Stormtail's Secret

Chapter 2

The first thing I felt was the soft lapping of Fogpaw's tongue. I opened my eyes and light blinded me. A dull ache throbbed in my left paw, but I knew I wasn't seriously injured. Cloudfur! I realized I could see a patch of white-gray fur through a clump of ferns. Blood soaked them.

I tried to struggle to my paws, but I collapsed. "I'll go and check on him," Fogpaw mewed quietly. She was surprisingly calm. I tried this time to stand up, and succeeded, although there was a terrible ache in my left fore paw. I hobbled over to his unmoving body, Fogpaw following. He had tons of cuts and scratches from the leaves whipping his back, I guessed. Cloudfur's neck was twisted at and odd angle, and that's when the last hope died away. His eyes were glazed open, unblinking and unmoving.

I let out a small whimper. "Please don't tell Fogpaw, please don't tell them I killed him!" They would kick me out of the clan if they found out? Surely?

"You didn't kill him, Stormpaw. He fell out of the tree by accident." I didn't quite believe that. "But if you don't want me to tell out clanmates, I won't," she went on.

"Let's just say he was chasing a squirrel in a tree or something and he fell and broke his neck." I prayed to StarClan that they wouldn't be mad at me. It was half true at least.

We started licking his wounds so it wouldn't look like he fell so far. "I'll go back to camp and give them the news," I mewed. As I raced back to camp, the thought of me falling and hitting the ground replayed over and over on my mind. By the time I got to the camp, the sun was almost setting. I broke through the thorn barrier like it was nothing. I emerged into the last rays of sun shining into the camp and all the cats were staring at me.

"Snowstar! I have terrible news!" The fluffy white tom poked his head out of his lichen covered den.

"Where's Cloudfur and Fogpaw?" He meowed, worry edging his mew. Snowstar realized how urgent it was just then. "Come in my den then, and we'll talk." I padded into the leader's den. I'd never been in here before, and I took a moment to gaze around the dimly lit den as Snowstar settled into his nest.

"Okay, what is so urgent that you needed to interrupt my evening nap?"

"Well, you see, Cloudfur was chasing a squirrel up in a tree. He followed it. Cloudfur pounced and... and..." It felt as though the words were stuck in my throat, like a tough piece of fresh-kill.

"Go on," Snowstar urged.

"He fell and broke his neck." I meowed the words fast and bowed my head. There was silence for many heartbeats.

"Is Fogpaw okay?" He meowed suddenly. Fogpaw was his daughter.

"Yes, yes, she's fine. Fogpaw is sitting with Cloudfur."

"Then let's go find them and bring Cloudfur's body back to camp," Snowstar mewed and brushed past me. "We will sit vigil for him tonight," he called over his shoulder.

When Snowstar and I got to the place, Fogpaw was hunched over Cloudfur's body. Silently, we all helped pick up Cloudfur's limp and bloodied body and carry it back to camp. It was heavier than I expected, but Rowanpaw helped. Night had fallen by the time we got back to camp. Most of the cats were asleep in their dens. I dragged Cloudfur into the middle of the clearing, and some of the cats came to see what all the noise was about. When they saw the bloodied and limp body of Cloudfur, everycat mourned in silence.

Snowstar jumped up onto highrock and yowled, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath highrock for a clan meeting!" Slowly, the cats crept out into the darkness. "As you see, Cloudfur's body is in the clearing. He has been killed." Snowstar broke off as cat started yowling. "Calm down everyone. I will pick a new deputy before the full moon," the leader meowed. "I say these words before StarClan and hope they approve of my choice. Jaywing will be the new deputy. You have shown great courage and skill and I hope you pass this down to future apprentices and deputies."

Snowstar jumped down from highrock as everyone congratulated Jaywing. The young warrior was a good choice. He had gotten his first apprintece only a moon ago, and when Snowstar lost his final life, he would be an experienced warrior. I settled down next to Cloudfur's cold body. The sharp tang of herbs had covered up the scent of death, but also his scent. A few other warriors crouched down next to Cloudfur, but I didn't notice. I was to involved of thinking of all the fun times I had had with Cloudfur and drinking in the last of his scent before he would be buried at dawn by the elders.