The Heart of a Lion

Chapter 6: Sol

I loved to stretch my paws especially recently since I was carted off to the nursery to wait out my kits. I had gotten my warrior name since then and was now Heathertail, and I found myself drifting to the ThunderClan border, wondering if Lionpaw had his warrior name too.

It is amazing what a queen has to do to get out of camp these days. When I insisted on going for a walk, I had to drill through Ashfoot and Gorsetail just to set a paw outside camp. I couldn't be long though. They would be expecting me back soon, and I didn't want to have a search party.

I haven't seen Lionpaw in what feels like moons, and I really wanted to. It sure feels hollow having him so far away, living each day without seeing how the kits were progressing. They were getting big, and I was starting to look like a kittypet. There was no one around camp who hasn't noticed by now.

Check this. They are hinting to me that my mate is Breezepelt since I won't say. I have never taken a fancy to him, but I decided to let them think that so they would stop nailing me with questions.

But none of that mattered now. What mattered was the fact that I was out of the smelly nursery and here on the moor where I loved to be, with nothing but the windblown grasses.

I bounded to the ThunderClan border to see if Lionpaw was there. I hoped he was because I wasn't sure when the next time would be when I could get out of camp.

I sniffed along, and neared the trees that were at the edge of WindClan territory. I could smell fresh ThunderClan scent. So where was the patrol?

Mouse dung. I just missed them! That was probably my last chance of finding Lionpaw. Might as well turn back and head back now.

Then I did see a cat. I froze, alarmed because it was not Lionpaw. It was too large, and the fur was slightly longer. The sun went away behind the cloud and I was no longer looking at the outline of the cat, but the cat himself. The unusual tortoiseshell tabby mix was unmistakable, and the wide-set ears only confirmed that it was Sol, the loner who had been spotted on Clan territory recently.

Finally. Something to do. My fur bushed out and I made a threatening hiss. "What are you doing in WindClan territory?" I demanded.

Sol did look magnificent for a law-breaker. He cocked his head and his eyes were like limpid pools of honey. "Greetings. But may I ask you the same question? You look pretty close to ThunderClan territory to me."

"How would you know anything?" I growled. "You are not even a Clan cat, so stick to your own business."

"Everything is my business," Sol objected.

"Are you suggesting I claw you to shreds, loner?"

He was still calm. My insults weren't working on him. "I prefer the term traveler."

"I don't care. Get off my territory," I ordered. "Go on."

He kept standing there. "Is that really necessary? Violence doesn't solve all our problems," Sol meowed calmly. "Do you have a problem?" He glanced back to the ThunderClan border, and my fear deepened. Did he know about me and Lionpaw? How could he?

I waited for Sol to reveal my secret, but luckily he said no more on the subject. "Good day then. I must get going."

"Good. I am not the only cat who can discover you here, you know," I added.

"Just remember I will be around here awhile. " Then Sol streaked off in the direction of ShadowClan territory in a blur of multi-color.

How odd. Sol was a very suspicious cat. Hesitantly, I went back to camp.