A Moonlit Path, Chocolatemeerkat [thriller novels to read TXT] 📗

cat should know!"
"Ghostfire, please." Bramblestar tried to stop her, but Fishstar nodded his approval. "Go on. We're all listening."
"Cats of CourageClan and many of ForestClan will benifit from this." Ghostfire continued. "Many of you know Dawnsong and Crowpelt. But many of you don't know their real parents."
"No!" Dawnsong cried from down below. "Ghostfire, don't!"
"As I was saying, I know who their real parents are." Ghostfire completely ignored Dawnsong's cry. She had a cold edge to her voice as she spoke. "Dawnsong's and Crowpelt's parents are Longstripe of ForestClan and Treasureheart of CourageClan!"
A deadly cold silence swept across the three Clans. Not many cats had known about Dawnsong's and Crowpelt's half-Clan heritage. Hollyberry, the new CourageClan warrior, glared at her Clanmate in sorrow. "You lied to me!"
"No, Hollyberry, listen." Dawnsong watched as her brother went over to the young she-cat. "It's not like that. I would have never recieved the Clan's trust if I said I was only half CourageClan. I wanted to start my life fresh as a loyal CourageClan warrior, with clanmates that trusted me. And I couldn't have that if I was part ForestClan."
"But you lied." Hollyberry choked out. "Who actually knew?"
"Treasureheart, Noblespirit and Hazelfoot." Crowpelt told her calmly.
"We should exile you!" A voice snarled from a little way away. Dawnsong reconised it as Peacerain, who had been Hollyberry's mentor. "Half-Clan cats don't belong in any Clan, and you kept a secret from your own birth Clan You were born in CourageClan!"
"If Crowpelt should be exiled, should I be exiled?" Dawnsong retorted. "I have four young kits and the friendship of my Clanmates. Some of them knew about my bloodlines, but they still continued to be my friends. How would you feel, Peacerain, to be treated like dirt because of your heritage? I am certainly not ashamed of my parents. Treasureheart is a noble warrior, and Longstripe is a wise and respected member of ForestClan in his retirement."
Clouds started to cover the moon, causing Bramblestar to yowl "The Gathering is at a end, before StarClan punish us."
"I'm sorry about what happened." Cinderfoot murmured as Dawnsong left. "You didn't deserve that."
As Dawnsong followed her Clanmates out, a few of them edged away from her. Tigerpelt being one, his eyes glittering with hatred. Great. Thanks, Ghostfire. Thank you very much. >11>

Swiftpaw trudged through the bracken, certain he was nearly back. His paws ached and he was starting to loose faith in himself. Yet the young apprentice had been following a line of stars, which he was convinced was the lights that Lightleaf had been on about, the ones that would guide him back to the Outcast's territory.
A familar scent wafted over, not very far away. Swiftpaw took in the scent and followed it, eagar to find the cat. No matter how tired he was, he was determained to find the cat.
As he slipped under overhanging trees like a snake, the black and white tom felt that he was getting close. The cat he was following must have heard him, as the apprentice heard a snarl.
"Whoever you may be, you don't belong here!" The cat growled. "Get off this territory before I find you!"
Swiftpaw tensed his muscles, ready to strike in case he was wrong. The cat had a fear scent about it, unatural for a Outcast cat or one of his Clanmates.
Before he could react, the cat jumped out of nowhere and onto him, snarling and snapping. Claws slashed at Swiftpaw's ear. He felt a instant rush of pain go to his ear as blood trickled down.
"Oh, for the Spirit's sake, Swiftpaw!" The cat groaned. "I thought you were an enemy! You could have just said who you were rather than letting me attack you!"
"I've got no strength left in me, Legend." Swiftpaw sighed. "I've travelled a long way to get back."
Legend fixed a confused gaze on him, but let the apprentice sit up. "So the rumors are true?" He questioned, giving his chest a couple of embrassed licks. "You did leave us?"
"I did." Swiftpaw stumbled up to his paws weakly, trying to show that he was still strong. "But I have learnt that you should never abandon your friends."
"Well, I'd better get you back, then. You won't make it back to the den in that state."
Legend dug his teeth into the apprentice's scuff and dragged him away, keeping aware in case any intruders took advantage of the weakened cat.

