Warriors: Beetlestar's Path

Chapter Fourteen

     "What are you doing on DarkClan territory?!"  

     Beetlewing unsheathed his claws and puffed out his short fur, letting out a low growl as he stood between Dustfoot and the gray tabby Stormstripe. The brush rustled and two more cats, Rainfall and Tidefoot, slipped into the open. "What's going on?" Rainfall demanded from Stormstripe, and Tidefoot cuffed the young warrior over the ear. 

     "Mousebrain, it's a medic and a deputy. Why do you think they're here?" 

     Dustfoot gave way to a tired sigh. "We're on our way to the Moonpool. We weren't going to risk cutting through TreeClan territory." 

     Rainfall huffed. "And that's a reasonable decision!" 

     Tidefoot pushed against Stormstripe, who lowered his head with embarrassment as his former mentor apologized. "We're sorry. He's still learning." 

     He should know by now that a medicine cat doesn't mean trouble. Still, Beetlewing held back. "That's okay." 

     "Good luck," Rainfall said, nodding to her fellow warriors. "We should let them get on their way," she added, limping away. Tidefoot bobbed his head and Stormstripe sulked, and the three walked away. Beetlewing shook his body to try and release the tension he felt. 

     "We're not far from MarshClan territory. We should keep going," Dustfoot insisted, and the two started on their way once more. 

     Darkness had fallen, and the trees only made it worse, blocking out moonlight and forcing them to navigate through shadows. Beetlewing stepped carefully, yet he still tripped and stumbled, made worse by the incline of DarkClan's northern land. MarshClan scent intensified, and before long they were crossing yet another border. The land dipped once more into a valley, and the ground grew soft and moist. 

     "I've never been in MarshClan before. Does it always feel this . . . gross?" Beetlewing asked. The air dampened his fur and his paws felt sticky.  

     "You should be here when it rains." Dustfoot sounded more flat than usual, and Beetlewing couldn't help but regret his comment. 

     The trail up the hill to the Moonpool loomed overhead and worry cloaked him. It twisted like a snake in his gut and transformed into terror as he looked up towards the moon. Dustfoot had started on the path but noticed her brother's absence and turned back. "What's wrong?" 

     Beetlewing swallowed hard. Dustfoot trotted towards him and studied his face. I'm going to meet StarClan. Dad will be there. Ravenflight too. And Splashstar, Scalefur, Brookstar . . . And Clover and Stem; will they be there? He hadn't thought of the two kits in so long. Shame burned beneath his fur. Will they ask about Sorrel? Will they be angry that he doesn't know about his own littermates?  

     "StarClan . . . They know what we do, right?" 

     Dustfoot gave a tiny nod and Beetlewing's heart sunk. What if they reject me because of the Waterwheel Cats?  

     "What if they don't accept me? What happens then?" 

     "The Clan will be leaderless. At least until StarClan sends us a sign, or we decide what to do ourselves." 

     What will the Clan think of me then? If I come back without nine lives . . .

     Dustfoot pushed her head against his shoulder. "But they won't. Brookstar chose you as deputy, and you've done right by WaterClan. Everyone knows that, including the dead." 

     Her words offered little assurance, but he didn't dare contradict her. When she walked back onto the path, Beetlewing followed, thoughts whirring in his head.