Morning Clouds

Chapter 12

Bright Feather stormed up to Shadowed Pine. "I did it! I stayed up the whole night!"

"You stayed up the whole night?" Leaf stared at her. "That wasn't a good idea."

Bright Feather puffed out her chest. "Shadowed Pine said I couldn't do it. So I did."

Leaf playfully nudged Shadowed Pine. "What are you doing, putting ideas in her head?" he joked.

"Bright Feather!" Violet Dawn shrieked.

Bright Feather blinked in surprise and hurried over to her mother, who licked her, relieved.

"Uhh Mom? Are you okay?" Bright Feather asked nervously.

"I'm just glad you're okay," Violet Dawn gasped.

Bright Feather frowned. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Snowy Skies is missing." Bracken Leaf whispered.

Bright Feather's stomach dropped.

That's what had been different about the den!

Had Snowy Skies run away?!

//-//

Silver stiffened, pricking her ears, as three cats slid out of the bushes. Two toms and a she-cat. Two of them she recognized, but couldn't remember who they were or how she knew them. The other tom, however, was completely foreign to her.

Whisper flattened his ears. "Get out of here! You're not wanted here, Beetle!"

Beetle. The name joined Slash in sounding faintly familiar to Silver.

Hatred flashed in the second tom's eyes as he looked at Whisper. "You know, I'm not here for you." He turned his gaze on her.

Silver narrowed her eyes. "Hi, I'm Silver. Do I know you?"

The orange she-cat let out a snort of laughter, but the same hatred glimmered in her eyes as she looked at Silver. She felt baffled by the strength of the she-cat's rage. Why does she hate me?

Beetle smirked. "Silver, you should talk to our leader."

Dark's breath caught. "No!"

Silver frowned. "Sorry, no."

Beetle smirked. "It wasn't a question."

Silver's eyes flashed with confusion as Prickle and Splash began to move in front of her. "Sorry, no." she repeated.

Stripes nudged her. "Silver."

Silver glanced over her shoulder at him.

His eyes were filled with panic. "You need to run."

Then they struck.

//-//

"...And Ice Shard will be Black Ear's new mentor. That is all." Windstar finished the Clan meeting, padding over to Gorse Fur and Dust Muzzle.

Hail Breeze joined the Clan in yowling Ice Shard's name, but he couldn't focus on what was happening. Something else was snagging his attention.

He couldn't find Sun Song.

He thought that maybe he could apologize for how he had acted a couple days ago. But she was nowhere to be found.

Was she that spiteful? Was she really avoiding an important ceremony?

He stared at his paws, ashamed. If I'd had the courage to approach her earlier, she might be here.

Then Slate, Spotted Fur, and Bright Storm pounded into camp.

"Windstar!" Spotted Fur yowled. "ThunderClan is coming!"