Greenleaf ended, and now it was leaf-fall. The attack from ThunderClan and Gorseflight's arrival left scars on WindClan but they were slowly able to recover, and now they were focusing on rebuilding the Clan. Skyheart had moved into the nursery and had given birth to Cinderfall's kits, Turtlekit, Seedkit, and Mintkit. One of the kits had been stillborn and had sent Skyheart into a spiraling grief. However, with Cinderfall's gentle love and her sister's encouragement, she was finally on the path to healing. With the welcoming of new life also came the goodbye to old life – Larchcloud had passed away in her sleep. She was greatly missed.
Russetstripe watched Sedgefall sit at the head of the nursery from where she stretched near the fresh-kill pile. Skyheart was sitting next to the medicine cat, the queen's blue eyes shadowed with worry. Russetstripe realized that the two cats feared there was something wrong with one of the kits. Sedgefall was calling out to Mintkit. "Mintkit, come here."
Mintkit didn't move.
"Mintkit, come here," Sedgefall repeated.
"I don't think he knows his own name," Mallowpaw meowed, walking over to the two cats, frowning.
"I don't know," Skyheart murmured, watching Sedgefall try and urge Mintkit towards her. "I think it's something more than that."
"Yes, Skyheart is right." Sedgefall nodded and turned to Mallowpaw. "I need you to mewl as if you are in trouble."
"All right." Mallowpaw didn't question Sedgefall's methods, obeying her order and letting out a piercing mewl. Russetstripe winced as it split the sky, and Sedgefall focused her eyes on Mintkit. Still, the kit did not move. Sedgefall gazed at Skyheart.
"Dear sister," Sedgefall sighed, "I am sorry to tell you this, but little Mintkit is deaf."
Skyheart's pure blue eyes swelled with tears as she pressed her nose to Sedgefall's shoulder. "I know," she whispered. "I've always known."
Mallowpaw looked up at Skyheart. "But he's still healthy as ever," she encouraged the queen. "He's eating well, growing good, and clearly can see and move."
"He may never be able to become a warrior," Sedgefall said gently.
Skyheart let out a horrified gasp and dug her head back into her sister's chest.
"Maybe there's something else he can contribute to the Clan?" Mallowpaw suggested.
"Like what?" Skyheart asked, a tremor racking her lithe gray body.
"That's something you and Cinderfall will have to determine," Mallowpaw said quietly.
"We will speak to Scorchstar in the morning," Sedgefall told Skyheart. "We shall figure something out." Giving her sister a lick on the shoulder, Sedgefall urged Mintkit back into the nursery and then brought Mallowpaw into the medicine den. The two cats disappeared into the rock, while Skyheart watched them with horrified eyes.
That's too bad about Mintkit, Russetstripe thought with a pang of sorrow. I can't remember the last time WindClan has had a deaf kit. What could Mintkit possibly contribute if he can't hear? Russetstripe stretched out her legs, looking up at the dark evening sky. It's time, she thought. Just as the cats were gathering to rest for the night, Russetstripe turned away and was ready to leave camp.
"Going somewhere?" Scorchstar's voice was right behind Russetstripe as the dark ginger she-cat turned on her heel to face her brother. He was staring at her with his tail twitching irritably, and his amber eyes were burning with irritation.
"And if I am?" Russetstripe snapped at him.
"Where?" Scorchstar leaned in closer, his breath hot on Russetstripe's muzzle.
"I don't have to tell you everything." Russetstripe lashed her tail.
"I'm your Clan leader, so yes, you do," Scorchstar growled. "Where are you going?" His amber eyes flared. "It wouldn't happen to be anywhere with a RiverClan warrior, would it?"
Russetstripe flinched. Scorchstar's eyes widened. "You…"
"It's nowhere!" Russetstripe snapped. "I'm not going anywhere!" Irritation made her blood boil as she glared furiously at her brother. How could Scorchstar know about Runningflame? She knew Blackdove would never tell a soul. And we've been so careful! So, how does he…? When she gazed at her brother, she realized that he didn't know, from the suspicion flickering in his eyes. He just thinks. He has no proof about anything!
