Chapter Eighteen
A long breath escaped Talonclaw. Familiar territory at last! She and Thrushpelt had traveled without stopping since they had left Snowowl and his family. Now, they had finally come to the edge of WindClan land.
"Thank StarClan!" Thrushpelt meowed breathlessly.
"Had no idea you were so out of shape did you?" His companion teased.
They plodded on, the late day sun turning their pelts a vibrant autumn orange. Red and golden leaves swirled around them, dancing in the last rays of the day.
"I don't know about you," Talonclaw said, "but my paws are going to fall of if I take one more step."
"Let's rest." He agreed.
***
Talonclaw woke up to the screech of a loon. The frightening sound sent shivers down her spine. The stars blinked at her, as though the warriors of StarClan were asking her something. She curled up closer to her mate and fell back to sleep.
Snarls reached her ears. She couldn't see what was going on, but terrible wails, growls and roaring were all around her. Above it all, she heard a soft whisper.
"The e-"
"Talonclaw wake up!"
Thrushpelt's anxious mew brought her back to reality.
"You were having a bad dream."
A nightmare. She shivered, trying to shake off the feeling.
"Let's keep going." She stood up. "We have to hurry home."
***
Worried and joyful yowls greeted them as they emerged from the gorse tunnel. Pinestar left his morning meal and bounded over to them. Swiftbreeze beat him to it though and rushed over to her adopted daughter, covering her with licks as though she were still a tiny kit.
"Where have you been, young she-cat? I've been worried sick! Do you know where Snowowl is? We've been searching for you everywhere! We lost your scent at the thunderpath -"
Pinestar interrupted the frantic queen. "The thunderpath obliterated your scent with it's stench. I've good reason to punish you for leaving your Clan in it's time of need."
"Some welcome we get." Thrushpelt whispered in her ear.
Stifling a purr, Talonclaw replied solemnly. "If I may, Pinestar, may I address the entire Clan on where we have been?" She wanted the Clan to hear the truth from herself and Thrushpelt.
He gave her a brief nod and flicked his tail towards highrock. She bounded up, Thrushpelt and Pinestar beside her.
"Cats of ThunderClan!" The leader called his Clan's attention. "Talonclaw has something to tell you."
She gulped and cleared her throat. "It's about Snowowl. I'm not sure how many of you had started noticing that he'd been leaving camp for no apparent reason and returning with no fresh kill." The ThunderClan cats glanced at each other, and Talonclaw was sure they must have from their looks.
"Snowowl has left ThunderClan." Shocked meows rippled through the clearing. "It was not disloyalty to ThunderClan, but stronger loyalty to another cat. He has fallen in love with a WindClan she-cat named Sunstripe." She didn't wait for this to sink in but rushed on. "Both have left their Clans to seek a life together as rogues. Heatherstar has banished Sunstripe, and her and Snowowl's kits, from WindClan forever."
Windflight stood up. "Snowowl has left us? Left ThunderClan?"
"Yes." A lump formed in Talonclaw's throat. "He's gone. But do not hate him for what he has done! It's broken him to leave his Clan. Sunstripe and the kits are all that keeps him going..."
Thrushpelt laid his tail on her shoulders. He explained how they had gone with her brother and his mate to help them find a home and had come home as soon as possible. Slowly, the Clan began to accept what had happened. Some showed anger, others sadness.
Pinestar dismissed the meeting as Thrushpelt finished. The look he gave the two warriors told them that they were in no trouble and were free to go. They nodded and padded quietly away.
Sunfall came up to them. "Rest." He ordered. "Then, when you feel well enough, continue helping with the camp repairs. I'll let you know if I need you for border and hunting patrols."
"I can't believe we've been gone only two days. It feels like much longer..." A huge yawn broke across Talonclaw's face. "I gotta sleep. See you later." She licked her mate's cheek and padded off to the warrior's den.