Warrior Cats: Sky of Storms

Chapter 7

Echopaw followed behind Reedwhisker, feeling oddly nervous and excited. She caught other Riverclan cats (Blackclaw, Heavystep, and Dawnflower who had just come in from the hunting patrols) staring at her and felt her fur bristle uncomfortably, but she felt her fur lie down when she entered Mistystar's den.

Reedwhisker took place next to the den's entrance and Echopaw sat down beside the moss that covered the contaminated water, closer to Mistystar.

The leader considered the two cats, a slight frown slipping through. She turned in a circle on her nest before laying down, and she sighed at the sad and curious look on Reedwhisker and Echopaw's faces.

"Do you understand why you are in here?" Mistystar asked both of them. She flicked her tail around to wrap it around herself, and once again Echopaw was reminded of the memory of the black and white queen.

Reedwhisker turned his head away, apparently too ashamed to look at his leader anymore. Mistystar studied him, sighed, and turned to Echopaw.

"Do you?" Mistystar asked again. Echopaw could take a wild guess, but she almost already knew why she was there. Reedwhisker was being punished for abandoning his deputy and mentor duties.

But Echopaw shook her head, afraid of what Mistystar would say if she was wrong. Her leader looked at Reedwhisker for a moment, then said, "You are here because of what happened the other day."

Echopaw sent a silent prayer to StarClan that she wouldn't get in trouble for sneaking out of the camp and coming back early in the morning.

Did Mistystar see me come in? She thought, trying not to stare at Mistystar too hard in case her leader could tell that she was guilty.

"Reedwhiser abandoned his positions." Mistystar stood up and stared at Reedwhisker with a disapproving look. "Both deputy and mentor. He spent his entire day sitting in the medicine cave, looking after Swallowtail." She shook her head. "But he didn't need to. We have a medicine cat, you know?" Reedwhisker bowed his head in shame. "And watching her isn't going to get her any better, it could even cause you to be sick.

"I expected better from you." Mistystar frowned. "As my own son, I thought I had made the right decision when I chose you as deputy, but I am starting to consider I was wrong."

Reedwhisker stood up and lifted his head, and Echopaw was surprised to see anger instead of guilt in his eyes.

"I made one mistake." Reedwhisker deffened. "One time! Every cat makes a mistake now and then. You'd have to be an angel from StarClan not to make a mistake."

Echopaw tried to ignore Reedwhisker's words, but she couldn't help seeing the sense in them. Why was Mistystar making such a big deal out of this?

"It's not just that!" Mistystar glared at him. "Do you know what happened yesterday while you were sitting in the den? A BADGER attacked my Clan! And where was their deputy to help them? Volepaw is on the edge of death because of you!"

Reedwhisker snarled, baring his teeth, but Mistystar turned to Echopaw, grooming her ruffled neck fur with a couple of swift licks.

"I am giving this decision to you," She said. "I know that you will be an amazing warrior, but you can't be one without proper training." She sat down on her moss nest again. "I am not going to take Reedwhisker's position as deputy away, but I can take the position of a mentor away."

Reedwhisker caught Echopaw's eyes and saw deep hopefulness that she would get them away from here without any trouble.

Is Mistystar offering me to have a different mentor? She thought, her mouth open in awe. Would I want a different mentor? Reedwhisker treated me like a mouse, and I deserve better. But Reedwhisker is right.