Chapter 15: Correcting Course

As the sun began to drift into evening, I noted an error in our navigation. It was one that Father had taught me a long time ago, but I'd forgotten. You see, the sun doesn't perfectly rise the opposite direction of where it sets. It's pretty close, but our assumption meant we'd drifted off course a fair bit. I decided to voice my thoughts before we got too much more off course.

"Hey. We're a bit off in which way we need to go." I mewed to my companions.

"What do you mean?" Brambleclaw asked, now looking slightly worried at the implication.

"We just went the opposite direction of the rising sun this morning. That's not perfectly the direction the sun sets. Just look. We're turned too far left. If we were heading the right way to start, I'd guess we'd have passed Highstones and passed through Windclan territory. What's everyone else's thoughts? Should we cut right to try and make up for our error or assume that we'll reach our destination anyways?" I queried.

"You Thunderclanners and your poor sense of direction." Crowpaw hissed.

"Hey! I didn't hear you complain about which direction we were heading until Darkpaw said something. Either you deliberately didn't tell us, or you have just as poor of a sense of direction as us." Squirrelpaw challenged.

Crowpaw's fur raised defensively. Squirrelpaw saw this and raised her fur as well. I myself was about to cut in when Feathertail did it for me.

"Calm down you two. None of us caught that we were off. The issue lies in trying to fix this. While we could try and correct now, we'll lose time in actually being able to follow the setting sun. Once night hits, we'll be unable to follow it." Feathertail deescalated.

Tawnypelt seemed to have an epiphany at what Feathertail just said. "That's not exactly true. There are certain stars in the night sky that Shadowclan uses to navigate. If we can figure out one that matches the direction the sun sets, then we'll be able to travel at night as well."

"What about traveling during the day?" Squirrelpaw asked.

"We're going to have to stop doing that, at least for a while. If I remember correctly, we're coming up on the Twoleg Place, and if you ever decide to travel in it during the daylight, I've got one word for you. Don't. It's a very good way to get yourself captured or killed. Cats have to operate nocturnally, or they simply do not survive." I mewed, unknowingly calling upon the memories of Scourge again.

"And who made you the expert on the Twoleg Place?" Crowpaw growled, clearly only arguing because he did not enjoy that he was getting talked over.

I froze for just a moment, feeling the world briefly sink into a colorless haze before snapping back. I couldn't tell him. I didn't trust him… but maybe they need me to give them just a little bit.

"I can't tell you. Just not yet. I don't really like it, but the most I'm willing to tell is that I've got far more knowledge of this place than I'm willing to admit. You can pass off the knowledge as coming from my mother since she was a rogue, but that's just me giving an excuse. I need you all to trust me on this, and maybe I'll open up to why I know how the city works." I replied, making it clear that I was unwilling to be pushed further on this topic.

Brambleclaw, clearly trying to take back the role of leader, decided to cut in. "Ok. For now, I suggest we course correct. We can figure out which star to follow during the night during it. I'd rather we fix our error before we enter the Twoleg Place. I don't think we're going to get much of a view of the sky once we get in there."

Tawnypelt supported that decision. "I agree. The navigation problem is small now, but if we ignore it, it'll keep getting bigger. Also, if Darkpaw is to be believed, we'd be forced to wait on the edge of the Twoleg Place anyways for nightfall. Though, we're going to have to change our operating times. I say we push ourselves late today so we can push our waking time later."

"Seems like a solid idea. I'm up for it. That makes three. Anyone else want to go with this plan?" Stormfur mewed.

Begrudgingly, it was Crowpaw who made the fourth, surprisingly enough. "Fine. I see the point. I don't like the idea of entering a Twoleg Place at all, but that's what we've got to do. While I don't believe the words of what Darkpaw said, his tone was of a cat who was sure of themselves. Either they really do know how the place works, or they think they do. I'd personally rather go off a guess than go without, so I'll go with what Darkpaw suggests for now."

With that, the group turned sharply, trying to make up the ground lost by going the wrong direction. The sky was red with only the faintest speck of sun on the horizon when we decided that we corrected enough. Tawnypelt watched for any notable stars while we waited for night time to come. After a while, darkness took over the sky, followed by the appearance of numerous stars. Tawnypelt suddenly nodded. "Got it. We'll be following the Wind Guide Star."

"The Wind Guide Star?" Feathertail queried.

"It's a star Shadowclan uses for navigation. On Shadowclan territory, it points towards Windclan, hench The Wind Guide Star. It's in the direction the sun sets, and it's a star that doesn't get hidden behind the moon." Tawnypelt explained.

The explanation was enough for us to trust her word. Thus, we followed her towards our destination. It was once we were on the edge of the Twoleg Place did we decide to call it for the day. We were all tired and desiring some sleep. We were a bit out of Thunderclan territory, but the terrain was familiar enough, so Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, and I caught the meals for the night. Tomorrow… Well, tomorrow I'd find out just how much I remembered the city, and how much the city remembered me.