Total Eclipse of the Storm

Chapter 2

Eclipse padded swiftly back to the river, easily following her scent trail. She cursed herself for leaving such an easy trail to follow in her escape, but she was now glad she had. It wasn't long until she reached the river, still strong with Stormpaw's scent. She hesitantly leapt over the river, instantly freezing on the other side. When no cat jumped out to attack her, she eased forward slowly.

She entered the woods and was bombarded with the smell of nature. Living in Home Den had gotten her used to the smell and sounds of the Uprighter's world, and she only ventured into the woods every now and then. Her paw steps echoed through the forest as she awkwardly walked on the leaf-strewn earth. It was the Snow Moons, so the trees were bare from the cold. Eclipse scented snow filled clouds in the night sky overhead, and knew the earth would be covered in a snowy white blanket by morning.

Eclipse had padded over the cold earth for several moments before she realized she had no idea where she was going. She sighed, having lost Stormpaw's scent, and shook her head. This was hopeless she shouldn't even be here.

Suddenly, a familiar gray tom jumped into her, knocking her over. It was a moment before Stormpaw realized who he had pinned beneath him. Stormpaw gasped.

"Eclipse?! What are you doing here?!" He whispered, stepping off of her.

She stood and shook herself, hissing as some of her cuts opened once again. She ignored the warm stickiness of the blood in her fur.

"Sorry, Stormpaw. I just...I needed to see you again." She mumbled, a bit embarrassed as she realized it was true.

He purred. But stopped almost as soon as he started.

"You shouldn't be here! What happens if any cat from the clan finds out you're here?" He meowed, nudging her away.

She sighed.

"Please, Stormpaw. I want to see your world. I want to know what it's like to be in a clan." Eclipse meowed sadly.

Stormpaw tilted his head in confusion.

"I don't understand. You don't know about the clan? What kind of cat are you?" He asked.

Eclipse sighed, not wanting to share her dark past. But, she realized that if she wanted to learn about the clan, she'd have to.

So, she did. She told him everything. She told him about how she had killed the cat that killed her mother, that she was meant to be the next leader of the Night Ghosts. She told him about how the Night Ghosts were a group of murderous cats that must kill and they do not even get to eat unless they win a fight. She told him she didn't want to be there. That she didn't want to lead them. She told him that she longed for a friend, some cat who actually wanted her around. And when she was done, she hung her head in shame.

Stormpaw rubbed his muzzle against her shoulder to comfort her. She tensed at his touch, but eventually relaxed into it.

"Oh, Eclipse. I'm so sorry." He whispered into her fur.

She looked into his eyes as he pulled away.

"But, why? For all you know I could be here to kill you. Why are you trusting me?" She asked, blinking away tears.

He smiled at her, his cheekiness back.

"I don't know. I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I trust you, and I know you trust me. It's like we were destined to meet." He purred.

She let out a laugh, shaking her head at him. Stormpaw motioned with his tail.

"Come on, follow me. I'll take you to the camp." He meowed, walking away.

"Camp?" She asked, confused.

Stormpaw laughed again.

"Don't worry, I'll explain everything to you." He said, smiling at her.

~~~~~

The moon was high in the sky, shining brightly into the small clearing were Eclispe lay next to Stormpaw. He had caught them a mouse to share, and the pangs of hunger in her stomach had finally dulled. Now, they were, what the clan cats called, sharing tongues.

Eclipse truly felt like they had known each other much longer than what they had. It really was like they were destined to meet. She now knew what Stormpaw meant.

He had taught her so much about clan life, yet, she knew there was so much more to learn. Yawning, she laid her head down on her paws. Stormpaw curled around her, keeping her warm with his fur.

"Stormpaw?" She murmured.

"Yes?" He replied, flicking her ear with his tail.

"Can you teach me more about Clan life?" She asked him, yawning again.

He purred with amusement.

"Of course. Anything you want to know." He answered.

"What would I have to do to join the clan?" She asked, sitting up and looking at him.

Stormpaw sat up as well, getting serious.

"I don't know. That's up to Silverstar, our leader." He said.

Eclipse thought for a moment.

"Stormpaw, you never told me anything about your family. Where are they?" She asked.

Stormpaw sighed, his eyes glazing over with sadness.

"I have a brother in MoonClan, his name is Patchpaw. I had a sister named Moonkit, but she died as we were creating the clan. My father was named Darkstripe. He was killed by rats on our journey to this forest. As for my mother...I don't remember her. But Silverstar tells me her name was Goldenstar, leader if FireClan. She was in a great battle and joined StarClan, our warrior ancestors, soon after we were born." Stormpaw told her, blinking away tears.

"So, she was killed?" Eclipse asked.

Stormpaw shook his head.

"No, not exactly. Remember how I told you a leader received nine lives? Well, at the end of the battle the clan had been destroyed. So, since she had 8 lives left, StarClan took her into their ranks and she lives with them." Stormpaw explained.

Eclipse blinked.

"I-I'm so sorry Stormpaw." She said, burying her nose into his chest.

She felt his purr and he replied.

"It's okay. I'm glad she's there. She sent me you." He said, licking her between the ears.

She drew back and looked at him, shocked. He smiled a cheeky smile at her, and she smiled back. She rested her head on him as they laid back down.

"Yeah...I'm glad too." She meowed.

And she drifted off to sleep.