Rising Storm

Chapter 1

Warm shaft of sunlight streamed through the canopy of leaves and warmed Skyfall's pelt. She crouched lower, aware that her coat would be glowing amber among the lush green undergrowth.

Paw by paw, she crept beneath a fern. She could smell a pigeon. She moved slowly toward the mouthwatering scent until she could see the plump bird pecking among the ferns.

Skyfall flexed her claws, her paws itching with anticipation. She was hungry after leading the dawn patrol and hunting all morning. This was the best season for prey, a time for the Clan to grow fat on the forest's bounty. And although there had been little rain since the newleaf floods, the woods were rich with food. After stocking the fresh-kill pile back at camp, it was time for Skyfall to hunt for herself. She tensed her muscles, ready to leap.

Suddenly a second scent watered toward her in the dry breeze. Skyfall opened her mouth, raising her head slightly to better taste the breeze. The pigeon must have smelt it too, for its head shot up and it began to unfold its wings, but it was too late. A rush of dark fur shot out from under some brambles. Skyfall shot up in surprise as the cat pounced on the startled bird, pinning it to the ground with his front paws and finished it off with a quick bite.

The delicious scent of fresh-kill entered Skyfall's nostrils. She padded out from her cover toward the small black tom. "Well caught, Thunderpaw," she meowed. "I didn't see you coming until it was too late."

"Thank you, Skyfall. I'm sorry for taking your catch, I just saw it and went after it," Thunderpaw meowed bashfully.

Skyfall felt her pelt warm even more. Her apprentice was turning into an amazing hunter and he was always bringing back prey; he hardly ever missed a catch. He was also learning the warrior code quickly and Skyfall knew he'd turn into a worthy warrior of ThunderClan. He was working harder than the other apprentices in some ways. He was born a kittypet and his father, Smudge, allowed him to join ThunderClan and train under Skyfall. Some cats in the Clan refused to let him forget that, but Thunderpaw knew how to handle them and never lost his temper. He reminded her of Brackenfur in a way.

"You're lucky you were so quick, though," Skyfall went on. "You were upwind. Both the pigeon and I could smell you."

Thunderpaw's eyes dimmed and he looked at his paws. "Oh, I didn't think about that."

"It's okay, just remember for next time. If we were going into a battle our enemies would've known we were coming and prepared," Skyfall meowed.

"Okay, I'll remember for the next piece of prey!" Thunderpaw perked up, his tail raising.

"Hush," Skyfall murmured, suddenly distracted. She raised her head and sniffed the air. The forest suddenly seemed strangely silent, and Thunderpaw's meow echoed through the trees.

"What's the matter?" Thunderpaw glanced around them. "I can't smell anything."

"Neither can I," Skyfall admitted.

"So what are you worried about?"

"Tigerclaw," Skyfall answered bluntly. The dark warrior had haunted her dreams since Bluestar exiled him a quarter moon ago. Tigerclaw led a battle in an attempt to kill the ThunderClan leader, but Skyfall managed to stop him and exposed his long-hidden treachery to the Clan. There had been no sign of Tigerclaw since, but Skyfall couldn't stop her fur from prickling every time she went out into the forest. She could still hear Tigerclaw's final words echoing in her mind: Keep your ears pricked. Keep looking behind you. Because one day I'll find you, and then you'll be crowfood.

Thunderpaw's meow broke her from her thoughts. "Would Tigerclaw really come back?" he asked. "Bluestar exiled him."

"I know," Skyfall agreed. "And only StarClan knows where he went. But Tigerclaw made it clear that we had not seen the last of him."