Warrior Cats: SkyClan Returns #2

Chapter Fifteen

The forest was rich with prey, and Spiderweb was almost sad to be leaving. Almost. A pang of regret hit her chest at the thought of the cats they were leaving behind. Duststorm, the stubborn old tom who died in the gorge, and Lemonpelt, the noble warrior who perished saving his clan from the dog. Spiderweb missed them both.

Batpaw's pelt brushed hers. Her apprentice often used her as a guide through unknown territory. The blind tom had managed to catch a sparrow and a thrush. He was becoming a formidable hunter. Flaxclaw had discovered a sparrow's nest, and carried several eggs back in her mouth.

They returned to camp and dumped their kill on the pile. Lilypatch looked admiringly at the pile.

"Sparrow eggs?"

She purred.

"I know they're your favourite,"

Hailforce purred, licking his mate's ear.

"Would you like to share a few?"

Lilypatch purred and the two cats walked off together, tails intwined. A feeling of loss swamped Spiderweb. They're so close! I could have had that with Snowtail...For a moment, she missed the white warrior, but the feeling passed. That never would have worked out...

Sandystar walked into the middle of the clearing. Cats turned to look at her expectantly.

"We leave once every cat has eaten. When you've had your fill, gather outside the nursery,"

Sandystar meowed, and the group split, half going to the nursery, half to the prey pile. Spiderweb picked out a small finch for herself.

Soon the whole clan was waiting outside the nursery. Sandystar gave the command to leave, and Brook begrudgingly took the lead. Spiderweb was semi-familiar with the path. She recognised the trees they had hunted in before, and the thorn bush where Owlpelt had gotten stuck a few days back. However they soon reached a small stream which no cat had crossed before. Brook leapt across it with ease. For some reason, no cat was speaking. They walked in silence.

An uninviting bramble thicket stretched out in front of them. Instead of searching for a way around, Brook slunk under it, pressing as low to the ground as she could, but Spiderweb still noticed some of her silver fur caught on the thorns. Fernpelt followed reluctantly, and Spiderweb saw her wince as her pelt got tangled in the brambles. Sighing, Spiderweb followed. There was no clear way around, and Brook would not thank here for wasting time looking for one.

Spiderweb reached the other side with only a few shallow scrapes on her back. From the other side of the thicket, she heard Ferretkit squeal.

"I'm not going through there!"

He wailed indignantly. There was another squeal as the brambles rustled, and Fluffpelt emerged carrying her son. It seemed that Fluffpelt's thick fur had protected her from the worst of the thorns. There didn't even seem to be a scratch on her.

SkyClan continued to walk as the sun began to set. From somewhere in the middle of the group, Sandystar called out.

"Hey, Brook! I think we should stop here for the night,"

She said pointedly. It was growing dark quickly. Brook snorted.

'We're not stopping! Carry your useless kits if they're tired!"

"But we need to hunt!"

Sandystar retorted, slowing to a halt. Brook sighed angrily.

"Fine! But we leave again at the break of dawn!"