Gray Wing opened his eyes and yawned. Chilly wind blew into the den.
He heard loud voices filled with delight from the clearing. Curiously, Gray Wing walked out of the den to see what was going on.
Most of the others were clustered together in the middle of the snowbound camp, around Wind and Gorse, but he noticed some like Leaf and Frost hanging back, not warm when it came to strangers.
Lightning Tail broke away from the group, the young apprentice running towards him excitedly. "Gray Wing, listen!" he said, excited. "Cloud Spots says we should give Wind and Gorse clan names like we have. And Skystar agrees!"
Skystar sat on top of the Flat Boulder, watching with interest.
Intrigued, Gray Wing followed the young black tom to the others.
It wasn't a bad idea. If Wind and Gorse had names like them, maybe Skystar would let them join and cats who were wary of strangers would accept them easier.
Tall Shadow had joined Skystar watching with narrowed green eyes.
"It's good to have you here," Cloud Spots was saying to Wind and Gorse. "But we all think you should have clan names."
The two moor cats nodded in agreement.
"Wind, I think we should call you Wind Runner," Rainswept Flower meowed. "You run as fast as the wind."
Wind thought about it for a moment. "Yes," she decided, looking pleased. "I like that name. Wind Runner."
"What about Gorse?" Jackdaw's Cry asked.
Turtle Tail gave Gorse a quizzical look. "How about Gorse Fur? Because the fur on your head sticks up like gorse."
Gorse met her gaze. "It'll do," he decided, then licked one paw to slick the spiky fur down. "Thanks."
Lightning Tail sighed and Gray Wing looked at the tom, who's smile had slid off his face suddenly. "I wish Thunder was here…why did he go to Thistlestar of all cats?
Gray Wing couldn't quite make sense of his nephew's actions either.
Skystar stood and nodded at Wind Runner and Gorse Fur. "Congratulations on your new names," he meowed, looking troubled like he had ever since he heard about Thunder's departure. "We hope that this will bring us closer in friendship."
Gray Wing waited for him to welcome them to the clan, but his brother hesitated.
"Thank you," Wind Runner meowed, dipping her head respectively.
Skystar dismissed the meeting and everyone crowded around to congratulate the two rogues.
Maybe he just isn't ready yet, Gray Wing thought. That's okay. He'll warm up to them soon.
Just then Turtle Tail raced over to him. "Gray Wing! Bumble's awake! And you won't believe what she has to tell us!"
Graystripe woke the next day, feeling awful. He had yet to visit Cinderpaw and after telling Mousefur what happened, the dusky warrior just sighed as if she knew her apprentice couldn't be wrangled.
He could tell it was late by how much light was filtering through the den. He rose, still exhausted from grief, and pushed out of the den. More snow had fallen, covering the camp in large drifts.
The camp was quiet. Graystripe noticed his mother talking with Whitestorm. Stonefur was eating while Halftail and One-eye huddled nearby.
Graystripe stepped into the snow and immediately he sank, the snow breaking from his heavyweight. He noticed Dustpelt moved toward him, bounding through the snow awkwardly. "I just went to see Cinderpaw," he said. "I heard what happened."
"How is she?"
"Bad, but Spottedleaf said she'll pull through."
Graystripe stared across the clearing anxiously. He needed to see the apprentice for himself and tell her how very sorry he was for not being a better mentor. Maybe he was only good with Brackenpaw because the serious tabby listened to him on his own.
He was never ready to be a mentor. And maybe he never would be.
"She's asleep now. Frostfur's with her and Spottedleaf suggested no one should disturb her," Dustpelt added, breaking through his negative thoughts.
Graystripe gulped. He couldn't face Frostfur. How could he explain to her what happened? Dustpelt started towards the center of camp where Tigerclaw was ordering cats around.
"Hello, Graystripe." The gray warrior jumped and turned to see Goldenflower coming up behind him.
"Hi. Is something wrong?"
Goldenflower looked grim. "Mistlekit's whitecough has turned to greencough. Tulipkit and Elderkit caught it, too."
Graystripe's eyes widened. "Will they die?"
"We don't know."
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
"Spottedleaf knows what she's doing," Goldenflower mewed. "It's all up to StarClan."
Feeling overwhelmed by all the tragedies he left camp, to get out of this gloom.
He hurried out of the camp and into the forest.
"I was talking to a friend named Princess. I think she knows you," Bumble rasped, looking at Fire Heart. "She says someone saw you being attacked by Thistlestar and his cronies."
Fire Heart gaped while Turtle Tail and Gray Wing exchanged confused looks. Ravenpaw crouched behind the three cats, looking more worried than ever.
