Warriors AU: Skyclan's Destiny

Chapter 29

First thing next morning, Poppystar padded up the gorge to check out the spot where the Twoleg kit had been lying. Rain had fallen during the night; her paws splashed through puddles and she narrowed her eyes as the rising sun glittered on water dripping from the rocks. A stiff breeze sent small white clouds scudding across the sky.

Poppystar peered cautiously from behind the spur of rock, then padded forward, her jaws parted to taste the air. She could still pick up the mingled scents of many Twolegs, but they were faint and fading; the night's rain had helped to wash them away. There were still many marks of the Twolegs' heavy paws, but Poppystar guessed that they too would fade with time.

Maybe it's all over, and we are safe.

When Poppystar returned to the camp, she found Cherrytail arranging the morning's patrols. At once she picked up the feelings of restlessness among her warriors; they roamed distractedly around the Rockpile, not really listening to Cherrytail as he called their names.

"What are we going to do if the Twolegs come back?" Rainfur fretted. "Maybe we should leave and find ourselves somewhere else to live."

"I'm not moving anywhere," Patchfoot retorted. "Not until my kits are born and fit to travel."

"I'm sure we won't have to." Clovertail brushed his pelt reassuringly against Patchfoot's side. "What can the Twolegs do, after all?"

Shrewtooth shuddered, but didn't try to reply.

Looking around, Poppystar spotted Haze and the other cats from the Twolegplace huddled together, and she wondered what they were talking about. What if they decide to leave? Maybe they didn't feel comfortable in a Clan that had too much to do with Twolegs.

A high-pitched squealing drew Poppystar's attention to the edge of the river. Sandykit was lying on her back with her paws in the air.

"I'm an injured Twoleg!" she wailed. "Help meeeeeee!"

Her siblings frisked around her, darting forward now and then to give her a prod.

"We have to find her Twolegs!" Flamekit announced.

Poppystar suppressed a mrrow of laughter. At least Waspwhisker's kits weren't worried about the possible threat from Twolegs. She wished she could say the same about the rest of the Clan. Even the apprentices were looking subdued, and she spotted Sparrowpelt and Bouncefire facing each other with bristling fur, as if the tensions had to break out somehow.

"This is no good," Poppystar muttered. "I have to do something."

A yowl of greeting rang out from the top of the cliff. Poppystar looked up to see all the daylight warriors arriving together. Harleymoon and Amber in the lead, followed by Leafdapple and Cobaltclaw with their apprentices.

That's it! Poppystar thought. I know what will pull the Clan together and make them feel better.

Leaping up to the top of the Rockpile, she yowled, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Rockpile for a Clan meeting."

The gaze of every cat was turned on her. Poppystar waited for the daylight warriors to reach the bottom of the gorge, and for Echosong to emerge from his den. Tangle and Lichenfur appeared too, stretching out in a sunny spot near the edge of the river.

"Cats of Skyclan, one of the most important ceremonies for any Clan is the making of a new warrior," Poppystar began when every cat was listening. "And that is why I have called you together today."

The apprentices brightened up, gazing at one another with excitement sparkling in their eyes, as they wondered which of them their Clan leader meant.

"Yesterday Snookpaw helped her Clan by finding the injured Twoleg's nest," Poppystar went on. "Without her, the little Twoleg would still be lying in the gorge. She might even have died. Snookpaw, you acted as a warrior and you deserve your warrior name."