Chapter 7
Cloudpaw glanced at the cats, who would be familiar to her alone. The cat bringing up the rear had a thick gray pelt and icy blue eyes and while he didn't tug at Cloudpaw's memory as much as the others, she did know who he was. The she-cat, brown fur dull from their journey- Cloudpaw knew how far they had come- and her black eyes still shined with grief- of course she would be sad. She had just lost her brother- was much more familiar. Finally the cat in the lead was a cat Cloudpaw had seen for nearly two moons now. His fur was a dark ginger and his eyes were piercing green that held wisdom despite the fact that he was only a moon or two older than Cloudpaw.
"You're Sandfire, aren't you?" Cloudpaw whispered, feeling Airpaw and Waterpaw's surprise burn even though she was no where near them. Sometimes it surprised even Cloudpaw how close she was with her littermates. Everyone, but Darkshadow. The dark tom was always like a rock to her, emotionless. "And you. You're Birdheart? Which means you must be Grayleaf?"
"Are you ThunderClan's medicine cat?" Grayleaf meowed, padding around Sandfire and Birdheart, his eyes sparking with hope. "Surely the only way you could know us is through our warrior ancestors!"
"Cloudpaw, a medicine cat? Ha!" Darkshadow growled a laugh, but Cloudpaw noticed his tense body did not relax. He obviously was still wary about the strange cats. Just because Cloudpaw knew them, didn't mean they weren't dangerous.
"I doubt she's a medicine cat, Grayleaf," Sandfire meowed skeptically and Cloudpaw blushed under her fur as the tom's gaze raked over her skin. "She is far too young and by her stance, I presume she is a warrior apprentice? Am I right?" Cloudpaw nodded, her eyes rooted to Sandfire's face. This proved that the dream had come from StarClan! "I knew it." Turning to Darkshadow, Sandfire mewed, "I am looking for the leader of ThunderClan. Or anyone who knows Firestar?"
"Firestar's dead," Airpaw whispered, looking down at his paws as all eyes turned to look at him. "He's been dead for a long time."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Sandfire murmured with a bow of his head, "But what about ThunderClan?"
"ThunderClan's dead too," Waterpaw meowed, "We are JayClan, the descendants of the four Clans. We are all that remains of Thunder, Shadow, Wind, and River, but we might be able to help you all the same."
"We might," Darkshadow growled sharply, casting a swift glare at Waterpaw, "First tell us who you are? Are you kittypets? Loners? Rogues?" He said the last word in a snarl.
"Their Clan cats, like ourselves," Cloudpaw meowed before Sandfire could and she could see the tom's surprised green glance on her. "You're warriors of SkyClan right?"
"Actually, I'm SkyClan's deputy," Grayleaf mewed, but everyone pretty much ignored him. Most of the interest was centered on how Cloudpaw even knew about SkyClan.
"How do you-?" Airpaw and Birdheart glanced at each other in surprise as they said the same thing.
"I've had a dream about them," Cloudpaw whispered embarrassed, "Mintstar sent them here to ask for ThunderClan's help with some problem. Their medicine cat had a dream about us and sent them here."
"You must be talking about the last gathering," Grayleaf meowed in surprise, "That was the last night we gathered as a Clan before coming to find ThunderClan and that was nearly two moons ago."
"That's about right," Cloudpaw mewed, gaining confidence, "I had the dream the day before Darkshadow earned his warrior name and he's been a warrior for two moons now."
"Don't talk to me as though I'm not here," Darkshadow snapped, "So you came here to find ThunderClan, but ThunderClan no longer exists! So why don't you just crawl back into whatever hole you came out of!"
"Sorry about, Darkshadow," Waterpaw meowed and Cloudpaw felt grateful to see her sister being kind to the SkyClan warriors, "He's always in a bad mood, but he's good fun on some days." Darkshadow gave a hiss of annoyance. "I'm Waterpaw by the way and perhaps we can help you. Woodstar is very understanding."
"Great," Birdheart exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with hope and Cloudpaw wondered if the situation was worse back home.
"You can come with me?" Cloudpaw offered, but Darkshadow snarled,
"No." Cloudpaw glanced at him, hurt in her eyes before her brother continued, "They can come with me. After all, I am the warrior." Darkshadow's eyes flickered with kindness for a moment before they all padded towards the camp, their visitors behind them.
Getting Darkshadow to trust them was one thing. Getting Woodstar to was a whole other issue.
