The sound of the river woke Stormpaw from his dreamless sleep. His yellow eyes fluttered open. The darkness of the abandoned Twoleg nest lessened gradually as the sun rose in the sky. It was early sunrise.
It had been yesterday when Stormpaw had left LightningClan. He had found a mouse in the nest that night, but it was scrawny and barely enough to fill his growing hunger.
He stepped out of the den. This nest was different than the one that originally had the catmint plant on the other side of the territory. He doubted his former Clan would look here. There was no garden or animals in this nest.
Stormpaw stood staring at the river for a while, foam and blue-grey water rushing past the rocks. A silver fish flew out of the water and back into the rushing torrent.
That was it! Stormpaw would try fishing. If BrookClan could do it, surely he could, too! And the river would be plentiful with fish. BrookClan wouldn't mind if a loner took a couple.
Stormpaw stood on a rock overlooking the river's edge. The shining surface was a quarter of a tail-length away from Stormpaw.
He searched the passing water for a fish. A small one brushed past the rock. Stormpaw's paw shot into the water like lightning, a thunderous crash as it slammed into the brook.
He felt the wet, slimy body in his paws before it slipped out. Stormpaw felt himself rushing towards the water. He was falling!
The water surrounded Stormpaw. The black tom held his breath as long as he could, but it was futile. His head bobbed up and down in the river as the water crashed and beat Stormpaw. He knew he was going to die.
He tried pushing with his legs and paws against the water towards the grassy bank. He felt his front paws touch the mud and sand, and then his back paws did the same. He survived!
Stormpaw coughed water from his lungs onto the mud, grass, and sand that served as the riverbank. He lay in the sun for a moment. A peculiar smell filled his nose.
He turned behind him. Less than five fox-lengths away was a BrookClan patrol, consisting of Troutwhisker, Wetpaw, Lilypetal, and Mudcreek.
Mudcreek sniffed the air. "I smell LightningClan! They are here somewhere!"
Troutwhisker, one of BrookClan's senior warriors, turned. "We are near the border. Surely they are not here on our territory?"
Wetpaw lifted her small nose high into the air. "They are near!"
Stormpaw pressed himself towards the muddy barrier. Grass hung above his head. If sight didn't work for the BrookClan cats to find Stormpaw, scent would.
Mudcreek shook his head. "There is another scent. One that does not belong to any Clan."
"Loner?" Troutwhisker said.
"Perhaps," Lilypetal said. "Or rogue."
"There they are!" Wetpaw screeched. "The LightningClan cats on their patrol. They are across the river. They can't hurt us."
Stormpaw looked toward the LightningClan border. His father, Shadowclaw, was on a patrol with Goosenose and Bushwhisker. But they didn't hunt or mark the borders. They barely took notice of the BrookClan patrol.
Stormpaw swallowed. They were looking for him! What if they find him? What would they do?
But Stormpaw missed his father. And his Clan. And the acorns that littered the camp. He even missed Bumblepaw's annoying comments.
The BrookClan patrol and the LightningClan patrol didn't linger. They left very soon. Stormpaw leapt across the smooth grey stepping stones and wandered back into his den.
Stormpaw curled back in the place where he slept previously. He pushed hay closer to him with his tail.
He heard a squirrel in the corner, but he did not catch it. His thoughts made him loose his appetite.
He looked at the squirrel with soft blue eyes. "Am I going to live as a loner the rest of my life?"
The squirrel looked at him with blank eyes, nibbling on a nut.
Stormpaw continued: "I left my father. My Clan. My family. The warrior code. Why would StarClan let this happen?"
Stormpaw closed his eyes. The squirrel's scent drifted toward him, but he left the animal alone. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep. He wished to find himself in LightningClan.
Stormpaw opened his eyes. Before him stood a silvery she-cat with white streaks in her fur and pale, ivy-like green eyes.
"Larkpaw?" Stormpaw asked. "Is that you?"
"Yes, it is. But I am a warrior now. Before I joined StarClan, Rowanstar gave me my warrior name. I am Larkwing now." Replied the she-cat.
"Am I going to be punished by StarClan?" Stormpaw asked.
Larkwing smiled. "No, no. StarClan is a judge, not a punishment-giver. But I need to tell you something. More cats will die. Greencough will conquer your Clan."
"But how could StarClan let this happen?" Stormpaw protested. "We'll all be dead in a moon, won't we?"
"StarClan does not control this. It's…complicated. Think on this, Stormpaw. You may be of use to your former Clan."
Larkwing gave Stormpaw a warm look with her eyes before announcing, "I will see you soon, Stormpaw. Very soon."
Larkwing faded. Her starry form was going away. Before long, Stormpaw was awake in his home in the abandoned Twoleg nest.
Should I return? One part of Stormpaw said. Larkwing said you may be of use to your Clan.
But how? Another part answered. No catmint. No other substitute for it. We'd better stay. Also, you may be punished if you return. Better not take any action yet.
Stormpaw looked at the sun rays on the wooden Twoleg nest's pelt.
"Larkwing, tell me more! Show me how I could be of use." Stormpaw murmured. He was sure Larkwing had heard him somehow.