Starlight

Chapter 21

Night was falling as the ThunderClan cats crossed the stream and entered WindClan territory. Out of the shelter of the trees, a stiff wind was blowing with an icy sting of rain. Now and then the moon or a star shone fitfully between rags of cloud, but for most of the time thick darkness covered the moor. The cats had to find their way by scent alone, barely to see their own paws, but at least they had Nightcloud to lead them.

"There's no sign of a border patrol," Dustpelt whispered, sniffing.

Nightcloud raised her head to taste the air. "It's odd," she meowed. "There should be one."

"Shh!" Skystar's low hiss came from the darkness. "Stay alert. We don't know what we're getting into."

Soon they reached the stream that flowed down from the WindClan camp. Nightcloud led them along it for a while, then paused to taste the air. Brambletuft did the same; a strong scent of WindClan cats came from up ahead, but none of the other Clan scents. There was no sound of fighting cats, just the buffeting of the wind and the gurgling stream. A faint hope began to grow inside Brambletuft that Mudclaw had chosen to hold back on the attack.

"Nothing," Skystar murmured when the silence had stretched out for many heartbeats.

"We could go and ask Mudclaw what's going on," Brambletuft suggested.

Nightcloud snorted. "And do what? Wait around for RiverClan to attack first?"

Sandstorm murmured agreement, and after a moment's thought Skystar called out, "The best thing we can do is go home. If there's no signs of attack, then there's no use for us here."

"It's strange," Nightcloud meowed. "Mudclaw has never backed down from an attack."

Dustpelt huffed. "I think that cat would rather take orders from a kit than stand down."

"Perhaps he's decided to wait till dawn," Brackenfur mewed. "But then. . . RiverClan would be weaker if they waited."

Skystar nodded. "It's what Brokenstar had done," she agreed. "He waited until all of our warriors were out of the camp before he attacked."

"Mudclaw would never stoop so low!" Nightcloud hissed. "He's a noble warrior, not a coward!"

"What about my dream?" Brambletuft called out, padding up to his leader's side.

"We've no idea what your dream means," Skystar pointed out. "Meanwhile, we're here in fighting strength with no battle to fight."

The wind was rising, and a sudden gust almost carried Brambletuft off his paws. In the distance he heard a faint rumble of thunder. "Let's get back before the storm breaks," Skystar mewed. "Nightcloud, you are welcome to return should Mudclaw make another decision."

All the cats turned to follow Skystar as Nightcloud watched in a mixture of confusion and frustration. Bringing up the rear. Brambletuft cast one last look toward the WindClan camp, and froze as a wisp of scent drifted between his parted jaws.

Hawkfrost!

"Skystar, wait!" he rasped.

Gazing up the hill, he saw several dark shapes flow over the rise from the opposite direction and launch themselves into the hollow. For a heartbeat he thought he recognized the outline of Hawkfrost's broad head and powerful shoulders at the head of the cats.

A single screech split the night. Skystar whipped around and raced back up the hill. "Come on!"

Brambletuft was shoulder-to-shoulder with her as they reached the edge of the hollow. More screeches split the night; in the darkness, Brambletuft could make out nothing more than a caterwauling tangle of fur. He could scent RiverClan and ShadowClan as well as WindClan, but he couldn't recognize individuals or work out which cats he should be attacking.