The Secret Clan - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“Oh, Blacktail!” Duskflower charged at the rogue deputy with a look of great euphoria. Hailcloud gaped. Is this Blacktail? When Hailcloud was an apprentice, Blacktail had been her mentor. He had been swept away down a river, never to be seen again. Since then, the image Hailcloud had of her old mentor in her head had slowly worn away, like a stone becomes smoother after water running over it. But studying the tom, she saw that Duskflower was right. The black rump spots were really the identifier. Although, ‘Black’, as he was known to the rogues, looked utterly confused.

“I’m sorry but, I don’t know any of you. My name is Black!” he growled cautiously. Hailcloud could predict his feeling of confusion heating into anger and suspicion. Duskflower shook her head, which was still in the sky. “Sweet, you’re just confused. You were a part of MeadowClan. You got swept down the river,” the grey once-widow coaxed. She advanced ever so slightly on her old mate. Black recoiled, baring his teeth in a snarl. “Leave me alone!” he hissed. As if the rogues were a single mind, they all started to stand and growl at the nearest Clan cats. The white tom was bristling and muttering dark words under his breath, glaring at Hailcloud. Raintail shrank into her fur. Hailcloud understood, as she was a very young warrior, and most of the Clan weren’t used to fighting for survival. She grew hot under her fur. She glanced quickly over at Riverfur, who had a paw raised in a silent promise to shred anyone who moved.

“Stop! Stop this!”

Most of the cats turned to face Night, who was standing powerfully in the middle of the circle of leaders. A few rogues and Cricketsong held their poise of menace, spitting.

Black was snarling at the Clan cats, especially Duskflower. “Night, tell them I’m one of you!” he glanced across at the leader. Tuifeather gently drew Duskflower back with her tail. The grey deputy looked betrayed and heart-broken. Dark did the same for Black. For seconds that seemed like hours, everything was still. Hailcloud felt soft breath on her ear.

“Don’t turn around,” Raintail whispered, almost inaudibly. “But there’s a dog behind us.” Before Hailcloud could taste the air or freeze, a screech sounded from the front of the temporary camp.

“Dog!” Tuifeather shrieked. The silence now seemed sacred with everybody, all at once, scattering in different directions. Hailcloud turned around to see a very large, black and brown dog ten cat-lengths away, teeth dripping with spit. It barked once and the cats frenzied, clawing even each other to reach the safety of the trees. She was bumped on all sides by frightened cats, fear-stench overwhelming her. The leaders had all gone and now only a few frozen cats remained. The wild dog was sprinting around the clearing now, chasing any fleeing cats in sight. Every inch of Hailcloud wanted to run, but she knew the dog would see her.

“Hailcloud, run!”

A lithe silver shape head butted Hailcloud hurriedly, moving her along from behind. Hailcloud’s legs were numb but she forced herself along, thoughts racing around her head at such a pace that the thoughts bumped into each other. She relied only on the she-cat hurrying her along. She could feel hot, stinky breath on her heels, and the cries of cats in distress. The dog was so close, driven on by the terror-scent and feel of warm blood pumping. It barked wildly, driven by mad blood-lust. A towering pine came into her vision from the vague grey dawn.

“Up the tree!” the cat cried.

Hailcloud knew she had to take matters into her own paws now. She heaved herself up the first leap, and scurried, possum-style up the tree to the first strong branch she could find. She curled into a ball and prayed to StarClan she would be safe. Pine scent wreathed around her, an almost sweet smell. Hailcloud shivered, shuffled on her branch and risked a look down. Relief washed over her like tepid water. The dog looked the size of a hare, scraping uselessly at the bark of the pine, whining. A pair of green eyes glowed from next to her. It was her sister, Lightfoot. It occurred to Hailcloud that Lightfoot must’ve been the one who saved her.

“Are you okay?” Lightfoot murmured. Hailcloud could tell from the air between her and her sister that Lightfoot was shivering. She guessed she was shivering, too.

“Yeah, just great!” Hailcloud whispered sarcastically, voice breaking. Blotting out the dogs angry whines, Hailcloud could spot more pairs of eyes from further up the tree, rogue and Clan. The pine scent infatuated her and she felt the bark running against her fur. Teeth fixed in her scruff and dragged her back. Hailcloud felt very dizzy.

