Gray Skies - Book One

Chapter Twenty

Nightpaw's head shot up in alarm at the voice. It sounded like Redbright. The smoky gray she-cat's voice rang through the hollow a second time. "Fire!"

Before Nightpaw could even get to her paws, Riverpaw, Wolfpaw, and Hazelpaw hared from the den. Nightpaw struggled to get to her paws and exited the apprentice's den. Warriors were filing out of their den, elders stumbling out into the storm. Vineloop was standing in the entrance of her den, eyes widened in horror. Eaglefeather was standing in front of the thorn tunnel.

"Every ShadowClan cat for themselves!" He yowled freely. But Vineloop rushed to his side.

"No!" She screeched. "We can't afford to lose anymore cats! Everyone, partner together. Apprentices with mentors, and elders with warriors. Honeydrizzle, Crowbark, Minnowcall, help me get Spiderstar out of the den. Fadingfire, help Lightningtail and the kits."

Nightpaw looked around frantically for Creekfeather. She ran over to him and pressed against him, terrified. Looking up, she saw a burning pine tree letting off gray clouds of smoke into the sky. It was leaning toward the hollow, threatening to fall on the camp. Nightpaw felt her fur fluff up with fear, only for it to be slicked back by the rain.

Eaglefeather was glaring at Vineloop as Talonswipe ran to his side. "Let's head to RiverClan," he growled loudly enough for the Clan to hear. "Fires spread quickly." 

Vineloop looked grief-stricken toward her den as Crowbark, Honeydrizzle, and Minnowcall rushed toward it to help Spiderstar. She looked toward one pair of cats, Greengaze and Windsnow, and nodded toward her den. "Greengaze, Windsnow, you two get Willowear." The orange-and-white she-cat rushed off to her den with the two warriors following.

Maggotspring, Raccoonclaw, and Hazelfire were paired up with the elders, and Lightningtail and Fadingfire were carrying their almost-six-moon-old kits in their mouths. The cats in the medicine den were all rushing out with Spiderstar and Willowear on their backs.

"Alright, let's go," Eaglefeather yowled, leading ShadowClan out of the camp as the burning pine tree threatened to fall on the camp at any second. Nightpaw squinted her eyes against the thundering rain, struggling to stay next to Creekfeather. Mud puddles dotted the forest floor, and fierce gusts of wind threatened to throw the cats off of their paws. As they approached the RiverClan border, Eaglefeather didn't even stop to face his Clan. Instead, he raced across the border onto the marshy land.

A sickening crash echoed through the forest, and Nightpaw knew that the burning tree had collapsed on the hollow. She felt a pant of dread as she thought of what their home would look like now. Destroyed by a fallen pine tree, dens burnt to ashes, and Vineloop's herb store nothing but air.

Nightpaw almost slipped on a puddle as ShadowClan approached the stream that cut RiverClan's camp off from their territory. Eaglefeather led them to the stepping stones that led to their camp, and stopped to instruct his Clan.

"Alright," Eaglefeather yowled. The winds and rain weren't as fierce as in ShadowClan, but they still put up quite a storm. "Elders, queens, and kits cross first!" 

At least he's thinking of our safety, Nightpaw thought as Flamepath, Loudfern, and Coldmask stumbled forward with Maggotspring, Raccoonclaw, and Hazelfire at their sides. The warriors carefully led the elders across the stepping stones as the waves from the stream washed over their paws. 

Lightningtail and Fadingfire crossed after the elders, Tigerkit and Cottonkit swaying back and forth as their parents bounded across the stepping stones. Eaglefeather directed for the apprentices and mentors to cross next, then all the warriors. After everyone crossed, Vineloop and the others carrying Spiderstar and Willowear took their time when crossing. After everyone was safely across, Eaglefeather and Talonswipe crossed the stepping stones and led the Clan toward the RiverClan camp.

The rain was still thundering down, but not as quickly as before as Eaglefeather and Talonswipe slipped into the camp. Vineloop kept the Clan calm outside, laying Spiderstar and Willowear down in the shelter of a weeping willow tree outside of the camp.

Eaglefeather and Talonswipe soon came back out, followed by Ripplestar and Berrydawn of RiverClan. Ripplestar was a very dark ginger she-cat while Berrydawn, her deputy, was a red-brown tom. Nightpaw watched as she spoke with Vineloop.

"A fire started in our territory, and we were hoping you would help us," Vineloop explained. "Willowear died, and Spiderstar... he's very ill."

Ripplestar's yellow gaze hovered from the soaked ShadowClan warriors bundled together to a weak Spiderstar on the ground. His breaths came in slow and rattled in his chest; his nose was wet and runny. The gash on his flank was encrusted and sour-smelling, and his yellow eyes were closed.

"Ripplestar, they need help," Berrydawn pleaded. "Don't send them away."

Ripplestar looked over at ShadowClan's territory where thick, gray clouds of smoke rose into the air and flames lapped at the pine trees. Nightpaw hoped the rain would settle the hungry flames. 

But the RiverClan leader's deep voice interrupted Nightpaw's thoughts. "Your Clan may stay with us, Vineloop, under one condition."

"We'll do anything, Ripplestar," Vineloop mewed. Eaglefeather didn't look too happy, though.

"Why should we have to earn our safety?" Eaglefeather hissed. "If we don't do what you'd like, are you going to send us back to our fire-infested camp?"

Ripplestar was speechless. She stared at Eaglefeather before slowly nodding. "Well then, you are welcomed." She turned around and flicked her tail in a gesture for ShadowClan to follow her and Berrydawn. 

Vineloop glared at Eaglefeather as the Clan walked in the RiverClan camp. They brushed through the reeds and appeared in the clearing. Nightpaw stopped walking to look over at ShadowClan's pine trees. The rain had slowed now, but winds still whipped through Nightpaw's fluffy fur. Giant clouds of smoke billowed in the sky, signaling that the fire was dying out. Nightpaw was grateful that it hadn't spread and destroyed ShadowClan's forests. 

"Careful!" Vineloop's hiss sounded as Greengaze, Windsnow, Honeydrizzle, Crowbark, and Minnowcall brought Willowear and Spiderstar into the RiverClan camp. Spiderstar was letting out raspy coughs as he was laid carefully on the ground. Vineloop let out an annoyed hiss.

"No! Bring him to Thistlehawk's den!" Vineloop grunted as the warriors carefully picked their Clanmates back up and started padding over to the medicine den. But Ripplestar came up to Vineloop and frowned. Vineloop turned to meet her yellow gaze, startled.

"Ripplestar," Vineloop dipped her head respectfully, only for the dark ginger she-cat to frown. 

"Vineloop, I don't mean to upset you," the leader began, "but you'll have to bury Willowear."