A Dangerous Path

Chapter 15

Skyfall sprang to her paws. "Tell me what happened."

"I've been helping Yellowfang today, and this morning she had me take Bluestar poppy seeds to calm her down," Cinderpelt explained. "But when I went to her den just now, she wasn't there, and she hadn't eaten the poppy seeds. I tried the elders' den and the nursery, but she isn't here either. She isn't anywhere in camp, Skyfall."

"Did anyone see her leave?"

"I haven't asked yet. I came to tell you first."

"Then I'll get the apprentices to search, and find out if—"

"Bluestar's not a kit, you know." The interruption came from Whitestorm, who had padded into the warriors' den in time to hear Cinderpelt's news. "She might have gone on patrol. For all you know, other cats are with her." He spoke calmly as he bared his teeth in a yawn and settled in his nest.

Skyfall nodded uncertainly. What Whitestorm said was sensible, but she would have liked to be sure. After the state Bluestar had been in that morning, she could be anywhere in the forest. She might even have gone to RiverClan in search of her kits.

"There's probably no need to worry," Skyfall reassured Cinderpelt, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. "But we'll look anyway, and find out if any cat has seen her."

Leaving the den, she spotted Fernpaw and Ashpaw sharing tongues near the blackened remains of the tree stump outside the apprentices' den. Quickly Skyfall explained that she had a message for Bluestar, but she wasn't sure where she was. The two apprentices dashed off willingly to look for her.

"You go and ask if any cat has seen her," she suggested to Cinderpelt, who had followed her out of the den. "I'll go up the ravine and see if I can pick up her scent. I might be able to track her."

Privately she didn't have much hope. While she had spelt, clouds had covered the sky and a thin rain was drizzling down. It was not good weather for following scent. Before she could leave, Sky- fall noticed Sandstorm was just returning to camp, along with Thunderpaw and Brindleface. All three of them carried fresh-kill, which they went over to drop on the pile.

Skyfall raced over to them with Cinderpelt limping behind. "Sandstorm," she meowed, "have you seen Bluestar?"

Sandstorm swiped her tongue around her mouth to remove the prey juices. "No. Why?"

"She isn't here," mewed Cinderpelt.

Sandstorm's eyes widened. "Are you surprised? After what happened this morning? She must feel like she's losing control of her Clan."

That was so close to the truth that Skyfall didn't know how to reply.

"We're going out again," meowed Thunderpaw. "We'll keep a lookout for her."

"Okay, thanks." Skyfall blinked gratefully at her apprentice.

The young black tom raced off again, with the two warriors following more slowly. Brindleface paused to meow, "I'm sure she'll be fine, Skyfall," as she left, but Sandstorm didn't look back.

Skyfall's problems were about to overwhelm her, but then she felt Cinderpelt's breath soft against her ear. "Don't worry, Skyfall," she murmured. "Sandstorm's still your friend. You need to accept that she doesn't always see things the way you do."

"You don't either." Skyfall sighed.

Cinderpelt let out an affectionate purr. "I'm still your friend too," she told her. "And I know you've done what you believe to be right. Now, let's see what we can do to find Bluestar."

By the time the sun set, Bluestar was still missing. Skyfall had tracked her as far as the top of the ravine, but after that, with the rain coming down more heavily, the scent was lost among the tang of charred branches and the musty smell of fallen leaves.