"I told her I could go talk to you," Bumble meowed, looking at Turtle Tail. "To see if it's true. I go into the woods and suddenly Thistlestar appears on a patrol. He orders his deputy to attack me and I barely escaped with my life had it not been for some black she-cat."
"Who was it?" Turtle Tail asked.
"I don't know, but her fur looks worse than you wild cats. No offense."
Gray Wing and Turtle Tail were silent, pondering this, but Fire Heart's mind was reeling. He had a sister named Princess, didn't he? Of course, he did, he just forgot her.
"I'm gonna go see her," Fire Heart declared. "She needs to know I'm alright."
"No!" Ravenpaw gasped. "It's dangerous!"
"I'll take Jackdaw's with me," Fire Heart protested. "Or Bumble came here for nothing. And maybe I can find out more about this mysterious she-cat who rescued her."
If they live on ThunderClan territory and rescue good cats without getting caught…
"Okay," Gray Wing sighed. "But be careful."
"What? I've spent a while fixing this lad up," Dappled Pelt protested, flicking her tail at Fire Heart. "And know you're allowing him to go into ThunderClan again?"
"He's a grown cat Dappled Pelt," Turtle Tail meowed with a sigh. The medicine cat sighed herself.
"Fine."
"Wait, the she-cat said something else!" Bumble exclaimed. "She said she watches ThunderClan! She sees the way Thistlestar trains warriors and apprentices! And if any cat lags behind they get killed."
Everyone in the den gasped.
"She…said…beware…ThunderClan…bad…Thunderpath…trap." Bumble trailed off and with that she fell asleep.
"Oh, sorry. Forgot I gave her poppy seeds a little earlier," Dappled Pelt muttered.
"Okay, I'll get going," Fire Heart squared his shoulders. "This is important."
"What did she mean by Thunderpath trap?" Turtle Tail asked.
Dappled Pelt shrugged, but Gray Wing was frowning.
"Skystar."
"Huh?"
"Skystar said that Thistlestar led him into a trap on the Thunderpath and he lost a life," Gray Wing meowed. "I thought he was just being hysterical or something, but what if…"
Ravenpaw closed his eyes, Turtle Tail shook her head, Dappled Pelt and Fire Heart exchanged looks while Gray Wing looked grim.
Fire Heart shook out his pelt and meowed, "I'll see you guys later." When he started to leave, Dappled Pelt called him back.
"Wait, Fire Heart, can you look for Cloud Spots on your way out? He's been missing all day and with the other clans growing hostile…"
Fire Heart nodded, trying to squash down his worry as he headed out to find his best friend and get going.
The sooner they got it done the better he'd feel about not having anything bad happen.
"Good thinking, Graystripe," Whitestorm meowed as the gray tom entered camp. He had found some catmint near the Owl Tree on his walk, but only a small amount. He wasn't sure where the catmint actually grew.
But it was better than nothing.
He headed for Spottedleaf's den. Tigerclaw stared at him as he passed.
"I was wondering where you'd gone. Have Brackenpaw take that to Spottedleaf."
Brackenpaw was helping clear snow nearby. He hurried over.
Graystripe passed him the catmint. "Can I visit Cinderpaw," he said to Tigerclaw.
"Not now," the deputy growled.
Graystripe glared after him before he backed away slowly and slipped into the medicine den, completely missing Thunder, who was hovering nervously outside the entrance.
He met his apprentice in the middle of the clearing. "Spottedleaf was happy about the catmint," Brackenpaw meowed.
"That's good to hear," Graystripe said. "Tomorrow, we'll practice stalking birds. I hope you're ready for some tree climbing."
Brackenpaw grinned. "I'll meet you in the training hollow tomorrow morning."
Graystripe nodded and carried on to Spottedleaf's den. He passed Mistlekit, Tulipkit and Elderkit all sharing a nest.
Spottedleaf greeted him kindly. "Thanks for the catmint. We're going to need it."
"How's Cinderpaw?" he asked.
Spottedleaf sighed. "Her leg's infected. I've tried everything, but it's all up to StarClan now."
Graystripe peered into Cinderpaw's nest. She was twitching in her sleep. Graystripe was suddenly afraid she might not live afterwards. He turned to Spottedleaf and noticed the sorrow and hollowness in her amber eyes.
"This isn't good…" she began, voice trembling. Graystripe tensed. "If they're not all better soon…" she trailed off and looked to the side. "Cinderpaw's never going to get better, so there isn't hope for her."
