Cinderwing's Past (Mystical Clans Book 1)

Cinderwing's Past Chapter 2

Cinderwing ran to catch up with Jaystorm. "How many littermates do you have?" she asked him, curious.

"Five," Jaystorm replied. "My three sisters, Lilysong, Lionwing, and Firecloud, and my two brothers, Redpelt and Stormheart."

She nodded. "It's just me and my sisters. We have more sisters, but we're from the same litter," she explained. "Are we close?"

Jayfeather nodded. "It's just a little farther," he mewed. He paused, tasting the air. "Stormheart!"

A gray-and-white tabby tom padded out from under a juniper bush nearby.

"Jaystorm," the tom, Stormheart, mewed. "Who are they?"

"DragonClan cats," Jaystorm replied. "DarkClan attacked their camp."

"I'm Cinderwing," Cinderwing said. "These are my sisters, Snowfeather and Jadecloud. Who are you?" "Stormheart."

"Where are the others?" Jaystorm asked.

"We moved camp again because we could smell DarkClan," Stormheart mewed. "Follow me."

Cinderwing waved her tail for her sisters to follow. Jadecloud padded over to her. "When we stop to rest, I want to check on your scratches," she mewed firmly.

She nodded. "Of course."

Jadecloud picked up the mice she had dropped, then turned to follow Stormheart. Snowfeather was padding next to him, asking him questions.

Cinderwing turned and saw Jaystorm.

"I thought you might want some company," he mewed. She nodded.

"Yeah. Thanks," she mewed. "I don't remember seeing you at any Gatherings."

"We met at my first Gathering, remember? We were both 'paws, fresh out of the nursery," Jaystorm mewed.

She nodded, remembering. I remember now! It was my first time meeting a cat from another Clan," she mewed softly. "You were really nice. A lot nicer than I thought you'd be. I figured you were from DarkClan."

"I thought that you were from DarkClan too," he mewed. "They'd been launching raids on PhoenixClan's border almost daily. Our leader, Quartzfire, was worried that they'd attack our camp during the gathering, so she only brought apprentices."

Cinderwing looked at him. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," she said quietly.

He shook his head. "Thanks, but it helps to talk about it. Quartzfire was right about DarkClan attacking during the Gathering. The warriors at camp managed to drive them off, but they illed Dovepelt and Brackerstorm, my mother and the deputy. It was horrible. Most of the Clan wanted to attack DarkClan's camp, but Quartzfire said it was to dangerous.." Jaystorm looked at Cinderwing. "She was right. They drove us out of our territory three moons later, after attacking our camp four more times, and attackinf most of our patrols for a moon. Darkstar killed Quartzfire. It wasn't a fair fight; she had greencough. Half of the Clan did too. Those of us that were strong enough ran."

"I'm so sorry," Cinderwing mewed. "Whietstar, our leader before Heartwing, was afraid to send any of our warriors to help. He was worried that if DragonClan tried to help PhoenixClan, we'd be next. Some of our warriros, Lightfur, Talonheart, Tigerpelt, and Leopardclaw, went to help PhoenixClan. We never saw them again."

Jaystorm nodded. "I remember them. They were there on DarkClan's last attack. They died, he mewed sadly.

"Talonheart was my only brother. Birdsong, our mother, was devastated when he went to help PhoenixClan." She stopped and tasted the air. She leapt at a nearby bush and emerged with a rabbit in her jaws.

"Nice catch," Jaystorm mewed.

"Thanks."

Stormheart called over his shoulder, "Hurry up!"

"We're coming!" Jaystorm yelled back. "Sorry about that," he said to Cinderwing.

"It's ok," she replied, setting down the rabbit as they reached the others.

"Where are the others?" Jaystorm asked his brother.

"Behind that clump of bushes over there," Stormheart said. "Redpelt! I found Jaystorm."

A golden tabby she-cat burst out of the bushes.

"Lionwing! What happened?" Jaystorm demanded.

"Thank StarClan you showed up when you did! Redptl was attacked by a DarkClan patrol when we moved camp," Lionwing said. "He's hurt badly."