Fire and Ice

Chapter 5

Skyfall waited with Runningwind until all she could hear was the sound of her blood pounding in her ears. Then they made their way to the edge of the Thunderpath. It stretched on, wide and foul-smelling, but silent. Skyfall led the way across. The ground beneath her paws felt cold and smooth. They didn't pause for even a moment until they reached the grass on the other side.

The air was tainted by the acrid stench of the Thunderpath so they padded to the hedge. Still, there wasn't even a hint of WindClan scent. Her heart sank.

A monster tore past so suddenly Skyfall jumped high into the air. She scrambled under the hedge after Runningwind and crouched, trembling, breathing heavily as she looked around with wide narrow eyes.

Then she smelled it; the faintest trace carried by the harsh winds the monster left behind. WindClan had been here!

Skyfall cried as loud as she could to Graystripe. There was a pause, then the sound of paws scrambling across the Thunderpath to join them.

"Have you found it?" puffed her friend.

"I'm not sure. I caught a whiff, but I can't pinpoint it." Skyfall pushed through the edge, Runningwind already gone through, Graystripe right behind her. The open field ahead was a breath of fresh air. Skyfall lifted her nose. "Have you any idea what's over there?" she asked Runningwind.

"No," he replied. "I don't think any Clan cat has ever been this far before."

"Except WindClan," muttered Skyfall darkly. Away from the overwhelming fumes of the Thunderpath, the air was clear. There was no doubt that WindClan hadn't come this way.

"Skyfall!" Graystripe sounded alarmed.

"What is it?"

"Look!"

Skyfall stopped and lifted her head. A Thunderpath was ahead of them arching high into the air on thick stone legs, illuminated by the bright eyes of the monsters that moved along it. Another Thunderpath ran below, veering off into the darkness.

Graystripe nodded towards the tall thistle nearby. "And smell this!"

Skyfall and Runningwind padded over. Skyfall inhaled the scent. It was a fresh WindClan marker!

"They must have settled somewhere near here!" Graystripe murmured in disbelief.

"What cat would settle here?" Runningwind grunted, taking a step further away from the tall Thunderpath.

"They probably wanted a secluded spot. Not even Brokenstar would be willing to follow them here," Skyfall answered grimly. A pang of excitement coursed through her. The three warriors looked between each other for a moment. Then, without a word, they moved on towards the acrid paths.

Skyfall stopped. A thought was nagging at her.

Graystripe paused beside her. "What is it?"

"If WindClan is hiding so near the Thunderpaths," Skyfall meowed slowly, "they must be fairly desperate not to be found. They're more likely to trust us if we arrive in daylight than if we creep up on them in darkness."

"I suppose that means it's time for us to rest," Runningwind meowed, sitting down.

"Just until it's light," meowed Skyfall. "We'll find somewhere to hide and see if we can get some sleep. Are you hungry?" Graystripe and Runningwind shook their heads. "Me neither," Skyfall agreed. "I don't know if it's those herbs or because the stench from the Thunderpath is making me feel sick."

"Is there even a place around here for us to sleep?" asked Runningwind.

Skyfall had already spotted a dark hole in the ground. "What's that?"