*
Cloudpaw fidgeted nervously as she sat in between Darkshadow and Waterpaw, Airpaw on Darkshadow's other side. The four cats were at WindClan's former camp along side Woodstar and the visitors. Voleheart, Talonclaw, and Gingereye were also surrounding them, watching as Woodstar listened to Sandfire's story about SkyClan.
"Mintstar says that SkyClan had been attacked by rats in the past, but none like this," Sandfire was saying, "They're monstrous in size and one of them can take down two warriors. We've lost half a dozen cats due to them and one on the journey to find them." Cloudpaw glanced at Birdheart, recalling that the cat lost was her brother.
"These rats can also speak cat," Grayleaf added, "And their leader threatened us to leave or die. We have lived at the gorge for seasons and we are not leaving without a fight."
"But we can't do it alone," Birdheart murmured, "That's why Mintstar sent us to find ThunderClan. It was Firestar and Sandstorm who brought SkyClan together seasons ago and it was them who helped us defeat the rats that time. We are embarrassed to ask for ThunderClan's aid once more, but we have no where else to turn."
"But we aren't ThunderClan anymore," Darkshadow whispered to Airpaw and Cloudpaw was sad to see her brother nodding in agreement. Only Waterpaw seemed to be on Cloudpaw's side in saying that they should help SkyClan.
"Whose stories are these?" Gingereye meowed, curious, "Never in all my days as a warrior have I heard of SkyClan. If Firestar and Sandstorm did help you, why didn't they tell us when they returned?"
"Maybe SkyClan doesn't exist," Voleheart agreed, glaring at the warriors, "Maybe these are just rogues trying to gain our trust!"
"SkyClan's real I saw them!" Cloudpaw growled sharply, making all eyes snap to her.
"What do you mean you saw them?" Talonclaw meowed in surprise, "Are you saying you've had visions from StarClan?"
"Not visions, just one about SkyClan needing our help," Cloudpaw's eyes turned to her father, "Woodstar, we must help them."
"Are you mad, Cloudpaw? We don't know these cats," Voleheart snapped, "We have more important things to deal with then a lost Clan. Woodstar, have you forgotten about the rogues?"
"Both cats speak the truth," Woodstar meowed, his eyes pained, "The warrior code states that we must help other Clans-"
"Have you forgotten Woodstar there are no other Clans!" Voleheart snarled, "There is only JayClan!"
"SkyClan's a Clan, mousebrain!" Cloudpaw growled, but was silenced by her mother.
"Voleheart's right," Woodstar meowed sadly, "We don't have enough warriors to defend us from the rogues and to help you. I'm sorry, Sandfire. I really wish JayClan could help."
"You don't need to send warriors!" Cloudpaw mewed suddenly, an idea popping into her head, "Send me!"
"You expect Woodstar to send an apprentice on her own?" Voleheart snapped.
"She won't be alone! I'll go with her!" Cloudpaw blinked in surprise as Airpaw offered to go. She hadn't been sure of his opinion on the SkyClan cats, but she was glad he was siding with her.
"Me too!" Waterpaw meowed.
"You think we can let three apprentices go without a warrior especially-" But someone cut across Voleheart.
"I'll go." Cloudpaw blinked in surprise as Darkshadow stepped forward. "I may not have been a warrior for long, but I can take care of my kin. I'm also not as important to the Clan when compared to Reedtail or Maroonfeather. I can go."
"Woodstar you can't be honestly thinking about letting-" Again a cat cut in front of Voleheart.
"Gingereye, please go and fetch Reedtail and Maroonfeather," Gingereye dipped her head and the cats waited. When Reedtail and Maroonfeather appeared minutes later, Sandfire was asked to repeat his story. When he was complete Woodstar continued, "Reedtail, Maroonfeather, you are these cats mentors so you should get a say in whether they go or not. Gingereye, you are their mother so you also get a say. Voleheart, Talonclaw, you are good friends and good members of this Clan. I would appreciate you help." Woodstar then padded to the center of the cats, "If you wish for these cats to go please walk to the right side? If you don't to the left."
Cloudpaw watched as the cats begun to make their decisions. Gingereye surprisingly padded to the left while Maroonfeather shocked Cloudpaw by allowing her to go. Reedtail followed Maroonfeather while Talonclaw and Voleheart padded over to stand beside Gingereye. Woodstar sighed and stood beside Reedtail and Maroonfeather. Glancing at the three visitors, Woodstar allowed, "You three would be stuck with them. It's your choice."
Cloudpaw wasn't surprised when all three voted yes for the JayClan warriors to accompany them.
Author's Note: Not much to say... the next few chapters will be about the four's adventures in SkyClan. Please review. Thank you.