CotS #1: The Dark Path (currently being rewritten)

Chapter Twenty-four

I left after that. I didn't hear Duskypelt's horrified cry, although he was sure to have known it was coming. Slowly padding back to camp, I had to think of a reason why I'd been out. Then, as I got back in, I suddenly remembered I wasn't an apprentice anymore. I didn't need to explain myself. Content, I washed myself in the river – or rather, swam in the river – and got out, shaking.

It wasn't that late. Maybe only sundown. Minkfur immediately sent me on a hunting patrol. I really wondered what Minkfur's deputy, Mothtail, did, because Minkfur did everything.

I went to find Twilightgleam, and she was talking animatedly to Emberblaze. I remembered him from my few days here. Emberblaze was a grumpy tom, and hardly ever smiled. But he was smiling now, at her, as she rattled on about whatever she thought about.

"Twilightgleam!" I called, and the smile vanished off his face. "Do you want to go hunting with me?"

"Okay!" Twilightgleam broke apart from Emberblaze and ran over. "Seriously, Silverdusk? I just got him to smile!"

"Oh well," I said with a sigh. "Anyone you want?"

"I'll invite Winterice," she said.

"I'll invite Dawnmist, I guess," I said.

Shortly, me, Twilightgleam, Winterice and Dawnmist all came on the hunting patrol. Somehow Winterice managed to convince us to let Meadowstalker and Eveningprimrose join, and he was actually animated in whatever conversations went on as we set out. Eveningprimrose was literally beaming at her father – who beamed at Winterice? Only her, and Meadowstalker.

As we gathered our prey to go back, Meadowstalker leaned over to me. "How's Wheatpelt?" Meadowstalker asked. "I haven't seen her at a gathering in ages."

"To be fair," I said, "there hasn't been a gathering in ages."

Meadowstalker laughed. "Yeah, that's true. SeasonClan's former deputy, Stormdawn, lived and died and there was no gathering!" She chuckled. "But, last time I saw her, she was devastated by Whitewhisker's death. How is she now?"

"If you'll forgive me for saying so," I said, "she's a boring, depressed cat. I mean, her mate abandoned her. But I guess she's with Wormtail now, right? She used to be with Eagletail."

"Oh, him," said Meadowstalker. "She liked him, actually. Don't think he liked her, though."

I nodded. I couldn't explain too much. After all, I was only six moons and a few days old. My name was Silverdusk, not Stormdawn. I wouldn't know these things.

We dropped our catches in the fresh-kill pile and I took a rabbit to share with Hiveclaw, but he was sharing with Darkmoon, his former mentor. He gave me an awkward smile and returned to his prey.

I ate the rabbit by myself, straining to hear Hiveclaw and Darkmoon's conversation. My ability to hear further had been dampened when I'd become Silverdusk, and it was very annoying.

"... What are you going to do about that she-cat?" Darkmoon was asking.

"What about Silverdusk?" Hiveclaw asked, stiffening.

"You're avoiding her," Darkmoon said, rolling his eyes. "Since the gathering. Something went on there? She liked you."

"I know she liked me," Hiveclaw said uncomfortably.

"And now, you're ditching her." Darkmoon continued with his eyerolling. "that's very nice of you, Hiveclaw."

"I don't know what to do," Hiveclaw allowed himself a shuddering sigh. "I found out something about her this morning that I didn't need to know."