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

Chapter Thirty-Two

 "I, Twistertail of ForestClan, solemnly swear to never enter the Frozen Forest again, for as long as I live." the young warrior recited.

 "Good. You three may take your paws out of the Moonpond now." Sandystar nodded in approval. Robinsong, Squirrelstrike, and Twistertail removed their front paws from the shallows, flicking off the icy water. Even though leaf-fall had just set in, the water held an icy chill.

 "Sandystar," Sagepool sat up quickly from where he had been watching the ceremony with his apprentice Mosspaw. "I do believe we should stop by RockClan first. At the half-moon meeting a few days ago, Fernflutter had mentioned that they needed a fresh supply of catmint to treat serious coughs. Since ForestClan is the only Clan with access to that twoleg garden, I made sure to gather plenty last time."

 "Go on. Why didn't you inform me of this before?" Sandystar asked, a little impatiently.

 "...That's where I was this morning, when Sprucefall died. I just... didn't want to bring that subject up... in case you asked." the tom lowered his head.

 "That's alright. But I won't be able to make it through such rocky territory, what with my leg." Snadystar stretched out her hind leg, showing the warriors a sickening display. Where Mango had bitten her a few moons ago, it had turned all kinds of colors, and was coated with a clear, sticky substance.

 "That looks even worse than it did when we left!" Sagepool's eyes widened. "If that wound opens up again, the infection could spread to your blood. Ravenflight had seen it happen in the healthiest of warriors. You need to go back to camp and rest!" he ordered.

 "Very well. But you should probably give RockClan that catmint. How about Robinsong and Squirrelstrike see me home while Twistertail and Amberpaw go with you?" Sandystar suggested.

 "Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you back at the camp by moonhigh." Sagepool nodded, rallying the shy apprentice with his tail. "Come on, Mosspaw. Let's go give that catmint to RockClan!"

 "No. Absolutely not." the deputy's voice was cold.

 "But, Cricketridge! She isn't protecting me against RockClan. This isn't a threat, really! She's just escorting us to make sure we don't get carried away by bats or something!" Sagepool protested.

 Cricketridge's eyes narrowed even further. "Healers are protected on all territories. You don't need a warrior to escort you, Sagepool." the pale tabby she-cat's dark brown eyes glittered aggressively at Twistertail. "Leave our territory. You are not welcome here." she snarled.

 "Alright alright, I'm going." the black-and-white she-cat reluctantly stepped away from the bristling RockClan dusk patrol, guiding her paws as close to the stream as she could. The gray rocks seemed to glow warmly in the sunset, and Twistertail admired them silently as she slowly made her way downhill away from the healers.

 But then, she heard it- a whisper that wasn't from the stream. Her head shot up and she searched the rocks for another cat. Maybe Mosspaw had followed her? It sounded like her voice.

 "Yes, you!" the voice hissed.

 "Wha-Who are you? Where are you?" Twistertail turned in quick circles, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

 "On the other side of the stream, under the two boulders." she could barely hear over the noise of the water. But as she focused on the other side of the stream, in CliffClan territory, she could make out two green eyes staring back at her. An unmistakable scrawny black she-cat stepped forwards. "Come here!" she curled her tail in.

 "Um... why?" Twistertail hung back, hesitant. This cat had motive to kidnap her, and through all their moons of training in the Frozen Forest, had proven that she was comfortable with her claws. "I have something to show you!" Onyxpaw hissed.