“Hailcloud! Are you ok?” Lightfoot mewed anxiously. Hailcloud blinked. She wouldn’t look up again, not while the dog was still down there.

“Where’s Dewfrost?” Hailcloud asked, fluffing out her long, silky fur. Lightfoot’s eyes narrowed and starlight bounced off of them. “I don’t know!” Lightfoot whispered, worry clawing at her throat. Hailcloud knew that her sisters were some of the only things Lightfoot truly cared about. Since the three sisters had been kits, their personalities had been evident. Dewfrost was dedicated and kind, Hailcloud has slightly air-brained and bubbly and Lightfoot was smart and dramatic. Seeing Lightfoot this serious made Hailcloud serious as well. Lightfoot shuffled in her position, glancing down at the ground where the dog was alternating between trees, pacing.

“We’ll search for her,” Lightfoot mewed pitifully. It seemed she was convincing herself more than Hailcloud.

Hailcloud twitched an ear to some rustling in the bushes on the other side of the clearing. The dog had stopped and swung its head around, tongue lolling.

“No,” Lightfoot whispered. From the bushes sprung five cats: two rogue cats, Riverfur, and much to Hailcloud’s delight and dismay, Dewfrost, all led by Sunlight. The dog let out a low growl and started to charge for the group of cats. Hailcloud started to cry out a warning, but Lightfoot’s tail barred her mouth. She shot Hailcloud a look that said ‘be quiet’.

StarClan, help them.

Sunlight’s authoritative call reached even the cats in the pine trees.

“Now!”

Immediately, Riverfur and a dark brown rogue cat veered off right. The dog raced after it without a thought. The remaining cats chased after the dog silently. Riverfur and the rogue disappeared with a sly leap behind a manuka bush. The dog stopped, limbs quivering, the scent he was chasing gone. Before it had a chance, Sunlight jumped onto the dog’s back. The beast stretched around, bucking and rearing to remove the cat that stuck like a burr to its back. Sunlight raked his claws down its spine. The dog yelped in frustration. Hailcloud’s heart lurched as she watched Dewfrost wriggle under the dog’s legs.

Dewfrost pushed as hard as she could at one of the dog’s legs. The dog yelped in pain and wobbled precariously. Dewfrost zipped out from under its legs as it collapsed. The other rogue, a she-cat with grey fur, had been waiting patiently, hackles rising, waiting for the dog to falter. He bit the end of the dog’s scrawny tail. The dumb beast whipped around and Sunlight dealt it two more lashes. It yelped in pain.

Riverfur emerged slowly from the manuka bushes, tail lashing ferociously. The dog, disorientated, backed away from the cats. The five of them advanced slowly, spitting. With a series of furious barks, the dog turned tail and fled in the direction of a two-leg house off in the distance. The five cats watched the dog run away, and after the small, lean shape had vanished, they turned to face the pine trees.

A flood of cats came scrambling down the trunk, their pelts fluid in the grey light of dawn. Sunlight let out a caterwaul of triumph, which some brave others joined in with. When Hailcloud had ambled down, she ran to meet her sister. Lightfoot scurried past her and started to weave herself around Dewfrost.

“You were brilliant, Dewfrost!” Lightfoot licked her sister’s ear. Hailcloud nodded, eyes wide with admiration. Dewfrost puffed out her chest.

“We just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” she meowed, breathless and eyes shining with excited exertion.

“When the dog came, Sunlight was five paw-steps ahead of us. He told us to go hide with him in the bushes. He told us we should take some action, and Sea over there,” Dewfrost gestured with her tail to the grey rogue. “She came up with the plan. She’s the one who was brilliant!” Hailcloud brushed her cheek and pushed against her sister.

“I’m just glad you’re safe,” Hailcloud sighed. Lightfoot opened her mouth, perhaps for some sarcastic comment, when Fallenstar emerged from the bushes. His tail was lashing and eyes blazing.

“Mouse-brains!” he spat. The chivalry faded away and everyone turned to look at him. Night and Dark slid out of the bushes, as silent as shadows, to flank Fallenstar.

