Meet Me in the Woods | Shadowsight x Rootspring

The Hunt

      It was barely light out as Reedclaw snuck out of her den. She peeked around the corner, the cats that were supposed to be watching her were asleep. There was light dew on the grass and the sun reflected off of the plants. Ah, it's going to be a nicer day today... Reedclaw thought. She padded towards the entrance of the camp. Reedclaw looked around to see if anyone was awake, usually some of the elders were up. She didn't see anyone, she sprinted out of the camp.

     Reedclaw bounded out into the forest, her heart pounding in her chest. She put her head down and sprinted farther away.

* * * 

     Rootspring wandered out of his den. Due to last night's mishaps, Shadowsight stayed in SkyClan. Shadowsight was still dozing in Rootspring's nest, while Root sat in the Clan clearing thinking. Harrybrook's death had taken a toll on Rootspring. How did we just walk by him without noticing? Rootspring pondered, with the sun filtering through the trees, warming his golden pelt. Rootspring turned around to see Shadowsight emerging from the den. Rootspring gave Shadowsight an admiring glance and purred as his mate sat next to him. The golden tom was still uneasy about Harrybrook's death. Seeing Shadowsight made him calm down.

"Good morning, my love." Shadowsight purred.

     Rootspring nuzzled against Shadowsight, the two sitting in the early morning sunlight. Tree sauntered by without giving the mates any notice.

"What're you guys doing asleep!" Tree hissed at the warriors.

     Gravelnose and Sagenose jumped up, they hadn't meant to fall asleep... Tree's eyes widened as he moved away the thick branches sheltering the den. No Reedclaw, just an empty nest. Rootspring and Shadowsight were on their paws immediately.

"I'll go get Leafstar." Rootspring said, with a worried glance at Shadowsight. The dark tom nodded.

     Leafstar padded over with Rootspring right behind her.

"You four." Leafstar ordered. "Gravelnose you're with Shadowsight. Sagenose you're with Rootspring. Go find Reedclaw, bring her back to camp."

     The four warriors ran out of the camp into the forest. Gravelnose and Shadowsight going towards the right and the other group off to the left. Shadowsight who wasn't completely familiar with SkyClan territory, fell into step behind Gravelnose. Gravelnose lifted his chin to smell for any signs of Reedclaw. Shadowsight looked around for any tufts of fur or blood.

"No signs of Reedclaw." Gravelnose murmured.

     Gravelnose trotted of towards the lake. Shadowsight trotted up beside him. They needed to find Reedclaw before moonrise.

* * *

     On the other side of the woods, Rootspring and Sagenose were looking near a badger set. Rootspring breathed in the scent of the stale badgers. He picked up some far off fear-scent. Sagenose nodded in the direction of the lake.

"We're pretty close to the lake. Do you think she ran through the bushes near there? She can't swim can she?" Questioned Sagenose.

"I'm not sure, surely she's not stupid enough to swim." Rootspring grumbled.

     As they ran towards the lake, Reedclaw's scent grew stronger. She is here!

"Rootspring! Go check those thick grasses over there." Sagenose said looking into a patch of bushes.

     Rootspring was nosing through the grass when he smelled the scent of his mate and Gravelnose. A rustle in the bushes confirmed his smell. Gravelnose burst through the thick branches, Shadowsight followed.

"Shadowsight! Did you guys find anything?" Rootspring questioned.

"No, not over there. She must've passed between our markers leading here." Shadowsight padded over to Rootspring. The two mates touched noses before continuing their search through the grass.

"Oh, come on, you two." Gravelnose meowed with a hint of amusement. "Enough of that."

* * *

     Sagenose shook his head, he jumped onto a pile of large rocks. Behind one of them was Reedclaw's mangled body. Sagenose eyes widened.

"S-She's right here..." Sagenose stumbled forward and picked up Reedclaw by the scruff.

     The other three warriors ran towards the rocks. Sagenose looked up at the land above where they were standing.

"She could've jumped, I mean, to cover up what she did to Harrybrook." Sagenose said, looking back down at his fellow warriors.

"You think Reedclaw killed herself?" Rootspring replied looking at Reedclaw's motionless body.

Gravelnose looked gravely up at Sagenose.

"I think we have our answer." Gravelnose's eyes shifting between the other three cats. "Reedclaw killed Harrybrook..."