Chapter 5
Starrypaw swished her tail with pride as she stood up from her kill. A plump mouse had thought it was going to get away, but not on her watch.
It had been a week since the thorn fiasco, and Starrypaw had nearly forgotten about it. The only thing that kept it on her mind was the dream she'd had that night before it, and she hadn't had one since.
"Starrypaw." The bushes parted and Whitepaw stepped out. "We're headed back. You coming?"
Starrypaw nodded, picking up her kill and padding after Whitepaw back towards Graystripe, Brackenfur, and Ashfur, the waiting hunting patrol.
Ashfur stretched impatiently as Starrypaw and Whitepaw appeared from behind the bush.
"About time," he said.
Starrypaw lowered her ears in embarrassment. "Sorry," she mumbled through her mouse.
Graystripe gave her a reassuring swipe with his tail. "You're fine, Ashfur's just grumpy 'cause he's hungry. We all are," he said into her ear. "Let's head back and eat," he added out loud to the group.
As the patrol trotted back with the kill they'd caught, Starrypaw noticed the decrease in the amount. In the past week, it hadn't rained, and the forest was showing it. The parched ground cracked, and dead grass had replaced the lush green terrains. Water was diminishing and prey along with it. The only good thing that had come out of it was that the mysterious large hole that Squirrelpaw had fallen into was no longer growing.
Starrypaw lifted her head at the thought of the rare plump mouse she'd caught, and she hoped to take it to Cinderpelt and Leafpaw. She also hoped to speak to Cinderpelt more about her dreams.
After slipping through the gorse tunnel, Starrypaw headed straight for Cinderpelt's den. Her kill smelled great, and her stomach began to growl, but she had to ensure the Clan was fed first. It was warrior code after all.
As Starrypaw approached, Leafpaw slipped out into the dry air and shook her light-brown tabby pelt.
"Hey, Leafpaw," Starrypaw greeted through her mouthful of prey.
Leafpaw jumped, but then greeted her with a purr. "Hey. Is that for Cinderpelt?" she asked.
Starrypaw nodded and set down the mouse. "I was also hoping to...uh...give it to her now. Is she here?" She'd been about to tell Leafpaw that she was hoping to speak to Cinderpelt, but thought better of it.
Luckily, Leafpaw hadn't seemed to notice anything odd about Starrypaw's strange stumble of words and nodded. "She's checking that we have some herbs and said I could go ahead and eat. Go on in, I'm sure she won't mind."
Starrypaw and Leafpaw exchanged a lick and headed in opposite directions. Starrypaw slipped into Cinderpelt's den with the mouse.
"Oh hey, Starrypaw," Cinderpelt said after Starrypaw had entered.
"This is for you. It's a pretty good find for such dry conditions!" she exclaimed, setting it at Cinderpelt's paws.
Cinderpelt licked her lips gratefully. "Thankyou."
Starrypaw hesitated to continue. Was it really the right time? She remembered the look of sadness on Cinderpelt's face when she couldn't explain the dream and the sad look on Leafpaw's face that had happened while they were lying together. What was the problem that caused them to be so empathetic?
"Do you need help with something, Starrypaw?"
Starrypaw jolted back into reality and realized she'd been standing there awkwardly.
"Uh..actually no. I...I'll leave you to it. See you later."
Starrypaw slipped out quickly and headed to the fresh kill pile to pick out her own meal. As she looked over the slightly smaller amount than a couple weeks ago, she realized how quickly her appetite had vanished after her troubled thoughts. The image of the black she-cat kittypet wouldn't stop showing up in her mind.
What's going to happen next? She thought.
"Please! Tell me who you are!" Starrypaw yelled out.
The forest was shrouded in mist, and the mysterious black she-cat was wailing again nearby. Starrypaw ran towards the sound, but it always seemed to be just out of reach no matter where she ran. Finally, out of breath and exhausted, Starrypaw stopped.
"Just...tell me," she panted.
Starrypaw's aching legs could no longer support her, and she collapsed. As soon as she hit the ground, however, the foggy forest vanished into nothingness, and everything was pitch black.
Starrypaw realized her eyes were closed, and when she opened them, she saw the apprentice's den full of everyone, peacefully sleeping.
Starrypaw shot up, and her heart was beating fast. She felt as if she really had just run through the forest. She staggered towards the entrance and rushed out, but the still, choking heat of the night did nothing to calm her.
"Starrypaw?" she heard behind her.
Starrypaw whipped around to see Shrewpaw emerging from the den. A slight feeling of peace settled over her, but she continued to breath heavily.
"Are you alright?"
Starrypaw took a deep breath and turned back towards the empty clearing of the camp. "No."
"What's wrong?" Shrewpaw sat beside her, making her sit as well.
"I keep having dreams that I don't understand...I.."
