Twilight

Chapter 19

It was dark under the trees as Brambletuft padded through the forest. He had watched Squirrelflight and Tawnypelt race down the Twoleg path until they disappeared behind the undergrowth. What had happened that made Squirrelflight and Leafpool willing to leave the Clan? He knew Squirrelflight was impulsive, but Leafpool loved her role as a medicine cat and he thought she of all cats would never go along with what her sister did.

The stone hollow was stained blood-red from the few rays of light that were able to peek through the branches. Brambletuft could hold back a shudder as he wondered if it was a sign of their greatest mistake.

As soon as he entered the camp, he knew the whole Clan had noticed Squirrelflight and Leafpool's absence. Ferncloud and Runningwind were crouched beside the fresh-kill pile, their heads close together. Brackenfur, Ashfur, and the two apprentices were in an anxious huddle outside the apprentices' den. The elders had emerged from their den underneath a twisted hazel bush, and just below the Highledge Skystar was speaking to Longtail, Cinderpelt, and Brightheart. Only Daisy's kits hadn't seemed to notice anything was wrong, scuffling happily together on the dusty ground outside the nursery.

Brambletuft was aware of cats turning to look at him, their eyes burning into his pelt as he crossed the clearing alone. He was foolish to believe he would find Leafpool among them.

Skystar began to pad toward him, but it was Brightheart who reached him first. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she meowed. Her voice cracked with distress and her eye was filled with guilt. "I wasn't trying to take Leafpool's place. She is our medicine cat, just like Cinderpelt."

"I'm sure she didn't leave because of you," Brambletuft replied. He was sure Leafpool only left because Squirrelflight was leaving.

"What happened?" Skystar demanded, halting in front of her former apprentice. "What did you find out?"

"Did you find our daughters?" Longtail echoed.

Other cats gathered around, echoing Longtail's question. Some of them mentioned Crowfeather and Mothwing. Squirrelflight's secret wasn't a secret any longer, but what was wrong with his half sister?

"I found Squirrelflight speaking to Tawnypelt on the ShadowClan border," Brambletuft began. "Squirrelflight had been sneaking around like she was an enemy warrior in our territory, but she had been searching specifically for Tawnypelt. I caught up to her just as I heard her asking Tawnypelt to come with her to the island."

Cinderpelt limped up just then, in time to hear Brambletuft's words. "Did you speak to Leafpool?"

Brambletuft shook his head. "She wasn't with them. I imagine that if they're anywhere, they're on the island. But I'm worried we might be out of time."

"What do you mean?" Longtail demanded.

Brambletuft forced himself to meet the older warrior's gaze. "Squirrelflight told me to tell you all that she and Leafpool will be leaving the Clans for good."

"No!" Cinderpelt's voice was a rough whisper; terrible fear dulling her eyes.

Skystar and Longtail moved closer together until they were pressed against each other. "We've lost them," Skystar mewed softly.

"The whole of ThunderClan have lost them," Longtail murmured.

Cloudtail looked ready to fall over. Brambletuft couldn't imagine what he must be feeling; he lost his brother not long ago and now he has also lost his sisters with his mate blaming herself. "We-we should go to the island," he meowed, padding desperately toward his parents. "We could still stop them."

Skystar took a deep breath and nodded. "Longtail, Cloudtail, Brambletuft, and Sandstorm will come with me to the island to track their scents. The rest of you, stay here in case they choose to return."

"I'm coming," Cinderpelt insisted.

"No, Cinderpelt," Skystar replied. "It may be best if we find Leafpool. . . without you."

The dark gray medicine cat faltered, dropping her haunches heavily onto the ground. At once her family gathered around her, offering their comfort for their distraught daughter and sister. Only Brightheart stayed off to the side, watching Cloudtail through a glistening eye. Skystar watched Cinderpelt for a moment before flicking her tail to gather her patrol and move out.

"We'll travel along the WindClan lakeshore," she announced. "If Squirrelflight traveled around the lake from the ShadowClan side, we might be able to catch them along the way."

The group set out at once. Brambletuft was sure he'd never run so fast in his life. He knew Longtail wanted to race ahead; the tabby warrior's long legs made it easy for him to cover land quickly, but he stayed back to remain with his mate and son.

"What do we do if we don't find them?" Sandstorm asked once they reached the lake within their own borders.

Skystar glanced back, her green eyes narrowed. "Then my daughters are gone for good."

Brambletuft thought his heart was going to leap out of his throat by the time they reached the tree bridge to the Gathering place. Skystar didn't let them slow down at all in fear of them missing the group.

Skystar led the way across the tree bridge, not waiting for the others before she was disappearing onto the other side of the bushes. Brambletuft was third across, and he bolted through at once. Skystar and Longtail were sniffing around the grass, sometimes sharing anxious looks. A familiar scent wafted toward Brambletuft, and he followed it to the base of the Great Oak. Just as Sandstorm and Cloudtail pushed into the clearing, Brambletuft lifted his head and called, "Skystar!"

His leader leaped to his side with the others as they all sniffed the ground in front of him.

"It's Hawkfrost," Brambletuft told them. "Squirrelflight and Crowfeather must have brought Feathertail here too; it's the only reason he'd be here."

Sandstorm nodded in agreement. "There's milk-scent here too," she meowed. "Feathertail must've had her kits and brought them here as well."

"Then they're really gone?" Cloudtail asked, suddenly looking like a tiny kit as he pressed his body against the ground.

Skystar leaned down to rasp her tongue over her son's ears. "If they aren't here, then we're too late," she meowed. "We must accept that they've chosen to leave on their own, Tawnypelt and Feathertail included."

"At least we know they'll be safe," Longtail grunted, curling his tail around Skystar. "There's strength in numbers and every warrior with them are formidable fighters."

Brambletuft wanted to wail out loud like a tiny kit crying for its mother. Squirrelflight had lost so much, and her actions had also taken his sister and half brother away from him. But a part of him knew that both of them would've gone anyway. Tawnypelt's loyalty was to her Clan, but even stronger, it was for her friends and loved ones. And Hawkfrost would've never let Feathertail go alone with their kits.

"Let's get back to camp," Skystar murmured. "There's nothing left for us to do."