Warriors: The River's End Book #1: Escaping Danger

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

It’s clear she’s expecting kits. I could help her. She could stay with the Clan. But is that a good idea?

Minnowstream looked again at the plump white-furred she-cat. She imagined Clover, cowering at the base of an oak tree, with Beetle in front of her her. She could envision the tom’s eyes glinting with a murderous rage, his bloodstained claws unsheathed, his gruff voice sneering at the she-cat…

I can’t just leave her here to die. Besides, we need more kits. Goldenshine’s are already apprentice age...I suppose I do need to make them apprentices when we reach the new territory.

“Come with me,” she decided.

Clover fell in behind the two cats. Every so often, Minnowstream would glance over her shoulder to make sure she was still following. The white-furred she-cat was steadily limping along. On the way back towards the camp, Spark walked in silence alongside her.

The ginger tom finally spoke. “So why did you leave your Clan?”

Minnowstream blinked, not expecting a question like that. “Leave? I would NEVER leave my Clan! The Clan are waiting for me. I was supposed to be hunting.”

Spark’s icy blue eyes momentarily flashed with surprise, but it was gone so quickly that Minnowstream wondered if she imagined it. “What are you RiverClan cats doing here, away from a river?”

Minnowstream stared at her paws, embarrassed of her Clan’s troubles.”It’s, um, Twolegs came and destroyed our territory. We’re looking for a new home.”

“I’m sorry for your troubles,” Spark meowed.

Minnowstream sighed. “None of it is your fault, or any other cat’s fault. I don’t think there’s anybody to blame.”

“Of course there is!” Spark’s voice was filled with loathing and scorn. “It’s StarClan’s fault, obviously! And I bet they did NOTHING to help you.  You Clan cats all praise StarClan as if they’ve ever helped you or given you anything but bad advice, words from fools. And now you are upset that you can’t escape the truth: StarClan is worthless.”

Minnowstream gaped at him. It can’t be StarClan’s fault! Meanwhile, deep inside, a small part of her agreed. Well? Have StarClan helped us?

“StarClan?” Clover sounded bewildered. “What’s StarClan?”

Minnowstream ignored the rogue she-cat. “Belief is not belief if it is lost in hard times. I trust that StarClan still walks beside us.”

Spark muttered something, then gave a slight nod. “Ignorance is wonderful, Minnowstream, but at one point a cat must step into the real world. The stars twinkle above, aware of your struggles but contented just to watch them. It’s like a cat is drowning in a river and you see them quite clearly, yet you don’t lift a paw to help them. Rather, you delight to watch them suffer and watch their head disappear beneath the surface of the stream.”

Minnowstream came to an abrupt halt and spun to face the tom. “Spark, you can have your beliefs and I can have mine. I will respect your opinions so long as you respect mine. And regardless of your...disrespect for our ancestors, I think you could be a valuable contribution to our Clan. The clearing is only a few tail-lengths away. Why don’t you give Clan life another try? Sparkshine would be a good name for you I think.”

Spark’s eyes narrowed. “The day I left WindClan, I swore I’d never take a Clan name again.”

Clover stopped at their sides. “What’s a Clan name mean?”