Morning Clouds

Chapter 7

Echo was very jealous of Flame.

Since he was bigger than her and Lightning, he had started training first. Lightning didn't seem to mind. But she did.

Today he had left with Flame on another excursion, from which Flame usually came back tired and fierce, and sometimes brought back prey.

It drove Echo crazy.

But soon Slash would start training her.

He had promised.

But not yet.

So she spent another bored day in camp, watching Beetle, Splinter, and Snake leave early in their special patrol. Talking to Mist and Flash. Listening to Bamboo's stories. Playing with Apple and Shell and Lightning.

But it was still boring.

Echo stared at the sky.

I wish I could be part of it.

Be careful what you wish for, kit...

//-//

Dusk Sky inched forward on her branch, struggling to peer outside of camp. Until recently, she hadn't been interested in what small bits of forest she could see from the thickly-woven camp wall. After her first awestruck glances, she had found the forest that she could see boring. There was much more interesting things to watch in camp.

Until now.

Dusk Sky could tell that no one in camp could see Silent Flare, Birch, and Star Flower hurrying back to camp, eyes wide, with three unfamiliar cats. They smelled fishy and watery, like the minnow Dew Petal had once caught from the stream near ThunderClan.

Maybe they swim. Or eat fish.

Dusk Sky scanned their pelts, trying to figure them out. One had an authority of sort, kind of like Skystar's, but he had a kinder, less brash aura. He was a stockier tom, with silver fur and amber eyes. On one side of him was another strong-looking tom, with a gray pelt, splashed with white patches, and green eyes.

On the other side of the first tom was an older, delicate tortoiseshell she-cat with golden eyes. The she-cat seemed different from her two companions. She had the same watery smell, but there was a leafy aura to it, as if she had been rolling in Acorn Fur's herbs. She also carried a sort of authority, but different and not as strong as Skystar's or the silver tom's, quieter, but still there.

Dusk Sky studied their expressions. The gray-and-white tom had a sort of urgency and curiosity, the silver tom seemed calm and cool, but also a little urgent and worried, and the she-cat seemed regretful.

She had no more time to ponder quietly, because Thorn's ears flicked up. "I smell RiverClan!"

Dusk Sky blinked in surprise. RiverClan. That explains a lot. The silver tom must be Riverstar, and I guess the she-cat is... Dapple Fur? I don't know who the other tom is, though.

At Thorn's call, Skystar burst out of his den just as the patrol thundered into camp. Dusk Sky spotted her littermates, Fluttering Leaf and Falcon's Wing, staring at the RiverClan cats with Blossom's kits, Owl Water, Gray Mouse, and Icy Flower.

A part of Dusk Sky wished she could join them, but long ago she had come to terms with her lonely, observant reality, and quietly accepted it. Who cared if she didn't play with the other kits? She could play by herself. And she knew that Sparrow Fur and Blossom would try and keep the kits away from the RiverClan cats in case of danger. This way, she could see and hear them much better, and still be in a safe spot, high on her branch. Nobody really cared.

She switched her attention from her denmates to the RiverClan cats and Skystar. Acorn Fur had come out of her den to talk to Dappled Pelt, the tortoiseshell she-cat, while Riverstar and the other tom, Shattered Ice, spoke with Skystar. They began to head to Skystar's den with Star Flower.

Disappointed mutters filled the clearing of curious cats, but Dusk Sky ignored them as she crept forward to the branch right above the leader's den and pricked her ears, crouching as close as she could get. She managed to pick up a few words.

"...Scented them when she was looking for herbs outside of the territories."

"Did she run into them?" That was Star Flower's worried meow.

"No, but the scent was clear, with new cats. He's recruiting again," the same male voice answered.

"What have you done with Dawn Mist, Moss Tail, Pine Needle, and Drizzle?" Skystar asked.

A different male growl answered him. "Nothing. They've proven themselves over and over to be loyal RiverClan cats."

"That's what we thought about Bee and Ember," Skystar snorted. "And look where that got us."

"That was a long time ago, when they first joined the Clans," the tom snapped.

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to keep them in camp more often and keep an eye on them, Shattered Ice. I'll do the same with Red Claw," Skystar argued.

Dusk Sky frowned. What's wrong with Red Claw? What are they even talking about?

"Dawn Mist is already expecting kits," the first tom meowed calmly. "But Moss Tail is a mentor and Drizzle and Pine Needle are promising young warriors. I can't just confine them to camp. We have to trust, Skystar. If I show them disrespect they will turn against us."

"They might anyway," Skystar growled.

"But they might not," the tom countered. "If we-"

Dusk Sky never heard the end of it, because Sparrow Fur was calling her. "Dusk Sky! Dusk Sky, where are you?"

"I bet she got lost again," Falcon's Wing snickered.

Dusk Sky crossed the branch and jumped down. "Here I am!"

Gray Mouse narrowed his eyes at her. "Where were you?"

Dusk Sky pointed with her tail at the branch. "Up there, watching the RiverClan cats."

Icy Flower blinked, looking hurt. "Why didn't you invite us?"

"Because she was probably picking at her ear or something," Gray Mouse whispered loudly.

Dusk Sky shrugged. "No time."

Icy Flower blinked. "O-okay."

Blossom licked Gray Mouse. "Off to bed, you three."

Sparrow Fur nudged Fluttering Leaf. "The same goes for you."

"Aw!" Owl Water complained. "Eagle's Claw promised he'd play with me!"

At the mention of his name, the black tom pricked his ears. "Tomorrow," he promised, sharing a squirrel with Silent Flare.

Owl Water's tail drooped. "Aww..."

In the den, Dusk Sky climbed on the other side of Sparrow Fur's tail than her littermates. She knew they would kick her out anyway.

She fell asleep.

But the leaders kept talking.

And a couple of territories away, a leader she had only heard snippets of was carrying out the first stage in his plan.