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

Chapter Fifteen

 In the highest part of the Sky, everything seemed almost white. On the thin clouds ahead, Palespeckle could barely make out a pawful of cats. As the three got closer, some she recognized from the legends of elders swimming in the Stream in their last moments, or the potential leaders who had died tragically before they got their gift- in all of Valley history, that had happened a number of times.

 "There she is." Ravenflight pointed out as the three spent a moment studying the horizon. "That's my sister, who was killed by her father-in-law. Oh, and Dawnlight! And Twistedbramble!" the dark gray tom suddenly paddled away, rippling the vapor underneath his paws.

 "Onyx-eye told me about Snowspirit." Shattersweep recalled once the healer was out of earshot. "She gave her and Twistertail some ominous message about how they wouldn't become leader but them and their kits and apprentices would do legendary things. Onyx-eye really took it to heart."

 "Really?" Palespeckle slowed down, turning to face her mentor as questions bubbled up in her brain. "I've never heard this story before."

 The senior warrior's fierce expression seemed to soften for a moment as his mind drifted to his more famous apprentice. "Ah, yes. Onyx-eye is one of the most dedicated cats in CliffClan. She's always been the one to volunteer to help Galesong and Magpiepelt, or guard the Moonpond. Especially if her sister was there. She really liked Twistertail. Onyx-eye was so loyal to her sister that she nearly died for her- that's how she's half-blind. But that's all in the past."

 Palespeckle nodded, remembering how Onyx-eye spoke lovingly of her sister when speaking to the ForestClan cats at a gathering. "And? What happened after that?" she prodded.

 "I don't know." Shattersweep admitted. "They don't talk much anymore, but I can't get any answers. The farther apart they grow, Onyx-eye just gets more heartbroken. You know, she named her own apprentice after hers, and she's pretty uptight about how you and Grayhaze compare to your cousins."

 "Why'd they stop talking to each other?" Palespeckle had never heard this part about her mother. But before Shattersweep could monologue more, Ravenflight returned with a fluffy white she-cat.

 "Shattersweep, Palespeckle!" the dark gray tom called gently. "I'd like you to meet my sister and your... grandmother." he said the last part delicately as the ornery she-cat glared at him menacingly.

 "Alright, so you're here to get Turquoisetalon to take back Sapphirestar's gift, right?" Snowspirit didn't sound too happy to see them.

 "Um, yes." Palespeckle confirmed. "And we're not trying to take it by force."

 "Didn't think so." the white she-cat sighed apathetically. "You two don't have much of a chance either way. But you're pretty much the only cats brave enough to try and get to him."

 "What do you mean, brave enough?" Shattersweep asked suspiciously. 

 "Yeah, about that. There's more bad news." Ravenflight admitted, fiddling his front paws timidly. "Turqoisetalon is... really high in the Sky, if you know what I mean. He died a crazy death, wanting to be with all the spirits and stuff."

 "I've heard that story." Palespeckle winced as she remembered Galesong's tale of the cat who ate a bunch of sacred crystals before jumping in the Pond under a full moon. "So, he's in the highest level of the Sky?"

 "Yes, I'm afraid." Ravenflight said sadly.

 "But we've already suffered so much in the past day!" Palespeckle complained before thinking of anything real to say.

 "Did you think this would be easy?" Ravenflight asked seriously. The two CliffClan cats glanced at each other, then glared at the former healer. He was right- Neither cat was entirely prepared for such a complicated task.