Moonrise

Chapter 17

All night the Clan had kept vigil for Dappletail, and now, in the pale dawn light, the elders were bearing her body out of the camp to be buried. The clearing was wreathed in mist and the leafless branches of the trees dripped rain from a sharp shower during the night. Leafpaw watched in silence. The old cat had been part of her life, and with her passing it seemed as if everything else she knew would slip away too.

As the elders departed through the gorse tunnel, the other cats gathered together in little groups, mewing urgently and casting anxious glances at one another. Leafpaw could not hear what they were saying, but she didn't need to. She knew they would be discussing the disappearance of Cloudpaw and Brightheart. That made five cats that were missing from ThunderClan, but Leafpaw could not believe that StarClan had summoned Cloudpaw and Brightheart away too—unless the others had already failed on their quest, and would never return. If you can't help us, StarClan, she thought desperately, why are you taking our cats away? Why are you taking my family away?

Cinderpelt broke into her thoughts, pushing her nose into Leafpaw's fur in wordless comfort, then limped forward a pace or two to meet Skystar and Graystripe. Leafpaw spotted Mousefur loping across the clearing after them with Thornclaw and Ashfur just behind her.

"I'm taking out the dawn patrol," Mousefur announced as she came up. "Do you still want us to look for Cloudpaw and Brightheart?"

"Not that there's much point, if they left on purpose," Ashfur added darkly.

Leafpaw's heart sank even further as she remembered the Clan's efforts the day before to find the two cats. Patrols had covered the entire territory, picking up a scent-trail leading toward the place where the Twolegs had destroyed the forest. It had broken off abruptly near one of the huge tree- cutting monsters, and after that there was nothing. Skystar and Frostfur had stayed out more than anyone, searching desperately for their kits. Leafpaw believed that if she could, Skystar would travel to every Clan again, but everyone knew they were no longer in Clan territory.

"All you can do now is keep an eye out, I suppose." Skystar sighed.

"Poor Skystar." Leafpaw heard Brackenfur's hushed murmur from where he sat beside Sorreltail. The two cats were sitting awfully close as they watched the exchange. "I can't imagine losing three of your kits not much apart."

"Even Frostfur," Sorreltail added. "Both of her daughters got into accidents and now Brightheart is gone again. She must be so frantic, with both her daughter and apprentice missing. Will you go out again?"

Brackenfur sighed heavily. "I don't know what else we can do," he replied. "They've disappeared just like the others. I just hope it isn't. . . forever."

"Could they have gone to RiverClan?" Leafpaw's attention was brought back to the original conversation when he overheard Thornclaw's suggestion. "Maybe they're trying to catch fish for the Clan."

"No," Graystripe meowed. "RiverClan would've just chased them out."

"Their scent trail didn't lead toward RiverClan," Skystar meowed tiredly. "I can't help thinking it's strange that it ended so close to the Twoleg monsters. Suppose. . ."

She let her voice die away, but Leafpaw saw the anxiety in her eyes, and she could guess what her thoughts were. She had seen how the first Twoleg monster turned from the Thunderpath and began to tear up the forest. If a cat got in its way it could be crunched in those powerful jaws without the monster even realizing it. She shivered, and her gaze met her mother's. They were both deeply worried for their son and brother, and Leafpaw loved Brightheart fiercely for her courage in coping with the terrible injuries from the dog pack. The two cats would be a great loss to their Clan.

"Just carry on as usual, Mousefur," Skystar decided. "And report if you see anything odd."

"I always do." Mousefur hurried off with the two younger warriors behind her.

Skystar shook herself as if she was pushing useless thoughts away. "Cinderpelt, has StarClan shown you anything at all about Cloudpaw and Brightheart?"

"No," Cinderpelt replied. "Nothing at all."

"Or any signs about more warriors going missing in the forest? It's. . . it's not all that long since Brambletuft, Swiftpaw, and Squirrelpaw disappeared." She choked the words out like half-eaten bones.

Again Cinderpelt shook her head. "I'm sorry, Skystar, but StarClan is silent."

"Perhaps I ought to make a trip to Highstones," Skystar meowed. "StarClan might speak to me, if—"

She broke off as Frostfur approached with Brackenfur and Sorreltail behind her. Leafpaw's heart ached for the old warrior. The white she-cat's ears were flat and her tail dragged through the dust. She was obviously upset over losing her daughter.

"Skystar," Frostfur meowed in a mixture of exhaustion and determination. "I want to ask that Brackenfur, Sorreltail, and I be excused from morning duties to search for Cloudpaw and Brightheart."

Skystar shook her head. "I'm sorry, Frostfur," she meowed gently. "But there's nowhere else we can look for them; you know that I'd be out there right now if there was."

"Please," Frostfur pleaded. "I can't lose Brightheart."

"StarClan is with them, wherever they are," Cinderpelt murmured comfortingly, pressing her nose into Frostfur's pelt.

"Why don't you three go on a hunting patrol," Skystar suggested. "StarClan knows we can use the fresh-kill, and you can keep your eyes open for the two of them as you go. But I want no cat going too far alone when we don't know what the danger truly is."

Frostfur nodded; she wasn't looking as upset.

"I'll take another patrol out, too," Graystripe offered. "I'll take Sandstorm and Longtail. If any cat can find them, they can." He hurried off into the warriors' den.

"Thank you, Skystar," mewed Frostfur, dipping her head respectfully before leading the young warriors toward the camp entrance.

Leafpaw watched as Graystripe's patrol came to join them, and all six cats disappeared into the gorse tunnel.

"We aren't safe in our own territory anymore," Skystar murmured. "But surely six cats can't go missing without—"

She broke off as a low, feeble wail rose up from the nursery. Leafpaw whipped around to see Runningwind emerge. He staggered forward for a couple of paces and sank to the ground as if his legs would not hold him up.

With a glance at her mother, Leafpaw dashed across to him, visions of disaster rushing through her head. Skystar and Cinderpelt followed, and came to a stop in front of Runningwind.

"Are you hurt?" Skystar demanded.

The brown tabby warrior gazed up at his leader with eyes as dull as pebbles. "It wasn't her fault," he whispered. "Ferncloud did her best. But she hasn't been eating enough to keep herself alive, let alone three kits."

As he finished speaking, Leafpaw heard the wail break out again, echoing with enough grief for the death of a whole Clan.

"What is it?" she cried.

Runningwind gave her a long, hopeless stare. "Hollykit is dead."

Instantly, Cinderpelt whisked past Runningwind, on her way to Ferncloud in the nursery. Skystar rested her tail-tip on the brown warrior's shoulder, in a vain attempt to comfort him. Runningwind pressed his nose gratefully into his leader's flame-colored fur. Leafpaw felt her throat tighten to see the two cats, both terrified parents, brought together by their shared grief.

"What next?" Skystar murmured, lifting her head to the gray morning sky. "StarClan, what trouble will you send to ThunderClan now?"