Warrior Cats: SkyClan Returns #2

Chapter Twelve

Snowtail sat up and stretched. Morning light bathed the clearing. Snowtail had managed to get a little bit of rest in after Lemonpelt's vigil, but he was still slightly tired. The white tom gave his chest fur a couple of licks before padding out of the makeshift warrior's den. He emerged just in time to see Cherrysong, Owlpelt and Sleekfur return to the clearing, looking very tired. They'd gone out at the break of dawn to check for the dog.

Ashleaf spotted Snowtail and called him over to the centre of the clearing, where several other cats were already gathered. Hunting patrols. Snowtail sighed.

"Snowtail, you can join Greysquirrel's patrol. Head out in the opposite direction of twolegplace. And for StarClan's sake, be careful!"

Ashleaf ordered. Greysquirrel dipped his head respectfully to the deputy, before leading Flaxclaw, Springfoot and Snowtail towards the trees.

"Actually,"

Ashleaf meowed, stopping the patrol.

"I'll join you,"

She ran over to the patrol, who then departed through the ferns. The warm greenleaf wind and the scent of prey seemed to make Snowtail's exhaustion fade away. Squirrel! A russet shape was nibbling at a bunch of seeds a few fox lengths ahead of him. He stalked quietly towards it, but the breeze from behind blew his scent toward the squirrel. It ran off. Mouse dung! Snowtail raced after it, his ears flattened back against his head. It headed for an oak tree, but he cut it off. The squirrel veered off through a bramble thicket, but Snowtail wasn't going to give up. He followed it. Behind him, Ashleaf called out to him, but Snowtail ignored her. Thorns scraped his muzzle and pelt. He heard the squirrel squeal. What in StarClan?

Snowtail emerged from the bush, ignoring the pain of the bramble claws. He gasped. Stood in front of him was a slender silver tabby she-cat. Snowtail's squirrel lay limp under one of her paws. Ashleaf came out behind him, followed by the others.

"That's my squirrel! I almost had it!"

Snowtail meowed. The silver cat snarled.

"Come and get it then, flea-pelt!"

She spat. Snowtail was taken aback by the rouge's hostility. Ashleaf stepped in.

"We don't want any trouble. And you don't want to make SkyClan your enemy,"

The grey deputy said pointedly. The rouge flattened her ears to her head.

"SkyClan!"

She hissed, unsheathing her claws.

"Another mangy clan! Get off my land now!"

Another clan? Snowtail was surprised.

"You know the other clans?"

Ashleaf asked, still standing her ground. The silver rouge's pelt stood on end.

"So what if I do?"

She spat.

"Take us there!"

Ashleaf ordered. The other cat snarled.

"Typical clan cat. Assuming authority over every other cat. That's why I left RiverClan,"

Snowtail's eyes widened. She was part of a clan!

"Do you want us off your land or not?"

Ashleaf growled.

"You won't stay here,"

She hissed.

"You're too set on finding your precious clans,"

Snowtail was growing annoyed. Why can't she just take us there, and get us out of her pelt? The brambles behind them rustled, and Sandystar burst out. Leafspots and Hailforce followed.

"What's going on here?"

Sandystar demanded.

"Who is this?"

She asked. The silver rouge bared her teeth. Snowtail didn't want to admit it, but he was impressed at how she was standing her ground.

"Who do you think you are?"

She growled, facing up to the SkyClan leader. Sandystar remained calm.

"My name is Sandystar. I am SkyClan's leader. What is your name?"

"Brook,"

Brook snarled. Ashleaf stepped forward.

"She knows how to get to the clans,"

She informed her leader. Sandystar's eyes widened.

"Then she will take us to them,"

She said.

"I will not!"

Brook snarled, picking up the squirrel and running off into the trees. Greysquirrel started after her, but Sandystar called him back.

"It's no use,"

She meowed. Greysquirrel nodded respectfully. Snowtail guessed that Sandystar just didn't want to risk the lives of any more of her warriors.

"Come on,"

Ashleaf said.

"Let's continue hunting. We've caught nothing so far. The clan will be hungry,"

Snowtail tasted the air. He picked up the scent of a nearby bird, and began to follow the smell. He was slightly distracted by something, though. Brook was an interesting cat. He thought. He imagined the silver rouge's face again. Maybe she's not as bad as we think.