Chapter18: Smokey

When the others returned, she instantly went over to Tree.

"Where's Sparrow?" Smokey hissed.

Tree flattened his ears. "About that…"

They were interrupted by Moss coming to get a report from Dove. "What happened?"

"We showed those Clans. Even though we were greatly outnumbered, it was still so easy." Dove smirked.

"Although, they did take Sparrow." Cloud reported.

"What?" Moss hissed.

Spark shrugged. "The little scrap was just a small kit. It's no surprise."

Moss look down at the smaller she-cat. "It is because now we have one less trainee!" She snarled and stalked off.

When the others went off to do who-knows-what, Smokey corned Tree. "What. Happened." She hissed at the sturdy tom.

Tree shrugged, which only made Smokey angrier. "W-ell, um, I tried to stay close to him, yes I did, but this little orange-ish apprentice got in my way. I had my own two warriors to fight and… they took him. They wouldn't let 'im run back to us."

Smokey growled at Tree, preparing to lunge herself at him when his brother intervened. "It wasn't Tree's fault." Eagle stared into Smokey's burning eyes.

"Oh?" Smokey snorted.

"Yea, it's not like he just gave Sparrow to that Clan." Eagle challenged.

"It may as well be." Smokey muttered. She turned to Tree, "You need to cover for me while I get Sparrow back."

"You're getting him back?" Tree questioned.

Smokey glared at the shorter tom. "Yes."

The two brothers shrugged as Smokey stalked off to Stone.

"I'm going to hunt squirrels, it's my specialty." Smokey reported.

Stone snorted. "All the way on the other side of the lake?"

"Yes. I'm not needed for anything else, am I?"

Stone thought for a moment. "No, you are on hunting duty so…"

Smokey nodded and padded quickly along the lake. It was getting dark, and the sun would be gone by the time she reached the forest. Since she wasn't near the borders that the clans patrolled at dusk, and the hunting patrol would be heading back, she was in a good location.

The tall white she-cat leaped silently on the branch of an oak tree. The sun hadn't set completely yet, as she'd hoped, so a border patrol may still be out.

Smokey continued to leap through the trees, she was happier there then on the ground, when she heard talking. Smokey peered through the leaves as an approaching patrol marked the border.

"We showed those rogues!" The squeaky voice informed Smokey that the cat was only a few moons younger than her.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure those rogues showed us." Another voice responded. Smokey smirked at the comment.

She bristled slightly as she caught sight of a golden tom with a ginger streak running from his nose to the end of his tail. The golden apprentice who stole Sparrow!

The patrol stopped under her tree. "Featherpaw, can you smell that?" The golden apprentice asked.

The small gray she-cat shook her head. "It must be your imagination, Blazepaw. There is just the smell of the forest and the scent of WindClan, but that would because we're at the border." Smokey was grateful that she had crossed the moors to get here.

Blazepaw! I'll remember that name… Smokey inwardly growled.

The young she-cat followed the small patrol silently from the tree back to their camp. When they entered the thorn barrier, Smokey circled around the hollow. She decided to hunt and rest some, while the cats would settle into deeper sleep.

It was moonhigh when Smokey leaped soundlessly into the camp and followed Sparrow's scent. She was fully aware that the guard had yet to notice her. She was relieved to find that there wasn't any guard outside the den that Sparrow was in.

"Sparrow," She hissed silently to small black tom.

Sparrow stared up at her with light blue eyes. "No!" He whispered. "They're expecting you! It's a trap!"

Smokey looked at Sparrow in confusion. She was suddenly knocked away from the den. Smokey whirled around to face a large golden tom.

Lion's Roar…

Smokey flattened her ears when she realized who the cat was. This was a battle she was certain she would lose if she let it come to that. The cat looked just about ready to wake the Clan.

"No need to do that." Smokey whispered.

Lion's Roar looked confused for a moment then bared his teeth at her. "Who are you?"

"I am Smokey, Lion's Roar."

Lion's Roar looked confused, and there was a gasp from behind her. Smokey whirled around to face Blazepaw. "Hi, I'm –"

"Blazepaw," Smokey hissed.

Blazepaw blinked. "So you do remember. Lionblaze! I told you she knows of the past, just as I do."

"Why are you here, and how do you know my son?" Lion's Roar growled.

Smokey was confused. "Lionblaze? Isn't he Lion's Roar? The cat that can't be harmed, who was got his wish to join the Clans?"

Blazepaw's eyes glowed with happiness for some reason. "Yes! But to the Clans, he is known as Lionblaze and wait – what do you mean "got his wish to join the Clans"?"

Smokey narrowed her eyes. "You remember the past. Sure, why not. But you still took Sparrow."

"Actually, could you stay? I would like to ask you about your rogue group. What they want, how we can defeat them…" Blazepaw listed.

Smokey hissed and slashed Blazepaw across the nose. This caused Lion's Roar – Lionblaze – to growl at her. "Why would I tell you that? The Clans will pay for forgetting their promise! They will pay for breaking it!"

Blazepaw yowled as blood started dripping from his nose. Smokey widened her eyes. Blazepaw had woken the Clan!

The tall she-cat was surrounded by hissing ThunderClan warriors. Smokey snarled and lunged at Blazepaw, landing a well-aimed blow right above his eye. This caused the rest of the Clan to lunge at her, but she had already leaped over their heads and was pelting to the other side of the hollow, only to leap out of it and continue into the trees.

Bet they didn't expect that. They don't even know what SkyClan is! Smokey smirked as she circled the camp of the stunned warriors. Rescuing Sparrow would have to wait another day.

Before she reached the stream at the moor, Smokey had caught three squirrels from the trees. She pelted along the lake thinking that she should help Hawk. She followed his scent trail and knew where he was. Smokey decided that rescuing Hawk would also have to wait, and dashed back to the horseplace.