𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ༄ؘ 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 ༄ؘ

"What?" A collective gasp rose up from the cats. Coralfang blinked in astonishment as Shimmerfish trembled and went on.

     "My kit—my Reefkit—he's gone! I—I—last night, he was—and I—couldn't find him—and—and—" Railwing, who looked extremely uncomfortable, shushed his mate.

     "Quiet, quiet, Shimmerfish. Calm down. You've got to control yourself!"

     Coralfang's gaze swiveled to Stormrunner, who looked horrified. The black tom leaped to his paws and pushed his way to his sister, taking over for the clearly inadequate Railwing. He murmured something to the trembling queen and licked her ears comfortingly. It was unsettling to see the typically calm Shimmerfish in such a distraught state. In a few minutes, the queen looked composed enough to speak clearly, though her voice still shook.

     With a deep breath, Shimmerfish started again. "L-last night, it was all so confusing. I had Fleetkit in my jaws, and I thought someone else had picked up Reefkit—but—but it was dark and loud and I—I lost track of him." Here, her voice quivered more and she gulped. "When we got to the cave, I was so tired I just—just—curled up and blacked out instantly, and I didn't notice till this morning that Reefkit was ..." Her voice trailed off and she leaned into Railwing with her eyes closed.

     The clan was grim and silent for several moments. Railwing's eyes hardened and he growled, "We must send a patrol back to look for him!"

     Slowly shaking his head, Fallensky answered him reluctantly, "No, Railwing. The camp will be flooded by now. There's no use going back."

     "But we must! I'll go if no one else does!"

     A cold voice replied promptly, enunciating each word carefully, "Then you will drown. Hurricanes do not leave survivors." Urchinsting's unwavering turquoise gaze was focused on the tense warrior. He froze and stared at her. An intent staring match went down, but eventually, the golden-brown tom slumped and looked away.

     After a moment, Fallensky spoke again. "Well ... we will grieve for Reefkit in due course," he promised. "For now—we must address the next matter. Since we did not act with the haste that we—yes, Coralfang? What is it?" Fallensky looked down at her with a slightly annoyed expression.

     Lowering her tail, Coralfang closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath to steel herself. Then she mewed calmly, "Seapaw is missing."

     "My kit!" Warblerspring cried, jumping up. "No!" Her flanks heaved and she lashed her tail back and forth rapidly. While Driftwater looked distressed, he made no move to comfort his former mate, instead staying by Pebbleshore. For a moment, there was awkward tension, for no one knew how to help the she-cat. Then Pearlmoon padded over to Warblerspring and made soothing noises as she got the warrior to sit. "No, no, no ..." the gray-and-white patched she-cat whimpered.

     Pearlmoon murmured, "Shhh," and stroked Warblerspring's flank.

     "Coralfang," Fallensky mewed gravely, "what do you know about Seapaw? Why did he not make it with us to the cave?"

     Collecting her thoughts carefully, Coralfang began. "Yesterday, I was teaching Seapaw about protocol during hurricanes. He became argumentative, and I sent him off to hunt."

     "All alone?" Warblerspring glared at her.

     "Yes. He was a mature young cat, and I had no qualms with sending him off. He must have taken shelter somewhere when he realized the storm was coming, because he did not return last night." Proud of herself for speaking clearly and concisely, Urchinsting could have no complaint about that!—Coralfang blinked at Warblerspring. It's as close to an apology as I'll ever get to for this, so take it or spurn it, old queen. Warblerspring heaved a shaky breath in and averted her gaze. Spurned, then. No matter. I do not need her approval to succeed.