The Stories Begin - Sunrise

Chapter 7 - Cloudstar

All the medicine cats now know of the prophecy Poppyfrost was given just days ago. The medicine cats had figured out that it met four cats must travel along the Thunderpath. Riverclans medicine cat, Redwing, had apparently already figured out one of the cats involved with it. Riverpaw of Riverclan. 
Cloudstar somewhat believed that it was just Riverclan wanting to be involved, but she knew that's not how Redwing acts. 

She had been meaning to confront Shatteredsky and ask him about her dream, though she hadn't found the time. 

There's no way that's her... She was stolen by a fox... Shatteredsky couldn't have lied to me....

Cloudstar emerged from her den, her eyes tired and heavy looking. It had been a tough few days for her, and now she had to confront the cat she trusted most. Shatteredsky was across the camp, talking to Redsight, his former mates sister. Redsight was not a Windclan born warrior, and had come along with her sister Crystallight with the intentions to join Windclan. Cloudstar let out a deep sigh as she remembered the young she Crystallight. She had been struck by a monster a few moons ago.

"Shatteredsky, may I speak with you?" Cloudstar called from underneath Tallrock. Shatteredsky's ears pricked as he heard his name being called, and he turned his head towards Cloudstar. He nodded before muttering something to Redsight Cloudstar couldn't quite make out, before getting up and walking towards Cloudstar. 

"Hello Cloudstar, how are you doing?" He asked as he got closer, a sympathetic look in his eyes. Cloudstar decided to jump right to the point, not wanting to waste time with 'meaningless' small talk. "Remember your and Crystallight's kit, Crowkit?" 

Shatteredsky froze. "Of course I do... why bring that up?" 

Cloudstar met her deputy's gaze before finally asking what had been on her mind. "Was she really taken by a fox? Answer me truthfully, Shatteredsky." 

Shatteredsky didn't respond, looking down at the ground. "Shatteredsky! Answer me!" Cloudstar hissed, now standing. Other cats in the camp started to pay attention to the conversation, noticing Cloudstar's sudden hostility. Despite all of this, Shatteredsky didn't do as much as open his mouth. Cloudstar then pushed passed him, taking a few steps towards the camp exit before turning her head. "If you will not be honest with me, I will march over to Shadowclan right now and get an answer!" Cloudstar hissed. Shatteredsky stood up, meeting her gaze with an alarmed look. 

"I feel that isn't-" Ravenblaze started. "I don't care what you 'feel!' I need to know if you lied or not!" Cloudstar hissed. Poppyfrost quickly made his way over to Cloudstar, whispering in her ear. "Cloudstar, this outburst of yours is scaring the kits. I don't know what this is about, but you must calm down. Let's talk about this in my den." 

Cloudstar froze and glanced over at the kits. Nightkit and Bluekit were pressed against Lighthope. Sharpkit, Amberkit, Spiderkit, and Muddykit were huddling with each other, terrified of their normally calm leader's yelling. Cloudstar felt her heart sink- she hadn't meant to scare the kits. 

Cloudstar saw movement in the corner of her vision. When she turned to look, she saw her mother Berryheart, and Shatteredsky's mother Ravenflight approaching. 

Berryheart had a concerned look in her eyes, probably worried for her daughter's over-all well being. On the other hand, Ravenflight had a more serious look on her face. "How about we head into your den, Cloudstar?" Ravenflight suggested. Poppyfrost sighed, deciding he will probably end up being ignored if he says anything further. He instead walks over to where Lighthope is calming down the kits, presumably to help her.  Cloudstar nods, heading over to her den. Berryheart and Ravenflight head after her, thought Shattered sky does not follow them. Once inside the den, Berryheart moves to sit beside her daughter, gently cleaning her fur. 

This reminded Cloudstar of her kitten days, and she couldn't help but lean into her mother with a sigh.

"Cloudstar, why were you yelling at Shatteredsky? He has done nothing wrong, and all you managed to do was scare the kits!" Ravenflight hissed. Berryheart glared at her old friend, pausing what she was doing to speak. "Don't speak to my daughter like that. She is your leader." 

"It's fine, mother. I'm fine." Cloudstar insisted before sighing. "Ravenflight, I have a reason to believe your granddaughter, Crowkit, is alive and in Shadowclan. Ravenflight tensed- and it was in this moment Cloudstar realized all of Ravenflight's family looked like clones, with the expecting of the infamous Gentlefeather, who took after her father. 

Ravenflight sighed. "Your suspicions would be correct, then. Six moons ago, Shatteredsky and I met up at the border to meet up with Ravenblaze. We miss him dearly, you know. I truly wish he never left Windclan to be with that she... to think I almost lost both of my kits to Shadowclan she-cats..." She chuckled. 

"Stay on task, Ravenflight." Berryheart sternly reminded. Ravenflight sighed. "Ravenblaze told us of the few kits that had been born in Shadowclan, and we were worried. Knowing Windclan had a problem of too many mouths to feed, Shatteredsky offered to give him Crowkit. Ravenblaze accepted, and a few days later, he brought us a brown she-cat, Woodfur of Shadowclan. At this time, the two were still madly in love, and I believe as of now, they aren't mates anymore, because Woodfur bore someone else's kits." Cloudstar couldn't help but feel pity for her former clan mate at the mention of Woodfur's infidelity. Ravenflight then continued her story. "The four of us then came up with the plan to make it look like a fox took her. On the day we planned to play it out, we had Ravenblaze come into camp while everyone was panicking over a fox that never was, taking Crowkit. Crystallight saw this, and chased him to the thunderpath, not wanting to give up her baby. Relying on the fact we found her on that thunderpath, I can assume she was attacked by a monster." 

Cloudstar couldn't believe it- Crowkit had been alive this whole time. "And now Crowkit goes by Dreampaw, correct?" Ravenflight nodded, confirming her question. "Yes, she does." 

Cloudstar then stood up, quickly exiting her den. She looked around the camp, spotting Shatteredsky. She simply gave him a glare- how could a father give up his own daughter? She wondered before bolting out of camp. Cloudstar was going to find Dreampaw. 

She deserved to know the truth.