Warriors: The Chosen Warrior: Out of the Dark (Book 1)

Chapter 6

Forgetting about her prey, Leafsong picked up her mother by the scruff, terror making her shake.  Someone was going after Leafsong, and she was pretty sure it was in WindClan.

Leafsong hurried as fast as she could with Goldenfur’s weight to the camp.  As soon as the camp got into ear shot, she yowled for help, muffled by her mother’s fur.

Whitepaw came out of the thorn tunnel to see who it was.  When she saw the dead cat, she went back to tell the Clan for more help. Thornclaw, Sandstorm, Cloudtail, Brambleclaw, and Firestar came back with Whitepaw.

“What happened?” Firestar demanded.

Leafsong put Goldenfur’s body down gently before she meowed, “Goldenfur and I went out hunting.  I told her to hunt by the lake.  When I came back, I found her…” Leafsong didn’t dare say that word.

Brambleclaw sniffed the wound.  “WindClan.”

“WindClan!” Cloudtail yowled.  “When I find out who did this, I’m going to flay them.”

Firestar flicked his tail at Cloudtail for silence.  He turned back to Leafsong.  “I suppose you left your prey, then. Sandstorm, Thornclaw, bring back the prey Leafsong and Goldenfur buried.”

As Sandstorm and Thornclaw went to find the buried prey, Firestar led Cloudtail, Whitepaw, and Leafsong into the camp with Goldenfur’s body.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Firestar’s yowl the familiar words while Leafsong placed her mother’s body in the center of the hollow.

As the cats gathered for the meeting, they stared at Goldenfur’s body.  Leafsong settled next to her mother’s body, too worried to care if cats were looking at her.

Firestar had made his way to Highledge where his den was.  “Cats of ThunderClan,” he began.  “A lot of you must be wondering what happened to Goldenfur—” Firestar paused and looked at Leafsong, sympathy in his voice as he meowed, “Leafsong, will you tell us?”

Leafsong got up and walked bellow Highledge.  She told her Clanmates what had happened, talking so quietly that they had to strain their ears.  When Leafsong finished, she went back over to Goldenfur. 

“Yes, we believe that a WindClan cat killed Goldenfur.”  Firestar informed.  “I will talk to Onestar about this at the next Gathering.  Tonight we will sit vigil for Goldenfur.”

~*~*~*~*~*

That night, the Clan sat vigil for Goldenfur.  Leafsong was sitting by the halfrock close to the elders’ den, waiting to say goodbye to her mother.  Firestar came up and sat next to Leafsong.

“She was a great warrior.  The Clans will respect her for seasons to come,” Firestar meowed sympathetically.

“I know,” was all Leafsong said to Firestar before she got up and walked over to Goldenfur’s side.

She crouched down and pressed her nose into Goldenfur’s fur.  This is all my fault.  Leafsong scolded herself.  I should have never asked her to go hunting!

Leafsong closed her eyes. Smelling the last of her mother’s sweet scent, she drifted into sleep.