and smiled. Skypaw was really close with Willowbreeze. When her mother had died, Willowbreeze had stayed with her until she had moved into the medicine cat den.

"Willowbreeze! It's good to see you! Reedsong is out for a swim. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Willowbreeze thought for a moment. She figured Skypaw would know soon enough anyway. "I… I think I'm having kits." She muttered. Skypaw looked surprised. "Aspenclaws?" Willowbreeze nodded. Skypaw walked over to her and began nosing the warrior's belly. Willowbreeze jumped back. Skypaw let out an annoyed huff. "I can't tell you if you don't hold still." Willowbreeze moved back in range of Skypaw's nose. The medicine cat apprentice walked around and poked and prodded Willowbreezes belly until she stepped back with a satisfied air.

"Well, well! Would you look at that." Skypaw smiled at Willowbreeze, who looked a little scared. "My adoptive mother is having kits!"

Aspenclaw and the rest of the patrol walked into camp after a particularly uneventful patrol. The only thing of interest was the scent of Windclan a few tail-lengths on Riverclan side of the border. The plan was to let Waspstar know so that patrols could be increased in that area.

Smallstripe went over to Waspstars den in the roots of the tree. Aspenclaw looked around for Willowbreeze. He found her coming out of the medicinecat's den. He hurried over to her.

"Hey Willowbreeze!" She looked at him and her eyes grew big.

"Um… Going to the dirtplace! Talk to you later!" She moved as fast as she could without actually running towards dirtplace.

Aspenclaw looked after her bewildered. Skypaw moved up next to him. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked her in a befuddled tone. She laughed. "That depends who you ask." He looked at her even more bewildered. She laughed again and shook her head. "Give it two weeks."

Aspenclaw shook his head and walked over to where Waspstar and Smallstripe were talking.

"No, it was only a few tail-lengths, but the fact that they were there at all should be cause for alarm."

Waspstar shook his head. "I don't think that this is an attack. I think there must have been prey or some other…"

"There was no prey scent anywhere near by!" Smallstripe interceded. "They are a threat!"

Waspstar held up his paw for Smallstripe to stop. The graying yellow tom sighed. "For now, we will increase the frequency of patrols in that area. But," He added as Smallstripe opened his mouth to say something, "if they are caught, we will not attack them. We will bring them here as prisoner. Are we clear?"

Smallstripe still looked a little mutinous but nodded. He wouldn't disobey his leader. He stalked off to the fresh kill pile and savagely grabbed a fish before moving into the den to eat it.

Waspstar turned to look at Aspenclaw. "Would you find Mellowsky for me please?" He asked tiredly. Aspenclaw nodded and looked around camp. She wasn't in camp so she must be out on patrol. He ran out of camp and followed her scent. It was leading towards the Shadowclan border. He ran through the trees following the path. He stopped when he notice the scent wasn't on the path anymore. He backtracked until he picked up the scent again. Now it was heading towards the lake. He ran with the scent until he reached the lake. He sniffed around the edge until he decided she must have gone in the water. Maybe she was heading to the Island?

With no other leads, he dived into the lake and swam forward under the water. He swam faster when his head was below water. The lake was murky today so it was hard to see anything. He swam up for air and shook the water out of his eyes before going back under. He swam forward until he saw a black figure. He swam faster until he came upon Mellowsky. She had become entangled in some reeds and was floating lifelessly. Quickly he dove down to the base of the reed. He gnawed furiously until the reeds broke loose. He swam up a little and grabbed Mellowsky by the scruff. He dragged her up to the surface. He gasped as he hit air again and began stroking for shore.

A force shoved him under water and for a moment he was too stunned to move. He fought to get back up and a voice whispered in his ear, clear even under water. "Let her go Aspenclaw. She is of great use for this war." Aspenclaw shook his head. Since she was just an option not set in stone, he had a choice. And his choice was to save her. He fought wildly under water pushing for the surface. But Iceheart held faster. Not needing to breathe was a huge help for him. Aspenclaw's vision started going black. Surely Iceheart wouldn't drown me too? He thought. He let go of Mellowsky and pushed her to the surface with his hind legs. Maybe someone would see her in time to save her. Air bubbles slid from Aspenclaws mouth as he stopped fighting. It would be better if he died anyway he decided. As the darkness closed in, he felt a tugging at his pelt and knew he was being taken to the surface. No. Let me drown. He thought within his last moments of consciousness.