“You could’ve died!” he raged, eyes burning across the audience. Sunlight was licking his tail, purring. Starlingflight was watching him with pride and something warm in her eyes.

“But we didn’t,” he mewed ecstatically. “These rogues have some serious brains. They came up with the plan!” The rogue Dewfrost had called Sea dipped her head in modesty.

“But why was the plan necessary?” Fallenstar continued.

“Because I forgot to set sentries at night, that’s why. It’s my fault we were in that situation!” he roared. Hailcloud stared at her leader and felt her sisters all press into one another.

“It has been sheer luck that we’ve managed to travel this far from home without wounds. Sheer luck!” he repeated. “This was a sign from StarClan.” He moaned. Tuifeather trotted from the crowd. The black and white medicine cat whispered something in his ear. The air suddenly turned cold and awkward. Hailcloud tipped her head to the side. Tuifeather seemed almost like another leg for Fallenstar. He was always getting a crazy cold fire in his eye, cursing StarClan and blaming himself. Fallenstar seemed to rely on Tuifeather for common sense, as if he had used up all of his own.

Fallenstar stepped back, frowning thoughtfully. Tuifeather appealed to the rogues and Clan cats.

“It was not luck that we survived,” she swept her tail in a graceful arc. “It was skill. Your cats have dexterity and power.” Tuifeather nodded to Dark and Night.

“Though the ordeal with the dog was a frightening one, both of us pulled through very well.” All the cats could see the compliments were a build up to something. They leaned forward, breath bated.

“I suggest that we combine forces, for safety and strength.” She quoted Fallenstar. Discord rippled through the cats, with several disdainful calls. Tuifeather remained composed. While the cats discussed the decision, Hailcloud turned to her sisters.

“Yes!” Dewfrost whispered, eyes shining. Lightfoot’s tail flicked and she looked sideways at Hailcloud, as if to say what do you think? Hailcloud frowned and wrinkled her nose.

“As long as they’re not trying to kill us, I’m happy about it.” She mewed conclusively. Dewfrost nodded, millions of possibilities zooming around her mind so vividly that Hailcloud could nearly see the thoughts. Lightfoot shrugged, tail resting across her paws. While other cats hissed and purred, the trio watched the expressions on the leaders’ faces. Fallenstar looked blank, not here nor there. Dark was nodding, ears flat, at Night, who was flexing his claws. The Clan apprentices were wide-eyed and confused. Beestripe and Cricketsong were talking in hushed voices. Hailcloud shivered to think what the aggressive toms were planning. Cuckoonose was completely ignoring the ongoing discussion; instead she was licking her paws and making suggestive glances to a particularly disgusted Volewhisker.

Hailcloud settled onto her paws. Whatever the verdict would be, it’d take a long time to reach it.

“I don’t get it,” Beetlepaw whispered to Keapaw. “Why don’t they just join us? We’re way better than them; it’s a favour to invite them in.” The brown apprentice nodded. Keapaw rolled his eyes and shoved him slightly.

Poppy-seed brain.

Keapaw didn’t like the rogues. He thought Fallenstar would have to be insane to invite wild cats into the Clan, and have a death sentence to invite ten of them in. His father had slightly lost his way. MeadowClan had been pure bred for moons. But since they weren’t MeadowClan anymore, maybe it was time things changed. The leaders of the rogues, Night and Dark, were clever. The two of them were like shadows and their voices were like honey: they only had to speak for cats to follow their instructions. He especially liked Dark; the cat looked quite like himself. It seemed that Keapaw’s father, Fallenstar, also took a liking to him. He was constantly talking to him.

“The rogues have pride, Beetlepaw,” Keapaw explained slowly. “Of course they won’t immediately accept the offer – it’ll make them look like they can’t fend for themselves. Who can blame them?” Keapaw twitched his whiskers in humour. “It looks like they could barely fight an apprentice!”

Suddenly a looming shadow rested on Keapaw, bringing him into night. Keapaw froze and Beetlepaw looked with white hot fright behind his denmate.

