Book 4: Sol's Revenge & Whisper's Path

Sol

I was awoken by Leafstar in the middle of the night after she jabbed my shoulder with her paw several times. I groggily opened my eyes and was about to demand why on Earth she'd woken me up, when I was stopped by a gleam in her eye.

"I think I know how to get out of here, but I need your help," she said excitedly, her amber eyes were bright with hope. I tried to hide my expression, which could only be described as crestfallen. I got along well with Leafstar, and we were becoming friends. But she still wanted to leave and run back to her clan, apparently I meant very little to her. Regardless I'd promised I would help her, so I kept my gaze neutral and listened to her plan.

"The next time to twolegs let you outside, you need to find Skyclan. It won't be hard, just follow the river into the gorge, soon enough you'll be stopped by a patrol. Guide one of my warriors back to this place. You come inside and help get me as close to the door as you can without alerting the twolegs. My warrior will sit at the backdoor and pretend to be injured, the twoleg will open the door, and we run outside."

"How are you so sure the twolegs will open the door for an injured stray?" I asked, already seeing many flaws in her plan. Leafstar let out a sigh.

"I'm not positive it will work, but it can't hurt to try. Besides, your twolegs clearly care about cats. I think they were trying to help me when they captured me, they just thought I was a helpless queen with three newborn kits," she said solemnly. I paused for a moment before nodding.

"Alright, I'll go find your clan."

I headed to the backdoor and prepared to meow until my twolegs let me outside. Before the twolegs could remove Leafstar and her kits from the room before they let me outside, she said one last sentence to me.

"Thank you, Sol. And I meant what I said when I promised you could join Skyclan if you help me escape. I think you'd be a fine warrior."

...

The gorge was creepier than I expected. High walls of brown sandstone enclosed me on a narrow path that gradually widened to encompass a forest. The creek I'd been following grew into a rushing torrent of water. The sound of the waves rushing over smooth stone made me practically deaf to the word. I glanced from side to side nervously, this was the furthest I'd been from my twolegs nest. I only had vague memories of the wild when I was with Cinder's and my siblings.

Echo's words reverberated through my head. We both know Sol couldn't be a rogue, he's too soft. Besides, he's much happier as a kittypet, don't you think? She was talking to Whisper, and I overheard. Those words weren't what hurt, I expected such pettiness from my sister. What hurt was Whisper agreeing.

I cleared my throat with determination and plowed through the undergrowth, forcing my way deeper into the gorge. I froze in my tracks when I spotted small divets in the muddy earth near the river. Paw prints. A cat had been here to drink recently. Could it have been a Skyclan warrior? I pressed my nose close to the ground with the intent to track the path this cat had taken, but the trail was vague and laced with other scents.

I sighed and sat down after a few minutes of fruitless searching. How did Leafstar expect me to find her clan? I stood up and began walking again, this time more meandering instead of searching. Might as well enjoy the cool air before night fall.

"You're trespassing," a cold voice said a few fox lengths in front of me. I nearly leapt out of my fur from fright. The cat revealed himself a moment later as he emerged from behind a bush. He was a ginger and white tom cat with leaf green eyes and a broad face. His eyes were troubled, clearly not interested in me. "Just leave so I don't have to waste energy driving you out."

I ignored the condescending words.

"My name is Sol-"

"I don't really care who you are, rogue, you're trespassing and you know it!" The cat hissed.