**OLD** Valley Cats: Of Sky and Stone 1- Daughters and Darkness

Chapter Nineteen

 "I swear, she was right here!" Twisterpaw protested, waving her tail at the trampled flowers. "She even took my blue jay! You were with me on the patrol, Dovetail. You saw me catch it." she desperately looked up at the warrior.

 The pale brown she-cat shook her head. "I'm sorry, Twisterpaw. But this story isn't very believable." she admitted.

 "Why would I lie about this? I was attacked by a CliffClan cat!" she protested.

 Poppystar raised her head from where she was sniffing at the flowers. "It just doesn't make sense. CliffClan is so far away. There's no explanation as to why a malnourished black she-cat from the northern mountain would come all the way down here in an attempt to kidnap a ForestClan apprentice. And I don't even smell anything here." she reasoned.

 "But it happened! You can't smell it because you're a thousand moons old!" Twisterpaw wailed.

 Dovetail and Poppystar shared a look before Dovetail gave her a small smile. "Maybe you just imagined it, dear." she suggested.

 "Let's go back to camp, shall we? I'm sure you'll feel much better when you can train with your brother again." Poppystar turned back towards the camp, ambling through the dense undergrowth. Twisterpaw followed, hanging her head. Neither of the she-cats believed her! 

 She cast a sorrowful look back at the clearing, hoping that whoever had attacked her wouldn't be making another appearance anytime soon.

 Even though many cats had already been waiting by the tree when Twisterpaw got back to the camp, she spotted many heads poking out of their dens. They eyed the three she-cats curiously, whispering to themselves. Sandyfur leaped off of the deputy's boulder and bounded over, concern glittering in her eyes.

 "Mother! What's going on? Shadowsweep got a prophecy? And what's up with Twisterpaw?" the cream-colored she-cat demanded.

 "I'll give details later. I have important things to do now." Poppystar stated calmly, brushing past her deputy.

 Twisterpaw glanced around and spotted Galepaw trotting towards her. He was carrying a wad of wet moss. "Here. This might help you clean up. I think I saw Ravenflight do this once." he offered, pressing it into her fur. 

 "Thanks," she snapped,  sounding rattled.

 "So what was all that about? You looked like you'd just seen a spirit." Galepaw commented, working the mud out of her fur.

 "Oh, that... so weird. I thought I saw some rogue on our territory." she lied. "I ran all the way back here to warn everyone."

 "If you saw a rogue on a hunting patrol, wouldn't you go to Crowpelt or Dovetail?" Galepaw narrowed his eyes. 

 "Um..." Twisterpaw shook her head. "I don't know. I was really scared, and I was closer to the camp." At least that part wasn't a lie.

 "Have you seen Magpiepaw? I haven't talked to her ever since Snowspirit took her on a hunting patrol last night. Isn't that weird?" Galepaw shrugged. "I can't stop worrying about them. I asked Mothtail about it, but she just said she hadn't missed either of them. How rude."

 "All cats of ForestClan, please gather for a Clan meeting!" Poppystar yowled from the leader's tree. Galepaw put the moss down and scooted forwards to join the cats, Twisterpaw following closely behind. Nearly every warrior was already gathered below the leader, but she waited patiently as the last of the elders sat down.

 "The past few days have held some unusual events." she began. "Shadowsweep has given us a prophecy, of which I'm sure she's informed of you already. If anyone has any information regarding the meaning of said prophecy, please visit the healers' den. On top of that, Twisterpaw claims she has sighted an unfamiliar cat on our territory. Please keep an eye out for a slender black she-cat with a white chest and green eyes." the leader nodded at Twisterpaw.