West Woods: Sliverstone's Destiny

11 -- Mosskit

Having no deputy, BrambleClan was unexpectedly organized. Bramblestar's daughter Amberclaw was a natural leader. She had ordered Sliverstone, Darkclaw, and Crystalblaze to check the shore-side border. Darkclaw waited by the warriors den with Sliverstone, both waiting for the white she-cat to join them.

Darkclaw turned to Sliverstone. Can I tell you a secret?"

Sliverstone shrugged, "Go ahead."

"I'm in awe over you," the gray tom snickered. "I'm surprised you were able to impress my sister." Sliverstone felt lifted with pride, her stubborn mentor Hollypelt having been impressed with her.

"I'm surprised, too," the white faced warrior smiled.

As Sliverstone's sister made her way towards the two warriors, Darkclaw added quietly, "You're one special cat."

Before the silver warrior got a chance to question him, Crystalblaze nudged her sister excitedly. "It's been too long since we got to hang out like this, Sliverstone. We finally get to go to the shore together!"

Crystalblaze hopping wildly, the trio made their way to the shore quickly. The water shimmered with sunlight as it washed over the sand and foamed away as it trailed back to the lake. Crystalblaze watched it in fascination with her sister by her side while Darkclaw marked the stale border.

"Are you two going to stare at water all day or are you going to come back to camp?" Darkclaw teased.

"Coming!" Crystalblaze skipped her way over to her denmate and glanced back at her sister.

"I'll go back to camp later. I want to stay here for a bit." Crystalblaze nodded approval and disappeared into the undergrowth with Darkclaw. Sliverstone watched the rolling waves in the distance.

Her mother had told her the tale of Mosskit when the silver she-cat was still a young kit. "Mosskit was very fond of Honeywing," Lilacpath had told her kits. "When she disappeared after Honeywing left for FireClan, Bramblestar thought she had followed her."

"Did they ever find Mosskit?" the young Breezekit had asked.

Lilacpath shook her head sadly. "The last place they saw the kit was by the shore. She was also very fond of the water. Bramblestar doesn't want to admit it, but every cat in the clan believes she must've been washed away."

Sliverstone took a deep breath as a cold breeze cooled her face. But they're not sure she's gone, right? The warrior lost herself in thought, imagining Mosskit emerging from the water and swimming back to shore. "I'm back, Father! I'm back, Duskkit!" The warrior didn't feel as if any cat should lose a sibling. Even if she rarely got to talk to her sister, Sliverstone enjoyed the times they were together.

But there had always been a feeling of loss as if something were missing. A lost piece in her family...

Sliverstone froze. She sensed herself being watched. She slowly unsheathed her claws as she began to creep away into the bushes. There was a deep growl and a battlecry as a light brown cat launched itself on top of the terrified warrior. She didn't have time to escape.

Pinned to the sand, Sliverstone writhed to try to free herself and batted her enemy's belly with her hind paws. She glared up hopelessly into the dark blue eyes of a muscular she-cat.

"Mosskit!"