The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 14: Ottercall

Ottercall watched Redpaw trot towards the nursery, a whiting in her jaws. Her tail waved as she walked, visibly excited to see the kits.

Ottercall waited for her, glancing over at the small cavern in the back of the Clan's camp that Ripplestar made her den in. She'd be coming out any moment, which Ottercall would use as a chance to talk to her before a training session with Redpaw. The way Ripplestar had kept important information to herself at the Gathering, information that would eventually affect all of the Clans, had been itching at Ottercall like a tick the past quarter moon.

As she waited, Snailnose, a creamy-furred elder with a broad face, made his way past her, towards the inner caves.

"Good morning, Snailnose," Ottercall greeted. "What're you up to?"

"Just heading into the back-caves for a drink of water," the tom replied with a chuckle.

Ottercall stood up, tilting her head. "Redpaw's taking some prey to the nursery — if you wait we could come with you." Snailnose was the oldest elder in CoveClan, and while he often didn't need help, she assumed the gesture wouldn't hurt.

But Snailnose shook his head. "Thank you, but that's quite alright," he meowed. "I may be an elder, but I can still make it to the watering hole!"

Ottercall flattened her ears, worried she'd offended him, but the old tom gave a good natured purr and padded off.

Ottercall kneaded her paws in the sandy ground restlessly. Redpaw was taking her time — she must have been playing with the kits. Ottercall couldn't blame her. Redpaw had been a young kit herself when Fawnwhisper had her litter, so she'd shared the nursery with them just a couple moons before.

Just as Ottercall was about to fetch Redpaw, Ripplestar appeared from her den, strutting towards the fresh-kill pile. Ottercall intercepted her, ignoring the leader's annoyed expression.

"Ripplestar, I'd like to have a word with you," Ottercall meowed.

Ripplestar frowned and licked at the webbing between her claws. "I don't suppose I have much of a choice," she muttered, and then said at a normal volume, "What is it, Ottercall?"

Ottercall disregarded her attitude and plowed on. "You need to make a formal announcement about the rising tide," she said. "It's become hazardous to hunt on the pier. I've been telling anglers to hunt with two warriors instead of one."

Ripplestar sniffed. "Well, I appreciate you taking initiative, Ottercall," she meowed, "but I do believe that responsibility lies with the Clan's deputy."

Ottercall had received this rebuttal before, and was prepared for it. "Shadeflower's been telling them, too," she replied, adding to herself, Once I told him to, anyways.

The silver molly narrowed her eyes. "Well, then, the problem's been dealt with! Why are you bothering me with this?" She tried to dart past Ottercall, but Ottercall was quick to block the way.

"Because it's dangerous!" she insisted. "They won't listen to me and Shadeflower like they'll listen to you." While even warriors like Smokecreek were amicable enough to listen to her advice, some warriors, which was to say, the older ones, were not cooperative at all unless orders came right from Ripplestar. Even Shadeflower was often ignored by them because of how unassertive he could be.

"The Clan is fine," Ripplestar snapped. "We're CoveClan. We swim." Her long, feather-like tail lashed. "We don't need to be told to be careful in the ocean, for StarClan's sake."

"Oatmist and Poppywish left Puddlepaw without parents because of how dangerous the ocean is!" Ottercall pressed. "How can you dismiss that?"

"Oatmist was sick, and Poppywish was still nursing," Ripplestar spat through clenched teeth. "Neither of them had any business being out in the water; it's their own fault."