Erin Hunter - Cloudstar’s Journey

SKYCLAN LEADER CLOUDSTARsmall pale gray tom with white patches and very pale blue eyes DEPUTY BUZZARDTAILginger tom with green eyes MEDICINE CAT FAWNSTEPlight brown tabby she-cat WARRIORS (toms and she-cats without kits) NIGHTFARblack tom APPRENTICE, OAKPAW QUAILHEARTdappled gray tom STOATFURorange-and-white tom APPRENTICE, TANSYPAW WEASELWHISKERbrown-and-ginger tom APPRENTICE, ACORNPAW FERNPELTdark brown tabby she-cat MOUSEFANGsandy-colored she-cat APPRENTICE, SNAILPAW RAINLEAPsilver tabby she-cat with blue eyes APPRENTICE, MINTPAW APPRENTICES (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors) OAKPAWgray tabby tom ACORNPAWlight brown tom SNAILPAWdark brown tabby tom TANSYPAWcream-colored she-cat MINTPAWpale gray she-cat QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits) BIRDFLIGHTlight brown tabby she-cat with long fur and amber eyes HAZELWINGorange tabby she-cat with green eyes (mother to Webkit, a pale gray tom; Hatchkit, a dark gray tom; Emberkit, an orange she-cat; and Mistlekit, a silver tabby she-cat) ELDERS PETALFALLrose-cream she-cat with green eyes STARLINGFEATHERdark brown tom with amber eyes HAWKSNOWbrown tabby tom speckled with white THUNDERCLAN LEADER REDSTARdark ginger tom DEPUTY SEEDPELTgray she-cat with darker flecks MEDICINE CAT KESTRELWINGdark brown tabby tom SHADOWCLAN LEADER DAWNSTARcreamy brown she-cat DEPUTY SNAKETAILbrown tabby tom MEDICINE CAT MOLEPELTsmall black tom WINDCLAN LEADER SWIFTSTARdark gray tom DEPUTY MILKFURcreamy white tom MEDICINE CAT LARKWINGsilver-and-black tabby she-cat RIVERCLAN LEADER BIRCHSTARlight brown tabby she-cat DEPUTY SLOEFURblack she-cat MEDICINE CAT ICEWHISKERsilver-gray tom

Stripes of sunlight dappled the forest floor and the air was thick with the scent of damp new leaves. Cloudstar jerked his head up as he caught sight of a flash of dark gray movement above him: a squirrel, darting between the branches with its tail streaming behind like a feather.

Are you just going to watch it? meowed Buzzardtail, twitching his nose. The sturdy ginger deputy went to the trunk of the tree and peered up. Or are you hoping it will find its own way to the fresh-kill pile?

Cloudstar snorted. Ill leave that one for the apprentices to catch. He lifted one paw and rubbed it behind his ear. My old bones are enjoying this sun too much to go chasing about in the trees.

Whats that nonsense about old bones? Buzzardtail demanded. Youre barely older than I am, and Ive certainly got a few more chases and battles in me.

Cloudstar stepped around his deputy and headed for a patch of pale green ferns. Ah, but Ive been worn down by the burdens of leadership, he teased.

There was a rapid thud of paw steps as Buzzardtail hurtled after Cloudstar and swiped him over his haunches, claws sheathed. The only burden youll have is those kits of yours keeping you awake once they arrive. I heard Birdflight tell Hazelwing that shes going to let them sleep in your den to give her some peace.

Cloudstar purred. Theyll be welcome, he mewed. I cant wait to meet them.

Buzzardtail rolled his eyes. You might not feel that way when they start pulling your tail and chewing your whiskers.

I dont recall you putting up much of a fight with your three when they wanted to play! Cloudstar reminded him. Snailpaw, Tansypaw, and Mintpaw were apprentices now, strong and good at climbing trees like all SkyClan warriors, but Buzzardtail had been as soft as honey with them when they were born.

Buzzardtail grunted. Just you wait. Chasing that squirrel will seem easy compared to looking after kits!

The sound of a twig snapping distracted them, and both cats stared into the bracken. A blurry shape was just visible through the green stems. Cloudstar opened his mouth to taste the air. Is that a ThunderClan patrol? he called.

The ferns parted and a speckled gray face appeared. Cloudstar? You wouldnt be chasing squirrels into our territory, would you?

Cloudstar snorted. Of course not, Seedpelt. SkyClan cats know how to respect borders. He spoke lightly, but he wasnt about to let the ThunderClan deputy challenge him for no reason.

Seedpelt nodded and stepped through the bracken until she was less than a fox-length from the SkyClan cats. She stretched out her neck and sniffed.

Our border marks are in the right place, Buzzardtail growled.

Seedpelt opened her blue eyes wide. Of course they are, she purred. I wasnt accusing you of anything, Buzzardtail.

For once, muttered the SkyClan deputy.

Is everything all right, Seedpelt? called a voice from beyond the bracken.

Fine, thanks, Nettleclaw, Seedpelt replied without taking her eyes from Cloudstar. More quietly, she asked, I trust all is well in SkyClan?

Yes. Is there a reason why it wouldnt be? Cloudstar felt his hackles rise.

Seedpelts eyes glinted. Its not often I find the leader and deputy forming their own patrol. Rich pickings for rival Clans wanting a fight, Id have thought.

Were not frightened of you, Buzzardtail snarled. He took a step forward, but Cloudstar held him back with a twitch of his tail.

Dont let her get to you, he warned his old friend. Seedpelt, Ill grant you the respect of not watching where you set your border marks, but we will not tolerate a single ThunderClan paw on our territory.

Seedpelt bowed her head. We wouldnt dream of it, Cloudstar.

Cloudstar twitched his ears, indicating to Buzzardtail that he should follow, and the two cats headed into the trees. As soon as they were out of earshot of the ThunderClan patrol, Buzzardtail spat, What was that furball going on about, telling us were an easy target for rival patrols?

Cloudstar shrugged. Seedpelt was just trying to distract us from the fact that her patrol was closer to our border than they should have been. That clump of ferns has always been a barrier between the territories, and ThunderClan patrols are supposed to leave their marks on the far side.

Buzzardtail stopped in his tracks, his fur bristling. They were lucky we didnt claw their ears!

Cloudstar kept walking. Im sure Seedpelt was shocked to find us there, and she knows well be checking for ThunderClan scent marks from now on.

Buzzardtail stomped behind him, still muttering. Those ThunderClan cats think they can hunt where they like. If Duskstar hadnt given them that strip of SkyClan territory to start with, they wouldnt walk all over us as if our scent marks meant nothing. I know he was our leader, but really, it was a mouse-brained decision.

Cloudstar gazed into the trees on the far side of the border. They grew more densely there than in the rest of the SkyClan, mostly oaks with thick trunks and gnarled, heavy branches that bent low to the ground. He hadnt been born when Duskstar made the startling announcement at a Gathering that he would surrender part of his territory to ThunderClan, but the decision still sat uneasily with his Clan. Duskstar had his reasons, he meowed to Buzzardtail.

What, that he had bees in his brain?