Warrior Cats: Sky of Storms

Chapter 18

Echostar's breath billowed in the cold air. She could hardly make it out of bed. Her paws ached, and her mind whirled with worries. Every since Bluetail became deputy, he made things easier, but Echostar felt out of place the whole time. She questioned her decisions more then she ever had, and questioned if she was the right cat to lead RiverClan.

Wavefire came in, followed by Bluetail and Rockeart. Wavefire sat beside her, while Bluetail said, "Skykit, Thunderkit, Tidalkit, and Hopekit are ready to be apprentices, and-" He was interrupted by a loud clap of thunder.

Wavefire looked up, even though there was only solid rock. "I do not know why StarClan is causing dry storms. Echostar, the reeds are dry and lightning threatens to burn them. You must do something."

She sat up. She refused to look weak in front of her Clanmates. She thought for a moment. "How deep is the river?" She asked. 

"Deep enough for fish to swim." Bluetail said. "It's going to dry if the weather continues." Echostar thought. Could we carry the water to the reeds? But that wouldn't stop the weather, and the river would only run dry more quickly. 

"Have you spoke to StarClan?" Echostar asked. Wavefire shook her head.  "StarClan is ignoring the other medicine cats as well." She said.

She looked over at Bluetail. "Build a moat around the biggest reeds, and make sure there's a nearby water supply." Rockheart stepped forward. 

"About the water, its not safe." Echostar stiffened. Oh no. "It's completely poisonous. The black water won't go away, and Twolegs are swarming the river. Our territory is a death trap."

Echostar hissed. Twolegs. Twolegs were always the problem. She stormed out of the den, jumping up onto Highrock, yowling, "All cats old enough to swim please gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." 

She looked over at the kits gathering behind the warriors. They were bigger than six moons. In fact, they should be apprenticed.

She explained the situation to her Clan. "RiverClan is being beaten down from the inside. Our territory is not safe, we must find a solution."

Splashfur yowled. "We must defeat the Twolegs, they are the cause of the whole problem! RiverClan will go thirsty if we don't, and we might have to give up our territory!"

Mews of agreement spread like wildfire, but Echostar was unconvinced. She didn't need to lead her Clan into battle right as Leaf-bare was approaching, and fighting caused thirsty cats. 

What other choice to do we have? She thought quietly. She begged for Mudfur to answer but he said nothing. Echostar sighed and called the kits forward. "We will need new warriors if we are to survive."

She made each kit an apprentice, with Bluetail mentoring Thunderpaw, Rockheart mentoring Tidalpaw, Pebblewing mentoring Skypaw, Mosspelt mentoring Hopepaw, and Volelimp mentoring Wishpaw. 

She had her doubts on Volelimp being a mentor, but Wishpaw's leg had recently lost most of its use due to stress, so she figured it would be fine. Echostar felt as if no warriors were free now. Everyone had an apprentice, besides Hawkfrost, and she didn't want Sunbeam to be a mentor in case she went easy on her apprentice.

Echostar felt overwhelmed with this. She sighed. "I must speak with StarClan." She said to Wavefire. "I'm afraid that this is the big disaster our ancestors meant."