Warriors: Starfaith's Fate (SOB short story) (COMPLETE)

Chapter 9

The WindClan cats headed across the moor toward fourtrees, their pelts lined with silver under the light of the full moon. Starfaith and Silverberry padded close to the front of the group with Gladestar and Monarchwing.

"It's a bit warmer tonight," Monarchwing was commenting to her leader, her black tipped tail trailing over the grass. "I'm glad I won't be freezing my paws off at this gathering."

Gladestar let out an amused purr. "That makes two of us. Hopefully leaf-bare is a long way off. And let's hope that Strawberrystar is in a good mood." She added, her greenish yellow eyes glinting with amusement.

The orange and black she-cat snorted. "Wouldn't that be a miracle?"

The warm air does feel nice. Starpaw thought as she padded alongside her mentor, looking ahead as they neared the fourtrees clearing. Her heart was even warmer as she thought about seeing Dewstorm. I can't wait to talk to him.

It had been a quarter moon since that wonderful night at the moonstone. After listening to the advice of Iceslide, a warrior of StarClan, she had decided to push away her worries and open up her heart to Dewstorm. Almost every other night, she and the ShadowClan medicine cat met in secret, often by the border. Other times they would go beyond the clan boundaries in the hills where no cat could stumble upon them. They would joke around, exchange clan news, and discuss different herbs and remedies. Sometimes they would spend the night laying in the grass together, simply enjoying each other's company.

I love spending time with him. Starpaw thought happily as they reached the clearing. We're both happy, and we're both staying loyal to our duties. How can that be wrong? She weaved through the crowd of cats, following her leader toward the great rock. 

"Diamondrain is expecting kits," A ShadowClan warrior named Crowmask was meowing, his chest puffed out with pride as Broadwing and Dipfoot congratulated him.

Scorchpaw ran ahead of the group to Rainpaw and Lemonpaw of RiverClan, purring a greeting. Starpaw realized that Tornadopaw hadn't attended this gathering. I hope he's back at camp and staying there. She thought. 

Monarchwing and Jaggedear had spoken to Tornadopaw about his behavior, but the apprentice hadn't seemed to care for a word they had to say. Just a day later, he had run off again, and Gladestar had ordered him to spend the next moon taking care of the elders.

Her ears pricked forward when she saw Dewstorm among the other medicine cats sitting by the roots of one of the great oaks. She resisted the urge to run to him, aware that she couldn't let any cat see how close they were. She maintained her slow pace beside Silverberry, and Dewstorm's eyes brightened when he noticed her arrival.

When they reached the other medicine cats, Silverberry bumped her head against Otterpelt's in greeting. Hawkfeather was already conversing with Spicewhisker and Ryeheart. 

With a friendly purr, Starpaw sat beside Dewstorm, curling her fluffy tail around her. "Hello," She meowed brightly.

"Hello, Starpaw," Dewstorm meowed, dipping his head politely. "How are you?"

She studied him, catching his reserved tone. When they were around the other medicine cats, they couldn't show any affection between them. But they'd always been very friendly. He's not quite himself... "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly.

He hesitated, his gray spotted tail twitching uneasily. "I'm fine," He meowed quietly.

He's not fine. What has happened? Her stomach twisted in anxiety. She opened her jaws to question him further, but just then, Strawberrystar's yowl from above interrupted.