Morning Clouds

Chapter 6

"What?!" Swift Minnow yelped, curling her tail around her kits and pulling them close to her.

Hail Breeze was frozen in shock, numb. He could feel Shining Moon trembling beside him, and Stagnant Pool let out a wail. "Why, Mama?"

For once, Swift Minnow didn't tell them that it would be okay-the one thing Hail Breeze wanted to hear. He shut his eyes and tried to pretend it was just a bad dream.

But he knew it wasn't. It was all too real.

He poked himself, just in case.

It hurt.

Darn.

Swift Minnow hurried her kits swiftly over to Reed Tail in the center of camp. There, Hail Breeze saw something he wished he never had.

Eagle Feather's body was spread in the middle of camp. Dew Nose, Storm Pelt, Holly, and Jagged Peak were crouched at his body while Golden Streaks and Feather Plume, Eagle Feather's younger sisters, stared from under Dust Muzzle's tail. Windstar stood at Eagle Feather's head, trying to comfort his family. "...will find this cat," the leader was meowing fiercely.

"Who?" Stagnant Pool squeaked.

"I don't think this information is appropriate-" Clover Petal began, sweeping her tail around Dark Stream, Sun Song, and Willow Mist.

"No, Clover Petal." Holly stated in a low growl, eyes dark. Everyone jumped at her meow. "They deserve to know."

"Eagle Feather didn't just die."

"He was murdered. By another cat."

//-//

"Can we go out today? Pleeeeeeeeeaaseeee?" Splashing Creek pleaded.

Dappled Pelt glanced back at her. "Splashing Creek-"

"Please!" Splashing Creek begged. "I haven't been out of camp in four days!"

"Four days. Wow. What a tragedy." Spider Paw snorted.

Splashing Creek hissed at him. "Shut up, you mouse-brained fox-hearted piece of badger dung!" she spat.

Spider Paw laughed. "Medicine cats don't fight, remember?" He flicked his tail under her nose and walked off. "Complaining Creek."

"Don't call me Complaining Creek!" Splashing Creek yowled after him, ears flat.

Dappled Pelt sighed. "Don't let him provoke you."

Splashing Creek's tail drooped. "Why does he act like that?"

"You should consider the fact that his father died before he was born and his mother and littermates all live in different Clans," Dappled Pelt replied, tail-tip twitching.

"But no one knows who Summer Breeze's family is and she's one of the nicest cats I've ever met," Splashing Creek argued.

Dappled Pelt sighed. "Just drop it, Splashing Creek."

Splashing Creek stood there, stunned, as her mentor stalked over to where Riverstar and Shattered Ice were waiting at the entrance. When Dappled Pelt reached them, the three cats left camp without a single glance back at her.

What is going on with Dappled Pelt? I've never seen her react that way. Is it something I did?

In her worries about Dappled Pelt, she forgot to wonder about where the odd patrol was going.

//-//

Life is good.

Silver stretched. At 26 moons, she was the leader of her own group. All was peaceful. Her cats were healthy, safe, and happy. They were catching more than enough food to feed their bellies. They were well-trained to drive out any cat in the forest.

And they liked her.

Father had always told her that to be a good leader, she had to be liked.

The cats of her father's group liked him, but they didn't like her, so she left and started her own group.

Simple as that.

...Right?

"Silver!"

Silver jumped in surprise. "Yes, Whisper?"

The battle-scarred gray-and-white tom thundered into camp, Dark and Peach hard on his paws. His tail-tip was trembling. "We scented some of Slash's cats nearby!"

Slash. The name rang a distant bell in Silver's ears. How do I know this "Slash?"

Lake flattened her ears. "Slash killed my sister."

Silver blinked in surprise. "He must be a bad cat, then."

Shade snorted. "That's an understatement."

Silver blinked. Maybe I can convince him not to kill cats. Maybe he'll even join my group! Probably not, though. I don't want to anger Shade.

"Silver? What are we going to do?" Ash prompted.

Silver shook out her fur. "I'll take some cats to go check it out. Stripes, Dark, Splash, and Prickle, you can come with me."

Prickle's sister touched noses with him. "Good luck." For once easygoing Snow's pale blue gaze was filled with worry.

Silver frowned. I hope this isn't a bad idea... It's probably not. Best to check it out and get all the facts, right?

Silver shook away her nervous thoughts. "Let's go. Which way?" she asked Whisper.

"This way." The shaky gray-and-white tom led the group out of camp and to a birch tree a little ways away. "Here-"

A deep growl interrupted him. "You again! You'd better have brought-"

Then yet another voice interrupted. "Wait, Silver?"

Silver caught her breath. I know that voice.

But from where?