Warriors: Setting Sun: Returning Sky #2

Chapter 9

Nightpaw awoke in her nest to the sound of growling and hissing. She yawned, the warm thoughts of Spirepaw lingering in her mind. What's going on? She got to her paws, her tail brushing the ground. When she came out of the den, she saw cats talking to each other, while the medicine cats paced around. Her heart instantly dropped to her stomach. 

Mudpaw rushed over to his sister. "Can you believe it? Someone stole our catmint! Now we hardly have any left! I bet it was ShadowClan or those filthy rogues!" He growled.

"W-what?" Nightpaw stammered, forcing herself to act suprised. 

"Well, Quartzkit is worse. They used the catmint last night apparently since the kits coughed. It helped Copperkit but Quartzkit got worse. And I think Whitewing caught it too," Mudpaw informed. "Now we're completely out."

Nightpaw stood frozen. "Why would another Clan steal catmint? And how did no cat notice anything last night?" She asked.

"I was standing guard last night, and nobody came in," Foxleap meowed. "But I thought I saw a shadow running through the woods. Pretty creepy. Maybe that was our catmint thief."

"ThunderClan! Gather under the high-ledge for a Clan meeting!" Squirrelstar called.

Nightpaw found her paws forcing her to move with her Clanmates. She sat down next to Mudpaw, who looked grumpy.

"Someone stole our catmint last night," Squirrelstar growled. "Who was standing guard last night?" She questioned.

"It was me," Foxleap answered.

"Did you see anything?" Squirrelstar asked, lashing her tail.

"As far as I know, no cat entered the camp. But I did see a shadow in the woods, I swear I did," Foxleap answered.

"Hm, so that must mean either they went through the dirtplace tunnel, or.. the thief is one of us," Squirrelstar growled. 

"Why would one of us do that? What would they even need the catmint for?" Twistedfoot asked, flicking his tail.

Squirrelstar looked at Frostheart, narrowing her eyes. "Maybe someone felt bad for their rogue friends and wanted to help them," she hissed.

"It wasn't me! The rogues killed my daughters, why would I help them?" Frostheart growled.

"Now that I think about it, the cat silhouette I saw was running opposite of rogue territory. They seemed to be running towards ShadowClan," Foxleap meowed.

"So it was ShadowClan!" Mudpaw hissed, lashing his tail. "We should go and fight them for it!" He growled.

"But we can't prove it was a ShadowClan cat. Did anyone smell ShadowClan scent?" Ivypool asked. "Foxleap, did you smell ShadowClan?"

"I didn't scent anything," Foxleap replied.

"Then perhaps it was one of us," Squirrelstar sighed. "Whoever did it, please speak up. Tell us why," she pleaded. "Do you realize that you might have just killed one of your Clanmates?"

She's trying to guilt them out. Nightpaw shuffled her paws. I can't say anything! I won't become a warrior, I'll be stuck doing elder tasks, and I'll be under constant watch! I'll be known as a murderer! She didn't even realize she was mumbling to herself.

"Nightpaw? Do you have something you'd like to tell us?" Squirrelstar questioned, tilting her head.

Nightpaw felt ever gaze shift on her. Her pelt burned, her paws shaking uncontrollably. "I'm just scared that there's a traitor among us! If they stole catmint, think about what else they would do!"

All her Clanmates began to mumble quietly, their voices worrying. Squirrelstar flicked her tail for silence. "I understand your concern. Don't worry too much, we'll catch them. I'll send a patrol to every Clan."

Nightpaw stopped trembling, her heart going back to normal. 

"Mossheart, Rosepetal, Burntsun, and Mudpaw will go," Squirrelstar announced. "And I will too."

"Why me?" Mudpaw gasped.

"If we end up fighting. You're a good fighter, Mudpaw," Squirrelstar replied, flicking her tail.

Nightpaw looked at her brother. They'll find out that Spirepaw took it, and that I gave it to him. But surely they'll understand my reasoning? As the assigned cats surrounded Squirrelstar, Nightpaw rushed towards Mudpaw. "Good luck finding that thief."

"Don't you worry. I'll claw off their fur and use it for my nest!" Mudpaw threatened.

Would you do that if it was me? Nightpaw sighed as she watched her brother walk out of camp with the patrol. It's only a matter of time. Come on Nightpaw, be a good apprentice and own up to it. Tell them it was you.

Needlehawk suddenly walked up to her. "Hey Nightpaw, let's eat," she offered. "The queens and elders have eaten."

Nightpaw stared at the skinny bird. "Alright, I was hungry anyway," she meowed, following her mentor to a empty corner of camp.

Needlehawk sat down, her tail curling neatly around her. She took a bite of the prey. "So who do you think stole the catmint?"

"I don't know, maybe a rogue came in or something," Nightpaw mumbled, taking a bite.

"I know it was you."

Nightpaw froze, swallowing hard, her heart beating fast. StarClan, no! She stared wide-eyed at her mentor. "W-why would you think something so silly?"

"Don't think I haven't seen you with Spirepaw. You like him, don't you?" Needlehawk questioned. "I don't care if you do. But I wanna know why you gave it to him."

"L-look I don't want Quartzkit to die, I left three stalks of catmint. Spirepaw told me that Applefur's kits were sick with greencough, and I knew I had to save them. But thanks to me, Quartzkit and Whitewing might die," Nightpaw whined.

Needlehawk looked understanding. "I know it must've been hard, knowing that those kits would die without your help. But you must understand that you're in ThunderClan, not ShadowClan. I won't tell Squirrelstar."

Nightpaw glanced at her mentor gratefully. "I understand, thank you."

"But I want you to be strong. You must tell Squirrelstar. Either when she comes back or tomorrow morning. It won't be easy, but it also won't be easy keeping it from everyone," Needlehawk meowed. "And about Spirepaw, do you like him?" 

"I do. And I'm sorry, but it's just that it haven't found the right cat in ThunderClan," Nightpaw sighed, feeling terrible. Am I meant to be in ShadowClan?

"I don't care if you have a relationship with Spirepaw, but you must tell Squirrelstar about the catmint. Maybe you should go out and try to find some more," Needlehawk suggested.

"Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong Clan," Nightpaw sighed.

"Don't say that. I'm sure you're just struggling to find your path," Needlehawk insisted. The two she-cats ate in silence until they were finished.

Nightpaw sat back. Maybe Needlehawk is right. I need to find my path. My kin would hate it if I lived in ShadowClan suddenly.