"Wildheart saw you crossing the border, Russetstripe!" Scorchstar demanded, his ginger-and-white fur bristling. "What are you up to? What's going on with you?"
Russetstripe gasped in horror. "You sent Wildheart to spy on me?" How dare he?
"I can't trust you lately! I—" A piercing howl stopped the siblings' bickering argument, and both cats snapped their head up to see Skyheart and Cinderfall racing down into camp with Harewhisker on their back. Both cats' eyes were stretched wide with horror, and Russetstripe gasped as they raced Harewhisker over to the medicine den. Russetstripe was right on their heels, horrified when she saw Harewhisker's mouth bubbling and blood trickling down his nose.
"What happened?" Russetstripe demanded, forgetting all about her argument with Scorchstar. Cinderfall let Skyheart take Harewhisker into the rock and turned to stare at Russetstripe, his amber eyes wide with fear.
"We were ambushed!" Cinderfall gasped. "This… this gray cat… he was so fast! He wasn't, there then the next second, there he was! He threw me and Skyheart to the ground and shoved something inside Harewhisker's mouth before knocking him unconscious. When we finally got up, we saw Harewhisker was bleeding and foaming at the mouth! He was poisoned, so we brought him back here, and—"
A massive shadow fell over camp, blocking the light from the moon, and all the cats in the clearing turned to look at it. Cinderfall's breath came in ragged gasps as a slight silver tom stood over the clearing, bloodlust in his ruddy crimson eyes, looking down the clearing with a flat expression, nevertheless tinged with the kiss of death. "It's… it's him…"
"Who?" Scorchstar urged, staring at the cat, every muscle in his body stiff. For the first time in a long time, Russetstripe could see a flicker of fear in his yellow eyes.
"The cat who attacked us!" Cinderfall cried out. "He's strong! He's going to attack!"
At Cinderfall's cry, the camp immediately went into an uproar. Russetstripe unsheathed her claws as Scorchstar cried out orders to his Clanmates. But just as the orders escaped Scorchstar's mouth, the silver cat leaped into the clearing, cutting through cats, a lust for blood in its eyes. Crimson liquid splattered the walls of the hollow, and the cats turned to fight, but the silver tom had the strength of a thousand cats. Every cat that went at him was a cat that fell on the ground.
Blackdove tried to lunge at the silver cat, but the silver cat was twice her speed and sent her crashing into the wall of the camp. Hawkfire lashed her paws out to sink them into his chest, but the rogue slammed his back paws against her and sent her unconscious. Heathercloud and Songbreeze tried to attack the rogue, but he sliced both of their chests with powerful paws. No matter what WindClan cat attacked this rogue, they all fell easily. What kind of cat is this, that he can beat anyone he comes across?!
A shocking cry brought the cats to their knees.
"Brother!" It came from Hotaru, who was staring at the silver tom with wide amber eyes. The silver tom eyed Hotaru from a narrowed glare, and the clearing turned quiet. Scorchstar lashed his tail. Russetstripe stared at Hotaru.
"You know this cat, Hotaru?" Scorchstar demanded.
Hotaru focused his narrowed yellow eyes on his brother, ignoring Scorchstar's demand. "Why are you doing this?" he yowled. "Do you hate me?" The pain and longing bled from Hotaru's voice into the darkness. There was so much misery in the plea that Russetstripe's heart clenched with sympathy. Holding her breath, Russetstripe placed her focus on keeping Hotaru's brother in her field of vision. Not so much as a muscle twitched as he studied Hotaru with apathetic eyes.
"Please, Broth—" Hotaru had taken half a step forward when it happened. His brother lashed out his paws at full force, slicing the length of his cheek. Beads of blood dripped down his pale fur like tears in the moonlight. Hotaru's brother's gaze was just as cold as his voice as he regarded the WindClan cat.