"I…" Graystripe didn't know what to say. He knew what she meant. Why did the clan let this happen? Ever since Thistlestar became leader he took it upon himself to get rid of lags, but it hadn't happened for a while until Cinderpaw's accident. And Featherkit was born… he shook his head. He didn't think Thistlestar had killed the deaf kit, did he?
Bluefur believed it
Mistlekit suddenly broke into a coughing fit and Spottedleaf stood to her paws. Sadly, Graystripe turned to leave.
He heard a voice outside spit, "stay away from Cinderpaw!"
He burst outside to see Frostfur hissing at Thunder. The ginger tom looked from her to Graystripe before he turned and trudged back to the apprentice's den.
Frostfur turned and pushed past, not noticing Graystripe. Maybe he would keep the apology for later.
He thought about going to comfort Thunder, but noticed Thistlestar on Highrock watching over the clan with a dark look in his amber gaze.
He shivered and rerouted to the warrior's den instead. Thunder would just have to realize life in ThunderClan was hard and get used to tensions and suspicions from his own clanmates.
Fire Heart scrambled towards Twolegplace, not slowing down for his friend to have time to catch up, but there wasn't need. Jackdaw's Cry had long legs like a WindClan cat and easily kept up, yet he still looked annoyed.
"Why are we in such a rush to see your long lost sister?"
"Okay, first of all, she isn't "long lost" and second of all, have you forgotten who the leader of ThunderClan is?"
"But how will we spot the mysterious black she-cat Bumble was talking about?"
"It's not really a priority, but if you do see her, maybe we can talk to her."
They finally came upon the Twoleg Nest Bumble had described. "This is the place," Fire Heart panted, sitting down on the fence.
"Princess!" he called.
"I'll try not to look too wild," Jackdaw's Cry grumbled sarcastically. Fire Heart ignored him as a tabby-and-white she-cat appeared. She took one look at the two toms and screeched in fear, turning to flee back into her nest.
"Wait! It's me…Rusty!"
The she-cat stopped, staring back at them warily. Fire Heart jumped down the fence and slowly approached her, posture low to not look intimidating. Thankfully, Jackdaw's Cry stayed on the fence.
"Rusty?" Princess blinked in surprise. "What are you doing in the woods?"
"I joined the clans."
Princess' eyes widened. "But Bumble told me the wild cats attacked you."
"That was ThunderClan, but SkyClan took me in and saved me. That's my best friend Jackdaw's Cry," he flicked his tail at the black tom, who waved his tail amicably.
After a moment of hesitation, Princess waved her tail back.
"And you have to call me Fire Heart now."
"Fire…Heart? I guess it suits you," she meowed, eyeing his coat. After another moment she hesitantly reached forward and pressed her nose to his cheek. "I'm so glad you're safe. I thought you were dead!"
"I'm okay," he whispered. "Thanks to River Ripple and Skystar."
"I guess not all clancats are bad. Where is Bumble?"
Fire Heart traded an uneasy look with his friend and Princess' eyes widened. "Is…she dead?"
"Not dead," Jackdaw's Cry meowed. "She was hurt but our medicine cats are taking care of her."
"Medicine cats?" Princess echoed.
Fire Heart found himself explaining everything about clan life and Jackdaw's Cry joined him in the garden, but still stayed a little ways away from the two littermates.
"Leaders are given nine lives from StarClan. Whenever something happens to them that should kill a normal cat they lose one. When they lose all of them, they die." Fire Heart meowed.
"I thought that was just a tale," Princess murmured in awe.
"Have you seen a black she-cat around?" Jackdaw's Cry suddenly asked.
Princess frowned. "No, I don't think so. Bumble travels around more than me. And look what happened to her," she sighed.
Fire Heart hid his disappointment. "We need to get back to camp," he said. "It was nice seeing you."
Princess stared after him as he and Jackdaw's Cry started to leave. "Hey!" she called, making them turn. "Maybe next time, I'll bring my kits out to meet you."
Fire Heart was shocked. He didn't know she had kits. "Okay, that'll be great. See you."
He and Jackdaw's Cry scrambled up the fence and high-tailed it out of there.
"What did we even find out?" Jackdaw's Cry grumbled.
"That I'm an uncle?" Fire Heart suggested. Jackdaw's Cry sighed as they quickly made their way back to the safety of their own territory.
Darkstripe watched the two young cats from a bush nearby, yellow eyes narrowed.
The tabby's eyes then flickered over to a black tom with white ears talking with one of his clanmates before he waved goodbye and followed the trail of his two clanmates.
Do I really have to report my own mother? After a moment he shrugged. Disloyalty is not to be tolerated. And with that he headed back to camp to report to Thistlestar.