Treacherous Skies

Chapter 1

Echoheart shivered as she saw the sun slowly rising above the horizon. The feathery clouds high in the sky glowed bright orange, and the forest shone with a soft yellow glow. A cold breeze swept across the camp, chilling Echoheart to the bones. Echoheart sat beside Whispersong, her sister, in their silent vigil. They had just been made warriors last night, and the thrill of it still clung to Echoheart's whole body.

Soon enough, the Clan started to wake. The sunrays reached down into the camp, warming Echoheart from head to tail. Echoheart turned to look over her shoulder and saw Sparktail and Moonshine emerging from the warriors' den, while Twigfoot, the deputy, followed. Eveningstar stretched up on the High-stone, then leapt down to join is deputy by the tiny fresh-kill pile. Hailpaw and Cloverpaw came running out of the apprentices' den, racing over to their mentors, Prairiefoot and Meadowheart. The two elders, Spruceclaw and Ferrettail, slowly walked out into the sun, then sat down to share tongues.

Despite the peace and happiness Echoheart felt from her warrior ceremony, she knew DawnClan was struggling this leaf-bare. The fresh-kill pile only consisted of a small mouse and three birds. Hailpaw and Cloverpaw weren't running excitedly toward their mentors, they were hurrying to hunt for their hungry Clan. Eveningstar and Twigfoot were talking in hushed voices, then each volunteered to lead a hunting patrol, with Rustypelt, Eaglefeather, Raypaw, Sunfur, and Creekfall right behind them.

"Your vigil's over," meowed a voice behind Echoheart. Echoheart turned around and saw Bronzepelt, her former mentor, padding toward the two newest warriors. "You may talk now."

"Brrr!" Whispersong instantly exclaimed.

Bronzepelt purred in amusement. "Now, I expect you're tired, so you may go and rest in the warriors' den. You'll find that your moss has already been moved there."

"But the Clan needs to be fed!" Echoheart protested. "Are you sure you don't want me to join a hunting patrol or...?"

Bronzepelt shook his head. "No, we have enough warriors out hunting right now. You two need to sleep." Echoheart nodded and watched as her former mentor padded away toward Sagetail, his mate, urging her into the nursery.

"Come on," yawned Whispersong. "I'm so tired I could sleep for the next moon!"

Echoheart nodded, yawning too.

Together, the two new warriors padded into their new den, curled up on their moss nests, and closed their eyes. Soon Echoheart fell into a deep sleep, her dreams filled with sunshine and green trees: a time when DawnClan would be better fed.

* * *

A moon and a half passed, and the Clan still didn't have enough food; the leaf-bare seemed to be getting colder and harsher with each passing day, driving all the prey into hiding. Echoheart hunted nearly every day; but most of the time, she didn't have much luck, and neither did the rest of the Clan. 

At least DayClan isn't giving DawnClan any trouble. Echoheart thought. They must still be demanding hunting rights in NightClan territory.

Echoheart shook her head to clear her thoughts and continued to trudge through the snow, Whispersong and Sparrowtail close behind her. The sun was setting to their left as they headed back to the camp after a long day of hunting.

"Tonight is the Gathering," Sparrowtail pointed out, nodding to the right. The full moon rose above the horizon, glowing yellow as it slowly floated higher into the graying sky.

"Do you think Eveningstar will take us to the Gathering?" Whispersong asked.

"I think he will," Sparrowtail meowed, jumping over a fallen log covered in snow. "He usually takes new warriors, and since he didn't choose you last time, I'm sure you'll go this time."