"Hotaru!" Iceheart cried out. Hotaru looked over at Iceheart as she approached Hotaru, her voice shaking as she stared at him. "I don't want you to be alone, Hotaru. There may be little I can do to fix this for you, but I'll face it with you."
"Iceheart…" Hotaru murmured.
Out of the corner of Russetstripe's gaze, she could see Hotaru's brother readying his claws for another blow. Iceheart swung to her side the minute Hotaru's brother jumped, slashing her claws down his pelt. His brother turned on his heel and lunged towards Iceheart, clamping his jaws into her throat.
"Stop!" Hotaru cried out. Both Iceheart and his brother froze, and he let go of Iceheart. "Iceheart!" The silver tom sank to his knees. "Stop… stop…" He was forlorn, and an emotionless voice drifted down to reach him.
"Look what happens to those around you." His brother fixed the silver tom with a callous glare. "This is your fault. Do you get it now?"
"Iceheart, Harewhisker…" Hotaru whispered. The will to live was draining from Hotaru's vacant eyes. Russetstripe swallowed the lump in her throat. Iceheart was trying to get up, blood pooling from her wounds, but Hotaru's brother didn't spare her a passing glare as he walked over to Hotaru.
"What are you worth without your skills? Nothing." His brother bared his teeth.
"What am I worth…" Hotaru repeated the sentence hoarsely, his words breaking as his brother jabbed his claws mercilessly against his throat.
"You're not normal enough to be able to protect anyone, and if you lose the ability to break things, you have nothing left," the silver rogue snarled through bared teeth.
"It's not true…" Iceheart gasped out.
"Why… why do you take everything from me?" Hotaru stared at his brother.
"There's nothing to take." The silver rogue's eyes were cold. "You'll never have anything."
"But I—!" Hotaru shook his head at those words, designed to instill a sense of despair. His whisper turned into a shout. But, his brother wasn't finished. His interjection was laced with disgust.
"How happy-go-lucky you are, knowing nothing of what's been done to you."
"What…?" Iceheart looked up, staring at the rogue.
"What do you mean…?" Hotaru asked.
"Everything." His brother lifted his bloodied claws. "Every single thing that's happened up until now. The purpose you think you've found? All wrong." The words rushed rapid-fire from the rogue's mouth. His claws dug into Hotaru's skin deeper. "The ones who killed your parents was Momochi Sandayu. He murdered them and raised you… to be a tool for the village."
Who? Russetstripe's head raced with confusion. Momochi Sandayu… She thought back to her time in the Twolegplace. Kittypets gossiped just as much as warriors did.
"Did you hear about Momochi Sandayu? I hear he recruited another cat earlier today."
"Another one? What's he using them for?"
"Apparently he's trying to build an army big enough to conquer the forest."
Is that the cat Angel and Theo were talking about? Russetstripe only heard the bare rumors about him – that Sandayu was a brutal, merciless rogue who would undertake any job if it meant subjugating cats to obey his orders. But, wait… if those are Hotaru's parents… then… wouldn't those be your parents, too?
"Hotaru!" Iceheart screamed out again. Hotaru snapped from his daze, and in seconds, the silver tom disappeared from camp in a flash. Iceheart raced after him as the two cats disappeared into the dead of the night. At that moment, Scorchstar bowled onto the silver tom, but the silver tom flicked his claws fatally across Scorchstar's throat and sent him on the ground before disappearing into the night.
No cat followed the brutal rogue – or Iceheart and Hotaru. Instead, their attention was focused on Scorchstar, who was in a limp heap on the ground, barely moving. Russetstripe raced over to her brother, their quarrel all but forgotten as she stared at his unmoving figure. Oh, no…! Panic made her heart quicken as the tom's sides ceased to rise, and the life left his eyes. He's losing a life! No!
