Warriors: Setting Sun: Returning Sky #2

Chapter 1

The scent of pine was heavy in the air, and frogs croaked all around the forest as the moon shed it's shimmering light down upon everything. The tall pine trees casted shadows that seemed to stretch for miles and miles. 

Featherpaw trudged alongside Smokyflame, her paws aching. Her patrol was following Bunnypelt, who was leading them to the SkyClan camp. She could hear crickets chirping as well as frogs croaking all around them.

"Is he really from ThunderClan?" Smokyflame wondered, his voice a whisper as he glanced down at Featherpaw.

Featherpaw glanced at the gray-and-orange tom, whose flame-colored markings shone in the silver light. "Well, if he knows Ashstar, then yes. We can trust him," she meowed, flicking her tail.

"We're almost at the camp. There should be two cats on guard," Bunnypelt meowed.

Featherpaw glanced up at the night sky, seeing that the stars were twinkling brightly. She wondered if her father was dead, and Moonshine was too grief-struck to say his name. I wonder if Mudpaw and Nightpaw are doing all right.

"I wonder if we'll see that Tobi cat again," Stormgaze murmured. "He said he would see us again."

Featherpaw glanced at the dark storm-gray she-cat. "I wonder if SkyClan even knows that their warrior is sneaking out to meet a rogue," she grumbled.

"They most likely don't," Stormgaze replied, her emerald green eyes reflecting the night sky. She hung her head. "Makes me wonder how ThunderClan is doing. I would hate to find out that some cat died while we're away," she sighed.

"Those filthy rogues don't stand a chance against ThunderClan," Stalkfire growled, flattening his ears.

Featherpaw glanced off to the side, her eyes drifting towards the darkness. The shadows of the pines cut through the moonlight like sharp claws. She winced, knowing that ShadowClan lived under pines, and then wondered how they put up with the strong scent of the sappy-pine smell.

"About Flea and Tobi," Smokyflame murmured. "I wonder if there are more rogues in this forest," he meowed.

"There are more," Bunnypelt suddenly replied. "A group of rogues live in this forest. They call themselves The Black Roses. They've killed a lot of SkyClan cats," he mewed.

"Wow," Smokyflame breathed. 

"Flea, Tobi, and Sunny came from there. They were born to the leader, BlackWidow, who is a cruel and twisted cat. She killed an apprentice, Curlypaw, when we didn't give her prey," Bunnypelt sighed. "But Flea, Tobi, and Sunny are nothing like their mother. They didn't like her evil ways, so they left the group." He then turned towards the warriors. "Don't any of you dare call those three cats filthy rogues."

"Ok," Stalkfire answered, his tail lashing. 

"Bunnypelt! Who are these cats?" A voice hissed. A dark brown tabby tom rushed forward, his claws unsheathed. 

"Calm down, Sparrowpelt, these are ThunderClan cats, and they've found us. They are going to take us back to the Clans," Bunnypelt meowed, his eyes shimmering.

Sparrowpelt then sheathed his claws, his eyes widening. "ThunderClan cats?" He questioned.

"We should probably wait for the morning to explain what's happened," Peachfur meowed, stepping forward. 

"Well, I'm sorry, but I can't just let random cats into the camp when its nighttime," Sparrowpelt meowed, blocking Peachfur from the entrance. Moonlight sprinkling down, lighting up the cat's pelts.

"But we're ThunderClan!" Featherpaw protested, stepping forward. What more proof do you need? She forced herself to keep her fur flat.

"We don't have proof, and we have trouble with rogues right now," Sparrowpelt hissed, lashing his tail. He narrowed his eyes. 

"But we are ThunderClan cats. Think about this. Those rogues don't even know the other Clans, so if we were rogues, why would we claim to be ThunderClan cats?" Peachfur questioned. "I am ThunderClan's medicine cat, and I was sent a message by StarClan to lead SkyClan home," she meowed.

Sparrowpelt eyed her suspiciously, his tail drooping. "Very well, then. I will get Leafstar," he meowed. As the dark brown tabby tom turned away, Peachfur sat down, huffing a sigh of relief.

"So, their leader is Leafstar," Peachfur mumbled. "I wonder who their medicine cats are, I'd like to speak to them," she meowed.

Featherpaw narrowed her eyes, searching through the darkness. She could see a brown-and-cream tabby she-cat approaching the group. She assumed it was Leafstar.

"Is is really ThunderClan?" The leader questioned.

"Yes, we come from ThunderClan, and we're supposed to be leading you home," Peachfur explained. "I'm ThunderClan's medicine cat, Peachfur," she greeted, dipping her head.

"I'm Leafstar," the she-cat meowed. "And who are the others?" She questioned, flicking her tail.

"I'm Stalkfire," Featherpaw's mentor meowed. He flicked his tail to Featherpaw. "And this is Featherpaw, my apprentice," he added.

"I'm Stormgaze," Stormgaze greeted, dipping her head.

Smokyflame stepped forward, his amber eyes shimmering. "And I'm Smokyflame," he meowed.

"Well, there's only one way to prove that you're really ThunderClan," Leafstar meowed. "Do you know who Firestar is?" She questioned.

Featherpaw stepped forward. "I heard stories about him in the nursery, so I never met him in person," she mewed. "His daughter, Squirrelstar is leader though."

"I met Firestar in a dream," Peachfur meowed. "He was the one that delivered the prophecy for us to lead SkyClan home," she explained.

"Alright," Leafstar sighed. "Firestar was the one that brought this Clan together. If it wasn't for him, then SkyClan wouldn't be here. Us SkyClan cats have major respect for Firestar," she meowed.

"Wow," Peachfur meowed. "Who are your medicine cats? I'd like to speak with them," she meowed. 

"That can wait for the morning," Leafstar meowed. "For now you can sleep in the Elder's Den, since there are no elders in there."

As the SkyClan leader led them to their den, Featherpaw began to realize just how great Firestar really was.