Lost In The Stars (Book Two)

Chapter Nine- Robinwing

Owlflight was ill. Rainstorm had told the cats that it was only whitecough, but Robinwing wasn't sure. He felt that there was something worse with Owlflight, but he tried to be hopeful. StarClan won't let Owlflight die.

While Owlflight was sick, Stripedstar decided that it was important that Ashpaw keeps training. In order to prevent the whitecough developing into greencough, Owlflight had to rest. So Stripedstar suggested that Robinwing take up Ashpaw's training until he was better.

"That's wrong." He pointed out as Ashpaw leaned over the river. He was having trouble learning to fish, although he could hunt rabbits and voles well.

"It is not!" Ashpaw growled.

"It is. Your shadow is cast over the river. Fish can see that." Robinwing explained. "Position yourself so that the fish won't see it. That's a rule."

"You're so bossy!" Ashpaw complained.

"Yeah, I'm your mentor for the time being. I'm supposed to be bossy." Robinwing rolled his eyes. Ashpaw glared at him, his blue eyes filled with annoyance.

"Move underneath the gathering tree. It's shadowy there already, so the fish won't suspect a thing." Robinwing demanded. As Ashpaw dragged himself towards the tree, his tail down, an unfamiliar scent filled the air.

Robinwing perked up his ears. He heard a faint rustling in the bushes on GreenClan territory, then voices. "How long until we get to the mooncave?" That was Blurrypelt, the ShadeClan deputy.

"Not long. Don't worry; we'll drive MudClan out quickly. The island will soon be ours." Bloodshed replied. Robinwing's blood turned to ice. Bloodshed was going to attack MudClan.

He looked at Ashpaw, who was frozen in terror. Run, he mouthed, turning away from the river. The two darted up the slope, as fast as they could go. Robinwing's sides heaved as the mooncave came into sight, a blur of green light emitting from the opening.

"ShadeClan is attacking!" He screeched as he bounded inside. Immediately, the cats burst into panic. Robinwing rushed to help Dawntail and Firestorm push the kits into Rainstorm's den, where they would hopefully be safe.

Coldwind appeared, standing at the entrance of the den. "I'll help protect the kits." He offered. Robinwing nodded, standing at the entrance of the cave beside Coldwind. Dawntail and her kits were safe inside.

The cave was silent for a moment. Every cat had their fur standing on end, claws unsheathed, ready for the attack. It felt like moons before they heard the racing pawsteps burst into the tunnel.

Battle enveloped the cats at once. Before he could move, a cat had Robinwing pinned down, clawing at his fur. He kicked out weakly with his hind legs, trembling beneath the weight of the massive tom. He could hear Coldwind screeching nearby, and a moment later, Dawntail let out a wail of terror.

The kits! Robinwing struggled fiercely to escape the grip of his attacker. The wail of a dying kit rang in his ears, sending an ache through his body. Sounds like Birdkit. He thought sadly.

Finally, he managed to get loose. He smacked his opponent on the head with and audible crack, and he fell to the ground, blood trickling from his ear. Robinwing spun around and burst into Rainstorm's den just in time to see Dawntail kill the cat that had attacked her kits. He recognized Nightwing, a former GreenClan cat.

He licked Dawntail's ear reassuringly. The queen was crouched over her dead kit, Birdkit, while Foxkit and Stormkit huddled nearby. Coldwind limped into view, his white fur streaked with blood.

"Robinwing," He wheezed. "Dawntail. Stripedstar is calling for us to leave now.. We're in too much danger. Come on."

"Won't Birdkit receive a proper burial?" Dawntail demanded. Coldwind sighed.

"She walks with StarClan now. Hurry, before Foxkit and Stormkit end up the same way." He growled. Dawntail stood slowly and picked up Stormkit. Robinwing took Foxkit, and the group made their way out of the den.

To his surprise, hardly any more fighting was going on. Most ShadeClan cats were sat around, celebrating their success, while most GreenClan and MudClan cats had already run off. Coldwind limped out of the cave, the others following him. No ShadeClan cats made an effort to attack them.

When they left the cave, Robinwing saw Hawkstar, Stripedstar, and Rainstorm sitting outside. Behind them were the remaining cats of MudClan and GreenClan. "Birdkit has been the only death so far." Coldwind murmured to Robinwing. "But two cats are still in there."

"Who?" Robinwing asked. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"Ashpaw and Stoneclaw." Owlflight answered for him. His sides were heaving just with the effort of standing up. Robinwing wondered if it was the sickness or the injuries that made him that way.

Just then, two cats burst out of the mooncave. Robinwing was relieved to see his brother, though he didn't look well. Stoneclaw's flanks were covered with blood and his ear was torn slightly. Ashpaw was mostly unharmed besides a few scratches on his muzzle.

"Let's leave, hurry!" Stripedstar called. The cats bounded away from the mooncave in one massive group.

"We're going to live on the island that we lived on before we joined MudClan." Cloudpool, who had come to stand beside Coldwind, explained. Robinwing nodded; the island was too small for the clans to set up their boundaries again, but it would be big enough for them to shelter in for the time being.

Will we ever put up new boundaries? Robinwing wondered. Or will we become one clan?