“Barely fight an apprentice, eh?” a low, gravelly voice breathed in Keapaw’s ear. He heard a cat snicker. Keapaw stiffly turned his head around to see the biggest rogue in the pack snarling in his face. He was a large, dark brown tom whose teeth seemed like stalactites and stalagmites. His breath smelled sickly, like grass and sweat.

“You think you’re better than me, strangecat?” the rogue spat. Keapaw shook his head briskly, slowly edging backwards. The rogue lunged at him and Keapaw tumbled to the cold ground.

“Cedar,” One of the rogues warned from behind him. Suddenly the world was enveloped by the rough, dark brown fur of Cedar the rogue. Keapaw felt claws prick down his back and he let out a pitiful mew of pain.

He’s just playing with me like a piece of extra prey!

Cedar stepped on Keapaw’s chest. Keapaw’s organs ballooned and suffocated beneath it. Bile rose in his throat.

This can’t be how I die.

Keapaw heard a distant cackle from his attacker. “Easier than a mouse. Doesn’t even fight back.” Cedar leaned in close to Keapaw’s ear. “Still think you’re better than me?”

Fiery confidence blazed through Keapaw. Or was it just the lack of oxygen? Keapaw’s voice gurgled and he spat in Cedar’s face. The rogue roared in frustration, and for a moment reared up in disgust. Keapaw struggled and with a burst of energy zipped from beneath Cedar’s paws. The rogue smelled of bloodlust and fury. But before the hulking great tom could raise a paw, a tortoiseshell blur knocked him to the ground.

Dark was standing, lithe and well-muscled, over the collapsed Cedar.

“You dare attack one of our hosts? And a young one, at that?” Dark hissed menacingly. Cedar narrowed his eyes and tried to speak but Dark pressed his paw onto Cedar’s throat.

“You disgust me.” Dark lifted his paw off the brown rogue and nosed over the breathless body of Keapaw. “Are you alright?” he murmured. Keapaw groaned and rolled over on the ground. There was a hammering inside his head and a small amount of blood on his back. He looked up into the face of his saviour, only to see his reflection. Dark looked exactly the same as Keapaw, down to the black tipped ears! The only thing to differentiate the toms was Dark’s glowing amber eyes and Keapaw’s swimming grey eyes.

Keapaw felt another cat next to him.

“I’ll get him to Tuifeather,” Keapaw heard the soft voice of Lightfoot. His mentor leaned in and looked into his eyes. “Are you okay to walk?”

Keapaw grunted and heaved himself up. His scratches felt raw and they stung. His paws were numb from the freezing floor. Cedar and another rogue were conversing in scathing tones. Keapaw glanced their way and Cedar shot him a look through narrowed eyes. Keapaw leaned on Lightfoot’s shoulder. The rest of the cats were looking at him sideways and chatting in hushed voices.

When he got to Tuifeather she ushered him to a spot covered with loose earth and dead leaves.

“Rest,” she had told him through a mouthful of odd looking herbs. “Rest and a bit of chamomile should do it.” Tuifeather inspected Keapaw’s scratches with a frown.

“Maybe a light covering of dock… if I can spare it.” Tuifeather mewed. Tuifeather had carried a small morsel of herbs with her on the journey under her chin and so in her mouth. There were few left, and they were partially shrivelled.

Keapaw wiggled in his poor nest of fern and grass. He was cold and damp. The towering pines above him dropped raindrops the size of acorns on him and the overhanging fern didn’t do much to help. But at least if was peaceful. The grey sky now had a yellow tint and streaks of red and pink in it. Dawn was approaching fast. Tuifeather sent Vinepaw to go search for some chamomile with Yarrowleaf and Duskflower. Duskflower had seemed erratic and distracted ever since the Blacktail ordeal. Keapaw could tell that Duskflower would bring it up again – the moons she had spent without her mate had made her into a ball of anger. Now that her mate had returned, and didn’t remember her, Duskflower was removed and unfocused.

“It’s a good idea to keep her busy,” Tuifeather mused, waiting with Keapaw for the herb patrol to return. “If we left her to writhe in her sadness she might as well retire.” She joked. Keapaw nodded soberly and began to count raindrops.

Is it really a wise idea to invite rogues into our Clan when they could attack any of us, even an apprentice?