A Dangerous Path

Chapter 21

"Keep well back," Brindleface warned. "This is a dangerous place."

She and Sandstorm had requested to go on the dawn patrol in place of Brackenfur, Snowpaw, and Frostfur to tour the territory with their apprentices. Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw wrinkled their noses against the Thunderpath's bitter smell.

"It doesn't look dangerous to me," meowed Bramblepaw. Tentatively he reached out one paw to place it on the dark, stony surface.

At the same moment, Skyfall felt the ground tremble with the roar of an approaching monster. "Get back!" she snarled.

Bramblepaw leaped back into the safety of the verge as the monster flashed past, buffeting his fur with hot, stinking wind. He was quivering with shock.

Tawnypaw's eyes were wide with astonishment. "What was that?" she mewed.

"A monster," Sandstorm explained. "They carry Twolegs in their belly. But they never leave the Thunderpath, so you're quite safe—as long as you stay away from it." She fixed Bramblepaw with a sharp gaze, making the dark apprentice shrink away behind his mentor. "When a warrior tells you to do something, you do it. Ask questions if you like, but afterward." 

Bramblepaw nodded, scuffling his paws. "Sorry, Sandstorm."

They made quick work of exploring the territory. Both apprentices proved to be brave, curious, and eager to learn. Skyfall still found herself moving with extra stealth along the once-familiar trails, haunted by shadows and afraid at any moment that she would come face-to-face with the dark presence in the forest.

She made sure to steer them well clear of Snakerocks, unwilling to risk that accursed place with two new apprentices. Soon, she knew, she would have to do something about the threat that lurked there, but she was waiting until Lostface was well enough to tell them exactly what had attacked her. And deep down Skyfall couldn't help wondering if, even when they knew, her warriors would be able to deal with it.

"What's over there?" Tawnypaw flicked her tail at the part of the forest on the other side of the Thunderpath.

"That's ShadowClan territory," Sandstorm told her. "Can you smell their scent?"

A chill breeze was carrying the scent of ShadowClan toward them. Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw opened their mouths to taste it.

"We've smelled that before," announced Tawnypaw.

"Oh?" Sandstorm shot a startled glance at Skyfall.

"When Darkstripe brought us to the border to meet our father," explained Bramblepaw.

"Swiftpaw and I found them." Skyfall wanted the warriors to know that this wasn't news to her. "I suppose we can't blame Tigerstar for wanting to see them," she added, forcing herself to be charitable.

Brindleface and Sandstorm didn't reply, but they shared a worried glance, as if they shared Skyfall's misgiving about Tigerstar's relationship to his kits.

"Can we go over there now and see our father?" Tawnypaw asked eagerly.

"No!" Sandstorm sounded shocked. "Clan cats don't go into each other's territory. If a patrol caught us, there would be big trouble."

"Not if we told them Tigerstar's our father," Bramblepaw insisted. "He wanted to see us last time."

"Sandstorm told you no," Skyfall snapped. "And if I catch either one of you setting one paw across the border, I'll have your tails off!"

Tawnypaw jumped back as if she thought she was going to carry out the threat there and then.

Bramblepaw's amber eyes searched Skyfall's face for several heartbeats. "Skyfall," he meowed hesitantly, "there's something else, isn't there? Why will no cat talk to us about our father? Why did he leave ThunderClan?"