Warriors: Setting Sun: Returning Sky #2

Chapter 6

"Are you mad at me? Mad at Featherpaw?" Mudpaw asked. "Look, if you're mad about me attacking Spirepaw, then tell me," he pleaded. What's gotten into her? 

Nightpaw stayed silent. She stalked across the camp like a shadow, her tail-tip twitching. She strode over to Ivypool, who was sitting with Squirrelstar. "I'm not mad at you," Nightpaw murmured. She lifted her chin. "Ivypool, can we go on a hunting patrol?"

"Yeah, good idea. Why don't you take Bramblehawk and Tuftear with you?" Ivypool suggested. She flicked her tail. 

Suddenly, Mothstripe ran up. "Are you going hunting? See if you can find some catmint, please! Our stores are really low. If we don't have catmint, then Whitewing's kits might not make it," she whined. "It has gray-green leaves and a hairy stem. It's easily killed by frost, so you might not find much, but please scavenge whatever you can."

"We will," Mudpaw meowed, dipping his head. He looked at Nightpaw, who had a look of guilt on her face. Why does she look so sad?

Nightpaw then turned, her tail flicking. "I'm going to go get Bramblehawk and Tuftear," she simply mewed. 

Mudpaw glanced after her awkwardly. He glanced back at Mothstripe. "Well, how are Quartzkit and Copperkit?" He asked.

"It's the beginnings of greencough," Mothstripe answered. She flicked her long tail. "Flamedawn has been up all night. He needs rest, poor thing," she murmured. The pretty golden she-cat turned away, heading towards the medicine cat den.

Squirrelstar flicked her tail, her green eyes glittering. "You must miss Featherpaw," she meowed. "I know how you feel."

Mudpaw stayed silent. He licked his paw, his ears flicking. A cold breeze flowed towards him, freezing his ear-tips. There would definitely be snow later.

Soon, Nightpaw returned with the senior warrior Bramblehawk, as well as the young Tuftear. The fluffy black she-cat shook out her pelt.

"Great StarClan it's cold," Tuftear sighed, shivering.

"I suggest heading towards the twolegplace," Ivypool meowed. "Catmint grows best there," she added, sniffing.

"Alright, let's go," Bramblehawk mewoed. He padded towards the camp entrance, Tuftear, Mudpaw, and Nightpaw following close behind.

The air only grew colder as the sun slowly fell in the sky. Crickets sang in the frosty air, and the birds' chirping died down as night was about to settle in. A bitterly cold breeze tugged at Mudpaw's fur, tearing into him like claws made of ice.

Mudpaw shivered, his paws burning at how cold they were. StarClan, help! He flicked his tail, seeing Nightpaw shivering as well. They had hunted earlier, and now they were heading towards the twolegplace to hunt for catmint.

"It's too cold," Nightpaw hissed under her breath. Her eyes seemed dark, and she kept glancing up at the sky. Her whiskers twitched, and her head seemed turned towards ShadowClan's border.

Mudpaw wrinkled his nose as the vile scent that the ShadowClan border carried. Even with his nose cold and stuffy, the markers cancelled it all out. He sniffed slightly, wishing that a patrol might pass by so they could fight. 

"Nightpaw, is something wrong?" Tuftear asked, her tail curling to touch the apprentice's flank. "You just... look so sad and guilty."

"It's nothing," Nightpaw answered quietly, although it sounded like it was more to herself. She flattened her ears.

"Are you still sad about finding out who your father is?" Tuftear asked. "I'm sorry about that, young-one. I never even knew my father, he died when I was only a kit."

And you don't want to know him. He killed his brother, Mudpaw thought. Her family all thought he was in StarClan, but the confused young tom was actually in the Dark Forest. Should I tell them? He stayed silent, the thoughts of it eating at him like vultures. His eyes wondered to ShadowClan's border.

Off in the distance, a heavy snow-covered branch snapped away from one of the pines trees. It landed in the snow below with a thud, the spreading green leaves rustling. Mudpaw winced.

The small patrol continued to walk through the dead leaves and snow. The sun eventually sunk away from view, and the moon was peeking out far behind them. Mudpaw then noticed movement. He turned his head slowly, seeing something. It looked like the snow was moving. 

Mudpaw bristled. "Someone's coming!" He hissed. He lashed his tail. Nightpaw, Tuftear, and Bramblehawk turned.

It was a patrol of ShadowClan warriors. Mudpaw noticed Stonewing, Gullswoop, and Needletail. 

Stonewing approached the ThunderClan patrol. He looked smaller, his sides tucked in to where his ribs showed. "What are you doing so close to our border?" He asked, hostility lining his voice.

Needletail flattened her ears, her silver fur spiking. "They're probably trying to catch our prey," she hissed, lashing her tail.

"We were heading to the twolegplace," Bramblehawk defended, trying not to sound hostile. He stood taller than the three warriors.

Mudpaw lashed his tail. "We need catmint. And we don't need your stupid frogs," he growled, whiskers twitching.

"Mudpaw, stay quiet," Tuftear growled, slapping her tail on his head.

Needletail smirked. "Does ThunderClan not teach it's apprentices manners?" She prompted. She dug her claws into the snow. "I won't have a problem teaching him myself."

"Needletail," Stonewing growled. His gaze rested on Bramblehawk. "If you say you need catmint, then go ahead."

"It's on our territory anyway," Nightpaw growled under her breath. Her voice seemed shaky, and there seemed to be guilt that hung within.

Stonewing dipped his head. "How is ThunderClan?" He asked.

"We're just fine, thanks," Tuftear responded. 

"Good luck finding catmint," Stonewing meowed. He turned, Gullswoop following him. Needletail stood there, her green eyes narrowed. Her fur lay flat, and she turned away with a grunt.

"Uhc, ShadowClan," Tuftear grumbled. 

Mudpaw caught up with Nightpaw. "Nightpaw, do you mind telling me what's wrong?" He asked. "I-I noticed that you look guilty."

"It's nothing, just leave me alone," Nightpaw hissed, lashing her tail. She trotted forward faster, walking beside Tuftear.

Mudpaw flattened his ears and hung his head. What's wrong with her? He couldn't think of anything that might make her like this. Is she still thinking about our father? Does she think that because a rogue is our father, our Clan will view her as a rogue as well? Bramblehawk had been alive when Crowfrost had turned on ShadowClan, he might would know the things he's done. I'll ask him.