"Father!" Hawkfire cried out. "No!" The ginger-and-white tabby she-cat hunched over her father's body, and Redmoon joined her, fear in his dark green eyes. Wildheart let out a piercing wail, and just as Russetstripe tried to join them, Wildheart swung her head and hissed furiously at Russetstripe. Russetstripe backed up, horrified at Wildheart's reaction. No…
Russetstripe gazed at where the silver rogue had disappeared. Even though she kicked herself mentally for leaving Scorchstar, she knew that he had more lives left, and with the care of Sedgefall and Mallowpaw, he'd be fine. Wildheart wouldn't even let her near her own brother's body, anyway. I need Iceheart and Hotaru. I don't know where they've gone, but I need answers, and they're the ones who can give them to me. Russetstripe climbed the hollow walls and bounded towards the moorland, but hissed irritably as she felt teeth sink into her tail and a cat pull her back. She turned over to see Brambledusk.
"Where are you going?" Brambledusk asked, his amber eyes shadowed with suspicion.
"To find Iceheart and Hotaru," Russetstripe replied, flattening her ears. She wasn't going to hear any arguments from Brambledusk. "They're our Clanmates, and I need to bring them back. Plus, I need answers about this silver tom."
"Alone?" Brambledusk's amber eyes widened.
"Of course." Russetstripe twitched her ears. Who else was she going to bring? Any cat who saw Iceheart and Hotaru, after seeing their Clan leader lose a life, would surely blame Scorchstar's death on them, considering the rogue was Hotaru's brother, and Iceheart had followed Hotaru after he had gone. None of them would be able to see things in perspective.
"No way. I'm coming." Brambledusk shook his striped head. "Let me just tell Hare – erm – Heathercloud, and I'll be right with you."
Russetstripe watched Brambledusk with narrowed green eyes as the tom bounded back into camp. He was gone for a few moments before appearing back over the ridge to approach Russetstripe. Russetstripe gazed at him for a few moments. Why does he even want to come? Wait, Iceheart is his kin. And, I guess in a way, so is Hotaru.
"What did she think?" Russetstripe asked Brambledusk, who shot a quick look back over his shoulder towards the hollow.
"She didn't like it," Brambledusk replied, "but that doesn't matter. Let's go. We need to follow their scent. They couldn't have gone far."
Russetstripe focused her eyes on the pale triangular outlines in the distance. The mountains. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go."
The two WindClan warriors jogged through the moorland as they tracked the scent of Iceheart and Hotaru. It was strong, and it drifted far away – it was tinged with the scent of blood, too, which made sense, considering that Iceheart had been injured. Even as they ran and ran, there was no sign of them. How fast had they ran – and how long had Russetstripe waited – for them to go so far without being tracked?
Even as the moon rose to its peak – Russetstripe winced as she realized that Runningflame was probably waiting for her – they still continued their run, intent on finding the two runaways. But even as they reached the outskirts of territory, there was no sign of them, although the scent still continued onwards. The cold leaf-fall air stung at their skin as they skidded to a halt, defeat making both their shoulders slump.
"Damn," Russetstripe muttered, clicking her tongue in irritation. "They're no longer in WindClan territory."
"We can't go back," Brambledusk growled, sinking his claws into the moorland and digging up stalks of grass. The silver sheen from the moon dappled his striped brown tabby pelt. "We've got to find them, no matter what."
"You're right," Russetstripe agreed, but winced as she felt an aching sensation in her hind legs, that forced her to sit down. "But we've been running for quite some time. I think we should rest, now. What do you think?"
"Yeah, sure." Brambledusk flopped down on the ground, curling up into a ball and resting his tail over his pink nose. Russetstripe settled next to him, tucking her ginger paws under her chest and watching Brambledusk rest. Soon the tom was asleep, and Russetstripe found herself being lulled into the world of dreams by his soft snores.
Hours later, a strange but familiar – and comforting – scent drifted around Russetstripe. A scent that often made her feel safe. Russetstripe got to her paws, blinking the confusion out of her eyes, and turned to see the rugged, handsome face of Runningflame. Russetstripe slapped her tail over her mouth to stop a mewl of surprise from escaping her lips.
