Dark Destinies {Book 1}

Chapter 5

ECHOBREEZE

STORMCLAN

I turned gently in my mossy nest. A stray duck feather poking out from the weaving wiggled under my nose making it twitch in irritation. With sigh I turned around once more in my nest this time ending up only a few mouse-lengths away from Dayshade’s sleeping form.

A blush spread quickly through me as I watched her beautiful pale ginger and white fur rise softly with her breathing and her long, wispy whiskers twitch as she enjoyed her sleep.

I shook my head out of my trancelike state and turned over once more.

You’re not her mate, stop being so creepy. What kind of cat watches someone sleep?

“Echobreeze.” A grumbly voice whispered from across the den.

My head instantly snapped toward the voice and a panicked thought crossed my mind; had he seen me staring at Dayshade? How embarrassing. Loststorm was a senior Stormclan warrior and he sat grooming himself in his nest, his whiskers twitching slightly in humor. Just great.

“Yeah?” I whispered, sitting up slowly.

“Adderfang’s dawn border patrol starts soon, should be an interesting morning.” Loststorm sighed, his whiskers still twitching. “I mean that is if you’re done staring at my niece.”

The white tom left me in a state of shock and I wanted desperately to bury my head into the snow. My whole body was burning from ear-to-tail tip with a blush and I had the overwhelming desire to curl up in a ball.

I sucked in a deep breath and pushed out into the clearing.

Snow crusted with frost decorated everything in the clearing. All the log and stone dens were covered in a thick layer of snow and were accompanied by a bone chilling wind that wound around camp tightly.

I cursed mentally my sleek pelt and thin fur.

Across camp Loststorm broke a thin layer of ice from the top of a shallow drinking pool before lapping up a quick drink. As he did I joined our large brown tabby tom deputy in the center of the clearing below the leaders den.

“Good morning, Adderfang.” I meowed.

“It is, isn’t it?” He meowed.

“Where are we patrolling?” I asked.

“Iceclan’s border.” Adderfang’s voice shifted suddenly to something I could only describe as suspicious.

“Why…?” I probed.

“I trust you Echobreeze.” He mumbled, I nodded not really sure why this topic was relevant. “Last night Willowpool returned with some interesting information about our neighbours Iceclan and Fireclan. They’re quarreling.”

“Why is another clan’s fight important to us?” I titled my head and narrowed my eyes.

“Because you see; if the two start fighting Iceclan will need an ally. Iceclan cats have never been good at fighting their own battles singularly and because Amberstar is keen on keeping favor with Hiddenstar we will be the ones to rush to their aid.” Adderfang’s voice was only growing lower and lower as he continued talking; “In this case win or lose Iceclan will owe us a favor.”

I blinked, I had nothing to say. The slyness in Adderfang’s eyes sent a pang of displeasure through my body. It was a smart yet dangerous plan and I suppose all political plans are. Yet by the sounds of it I knew it was more Adderfang’s idea than Amberstar’s whom preferred dealing with friendliness and amity than by trickery and bribery.