Warriors: A New Beginning #2: Midnight Rising

Chapter 11

"You want to do what?" Mintleaf's eyes widened.

"I need to figure out how the rogues work." Midnightpaw glanced at her mentor, then Flamestar. "And get Wheatwing back. The rogues will find me and bring me to their camp. I'll be able to rescue Wheatwing from there."

"But Midnightpaw, it's too dangerous!" Mintleaf exclaimed. "Let one of the warriors do it."

"She's the only one that could do it," Flamestar put in. "A warrior doesn't look defenceless like an apprentice can appear. And Silkpaw isn't the right cat to do it."

Mintleaf glanced at the ThunderClan leader. "I just don't want my apprentice to end up like Flowerpaw."

Midnightpaw's paws shuffled with worry. She was terrified to do it, that was true. But she had to.

"I must do this," she pleaded.

"I think she should," Flamestar approved. "It's our only hope of finding Wheatwing."

Mintleaf still looked doubtful. His gaze sparked with worry as he looked at the ThunderClan leader. Midnightpaw knew that he didn't want to lose another apprentice.

"It'll be fine," she told Mintleaf, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "Remember battle training? I can defend myself. I can do this."

"Let her go," Flamestar meowed. "She seems determined to do it."

Mintleaf's gaze dropped. His tail twitched and his paws shuffled. He looked up at Midnightpaw, gazing at her for a few heartbeats.

Then he said:

"You can go."

Midnghtpaw smiled. "Thank you, Mintleaf. Trust me, I'll come back."

She was doing this for Wheatwing.

For Flowerpaw.

For Silverfang.

For Silkpaw.

But most of all, for Tussledstorm.

***

"You're sure you want to do this."

That felt like the millionth time Mintleaf had said that.

He and Midnightpaw were heading toward the place where Wheatwing had been taken. Mintleaf was going to let Midnightpaw go the rest of the way alone.

Midnightpaw nodded. "I will do this."

Mintleaf stared at the ground. "Then go. StarClan pray you'll be all right."

Then he bounded off, back into the forest. Midnightpaw was left alone.

She took a deep breath and continued walking. She had to look scared so that the rogues would get her. Hopefully, they won't kill me.

Her heart rate quickened as she set foot into the clearing where Tussledstorm and Wheatwing had been attacked.

She closed her eyes for a couple of heartbeats and opened them again.

"W-Wheatwing?" Her voice quivered. She had to make it seem to the rogues that she didn't know where her mother was.

A rustle sounded, and she flinched. Glancing at a bush, she thought she could see a pair of yellow eyes. She slowly backed away. They're here...

Breathing hard, she stopped a few fox-lengths away from the rogue. Where are the others?

Suddenly, a cat bowled her over.