Morning Clouds

Chapter 16

Maple Pool!" Bright Feather gasped.

The other kit stepped off her. "What are you doing?!"

"Finding Snowy Skies," Bright Feather admitted, the story spilling out. "What about you?"

Maple Pool's eyes went wide. "Following you. I wanted to make sure you weren't running away like her."

Bright Feather twitched her tail. "I thought you were asleep!"

Maple Pool rolled her eyes. "Rainbow Rain was fidgeting too much. She makes it impossible!"

Bright Feather giggled. "Is she still asleep?"

"She was when I left," Maple Pool responded. "I think I'm the only cat who saw you leave."

Bright Feather breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's go, then!"

Maple Pool grinned and they set off.

//-//

Splash's POV

Splash growled as she struggled to fend off Beetle. He was an extremely skilled fighter, but the fact that she had to keep him away from Silver kept her going.

Plus, Prickle was helping.

Well, kind of.

She didn't know why Silver had chosen him. He was the most skilled hunter in the group, but was was not a very good fighter at all. Lake and Snow, two very skilled fighters, had tried to work with him, but he still showed quite little skill.

Splash flattened her ears as Beetle laughed and easily ducked another of Prickle's clumsy swipes. It would have missed him anyway. She narrowed her eyes to slits and slashed at his belly while he was distracted. At least Prickle was good at distracting him, but she was worried he'd get hurt.

She had no time to think as Beetle came at her again and the two cats plunged into a screeching ball of fur, claws, and tails, trying in vain to injure the other to submission.

Then Beetle grabbed her neck in his jaws and bit down hard.

Splash screeched in pain and everything went black.

//-//

Echo was sulking.

Slash had refused to train her today, instead going with Flame. And it had been for the last three days.

The rush of joy she had felt the first day was gone, and the boredom and jealously of Flame was back.

Bamboo and Stem had tried to cheer her up the first day, but after half a day with no luck, Rabbit had convinced them it was a waste of time and they went hunting.

Mist, Apple, and Shell had tried to cheer her up too.

Nothing worked.

Her gaze caught Splinter, who was quietly slipping through a hole in the bushes that surrounded camp.

Where is he going?

Echo's gaze flashed quickly around the camp to make sure no one was watching.

Then she followed him.

A/N: I'm back! Short chapter today, but the next one is longer. And please please pleeeeeease comment  I want to see your thoughts and constructive criticism! Here, how about a question: Is Splash dead? Where is Splinter going? Where will Bright Feather and Maple Pool go?