Clans of the Forest:1: Stone and Silver (COMPLETE)

Chapter 10

Silverpaw blinked away the the morning dew. He lifted his head. It was before dawn. He got to his feet and slipped out of the apprentice den. Padding across the clearing, he made his way to the warrior's den.

He stuck his head inside.

"Moonbeam," He whispered. The gray tabby she-cat lifted her head. She blinked and sat up.

"Silverpaw what are you doing up so early?"

"I was wondering-has Stonepaw gotten back yet? She wasn't in the den with me." 

Moonbeam looked concerned. "No," She mewed slowly. "She wasn't with Firefly and Summerpaw. I-I think she might've gotten lost."

Silverpaw's heart broke. "We must send out a search party!" He leapt to his feet and ran out of the den, skidding to a halt in front of the Highstone. He gulped and asked, "May I come in?"

Bluestar took a little while to respond. Finally, she mewed, "Come in."

As soon as Silverpaw entered, Bluestar began talking. "Silverpaw," She began hastily. "I know what you're going to ask. There's no point. She's dead."

"WHAT?!?" Screeched Silverpaw, rage boiling up inside him.

"I had a dream last night," Bluestar continued, "StarClan told me that the gray cat was dead."

"SO IT'S HER, THEN?!?" Silverpaw practically screamed. "IT COULD BE ANYONE! FOR STARCLAN'S SAKE, IT COULD BE GREENMOON!"

"Silverpaw, I-"

Silverpaw stormed out of the den, full of anger. He stomped up to the warrior's den and shoved his head in.

"She's dead!" He yelled, making Rivereye jump.

Leaving the warriors in chaos, he ran out of camp, tears pouring down his face. Stupid StarClan! Why did they have to be so vague about everything?!? He ran deep into the forest, not noticing what direction he was going in. Finally he collapsed on a rock by a creek.

"Hey," snarled a voice. Silverpaw jumped. "What are you doing so close to the MysteryClan border?"

Silverpaw turned to see a small, fuffy gray tom crouched on the other side of the creek. 

"I didn't notice where I was going." Silverpaw mewed, trying to sound brave. He stalked away from the rock.

"Bet you weren't." The gray tom growled, matching his pace with Silverpaw. "Who are you?" 

"I'm Silverpaw of ForestClan, grandson of Bluestar." He held his chin high.

The tom snorted. "Well hello, SilverpawofForestClangrandsonofBluestar. What a lovely name." He snickered. "I'm Noneofyourbusiness." 

Silverpaw blushed. "Actually, I'm just Silverpaw."

"Okay, JustSilverpaw. I'm Eaglepaw." He puffed up his chest.

"I thought you were Noneofyourbusiness." Silverpaw replied. 

Eaglepaw turned on him. "You're not going to get away with that, fluff-brain."

Silverpaw was just about to say something when a tall, ginger tabby she-cat slid from the pines. 

"Eaglepaw, did I just hear you call this apprentice a fluff-brain?" she mewed. Eaglepaw blushed and followed her back into MysteryClan territory. 

Silverpaw turned his back to the creek and padded back into the woods. The tang of pine faded and was replaced with that of sparrow. Silverpaw scanned the skies eagerly. A whole flock of them was going to land somewhere up ahead. He couldn't believe his luck. 

He crept softly through the tall grass, careful not to swish any with his tail. He lowered into a hunting crouch. He could scent the sparrows just ahead. He was almost there. Suddenly there was a loud BANG! and the sparrows scattered. Silverpaw scented a Twoleg and darted away, heart pounding. He skirted the edge of the territory,and then headed towards camp. 

Something large and feathery flapped in Silverpaw's face and he clamped he jaws shut around it. A sparrow! He continued to run, outlined by the afternoon sun. 

Entering camp, instead of dropping his prey in the fresh-kill pile, he flung it into the center of the clearing declared, "This is for Stonepaw!"

The Clan gathered around, sitting vigil beside the prey. Bluestar padded from her den and sat down too. After a long moment of silence, Silverpaw stretched a paw out and took the first bite. His Clanmates followed. They sat there until the sun set below the trees, and into the stars of night.

And no one got bored.

Finally, as Bluestar got to her feet, there was a voice from the camp entrance.

"Hello?"

Silverpaw gasped.

"Stonepaw!"