"Wha…?" Russetstripe grabbed Runningflame and dragged him several fox-lengths from Brambledusk, who, thank the gods, was still asleep. "What are you doing here?" Although she was always up for seeing Runningflame, Brambledusk was here! Was Runningflame out of his mind?
"A little lass got lost on her way to the island." Runningflame's green eyes glowed with the slightest bit of amusement.
"How'd you find me…?" Russetstripe gasped. She had a multitude of questions for him, but that was the most important one at the moment.
"When you weren't there, I knew something was wrong." The humor died from Runningflame's eyes to be replaced with a solemn shadow as he sat down and wrapped his bushy tail around his white paws. "Not my proudest moment, but I did pass by your camp and saw things were quite shaken up. I followed your scent. Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Russetstripe sighed. Runningflame had been around with her when they had walked through the Twolegplace and had heard these whispers from Angel, Theo, and multiple other kittypets in the Twolegplace. He knew more than she did, and it was only fair that she filled him in on the events of what had happened. "Do you remember the rumors in the Twolegplace about a cat called Sandayu?"
"Yeah, of course," Runningflame replied.
"Well, do you also know Hotaru of WindClan?" Russetstripe inquired.
"Scorchstar announced him at a Gathering," Runningflame replied, eyes narrowed. "He's that rogue you picked up from the Twolegplace."
"Hotaru's brother attacked camp last night," Russetstripe explained rapidly, "and told Hotaru that his parents were killed by a cat named Momochi Sandayu. Hotaru ran away, and Iceheart followed him."
"Why'd Iceheart follow him?" Runningflame asked.
"She's in love with him," Russetstripe replied. There was a heavy silence between the two, and Russetstripe knew that they were sharing the same question. "If I ran away, would you come with me?" The love between Hotaru and Iceheart had been sparking the minute Iceheart had been the one to take Hotaru under her wing. Just now had it blossomed, when Hotaru made the decision to flee – and Iceheart made the decision to go after him.
"So, you're following them now?" Runningflame asked. "What if they lead you to Momochi?"
"That's a risk we'll have to take," Russetstripe sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to go back to camp without Iceheart and Hotaru in tow. "I've got to bring them back. Runningflame… will you help me?"
"Of course, cara mia." Runningflame flicked Russetstripe's shoulder with his fluffy tail and cast his green gaze towards the sleeping figure of her pale brown striped Clanmate. "Any way to get rid of Brambledusk?"
Russetstripe smiled wryly and shook her head. "We need him."
"Mm, all right. That means I won't get to show him just how much I adore my little lass. That'll be hard to do, don't you think?" Runningflame licked Russetstripe's cheek and let out a purr.
"Maybe," Russetstripe agreed, her heart swelling with warmth. Even in the midst of such a dangerous and life-threatening journey, she managed to feel safe in that moment. Why is it I never feel like this in WindClan? Where I'm always arguing with Wildheart or my brother? "But I'm sure you can handle yourself for a few days, can't you?"
"Well, when he's asleep, I'll be able to have you all to myself." Runningflame let out a low chuckle. "Besides, my little cara mia's so fiercely in love with me I never have to worry about anyone stealing her away."
"What's going on here?" Both cats froze in their tracks when they turned and saw Brambledusk walking over to them. His gaze was still glazed with sleep, and his fur was tufted – he had clearly just woken up that moment. The brown tabby shot Runningflame a glare from narrowed yellow eyes, and a snarl rumbled in his throat. "The Tiger of RiverClan… what are you doing here?"
Runningflame met Brambledusk's gaze steadily, clearly not affected by Brambledusk's threat in the least. His voice was calm and steady as he replied, "I heard of your dilemma. I'm willing to help."
"Why would you want to help a WindClan cat?" Brambledusk asked, suspicion clouding his amber eyes as he looked Runningflame up and down. "We're enemies."
Runningflame shrugged. "We're on neutral territory now, aren't we? So I don't see how we're enemies. Anyway, these rogues threaten my Clan as much as they threaten yours."
