Silverwing's Story: The Prophecy Begins

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Silverpaw blinked open her eyes as paws prodded her awake from her deep sleep. "Silverpaw, Silverpaw!" a familiar voice was whispering in her ear, willing her to wake up.

She sat up as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She never thought she could feel any more tired than she felt at that moment. Once her vision cleared, she saw the face of Opalshine.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. Time to go see that rogue," she whispered, smiling. Silverpaw wished she had her carefreeness; she felt as if she were cursed with the plague of worrying.

Silverpaw sat up on her haunches, licking one paw and rubbing it over her ear, smoothing down her silver fur.

"Alright, let's go then," she said with a yawn. She stood up and pushed past Opalshine and out of the apprentices' den. Her paws felt like stones as she dragged them across the stony floor, but they felt lighter as soon as she stepped into the grassy clearing beyond. She padded a few tail-lengths from the den entrance, and waited for Opalshine to push out of the den. Once she was out, Silverpaw turned toward the thorn barrier.

The camp was as silent as ever. A few pieces of prey were left from the day's hunting, perfect for the cats going on dawn patrol. She heard a few snores coming from the elders' den, and some rustling from the warriors' den. Silverpaw hoped none of them would notice Opalshine's empty nest.

The black-and-white she-cat padded past the apprentice toward the thorn barrier. She looked over her shoulder and beckoned Silverpaw with her tail. Her green eyes almost seemed to glow in the pale moonlight. Silverpaw thrusted herself forward and caught up with Opalshine, so they were padding side-by-side.

Opalshine squeezed through the thorn barrier first. Silverpaw accidently bumped into her when she abruptly stopped. She heard Opalshine explain herself to the cat standing guard outside.

"What are you doing up so late?" the voice belonged to Sunwhisker.

"Oh, it's nothing. Silverpaw and I just can't sleep. We thought we'd take a walk," Opalshine said.

"I don't think it's a good idea to have a new warrior and an apprentice out alone while we have a trespassing rogue problem."

"It'll be fine, Sunwhisker. You worry too much. We won't go far. In fact, we won't go near any borders," Opalshine lied.

He sighed sharply. "Fine. But if you're not back before the moon is halfway down the sky, then I'm sending someone after you."

"Perfect," Opalshine mewed happily.

Silverpaw's friend padded forward so she wasn't halfway out the thorn barrier anymore. Silverpaw crept out after her, smiling awkwardly at Sunwhisker. The yellow tabby rolled his eyes.

"Don't get lost out there."

Opalshine gave him a cross look. "I doubt we'd go off track in our own territory."

Sunwhisker shrugged. "You never know."

Silverpaw grinned an actual smile, though she wasn't showing her teeth. When Opalshine started padding ahead of her, Silverpaw trailed after the black-and-white warrior, her fluffy tail flicking along the way. Once they were out of Sunwhisker's range of hearing, Opalshine broke the silence.

"What does Raven look like?"

Silverpaw stared straight ahead. "He's a black tom with a brown underbelly, as well as brown paws."

Opalshine nodded to herself. "That's good to know; I want to be aware what the rogue we're meeting actually looks like. If I saw a different tom and thought he was Raven... that wouldn't go so well."