A Dangerous Path

Chapter 24

Skyfall emerged from the warriors' den and paused. She gazed across the clearing to where Sandstorm was crouched beside the nettle patch, gulping down a piece of fresh-kill. She had chosen some of the warriors he wanted to come with her to Snakerocks, but so far she had not spoken to Sandstorm. She was reluctant to risk so many lives, but knew that Sandstorm would play a vital role against the dogs.

Taking a deep breath, she padded over to the nettle patch and sat down beside her.

Sandstorm swallowed the last mouthful of squirrel. "Skyfall? What is it?"

Quietly Skyfall told her what Longtail had discovered at Snakerocks. "I want you to come with us," she told her. "You're fast and brave, and the Clan needs you."

The she-cat turned to her, but Skyfall could not read the expression in her green gaze.

"I know we haven't seen things the same since I stopped the battle with WindClan, but I trust you to do what you think is right for the Clan," Skyfall added.

Sandstorm nodded slowly. "I know why you didn't want to fight WindClan," she began. "In a way, I thought you were right. But it was hard to know you had gone behind Bluestar's back without telling the rest of us."

"I know, but—"

"But you're the deputy," Sandstorm interrupted, reaching one paw toward her for silence. "You have responsibilities the rest of us can't understand. And I can see how torn you must have felt—between loyalty to Bluestar and loyalty to the Clan."

"Bluestar will always be the cat I look up to most, but I need you by my side; not as a warrior, but as a friend and as family, even if we don't share blood."

Sandstorm purred.

Skyfall knew that she couldn't keep the conversation light. "Sandstorm," she told her. "I know what we're going to face out there. It's more dangerous than I ever imagined. I'm not ordering you to come, but I still want your support."

Sandstorm's purr grew deeper, a vibration that filled her whole body. "Of course I'm coming, you stupid furball, just try and stop me," she mewed.

Skyfall set a double watch on the camp that night and kept vigil herself in the center of the clearing. A growing sense of horror crept over her as she listened to the wind sighing through the bare trees. It seemed to carry the voices of StarClan to her, murmuring about the enemy that never slept: Tigerstar, the dogs—or both. The enemy was about to unleash its fury, and no cat was safe. The next day, Skyfall knew, could see the final destruction of her Clan.

As she watched the moon above her, barely waning from the full, Cinderpelt emerged from her den and padded across the clearing to sit beside her.

"If you're leading a patrol tomorrow, you should get some sleep," she advised. "You'll need your strength."

"I know," Skyfall agreed. "But I don't think I could sleep." She raised her eyes to the moon again and the glittering stars of Silverpelt. "It looks so peaceful up there. But down here. . ."

"Yes," murmured Cinderpelt. "Down here I can feel the evil growing. Yellowfang has been gathering herbs frantically as the darkness threatens to swallow us. StarClan cannot help us now. It's all up to us."

"So you really don't believe that StarClan has sent this pack to punish us?"

Cinderpelt met her gaze, her eyes shining with the reflecting light of the moon. "No, Skyfall, I don't." She leaned toward her and let her muzzle brush lightly against the side of her face. "You're not alone, Skyfall," she promised. "I'm with you. And so is the rest of the Clan."