"Rogues?" Brambledusk flattened his ears. "How do you know?" He glared at Russetstripe accusingly, and Russetstripe simply turned her head away, not sure what to say to him. But Runningflame did.
"Oh, your warriors talk a lot when they do their nightly patrols," Runningflame said smoothly. There was no hint of a lie in his voice, but Russetstripe knew that wasn't how he got his information.
"He's a strong warrior, Brambledusk," Russetstripe encouraged the pale tabby, not knowing what she would do if Brambledusk ended up being adamant about sending Runningflame away. "He'll be useful."
"Mm… I don't know." Brambledusk eyed Runningflame cautiously, and still, neither of Russetstripe nor Runningflame's words seemed to be getting through to the pale tabby tom. "I don't trust him."
Runningflame sighed irritably. "Lad…"
Russetstripe gazed at Brambledusk steadily. "Please, Brambledusk," she said, borderline begging. "We need him."
Brambledusk narrowed his eyes. "Why are you so insistent, Russetstripe?"
"Do you not remember the rogue that came in our camp?" Russetstripe felt her tail lash, hating that she had to remind him of just how deadly the battle had been. It had only been thanks to Hotaru that the tom had not killed any more cats. Scorchstar losing a life was bad enough. "How strong he was? What if we come across him, and it's just us two? Wouldn't having a third cat on this mission be beneficial?"
Brambledusk sighed and sat down, examining the two cats from narrowed eyes. Russetstripe felt Runningflame's pelt brush against her own, and there was a flicker of suspicion in Brambledusk's gaze. Finally the tabby dipped his head. "I see there's no stopping you," he said dryly. "So we might as well get a move on."
Runningflame and Russetstripe exchanged a glance. Russetstripe had expected more of a fight from Brambledusk, but she shrugged. If he agreed, she wasn't going to push it in case the pale tabby changed his mind. Brambledusk let out a yawn and stretched out his legs. "We should probably go, now," he said. "We want to catch them before they go too far."
"But we'd already be leaving Clan territory," Russetstripe sighed.
Runningflame tilted his head. "Hmm…" He rested his green gaze onto the rising gray slopes in the distance, illuminated by the pale pink rays of the rising sun, creating the stark outline against the sky. "If they really are heading towards the mountains, we can stop them before it's too late."
"How?" Brambledusk queried, following Runningflame's gaze.
The RiverClan warrior smirked. "By beating them there. How else?"
"Wait." Russetstripe flicked her tail before Brambledusk could open his mouth to protest. "He might have a point, Brambledusk. Both Iceheart and Hotaru are injured, and I'm sure they're tired after running all night. If we travel as quick as we can, we're sure to beat them to the mountains."
"How do we even know they're heading towards the mountains?" Brambledusk asked.
"It's where the Momochi cat or whatever his name is from," Russetstripe replied, recanting what the cats in the Twolegplace had said. "I've heard gossip about him from other Clans."
Brambledusk's face was flat, and Russetstripe knew that he wasn't buying a word of her excuses. It seemed to her that he knew what she was saying was right, but he could see the holes in her reasoning. He finally nodded. "All right. To the mountains, then." The pale tabby tom broke away into a steady pace, his paws skimming across the moorland. Russetstripe fell behind him, and Runningflame ran at her side.
The three cats had left WindClan territory and could see the jutting rocks in the distance. The mountain peaks seemed to reach the pale pink clouds themselves, and the cool wind brushing from summit was a stark contrast from the warm green-leaf breeze the cats had been felling just yesterday. The scent of rabbit and mouse was thick in the air, and Russetstripe felt her stomach rumble. But she would have to push on.
Brambledusk skidded to a halt from his run and glanced over at Runningflame and Russetstripe. "Hungry?" he asked, as if echoing Russetstripe's thoughts.
Runningflame shrugged his broad, battle-scarred shoulders and stopped as well. "Sure, why not? What do you usually catch around here?"