"So he returned."
A deep growl awoke Swiftpaw. He glanced up and saw Vulture, his amber eyes cold.
"You were a fool to leave, but brave to return." He growled again. "Lucky Legend found you when he did. But I guess I won't mention your ear..."
"Shhh!" Swiftpaw heard Arrow hush him. "It's just nicked, that's all. It hasn't fallen off."
"Yet." Vulture added, stalking away in the other direction. Thr apprentice heard Arrow let out a sigh. "Your ear isn't that bad, little one." She comforted him. "Legend only nicked it slightly. It isn't highly noticable."
"Where is Featherpaw?" Swiftpaw asked. Arrow smiled symaptheticly at him. "She was frantic when you left. I think she thinks that you're dead, so you'd better go and find her. She's out by the lake, near Wolf's grave."
"Thanks." Swiftpaw stumbled up to his paws and made his way out of the den.
The moon was high up in the sky as he walked onward. If I have been back in ForestClan, it would have been the Gathering tonight. He realised, a pang of guilt then striking him. Stop thinking about home!                    As he approached the lake, Swiftpaw could see the brown and white she-cat gazing up at the sky. She was murmuring a few words to herself, her blue eyes sparkling with sorrow. The tom couldn't quite catch what she was saying and he hated seeing her this way, so he decided to make a appearance from his hiding place in the grass. "Featherpaw?"
The young she-cat spun round quickly upon hearing Swiftpaw's voice. "Swiftpaw? B-But you're dead, so you must be a spirit from StarClan. If you want to blame me for your death, go ahead." She mumbled.
"Do you see stars in my pelt?" Swiftpaw meowed in amusement. "I'm still alive, mouse-brain."
Featherpaw fixed her gaze on him, then a loud purr welled up in her throat. She padded over and pressed her muzzle against his. Swiftpaw was quite happy to just stand there and let the vibrations from his friend echo in his mind.
"I can't believe you came back." Featherpaw murmured. "I thought you had actually left us for good."
"I could never leave my friends to complete this quest alone." Swiftpaw reassued her, giving her ear a quick lick.
"So you're defintely coming back with us then?" Featherpaw meowed, her blue eyes sparkling with delight. "That's great! I'd really miss you in the Clan otherwise."
"We can leave tomorrow." Swiftpaw decided. "My shoulder has healed, and everyone else has recovered from the battle against the dogs." He flicked his tail towards the cave where the other Outcasts were sleeping. "We'd better get some sleep. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."
"Come on, then." Featherpaw led the black and white apprentice back through the grass and into the cave in silence, neither of them saying a word.

^12^

A bird's gentle song awoke Eagletalon from his deep sleep. Like every cat, he had been shocked by the news announced at the Gathering last night, but why did Ghostfire bring it up? Dawnsong had done nothing to hurt the former loner since she had joined the Clan.
Padding out of the warrior's den, Eagletalon glanced around. He could see Sandtail murmuring away to Otterswim, which was unusual. He knew the two cats had been close recently, but was there something going on that no one else knew about?
A loud squeal from the nursery switched the gold and white tom's attention. Two of Specklenose's kits were dashing out of the nursery, one a light grey tabby and her dark brown tabby brother. Another kit, slightly taller than the other two, followed them. Eagletalon reconised him as Galekit, Dawnsong's foster son. He was growing stronger each day, many members of the Clan had noticed. He will be a powerful warrior. A valuable addition to ForestClan.                                                                                                                Another kit appeared. This time, it was Dewkit, Silverleaf's daughter. Her silver and white fur ruffled in the slight breeze as she tried to keep up with the older kits. Eagletalon watched her, remembering his days as a kit. He had enjoyed playing with his siblings and denmates, like Echokit and her sister Rosekit for example. They would always play in the warm days of greenleaf, annoying several members of the Clan as they made so much noise.
A small pair of sharp teeth dug into Eagletalon's tail, disurbing his memories. He spun round and saw Honeykit. Her leaf-green eyes lit up in delight as the warrior lifted up his tail, making it harder for her to reach.
"Did your eyes open today?" Eagletalon asked the young kit. Honeykit smiled and nodded, but then sighed as she watched Cloudkit and Mysterykit play-fight, while Dewkit watched and Galekit tried to join in. "I want to play with them. But I'm too small, and I always will be."
"You'll grow." Eagletalon reassured her. "Like everyone else." He flicked his tail towards Tigerpelt, who was snapping at Leapthroat because he hadn't brought any prey back from hunting. "Tigerpelt was a little, fluffy kit once. If you ask Rabbitleap or Otterswim, they'll tell you. They were Tigerpelt's littermates, after all."
"What about her?" Honeykit enquired, flicking her tail at Heatherpaw. Eagletalon chuckled in amusement. "That's Heatherpaw, Spiderleg's apprentice. She left the nursery just over half a moon ago. Her brother, Gorgepaw, is my apprentice."
"Could I be your apprentice?" Honeykit asked, blinking her green eyes pleadingly. "You're my favourite warrior!"
"Perhaps. It's Bramblestar's decision." Eagletalon purred in amusment again. "But there are other cats who would make good mentors for you. Like Poppyfoot for example. She's paitent, caring and very smart. She is also Toadpaw's, Morningpaw's and Fernpaw's mother, so you should know her."
"Well, obviously." Honeykit told him.
Eagletalon glanced over at the fresh-kill pile. Echopath had been lucky to catch a young hare while out on patrol yesterday, which would make a nice snack for the elders. "I'm