Warrior Cats: SkyClan Returns #2

Chapter Three

A shrill call met the air. A scrawny starling took flight, and Spiderweb jumped into the air. She reached out her grey paws. With outstretched claws, she grabbed the bird's wings and brought it down. Her apprentice looked up at her with wide eyes.

"Nice catch!"

Batpaw meowed excitedly. Spiderweb carried her catch over to him.

"The queens and elders have been fed. Do you want to share this?"

She asked him. Batpaw nodded.

"Yes please!"

The two cats tucked into the scrawny bird. There wasn't much meat on the starling, but Spiderweb hadn't eaten since yesterday, which made the bird taste even better. She looked up to see Flaxclaw staring longingly at the bird.

"Have you eaten today, Flaxclaw?"

Spiderweb asked. Hunger dulled Flaxclaw's eyes, and the young warrior looked tired. She shook her head shyly.

"Why don't you join us?"

Spiderweb suggested, stepping away from her catch. Flaxclaw's eyes lit up as she padded towards it. Hungrily, the grey she-cat tucked in to the starling. When was the last time she had eaten anything? Spiderweb wondered.

"Sandystar!"

Lemonpelt called. Spiderweb turned around. The sandy-furred she-cat was perched on the twoleg fence. Next to her, Cherrysong, Sleekfur and Stoneclaw appeared. To Spiderweb's surprise, a small brown cat joined them. The stranger's jaw dropped. He was clearly not expecting the large array of cats.

"This is Raphael,"

Sandystar called. The tom looked uneasy being introduced to this many cats.

"He is going to be our guide. He will get us through twolegplace,"

She continued. Ashleaf shot her leader a glance. Sandystar nodded to her deputy.

"I suggest we leave now. Most cats have rested and eaten. We need to make progress before sundown,"

Ashleaf meowed loudly. Sandystar dipped her head, then turned to Raphael and muttered something that Spiderweb couldn't hear. The small tabby nodded slowly.

"Alright. SkyClan, we leave now!"

Sandystar called.

"Do exactly as Raphael says,"

The golden leader jumped back down to the twolegplace side of the fence. Raphael quickly followed her, and the rest of the clan weren't far behind. Spiderweb led Batpaw to the fence. He leapt easily on to it, and Spiderweb was impressed at the strength he had developed. However, her pride didn't last. Batpaw landed heavily on the fence, losing his balance and tumbling to the other side. Spiderweb leapt after him.

"Are you okay?"

She asked Batpaw. The black apprentice looked embarrassed, giving his pelt a few swift licks.

"I'm fine,"

He meowed, getting back to his paws. Spiderweb sighed with relief and jumped down beside him. She looked at her clan ahead of her. Raphael's ears were just visible, next to Sandystar's head at the front of the large group. In front of her, Spiderweb could see Snowtail. The white warrior's head was bowed, and he dragged his silver tail along the ground.

"Housefolk! Hide!"

A yowl came from the front of the group, and Spiderweb presumed it was Raphael. There was panic as the clan rushed to find hiding spots. Flaxclaw, Robinpaw, Tallheart and Thymewhisker climbed back over the fence. Spiderweb was impressed by the old cat's agility. Fernpelt and Sleekfur shooed Limepaw and Hazelpaw around the corner of a twoleg den. Spiderweb nudged her own apprentice behind a patch of tall grass. Batpaw was shaking beside her. The rest of the clan seemed to have hidden themselves, and just in time. A twoleg kit came into view, and Spiderweb flattened herself against the ground, keeping absolutely still. There was a harsh yell from an out-of-sight twoleg, and the kit ran towards it. Spiderweb was swamped with relief. A few moments later, Raphael emerged from inside a bush. He waved with his tail. The SkyClan cats cautiously crept from their hiding spaces. Bushes rustled as cats came out, and the others rejoined them from over the fence.

"Mama, I'm hungry!"

Ferretkit complained. Raphael blinked sympathetically at the golden-eyed tom.

"Don't worry. I know how to get food and water fast. Follow me,"

He meowed. The cats took after him. As the clan padded further into the heart of twoleg territory, Spiderweb felt more and more uneasy.