Black Sky

Chapter 15

"Blackpaw!"

Blackpaw blinked open his eyes to see Willowpaw staring at him urgently. Blackpaw was still shaking from his dream and whimpered.

"Is... is it... gone?" Blackpaw whispered.

Willowpaw blinked in confusion. "Is what gone?"

"Nothing, it doesn't matter," Blackpaw mewed.

Blackpaw followed Willowpaw out of the apprentices' den. The moon was still high in the sky, the stars of Silverpelt sparkling along with it. The sun had not risen yet. Blackpaw wondered what made Willowpaw wake him up so early.

"What is this about?" Blackpaw hissed to his sister.

Willowpaw didn't say anything. She just padded along.

Blackpaw realised they were getting closer to the Twoleg nest on the edge of their territory. This only succeeded in rising his suspicions and curiousity. Was Willowpaw going to show him what she'd said on the night of the gathering? That she'd 'found out about herself right away'?

"Willowpaw, why are we getting so close to the Twoleg nest?" Blackpaw asked, uneasy.

Willowpaw looked at him. "Do you promise to keep this a secret?"

"You're my sister. I'll keep anything a secret if you want it to." He replied.

Willowpaw smiled, before letting out a call.

"Jaci! Gwen!"

Before he could react, two plump she-cats padded out the door from the Twoleg nest. One was snow-white with blue eyes and a green collar, the other was night-black with green eyes and a blue collar. They were both kittypets.

"Willowpaw!" The two she-cats mewed in greeting in unison. "You came!"

Blackpaw stood there, mouth agape, while his sister purred and ran over to greet them. More slowly, he followed her. The two kittypets looked at him, curiousity in their gaze.

"Who's this, Willowpaw?" The black one mewed.

Willowpaw flicked her tail towards Blackpaw. "This is my brother, Blackpaw." She flicked her tail towards the black she-cat. "Blackpaw this is Gwen." She flicked her tail towards the white she-cat. "And this is Jaci. They're sisters, and my friends."

"You're friends with kittypets?!" Blackpaw couldn't help exclaiming, then realised his promise. "I mean, like, how did you first meet?"

Willowpaw rolled her eyes at Blackpaw's shock. "We met when I was exploring this part of the territory. To my surprise, they were actually interested in Clan life! I've been meeting them since after our first gathering."

"You've been meeting them for almost two moons?" Blackpaw calculated. "I didn't think any kittypet wouldn't be afraid of Clan cats, let alone be interested in them-"

Jaci interuppted him, a big smile on her face. "Not all kittypets are a bunch of scardey-mice, lizard-brain!"

"I guess so," Blackpaw murmured. "So, you two and Willowpaw are like, best friends now?"

Gwen nodded. "And we know everything about the Clans!"

"Jacistar, leader of SandClan!" Jaci yowled to make a point.

Gwen growled playfully. "And I'm Gwenstar, leader of CaveClan! Rarr!"

As the two kittypets tusseled in a play-fight, Blackpaw turned to his sister.

"Why'd you bring me here?" He asked, cocking his head.

Willowpaw went silent.

Finally, she meowed, "They want to join CaveClan. And I need your opinion."