Starrypaw stopped and looked at Shrewpaw. His deep amber eyes glowed with empathy and understanding, and Starrypaw felt a wave of comfort overtake her.
"I'm sorry that I can't explain it. I just need..."
"Time?"
"Well, yes, but I need to speak with Cinderpelt before I tell anyone else."
Shrewpaw nodded, and Starrypaw felt suddenly as relaxed as if she'd just flopped down onto the fresh, thick grass that no longer grew during such a dry spell. She leaned her head against Shrewpaw's side, and they both entwined their tails together under the bright moon.
The thin trickle of the diminishing river on the edge of the border became silent as Starrypaw heightened her senses to focus all her thoughts on the forest around her. Her eyes, ears, and snout all searched hopefully. Finally, she heard a rustle and instictively dropped into a crouch. She could scent a bird, and now she could see it. The sparrow hopped about searching for grubs on the ground, obviously unaware of the danger.
Starrypaw pounced, and was able to take down the bird before it even had a chance to lift off the ground. She buried it to come back for while she continued hunting although she'd caught as much as seemed possible already.
It was the day after Starrypaw's most recent dream. I have to talk to Cinderpelt today, she thought.
Suddenly, she heard a splash. Starrypaw turned to see that the RiverClan deputy, Mistyfoot, on the other side of the river, had caught a fish, and now she pounced on it with victory, killing it in a swift bite.
"Wow," Starrypaw said.
Mistyfoot turned, acting a bit embarrassed. It was obvious she'd already known that Starrypaw was watching though.
"You guys are so good at hunting fish," she added.
Mistyfoot twitched her tail thoughtfully. "Well, ThunderClan is the best at hunting the way you guys do. I saw you kill that bird."
Starrypaw licked her chest to hide her embarrassment. Suddenly, the bushes rustled, and Graystripe stepped out looking hostile. Upon seeing Mistyfoot, he relaxed. Exchanging a brisk nod with her, he turned to Starrypaw.
"Go and dig up what you buried, we're heading back," he said.
Starrypaw nodded and said a quick goodbye to Mistyfoot before taking her bird and heading back to get her other piece of prey. It was a squirrel she'd caught by the twoleg place border.
When she finally reached the squirrel, Starrypaw suddenly felt very watched. Her fur rose on her neck, and she sniffed the air warily.
"Psst! Hey!"
Starrypaw whirled to face the fence behind her. Crouching atop it was Hattie, and Starrypaw could smell the fear scent coming off of her.
Starrypaw relaxed and put the bird in the hole that held the squirrel before leaping up beside Hattie softly. Hattie's eyes widened.
"What's wrong?" Starrypaw asked.
"Okay, you aren't going to attack me are you?"
Starrypaw shook her head.
"Alright, good." Hattie's demeanour changed as she relaxed.
"So what's wrong?" Starrypaw repeated.
"Well, remember that time that I came into your...uh..."
"Camp?"
"Right. Camp. Anyway while I was there, I didn't tell anyone else but Firestar because I didn't want to worry anyone, but there's a mean group of rogue cats who've been terrorizing all the kittypets around here. It's scary to even step outside anymore. My housefolk hate them as well because they dig through everyone's trash, and they also worry for me. Last time I came to ask Firestar what I should do, and this time I want you to warn him."
"Warn him of what?" Starrypaw asked, beginning to get a sinking feeling.
"The rogues aren't going to stop, and the word the kittypets have passed around is that they're goal is to take down any cats who won't join them."
"How big are they?"
"I've never seen them, but a black she-cat named Ebony has, and she said they're pretty big. There are six of them. She was almost attacked herself if it weren't for her housefolk she said."
Starrypaw gulped. Six large rogues hoping to take down any cat who wouldn't join them didn't sound like anything the Clan needed right now as the dry point of greenleaf was taking over.
"Thank you, Hattie," Starrypaw finally said. "I'll be sure to give Firestar your warning."
"Wait!" Hattie called out as Starrypaw leapt down from the fence. "What's your name?"
"Starrypaw. I'm an apprentice."
Hattie gave a slightly confused look.
"That means I'm training to be a warrior, and then, I'll be given a new name."
Hattie nodded her understanding. "Thankyou, Starrypaw. See you." She disappeared on the other side of the fence.
Starrypaw grabbed both of her fresh kill and ran as well as she could with such a mouthful. When she jumped through the gorse tunnel, Graystripe cantered over quickly.
"There you are! We were starting to get worried! What happened?"
"It's a bit of a long story," she said after taking her fresh kills to the pile. "Where's Firestar? I need to tell him something important."
Graystripe looked taken aback, but he shook and flicked his tail to let her know to follow. He led her to the leader's den and she slipped in after him.
Starrypaw blinked in the dark cave, trying to see in comparison to the harsh, bright sun. Firestar lay in the back on his bedding, enjoying a rabbit with Sandstorm, who lay beside him. When they entered, he and his mate lifted their heads.
