Wild Shadows (Book Two; Series One)

Chapter 11

Branchstalk blinked. How did Blackfeather win? He and Badgersight had voted against it. Was AlderClan as stupid as the other Clans thought? Branchstalk huffed, flicking his tail angrily. "I'll talk with the elders." He murmured. "Alright, I'm going back out to search for Pebbleheart." Badgersight sighed. Branchstalk pressed his head to his mentor's chest. "When do we stop searching..?" He asked. "I don't know.." Badgersight murmured. Darkeye pressed through the clearing of camp, walking towards Badgersight. "Anything?" Badgersight asked, hope in her green eyes. "I saw.. blood in the river. When I followed it.. I saw a claw that looked to be.. forcibly pulled out." Darkeye sighed. Badgersight just lowered her tail in defeat. "I'll continue to search tomorrow.." He murmured. "I-I'll search tomorrow!" Branchstalk forced out. "What..?" His kin asked. "Well.. You two have searching so I thought.. it's my turn!" Branchstalk meowed. "Well.. alright.." Badgersight murmured. "But be safe. And stay away from StoneClan.. you know tensions are high." Badgersight murmured. Branchstalk dipped his head. "I know." He replied.

Branchstalk padded into the elder's den, sitting down next to Lilystorm and Smalltail, meanwhile, Redheart and Greystorm were talking of their old mates. Tigerpaw, was stuck, ripping off ticks from Redheart. "Hey, you need some help Tigerpaw?" Branchstalk asked. "If I ask for help, Redsnow says I'll never become a warrior!" The young apprentice growled as he ripped a tick out. "Thanks for the offer, though." Branchstalk frowned slightly, but laid close to Smalltail. "I can't believe that dirt-bag got to stay!" Lilystorm growled. "He doesn't deserve to be stayin ere! He's as evil as ticks!" Smalltail agreed. "I don't know, Blackfeather was young and dumb.. plus, he doesn't have a memory!" Redheart countered. "Yes, and I helped raised him, Blackfeather was such a polite little tom! He was always respectful, it's Whitestripe's fault he's like this!" Greystorm meowed. "But I heard from Silvermoon, he got her, Cloudtuft, and his brothers sick!" Tigerpaw mewed. "He did!" Branchstalk growled. "Blackfeather's parents shouldn't be to blame. He's just evil." He stated. "Branchstalk, your sister has no proof of what Blackfeather did." Redheart meowed in a snort. Branchstalk felt an unknown anger fill him. "The scars on her face Redheart! Isn't that enough proof? How much proof does she need to give in order for you to believe her!" Branchstalk hissed out angrily. The elders gasped, looking at Branchstalk. "I wouldn't talk to your elders like that.." Redheart growled. Branchstalk felt ashamed, and he ran out. What came over him? He never had outbursts like that before.. 

 Sadly, Branchstalk still needed to tend to Blackfeather's wounds. He did, but soon after, he fell asleep. He didn't want to talk with Blackfeather or anyone. 

 Branchstalk opened his eyes in the dreamworld. He saw.. Stork-kit, Swiftkit, Emberkit, and another small kit he didn't recognize.But nonetheless, he smiled, warmth filling him. He knew they were safe. "Are you four enjoying the afterlife?" Branchstalk asked calmly. The four kits looked at each other. "Branchstalk, you have a chance to change the future." Stork-kit meowed. "Huh..?" He asked. "You have a chance to stop all the evil that will come." Emberkit added. "You have a chance, to save a life." Swiftkit murmured. "What do you mean??" Branchstalk asked frantically. "Kill Blackfeather." The unknown kit murmured. Branchstalk wanted to speak out, but he awoke. He felt his chest explode in confusion, and he glanced at his patient. Blackfeather was asleep, his jaws split and he was drooling.. Branchstalk could easily have him choke.. or feed him deathberries. He could be out of Silvermoon's life forever.. Branchstalk glanced at the deathberries, and he rolled one around. "Branchstalk! Come on! If you want to search for Pebbleheart you better hurry!" Badgersight called. "Coming!" He called. He looked back, as he stood up, and the deathberry rolled towards Blackfeather. He'll be fine.. 

 He ate some traveling herbs, before starting to head off to look. Branchstalk first checked all around AlderClan territory, but there was no luck there. So, he searched under the bridge, but he found nothing. Darkeye did say there was blood in the river and a claw.. But what were the chances it was Pebbleheart's claw? Branchstalk had to look somewhere Darkeye and Badgersight hadn't. It couldn't be AcornClan and MossClan.. Pebbleheart hated crossing the bridge.. and everyone in those two Clans. And he was sure Badgersight checked the Starpool. So that left the Twoleg Place and StoneClan territory. But, he didn't want to start conflict if she wasn't in StoneClan, so he would check the Twoleg Place first. 

 It started to rain, but Branchstalk must deal with it. He padded into Twoleg Place, calling out for Pebbleheart. There was only harmless kittypets around here. He'd be fine. Branchstalk jumped onto a fence, calling out for her once more. "Whatcha doing boy?" A voice purred. A fat kittypet jumped onto the fence-post next to him. Branchstalk had no clue what a "boy" was, but he answered the kittypet. "I'm just.. looking for my friend. Have you seen a gray she-cat with black markings?" Branchstalk asked. This tom had a similar pelt pattern to Branchstalk, even down to the chest markings. "I do think I did boy! But, she left as soon as she came." The kittypet replied. "Alright.. thank you.." Branchstalk sighed, leaping off of the fence-post.  

 Further into the Twoleg Place, Branchstalk was still searching. He came across many kittypets who gave no help. Branchstalk sighed, almost giving up. He turned around, seeing a young back tom with a collar. The collar had.. spikes of some sorts and fresh looking scars. Branchstalk was curious, but he quickly hid. "Come on Alan!" A sandy-she-cat growled. "Burr!! I have tiny legs you can't expect me to do this!!" The black tom cried. "I miss my mommy!!" He continued to cry. This tom looked to be about.. the same age as his siblings.. maybe a bit younger.. "Alan, Maple is your new mom now come on! Before the Twolegs hear your whining!" The she-cat, apparently named Burr, grabbed the tom's scruff and carried him into an ally. Branchstalk blinked, confused. The young tom looked injured. Branchstalk couldn't let a kit be in pain! So, he followed.