"Rabbits," Brambledusk replied crisply, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Well, don't mind if I do then." Runningflame bounded away from the two cats and melted into the grassland.
"Does he even know how to hunt rabbits?" Brambledusk looked at Russetstripe when his ginger-and-white figure disappeared in the moorland.
"He can do anything," Russetstripe murmured quietly.
"Russetstripe…" Brambledusk's voice trailed off, and his voice lowered to a soft murmur. "Are you in love with him?"
Russetstripe gazed Brambledusk steadily in his eyes. What was the point of lying to Brambledusk? "Yes." When I knew – regardless of how much it hurt – I wanted to stay with him… that's when I knew I was in love. "Is that a problem?" Her gaze turned to a glare, daring him to challenge her.
"No, no." Brambledusk shook his head, surprising Russetstripe. "To be in love is a gift. Until you have to part, that is."
Part… Russetstripe held Brambledusk's gaze. "Brambledusk…" How much did he know? It had always been in the back of her mind that her love with Runningflame couldn't last forever. They were two cats in different Clans while the world around them was engaged in war. Dapplestar, Runningflame's Clan leader, was intent on ruling the Clans, and by force. Inevitably the day would come when WindClan and RiverClan would have to fight. Am I ready for that day? For the first time, she found herself questioning her loyalty to WindClan. Oh, no…
Brambledusk flicked his tail and his deep voice brought Russetstripe back to the present. "I don't know much about your relationship with him, but… I know that things won't end well if Scorchstar finds out." A thin warning was in his voice. "So be careful."
"I'm trying." Russetstripe turned on her heel, and although she tried to swallow her pains and fears, they refused to go away. Instead, they gnawed at her mind and stalked her head, showing their claws every time she tried to imagine a perfect future. "I had no idea that love was spending every day trapped in hell."
Brambledusk turned his head away, seeming to have nothing more to say. Russetstripe was grateful. She didn't know what to say to him, either. She turned on her heel and searched for the scent of prey – there was a hint of rabbit drifting in the air, but it wasn't strong enough that Russetstripe could track it. Alongside the rabbit scent was a much stronger scent of mouse, which Russetstripe guessed she would have better luck tracking. Russetstripe followed the strong scent of mouse until she saw the rodent's small gray body nibbling on a seed. She dropped into the hunter's crouch, wiggled her haunches, and leaped on top of the mouse, killing it with a bite to the neck.
She padded over to the clearing where she and Brambledusk had met to see Runningflame drop a massive rabbit on the ground. Russetstripe's eyes widened as she dropped the mouse. "Where in all the hells did you get that?"
"Behind us, near the moorland." Runningflame twitched his tail towards the expanse of grassland. "All I did was chase after it. It's so fat, it couldn't outrun me."
"Huh." Russetstripe wrapped her tail around her paws, feeling a purr of amusement climb up her throat. "So you can hunt rabbits, now."
"Are you surprised?" Runningflame asked, grinning.
"No." Russetstripe shook her head. "I'm not."
"Heh." Runningflame let out a low chuckle. "Let's wait for the lad over there before we eat."
Just as the last words came from Runningflame's mouth, Russetstripe could spot the lithe, pale tabby pelt of Brambledusk as the tom raced over to them. There was nothing in his mouth, and frustration blazed in his yellow eyes. Russetstripe pushed the mouse towards him when he sat down, giving him a sympathetic glance.
"Really?" Brambledusk asked, tilting his head.
"Go for it." Russetstripe flicked her tail, and Brambledusk dipped his head in gratefulness as he started to eat, tearing chunks from the mouse rapidly, and Russetstripe guessed he hadn't eaten in quite a while.
"Then, share with me." Runningflame gestured Russetstripe over, and even though the ginger-and-white tabby tom was under the impression that Brambledusk did not know about their relationship, every movement of his was so intimate and close that Russetstripe realized that was how Brambledusk caught on. I wonder if he does this on purpose, or if it's just a habit of his, she thought, but didn't press it much further.