"What is it?" Firestar asked.
"Starrypaw has something to tell you," Graystripe said, sitting behind her as she stepped up.
"Firestar," she began quickly, "when I was collecting my kills to bring back here, one of them was by twoleg place, and I saw Hattie there. She had something important to tell me that she wanted me to pass to you."
"Alright then, go on."
Starrypaw poured out the whole story with barely a breath in between. All the while Firestar listened intently. When she said the part about them getting rid of any cats that wouldn't join them, Graystripe scoffed.
"What harm could they do to us?" he countered. "We're a whole Clan."
"Let her finish," Firestar said.
Starrypaw went on, and when she was done, Firestar stared at the ground without saying anything.
Starrypaw waited respectively all while trying to catch her breath after all that she'd said. Finally, Firestar spoke up.
"Graystripe, Sandstorm, go and make sure everyone has returned to camp."
Graystripe and Sandstorm nodded, and they slipped out of the den quickly. Firestar padded behind them and Starrypaw followed. Before exiting the den, Firestar stopped and turned to Starrypaw.
"Thankyou," he said to her.
Starrypaw rubbed her head against her father's strong shoulder, and he licked her affectionately. It was crazy for her to think that he'd been a kittypet at one point. Living where Hattie lived, eating kittypet food. Now, he was a strong, brave leader, and a loving father.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highrock," Firestar called out once they were out of the den and everyone had returned.
Whispers of concern and speculations spread around the Clan as they gathered. Squirrelpaw pushed her way to the front, narrowing her eyes at Starrypaw before gazing up at her father and leader questioningly.
Firestar raised his head for silence. "Starrypaw brought back news that is important for every Clan to know. We may be the first, but I will announce it at the gathering this full moon as well. If you can recall, not long ago, a kittypet came to the camp seeking help. For those of you who who don't know who she is, her name is Hattie. She is now owned by my old twoleg family. However, Hattie visited to ask for guidance regarding rogues who were prowling twoleg place and terrorizing the kittypets that lived there."
Firestar paused and looked down at Starrypaw.
"Starrypaw, I would like you to explain what Hattie said to you."
Starrypaw's legs seemed attached to the ground, but she managed to lift them, and leap up onto the highrock as Firestar leapt down.
She turned and sat, sweeping her gaze over the Clan. With a gulp, she began the story. The entire Clan watched silently, but when she'd finished, Cloudtail shot up.
"Why don't we just attack them first? They'll soon know why we're a strong Clan!"
Firestar silenced him with a glare and cleared his throat. "We can't storm twoleg place searching for trouble."
Starrypaw jumped down so that Firestar could take the place again. "I want all patrols, whether hunting or border patrols, to take extra care by twoleg place and remain alert. Remember, Hattie lives there, so don't just attack any kittypet you see." He closed his eyes for a moment before nodding to dismiss the group and heading back to his den.
As the Clan dispersed, Starrypaw padded to the fresh kill pile, her paws now seemingly much heavier than before. What would an attack mean for the Clans? Regardless, of her worries, hunger still knawed at her stomach, and she settled in the dry shade, preparing to eat a vole.
As she was eating, she spotted Cinderpelt going back into her den. This is my chance, she thought.
As soon as she was done, Starrypaw went to Cinderpelt's den. When she slipped inside, Cinderpelt was rearranging some marigold.
"Hey, Starrypaw," she said without looking up, "what's wrong?"
Starrypaw hesitated, but took a deep breath. "I need to talk to you."
Cinderpelt stopped and turned abruptly. She gazed at Starrypaw with an unreadable expression. At first Starrypaw thought she was going to say no.
"Okay, follow me."
Cinderpelt led Starrypaw to the back of the den into Leafpaw's sleeping area. She sat awkwardly because of her leg and motioned for Starrypaw to relax.
"What do you need?"
"Well, not too long ago, I told you about a dream."
Cinderpelt nodded.
"Well...I've been having more...many more, and I was wondering if you could...at least say what you thought even if you don't know the meaning," Starrypaw explained.
"Are all these dreams the same?"
"Mostly, except for one that was very strange." Starrypaw told Cinderpelt about the dream with the black she-cat who'd talked to Starrypaw as if she'd known her and also that she'd smelled like a kittypet.
When Starrypaw finished, Cinderpelt was looking down at the ground. She said nothing.
"Cinderpelt, are you okay?" Starrypaw asked.
Suddenly Cinderpelt looked up, and Starrypaw flattened her ears. Cinderpelt's eyes were glazed with sorrow as if she'd been sitting vigil by a deceased warrior.
"What's wrong?" Starrypaw asked urgently.
"Starrypaw, there's something I need to tell you," she replied.
Starrypaw waited, straining to hear what was so awful and sad about her dreams.
"You aren't Sandstorm and Firestar's kit."