Warrior Cats: Sky of Storms

Chapter 5

Echopaw trotted toward the fresh kill pile in a good mood, which wasn't normal. Most cats woke up with prickly attitudes, but she felt herself lightning ever since joining RiverClan.

She saw a light tabby picking out a bird from the pile, but Echopaw had never seen her before. She almost mistook her for Swallowtail and realized they must be sisters.

"Hey." Echopaw approached her, and the new cat looked up and dropped her prey. She nudged it closer to her and replied, "You're Echopaw, right?"

She nodded, noticing Reedwhisker looking around for her, and waved her tail to get his attention. He walked over to her, but his pace slowed when he saw the new cat.

"Hello, Sunbeam." Reedwhisker greeted her. "Getting prey for Mosspelt?"

Sunbeam nodded. "Yes. She isn't making enough milk, so Mistystar asked me to take care of her." The sun-colored warrior looked down at Echopaw again, picked up her prey, and walked off to the Nursery.

Echopaw turned to Reedwhisker, but he was watching Sunbeam with desperate eyes. Echopaw thought she saw a flash of hopelessness on his face, but he quickly washed it away and said to Echopaw, "Where going on the dawn patrol with Heavystep, Volepaw, and Bluetail."

She nodded, walking behind her mentor with bright eyes. She saw Mothwing and Wavepaw in the medicine dens, both of them looking busy and worried. 

Wavepaw spotted her and ran over. Her fur smelled like herbs, and Echopaw had to tense her muscles so she wouldn't flinch at the strong smell.

"Hey," Echopaw greeted her, aware of Reedwhisker waiting impatiently beside her. "How's being a medicine cat?"

"Exciting," Wavepaw answered, but she stamped her feet nervously. "Mothwing and I are going to Highstones tonight so I can officially become a medicine cat apprentice."

"Highstone?" She echoed as Reedwhisker cleared his throat significantly.

"It's where medicine cats and leaders go to speak to StarClan," Wavepaw continued. "Every cat visits there before they become a warrior too."

Echopaw thought of that for a moment and noticed Wavepaw tilting her head at her. "Did you know Swallowtail has Whitecough?"

Reedwhisker sat up quickly, looking around fiercely. "She does? Why didn't anyone tell me?" 

Wavepaw looked uncomfortable, gave a polite nod to both cats, and ran back to the medicine den. Reedwhisker paced after her, but stopped and turned to look at Echopaw.

"It's alright." She said. "You go take care of her."

She walked over to where Heavystep and Volepaw were sitting, and another cat that must be  Bluetail. The three cats looked around for Reedwhisker, but Echopaw explained what he was doing.

The four cats set off toward the boundary they shared with WindClan, renewing the scent markings and catching a little prey as well.

Echopaw smelled a mouse, and crouched down, keeping light paws. But before she got closer, the mouse lifted his head and scurried under some bushes.

Echopaw huffed and turned away and saw Bluetail behind her, flicking her tail to brush across Echopaw's shoulders.

"Unlucky." He said. "You forgot to stay down-wind."

Echopaw mewed in understanding and looked up at Bluetail. "Is Sunbeam any different from Swallowtail?"

The grey warrior looked down at her and the two cats ahead of him. "There sisters, so they're mostly the same. Sunbeam is just as talented and stubborn as her sister, and is the only one who is competing with Swallowtail's spot to be deputy."