A Broken Silence

Chapter 1

"Great catch Silverstrike!"

Silverstrike wrinkled her nose and spat out a mouthful of thick feathers that stuck sickeningly to the roof of her mouth. The sun was partly covered by soft, rolling clouds but the occasional shine of pale rays cut through the trees, falling directly on her silver tabby pelt. The rest of her Clanmates padded over to meet her under the course canopy, their jaws all carrying prey. A pale tortoiseshell and white she-cat spat out a dead squirrel and shook out her shiny pelt. "Can we go back to camp already?" she complained in a shrill voice. "It feels like we've been out here for moons!"

Another tortoiseshell and white she-cat gave the other she-cat a shove. "Relax, Pinefrost," she huffed, rolling her ice blue eyes. "The Clan is still recovering from Leaf-bare so we need the extra prey. Especially since New-leaf is upon us already with the promise of new kits."

Pineftost scrunched up her nose and glared at the she-cat. "Who died and made you Clan leader, Sunstar?" she sassed. "I don't care. I wanna go back to camp!"

"And we are going back to camp," Silverstrike broke in, beginning to feel annoyed by her Clanmate's negative attitude. "Stop being such a grouchy furball and show Sundrop some respect. You can go ahead and give Firelily that rabbit you caught when we get back to camp since you don't care about her and her unborn kits."

Pinefrost stared back at her, wide eyed. "But I was going to eat it!"

"Too bad," spoke a deeper voice. A massive light brown tom with thick head fur padded over, the scent of dirt and flowers clinging to his glossy pelt. "Silverstrike told you to give it to Firelily. So that's what you're gonna do."

Silverstrike gave his pelt a wary sniff. "What happened to you?" she asked the tom, wrinkling her nose at the heavy smell. "You look like a mole that just came out it's hole!"

The tom's crystal blue eyes glittered mischievously. "I- uhhh.... Fell into a hole when I was chasing a vole." He gave his chest fur a series of embarrassed licks. "I got dirty."

Silverstrike stifled a marrow of amusement. "Oh, Talonbreeze. You've always been such a clumsy cat keen into getting into trouble!"

"Hey! You two daft furballs!" Pinefrost's pitched voice came from ahead. "Stop flirting and get your thick tails over here! We're going back to camp."

Talonbreeze gave Silverstrike an amused glance as they hurried to catch up with the rest of the patrol. "Does Pinefrost even know the definition of flirting?" he wondered aloud with a chuckle. "Jadewhisper would have my flank if she caught me flirting with another she-cat!"

The chirping sound of birdsong filled the air as the patrol padded in complete silence through the forest, towards the ThunderClan camp. The gentle sounds of her home flowed through her ears and relaxed her muscles. She glanced at Talonbreeze, admiring the glow of his pelt shimmering brilliantly in the sun. It only seemed like just yesterday that she met him and his brother, Addershade, by the border near twolegplace and they came in to join the Clan. She remembered the bloody rein of Medea, shuddering at the memory of the final, vicious battle between the ragged leader and Talonbreeze and Addershade that happened only six moons ago. Since then, the Clan had struggled to recover from the trial and had endured a harsh leaf-bare. One of Clan's beloved elders, Ivypool had died due to a burst of violent Greencough. It's been rough that's for sure, Silverstrike thought, shaking her head. But ThunderClan will thrive in this new season of warmth. I can feel it.

Finally, the cats pushed their way through the bracken barrier that guarded the ThunderClan enterance that led to the camp. All around, the Clan was unusually busy for this time at sun- high and Silverstrike spotted the Clan leader, Cinderstar chatting quietly with Primroseheart near the base of the Highledge. She ignored her concerns and made her way over to the fresh-kill pile to deposit her prey, watching as Pinefrost fitfully shoved her way to the nursery, mumbling and conplaining quietly to herself about the rabbit. Nearby, Talonbreeze and Addershade were close together near the warrior's den, their voices low and heads close.