Morning Clouds

Chapter 18

Three sunrises had passed since Bright Feather and Maple Pool had begun their quest to find Snowy Skies. They had been mainly uneventful, crossing out of the territory the first day. Since then, the two kits managed to clumsily bring down a couple of small mice that were too slow to escape their pounding pawsteps and clumsy blows. Bright Feather knew they were in danger because neither of them had been properly trained. If any threat came along, they were fresh-kill.

But they were faring. They had managed to stay alive and mainly well, except for a small scratch on Maple Pool's shoulder from when she brushed a sharp branch. And they were managing to feed themselves, which Bright Feather took as a huge accomplishment, seeing as neither of them barely knew anything about what they were doing except Hazel Burrow and Morning Fire showing them the hunter's crouch once.

"Hey, Bright Feather!"

Maple Pool was peeking out of a small hole in a tree. "Come in here!"

Bright Feather bounded up to the tree and clumsily scampered up into the hole, glancing around. "This is so cool!"

Maple Pool yawned. "Let's sleep here," she declared, curling up with her tail over her nose as the sky darkened.

Bright Feather did the same, her tortoiseshell pelt slowly rising and falling as her breathing deepened and she fell asleep.

However nifty and safe the shelter seemed, it didn't provide them privacy. Any cat padding by could see them.

And that's just what the cat who just happened to be quietly padding by did.

And as Bright Feather and Maple Pool slept, blue eyes stared unblinkingly at them as their owner thought.

And quiet teeth fastened in their scruffs as the cat picked them up and quietly carried them away.

//-//

Echo's eyes widened in shock. So it wasn't cotton or sheep fur or white feathers like she thought! It was a cat!

She gaped at it, but not for long. Scraping of twigs and pawsteps told her that Ember was leaving, hopefully going back to camp. And since she didn't know the way back, she'd have to follow him.

Waving her tail apologetically to the cat, Echo crept after Ember as he padded back the way she and Splinter had come, slipping back in camp the way she and Splinter had left through.

Sitting on the floor of the camp clearing, Echo frowned. The things that she had seen and heard were still swirling around in her head, and she didn't understand most of them. Like why would there be a cat in a willow tree? And why were Splinter and Ember fighting? And why was this such a secret anyway? Maybe if it wasn't, she would understand.

I wish I did understand.

Are you sure? The question swirled around in her head, and she wasn't sure if she'd thought it or if she'd heard it.

Yes.

So be it.

Her answer was final.

And there was no going back.

//-//

Prickle's POV

Prickle screamed as Splash dropped to the ground beside him. Is she dead? Worry plagued him. He had no idea how to help her or fight off these terrible cats.

But he had to try. That's what he'd been doing this whole time, right?

But there wasn't time to ponder his choice. With Splash out of the way, the black-and-brown tom could easily take care of him. And win the battle? What are they fighting for anyway? What is the point of this? Prickle wondered absently.