Cheating the Stars

by trekhorse42

When a clan leader and a laid-back warrior head to the abandoned bear den in the dead of the night, they find themselves in deeper trouble than expected. Between fighting cats from another clan for a sacred gem, and leading her own clan, Tanglestar has her paws full. Can she also handle two apprentices who have fallen into deep trouble as well?

6. Chapter 6

The bushes tore at his pelt, but he didn't feel a thing. Mountainclan territory was far from Leafclan camp, and the two cats had to get back to the border fast.

Dapplepaw saw the large boulder ahead, and knew they weren't far. He managed to increase his speed by a small amount, and he felt Tanglestar behind him. Feeling her there gave him the strength to keep going; to not give up.

They ran for a minute more, and at last reached the border. Standing there was a brown tabby, a light gray she-cat, and Duskpaw. Standing with the Leafclan warriors was a large black tom that reeked of Mountainclan.

"What's going on?" Tanglestar asked, coming to a stop in front of the group.

"This warrior has something to say," Willowmist meowed, nodding towards the tom.

Dapplepaw and Duskpaw retreated to the edge of the group, and Dapplepaw did his best to not collapse from exhaustion. Now that he wasn't running he could feel how raw his paws really were.

"I'm Shadowtail. Skystar sent me here with a message."

"Well then, what is it? Why is it so urgent?"

"He had… a message from Starclan. Something is going to happen tonight. It will light up the night sky… that's all I know. Skystar wants your clan to be safe. That's it."

Tanglestar didn't answer right away. She pawed at the ground, thinking.

"What's she doing?" Dapplepaw whispered to his brother.

"I don't know!" He hissed.

"Thank you for the warning. Give Skystar my thanks."

"I will." With that, Shadowtail crossed the border back into his own territory, and he could be seen as he trotted off into the trees.

"Continue the border patrol. Feel free to hunt on the way back, but be at camp by sunhigh," Tanglestar ordered, stepping back and looking at the two warriors.

"Yes, we will," Timberear answered, dipping his head.

Tanglestar darted back into the bushes, heading for camp.

"Come on, let's go," Timberear instructed, flicking his tail, ordering the cats to follow him.

The apprentices trailed behind, watching as the two warriors marked trees.

"What do you think he meant by it will light up the night sky?" Duskpaw asked, his voice low.

"I don't know, but I guess we'll find out tonight."