Lost In The Stars (Book Two)

Chapter Fourteen- Cloudpool

"I can't believe they want us to travel through twolegplace!" Coldwind hissed. Stripedstar had just announced where they would go. Twolegplace was a larger island not far from their own. It was filled with twolegs and kittypets and monsters.

"That is a terrible idea." Cloudpool agreed. "But if Muddy Feet is right, and there is good territory beyond twolegplace, then should we really complain?"

"Yes!" Coldwind lashed his tail. Cloudpool rolled her eyes at him, weaving through the crowd of cats to find Spidereye.

"Hey. Would you like to walk together?" Cloudpool asked.

"Sure!" Spidereye purred. The clan was gathering together, preparing to leave for good. Cloudpool's heart ached for Dawntail, who could barely keep her kits near her. How would they survive, Cloudpool wondered, in a place like twolegplace?

Firestorm and Robinwing were helping to keep the kits together. Foxkit was swatting at their paws, insisting on being as annoying as he could possibly be. Cloudpool watched them, almost laughing, but her anxiety prevented her from doing so.

Finally, they set off. Owlflight and Stoneclaw stayed behind while Firepelt and Echopaw, Owlflight's old friend, were at the front. Cloudpool stayed close to Spidereye's side, with Coldwind close behind her. Her mate was sniffing cautiously at the ground, unsettled by the visiting StarClan cats. Cloudpool knew that he hadn't believed in StarClan, but she assumed he did now, seeing them with his own eyes.

"Are you alright?" She asked him.

"Fine." He replied. "Just a bit nervous, like the rest of the clan."

Cloudpool nodded understandingly. Before she could say anything else, a cat called her name. She turned to see Frostpaw bounding towards her.

"Hey, Cloudpool! When do you think we're going to start training again?" She asked. "I'm dying to learn to fight. Seriously!"

"We will start again when we get to our new home." Cloudpool said softly. She almost missed the look of hatred that Coldwind was giving his sister. What does he have against Frostpaw? She's just like him.

"Okay, well, when will that be?" Frostpaw asked.

"How is she supposed to know?" Coldwind snapped. "Get lost!"

Frostpaw didn't seem hurt by his harsh words. She just nodded and bounded off to walk beside Leopardpaw. "What's the matter with you, Coldwind?" Cloudpool glared at him. "That's your sister!"

Coldwind unsheathed his claws. "She can earn my respect." He growled. "I know what it's like in ShadeClan. Trust no cat from there, Cloudpool."

"Why should I trust you?" Cloudpool challenged.

"Maybe you shouldn't."

*

The cats settled down to sleep on the very edge of twolegplace, where the land was still sandy and away from the destruction that twolegs had done. Cloudpool slept with Robinwing and Stoneclaw, finding comfort in finally sleeping with her siblings again. Coldwind slept alone, his tail resting on his muzzle. Firestorm and Spidereye slept with Silverwing. Wherever the rest of the clan was, Cloudpool didn't know.

"Cloudpool?" Stoneclaw asked, "I have a question."

"What is it?" Cloudpool whispered, licking his ear comfortingly.

"Do you think I'm a good father?" He was staring at Ashpaw and Rosepaw, who were sleeping with the other two apprentices.

"I think so." Robinwing offered.

"You haven't had kits." Stoneclaw pointed out. "You wouldn't know."

"I think so, too." Cloudpool agreed. "Don't worry about it."

Stoneclaw sighed, nuzzling closer to Robinwing. "Okay."