Warriors: Rosetail's Promise

Chapter 4

"Well? What happened?" Ashenheart asked for the third time. She could be really annoying when bored to death in the camp.

"Nothing," Dustclaw and Lilyfrost responded at the same time. Dustclaw continued, "We just saw four cats sleeping. Couldn't identify any of them. We weren't even sure that it was the same group."

"You went to that giant tree to the north? Yeah, it was," Ashenheart said quickly.

"You met one cat. We met four. We didn't scent the cat the first time, so we don't know if it was the same cat," Lilyfrost said crossly, and a bit loudly. "Got it?"

"I'm not a mouse-brain!" Ashenheart exclaimed. "I'm just trying to help! Did any of them look like Viridian?"

"We couldn't tell very well, it was practically moon-high and we were too far away!" Lilyfrost shouted, her brown pelt bristling. Lilyfrost got angry easily, but her yowl was worse than her bite.

"One of them looked slick and short-furred, like Viridian, so maybe it was the same cat you met," Dustclaw offered.

"Maybe! I swear to StarClan, if I had gone, this mystery would be solved!" Ashenheart yowled toward where the sun would be if they were outside.

"All of you, shut up!" Ravenwing yelled over all of them. They all flinched at the big cat's voice, but the point was served, so she quieted down. "Ashenheart, I know you're the most restless warrior in SunClan, but you're overwhelming Lilyfrost and Dustclaw, and most of all myself."

Ashenheart's tail drooped as she looked to the ground, ashamed. "Sorry," Ashenheart said.

"I get it, being cooped up in here ought to make you itch for something to do," Dustclaw sympathized.

"Can't I leave now?" Ashenheart asked Ravenwing. "Exciting things are going on, and I'm stuck in here, why?"

"I just wanted to make sure the cuts didn't get infected," Ravenwing explained. She would have treated the leg for possible infection the day before, but SunClan's resources were too low to waste them if they weren't necessary. "I think you're alright. You may go."

Ashenheart walked out slowly, muttering "Thank you, StarClan" as she left. All the other cats watched her leave.

"Who ruffled her fur?" Dustclaw said, even though he knew the answer. He turned to Ravenwing. "Well, I'm getting hungry. I'll be back afterward."

"See you later," Ravenwing said as Dustclaw left, Lilyfrost following silently. This left Ravenwing alone for a while. A while, meaning until Maplepaw walked in, a couple moments later.

"I thought you were back with Lilacpelt," Ravenwing mewed, surprised at the 'paw's appearance.

"Well, I just wanted to stop in and check on our silent friend, but she's apparently invisible now too," Maplepaw said crossly as he walked into the back of the den. Why he hated Moonkit so much, Ravenwing couldn't even guess.

Ravenwing looked around, pretending like she didn't notice that Moonkit wasn't in the den. "Huh. Where did she go?" Ravenwing asked rhetorically. She knew Moonkit had left, but thought she was just wandering around camp.

"No idea," Maplepaw said. This aroused Ravenwing's suspicious side, but she kept it hidden. We have enough foes outside the Clan, no need for inside trouble too.

"You sure you don't have any idea?" Ravenwing said jokingly.

"You mean, I hid or killed her? No! How could I do that? Just ask Lilacpelt!" Maplepaw was clearly scared of what Ravenwing was supposedly insinuating, which would be natural, except it wasn't serious.