**OLD** Valley Cats: Of Sky and Stone 2- Poison Clouds

Chapter Eleven

 Palespeckle shivered deeply as she neared the Pond, feeling the chill as if it were leaf-bare already. But as she sat down, she frowned at the shriveled, fallen leaves that floated over from the RockClan territory. Onyx-eye and Magpiepelt followed behind her, with Cyclonespirit trailing behind. Magiepelt was constantly straying off the path to marvel at every potential omen, while Onyx-eye was restlessly shoving her sister along.

 The two sisters sat down heavily next to Palespeckle, while her cousin settled further down. The four cats sat there for a moment, then Palespeckle spoke impatiently. "How long until they get here? You said they'd be here at the crack of dawn and we've checked four times this morning!" she  grumbled.

 "Don't be such a wet nest." Onyx-eye growled in her usual ornery gruffness, sounding three years older than she actually was. "These cats are coming from far away just to see us. If they arrive half a day late, it isn't our place to complain."

 "Remember about a year ago when you went to that all-Clan gathering to ask about Twistedbramble's kit?" Magpiepelt said suddenly. "Did you ever see her again?"

 "Only twice. We were talking to our brother in the Frozen Forest. He's been talking to CloudClan through the Moonstream, trying to get Crowpelt and Clearwaters' kits on his side. Says the prophecy's about him." the black warrior grunted plainly. "Other than that, no. The second time was when her apprentice was ratting out some GroveClan warriors who'd been training cats there for many moons. You know, Wolfstride and Lynxpounce. Those guys."

 Palespeckle had already heard these tales from the three siblings, so she quickly lost interest. Instead, she marveled at how clear and crisp her reflection was in the water. The brightly blue, cloudless sky and the jagged cliffs of the territory were so clearly shown in the Pond that it seemed as though the starry magic within was illustrating such a display. The only thing to break the illusion was the russet leaves delicately resting on the surface, also reflected on the still water.

 "How's Silverpaw?" she asked suddenly, prodding Cyclonespirit with a claw.

 "Oh, um. Fine." the junior healer shrugged. "I bring her here frequently so that the healers of RockClan and MeadowClan and sometimes WoodClan can speak to her. She's been on several quests; missions that would be fit for a warrior's initiation." he reported.

 "That sounds nice. Where is she now?" the ghostly warrior pried.

 "Saving up some bark for the cold season. Like... Like how Dawnlight used to do." Cyclonespirit blinked quickly, though not before Palespeckle caught a glimpse of the stab of pain in his expression. Over the warm season, Cyclonespirit had found new inspirations and accepted that he was no longer the cat that he used to be before she died. But still, the beloved Seer was a touchy subject.

 "There they are!" Onyx-eye barked, springing to her feet. Cyclonespirit hopped to his toes within the moment, while Palespeckle squinted her eyes for a moment before she spotted three cats. One she immediately recognized as Twistertail, another she assumed was Pumpkinpelt, and a complete stranger with orange-golden fur.

 "Sister! Pumpkinpelt!" Onyx-eye yowled at the two she-cats, her already-thunderous voice echoing around the cliffs.

 "Hello to you too, girl!" Pumpkinpelt giggled, bouncing closer.

 "And Lionsinge? I didn't know Twistertail was going to bring her son!" Magpiepelt purred warmly from where she was perched with her paws in the water. "I almost thought he was one of Pumpkinpelt's kits, look at all that fur! But I thought Sagepool or Mosscurl was coming today?" her calm yet friendly aura seemed to waver for a moment.

 "Why bring Sagepool when you've got Twistertail? She's deciphered, like, three prohpecies in her life!" Onyx-eye declared, trotting over the rocks towards her sister.