Owlflight's Kits (Book One)

Chapter Fifteen

The morning that Owlflight and his kits left seemed like any other morning. This time, Owlflight had no idea that bad things were to come. He was happy; For Robin, who had been back to his old self lately, for Stone, who was as happy as ever, and for Cloud, who wabbled around as if she didn't even notice her limp.

"Goodbye!" He called over his shoulder to Spiderpaw. "Good hunting!"

"Good hunting!" Spiderpaw called back. She was sat with Silverpaw, the two apprentices closer than ever after Firepelt's death.

"I wish I could be a warrior!" Stone said as they made their way to steppingstones. I'd be the best in MudClan!"

"Me too." Cloud agreed. Robin looked sceptical.

"I think it's better being loners. There's no rules to follow or things to do or cats to care for. It's free." He said, his fluffy grey tail held high in the air.

"Well, I like the warrior code." Stone protested. "It's not awful! It just says.. Don't kill cats and feed the elders and stuff. That's not so bad!"

"I agree." Cloud said. "It's great."

Robin huffed, but said nothing as they reached the steppingstones. They'd have to cross GreenClan territory before getting to their island, so Owlflight figured he should stop by and see his mother again.

Luckily, he did not have to go to their camp, as they saw Skywing on patrol not far from the river. Coldstream, Owlflight's father, and two other cats that Owlflight didn't know were with them.

"Owlflight! Oh my goodness, your babies! They're so big!" Skywing gasped. "Coldstream, look!"

Coldstream glared down at the young cats with a look of disinterest apparent on his face. Stone growled at him a little, while Robin nervously took a step back.

"This is Riversong, by the way." Skywing said. "And this is Firepaw."

Firepaw seemed just like Firepelt, somehow. Owlflight's heart ached at the thought. "It's nice to meet you." He dipped his head respectively.

"You too." Firepaw said, curling her light ginger tail around her forepaws.

"What brings you into our territory?" Coldstream asked.

"We're returning to our island." Owlflight explained. "Just passing through."

"Come stay at camp!" Skywing offered. "There's a storm coming, you shouldn't leave the island during a storm. The waves will be too big. You should stay here."

As much as Owlflight didn't want to, he knew Skywing was right. But Coldstream distrusted him, which Owlflight understood.

"You will stay in the smaller, damper cave near our camp. A guard will be present." Coldstream said, flicking his tail to Riversong. "Take them there. Don't leave no matter what, until they're gone in the morning."

The cave was a nice place to sleep. Owlflight was uncomfortable with Riversong watching him as he slept, but the blue-gray she-cat didn't seem like much of a threat.

*

A group of cats moved silently through the night. Led by Bloodshed, they made their way through GreenClan territory to the place that they knew Owlflight was resting. Despite protests of "this is wrong!" from both Sprinkle and Winter, Bloodshed wanted Owlflight dead. The cat knew too much; StarClan had visited him in a dream.

"Take care of the guard." He muttered to his eldest kit, Spring. The tom didn't hesitate to leap forward and kill the GreenClan cat with a death bite to the throat. Riversong died silently, not waking the sleeping cats inside.

Quick as a flash, Bloodshed swooped in, grabbed Owlflight's most precious kit, then leaped back out again. The others were sure to fall for his trap and follow Bloodshed into their doom.

Robin cried out when he woke, but Blurrypelt silenced him with a smack on the head. The grey cat didn't struggle; he understood that he was outnumbered and would die if he tried to escape.

When Bloodshed got to his cave, he immediately commanded his four kits to drag their victim into a hole. Then he covered the hole with a large stone, too heavy for a tiny cat like Robin to push.

Unbeknownst to Bloodshed, Winter was crouching down and talking to the horrified prisoner. "Don't worry, Robin. We... We'll get you out of here. Don't be afraid. I won't let him hurt you.."

"What about my family?!" Robin demanded.

Winter sighed. "I.. I'm just not sure, Robin.. I'm not sure at all."