"Thanks." Russetstripe was aware of Brambledusk's yellow gaze burning into the two cats as they shared the rabbit, but he knew about them already. There was no point in hiding what they felt from each other from the tabby tom, and for some reason, Russetstripe had a feeling that Brambledusk wouldn't tell a soul. She was tired of pretending that she felt nothing for Runningflame when she saw him at Gatherings or even caught a glimpse of his pelt on patrol. She was lucky to have him, and she wanted every cat to know. I need to talk to him about the future. Maybe not on this patrol, but sometime soon. I have to know what he thinks.
When the cats finished eating, Russetstripe got to her paws and led the patrol through the moorland. As they ran and ran, there was still no sign of Iceheart or Hotaru, but the base of the mountains was getting closer. They still had more moorland to cross and then they had to reach the mountains. There was time for the two cats to arrive. Finally, when the gray-brown base of the mountains came closer and closer, the cats landed near the base and looked around.
"No sign of them," Brambledusk sighed.
"They'll come," Runningflame sat down, wrapping his bushy tail around his paws. "We just need to wait."
Russetstripe settled down on the hard ground, looking up at the mountains. They stretched wide, the rocky, snow-tipped peaks sharp and blocking the golden orb of the sun. She had heard so many stories about the Tribe of Rushing Water, living in the mountains, but now there was a new group living there, and they were called Iga. Are we going to have to go there ourselves? she wondered.
"Runningflame, what do you know about the cats in the mountains?" Brambledusk asked the RiverClan warrior.
"They're called Iga," Runningflame replied, "led by a cat called Momochi Sandayu. They're an organized group of ruthless cats who kill for the right reward. If… this cat Hotaru… came to WindClan to escape them, that must mean…" The tom's voice dropped darkly. "…that Iga has it out for WindClan."
Brambledusk's yellow eyes darkened, and Russetstripe gasped.
"So WindClan is in danger from these Iga cats?" Brambledusk asked.
"That's right, lad," Runningflame said.
"Because of Hotaru," Russetstripe murmured. "But he's such a loyal and good cat. He goes on patrols, he fought off a fox the other day, he's a good hunter…"
"Hotaru isn't responsible for what these cats want with him," Brambledusk said. "He's a good warrior, like you said, Russetstripe. I want him back – especially since Iceheart won't come back unless she's with him." Sorrow glazed Brambledusk's eyes, and for the first time since Iceheart's disappearance, Russetstripe realized that Brambledusk was her uncle, but had basically raised her as if she was his own kit. He's feeling this loss very heavily, isn't he?
"Then I guess we wait here until they come," Runningflame said. "Get comfortable."
"I'll take a look," Russetstripe offered.
Brambledusk narrowed his eyes. Runningflame frowned.
"I'll be fine," Russetstripe assured the two toms.
"Be careful, lass," Runningflame meowed. Just as Russetstripe touched her nose to him and bounded away, she wondered if she should have left Runningflame alone with Brambledusk. She didn't think Runningflame would hurt him, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about them getting into an argument. She let out a sigh and bounded away.
Russetstripe searched the grassland, tasting the air for Hotaru and Iceheart's scent. Where is it? Why was tracking two cats so complicated? One moment it was there, and the other moment it faded off into three directions, and then it was no longer there. Russetstripe huffed in frustration, but still continued to track the scent. Eventually, she realized she was just running in circles. Did they do this on purpose?
Just as she was about to give up, an odor – tinged with fear and desperation, alongside the faint hint of grass and rabbit, wafted past her. Russetstripe skidded to a halt. Wait, I know this scent… I've got to follow it before I lose it! Russetstripe took off like a galloping horse, following the scent as fast as she could. But, just as she was trying to trace them… she could hear pawsteps heading towards her, and before Russetstripe could turn to see who it was, a heavy paw slammed across her face, knocking her out and sending her to the ground. Russetstripe's thoughts faded away as the entire world turned black.