Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 27

When Reedstar heard about what had happened, he had said that he would think about what to do.

It had been dawn when Ashpaw was taken by the Twoleg. Now it was almost dusk.

Wavepelt sat silently at the fresh-kill pile, staring at the mouse that Flamefur had plopped down in front of her.

"I'm not hungry," she meowed.

"But you need to eat!" Flamefur nudged her. "Not eating won't bring Ashpaw back."

Wavepelt gazed at Flamefur. "Do you think I failed as a mentor to Ashpaw?"

"Of course not." Flamefur nuzzled her. "Don't think about it. Reedstar will make his decision soon enough. Now eat."

Wavepelt sighed and reluctantly took a bite out of the mouse. It tasted dull, with no flavour at all. She took another one. Then she gobbled down the entire thing. She felt a little better.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Wavepelt perked up. This was it. Reedstar would organize a patrol to go get Ashpaw out of that Twoleg nest.

"ThunderClan," Reedstar declared, "I have heard the news that Ashpaw has been captured by a Twoleg. I have thought this through, and..." He sighed. "I have decided not to send out a patrol."

What? Yowls of outrage filled the clearing.

"I know you find it unjust." Reedstar's mew was calm. "But would you really set paw in a Twoleg den? We would get lost. And the Twolegs would capture us as soon as we were seen. Is it really worth it?" Then he leapt off Highrock.

Wavepelt just stared, shocked. I would go in a Twoleg nest for Ashpaw! I'm not afraid!

Flamefur, beside her, also seemed surprised.

"I didn't see that coming," he meowed quietly.

Wavepelt stood up. I'm not going to give up that easily, she thought. I know exactly what I'm going to do.

***

"How dare he!" Featherdapple's eyes were blazing. "How dare Reedstar refuse to help my kit! For StarClan's sake, I'm his sister!"

Sunfur gazed at his mate, his face showing no emotion. Wavepelt had gathered the two mates to meet in the forest.

"Would you go rescue Ashpaw?" she asked.

Both Featherdapple and Sunfur stared at her. Then Featherdapple said:

"I'd do it for anything in the world."

Sunfur nodded in agreement.

"Well," Wavepelt said, "I think we should do exactly that."

"And go behind Reedstar's back?" Sunfur's eyes widened.

Featherdapple was nodding. "Anything for my kit."

"We would tell Reedstar after we'd rescue Ashpaw," Wavepelt mewed. "And we would do it at night, when the Twolegs are sleeping."

Sunfur seemed deep in thought. Finally, he said:

"I'll do it."

Featherdapple nodded fiercely. "When do we do it?"

Wavepelt gazed at both of them. "At moonhigh."

***

Wavepelt lay in her nest. Everyone was sleeping around her, except for two certain cats. It's time.