Stormy Nights

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

            Wolfsong flicked the news away with one ear and searched the crowd. “Bloodpool, where are you…” She muttered. Her amber eyes glowed and her tail thrashed, unfortunately hitting another cat in the face. Bigfoot turned to her angrily, his own short tail tapping the ground in annoyance.

            “Hey! What was that for?!” He growled.

            “Oh, sorry!” Wolfsong murmured, lowering her head in shame. She’d angered an elder of her Clan!

            “Young cats these days. Have no respect whatsoever.” He muttered to himself, whirling his head away. Wolfsong rolled her eyes and continued her search for the young warrior. Bigfoot’s ego was bigger than his paws, so he was no one to take offense from.

            “Aha! There the little bugger!” Wolfsong meowed triumphantly, standing and weaving her way through the throng of cats still wailing in dismay at Tigercloud’s news. It was difficult with such a large belly, but soon, she was standing only a fox-length away from Bloodpool and his friend Dragonflame. She angled her ears, straining to hear the warriors’ whispered conversation, though still facing the leaders on the Great Log.

            “I’m telling you, Wolfsong knows something! She knows something about the Dark Forest!” Bloodpool insisted. A glitter of fear danced in Wolfsong’s amber eyes. Had they been spying on her? Dragonflame scrutinized the older cat, and after several long heartbeats, finally came to his decision.

            “Hmm. Well, Bloodpool, I know you’re no liar, so I have to believe you. And Wolfsong does seem the secretive type. Yeah, I guess you’re right. See if you can find anything else out about her, and tell me at the next Gathering? Or shall we meet here at the half-moon? There’s never any border patrols at that time, if we come before moonhigh.” Dragonflame nodded approvingly. His gaze drifted away from Bloodpool and he yawned widely.

            “Yeah, that would work. I can do that. We’ll meet at the ha-” Bloodpool broke off abruptly as Dragonflame nudged him roughly.

            “Shhh!” He hissed, looking pointedly at Wolfsong. “She might have been listening to every word we’ve said!”

            “Oh.” Bloodpool looked down at his dark ginger paws. Was he remembering the reason for his name? A pang of pity struck Wolfsong’s heart. This poor cat! Born without a known father and raised without a mother. Had he ever known love? Probably not. -But still! How did he know her secret?! The very secret she had kept hidden since she was a new apprentice!

            Her head pounding with the coming of a terrible headache, she shut out the voices of the cats around her and fought desperately to relax before she too, began howling aloud. Relief overcame her when Birdstar and Thornstar finished speaking and the Gathering ended. Staggering dizzily to her paws, she stumbled back to camp at Redstar’s flank.

~*~

            “Wolfsong, my lovely, wake up.” A quiet voice crooned in her ear. Blinking open her hazy eyes, she looked up into the friendly face of Tigercloud. His whiskers gently brushed her face and his chest rumbled with a soft, loving purr. “Our kits. They’re ready.”

            As he spoke, a steady series of shoves and pushes began in her stomach region. Her kits were coming! She wobbled out of the nursery and over to the medicine cat’s den. Fawnspots stood in the entrance, a worried expression upon her pretty face.

            “Over here, Wolfsong. It won’t be long now. I think there’s three or four, at least. Here, lay down right over here.” Fawnspots reassured her, though Wolfsong could have sworn by StarClan that there was a bitterly jealous look on Fawnspots’ face.