Chapter 6

Skypaw snuggled up to her brother, grooming the fur on Cloudpaw’s ears. They had just come back from a hunting patrol and were now relaxing on a warm rock, sharing a bird Skypaw had caught. She wanted to just relax, but all she could think of right now was Bubble. They had to deal with her soon, didn’t they? Or she’d just kill everyone and end the Clans forever. And even if Bubble doesn’t succeed in ending the Clans, some other evil rogue can always come and continue her work. We have to prevent that from happening.

“This morning I asked Shadowleap if she wanted to go on a walk in the forest together,” Skypaw murmured to Cloudpaw. “And she refused, can you believe it? She refused! She said it was too dangerous because Bubble might find us and attack. She’s wrong! Even Bubble can’t stay in our forest all day and night! She has to sleep sometime! Will we always be this cautious? So cautious we can’t even go out for daily walks?”

Cloudpaw let out a soft snort of laughter. “I bet the other SkyClan warriors see you as a courageous cat, a cat who doesn’t let anything stand in her way. But I’m glad that I can see your soft side, too.” He paused. “That’s what I like so much about you, Skypaw. You’re so brave all the time. I mean, you literally walked out into the forest at night when you were only a kit to investigate the strange scent! I could never be that brave. I wish I was could.”

“You are,” Skypaw whispered. “You just don’t know it yet.” Cloudpaw believes in me. He believes in me! She took a deep breath and stood up. “I’m going to go talk to Shadowleap.”

“Whoa,” Cloudpaw mewed. “You’re that mad at her? We haven’t even finished your bird yet! And I didn’t get to groom you.”

“Sorry, Cloudpaw. Maybe next time.” Skypaw hurried off to the warriors’ den. Her mentor would probably be taking a break and chatting with her denmates after going out on a patrol.

Skypaw peeked inside. Mouse dung! Only Darkfur and Treespring are here! “Did you guys see where Shadowleap went?” she asked the two warriors.

“Looking for your mentor?” Darkfur mewed. “She went to talk to Breezestar.”

“Thanks.” Skypaw whisked away toward the leader’s den.

She slowed down as she got near it. Wait a minute. Why would she be here? To report? She slipped into the den, then realized with a jolt she’d just barged into the leader’s den without permission. Oops.

“Skypaw?” Shadowleap meowed in confusion. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Skypaw shot back. “It’s not like you have anything to report after a hunting patrol! It went fine!”

“You’re my apprentice, not the other way around!” Shadowleap snapped. “Shut your mouth!”

Argh, stupid! Skypaw scolded herself. Why’d I say that? “So what are you doing here?” she mumbled, ducking her head in shame.

“I…”

“She was telling me about yesterday’s encounter with Bubble,” Breezestar answered for her. “So, I’ve been wondering…exactly why didn’t you tell me yesterday, instead of waiting until the next day?”

“Er–” Shadowleap stammered.

“And the funny thing is,” Breezestar went on, “neither of you told me. Is there something going on that you’re hiding from me? Your own Clan leader?”

Skypaw gulped. What is she getting at? We already told her about basically everything we know about Bubble!

“I’m sorry, but even though I’m sure you two are loyal cats, we can’t trust everyone in these dark times,” Breezestar meowed. “I’m going to give both of you a second chance. But if you move a whisker-length out of place, then I’m going to have to exile you, or at least keep you in my sight every single moment of the day. Because anyone might be working with Bubble, even your own Clanmates.”

WHAT? Exile? Is she serious? Skypaw wanted to go back in time. She wanted to fix her mistake and tell Breezestar about their encounter with Bubble the day it had happened. She wanted to push this moment away, forever, wipe it away.

“Do you understand?” Breezestar hissed.

The two cats dipped their heads.

“Good,” Breezestar mewed. “You are dismissed.”

As soon as they had moved out of earshot, Skypaw muttered, “I’m so stupid! How did I forget about reporting to Breezestar?”

“It’s not your fault, Skypaw,” Shadowleap meowed. “Though why did you come to me in the first place?”

“I was going to ask you if you finally have the guts to go out into the forest with me!” Skypaw growled, suddenly filled with frustration.

Shadowleap stared at her in shock. “Skypaw…”

“I asked you this morning and you didn’t want to come because you said Bubble might still be around,” Skypaw continued. “I don’t think so. I just think you’re scared. Of Bubble. She’s just one rogue! And even if Black is on her side, that’s only two cats, right?”

Shadowleap looked away. “I don’t know about that…”

“Whatever,” Skypaw snorted. “I’m going by myself.”

“Not everyone has as much bravery as you do, Skypaw,” Shadowleap murmured as Skypaw marched toward the camp entrance.

Skypaw ignored her and kept going. She knew it wasn’t fair that she had encouraged Cloudpaw while she hadn’t encouraged her mentor, but she was too angry to turn around and reply.

Once out in the forest, Skypaw broke into a run. She sped past countless trees, stuffing all her anger into legs, pushing them as hard as she could against the ground. Wind streamed past her face and, for the first time in a while, she felt happy. Free.

She opened her mouth to draw in the fresh air and immediately froze when rogue scent hit the back of her throat. She skidded to a halt so suddenly she nearly fell over. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming fast. Okay, okay, never mind, Shadowleap. I’m scared, I’m scared!

Growls echoed through the trees. The rogue scent got stronger as shadows began to move, and slowly, a black-and-ginger cat came into view. Her dark amber eyes glared directly at Skypaw, filled with hatred. Her paw steps barely made a sound as she crept forward toward her prey. No wonder she had succeeded in murdering so many cats without being caught.

Run! was Skypaw’s first thought. If I run back to camp, she’ll follow me there and my Clan will be in danger. Breezestar already gave me a second chance. There won’t be a third. She took a deep breath and dropped into a crouch, narrowing her eyes. I’ll face her, then.

“Oh, look who’s here,” Bubble snarled, her paws pressed to the ground, about to attack. “The most vulnerable little warrior yet.” Then she pounced, as fast as lightning.

A spike of shock shot through Skypaw. She gasped and pushed off her hind legs, flinging herself away from the rogue. Claws sharper than pine needles slashed her shoulder, barely missing her throat.

Without thinking, Skypaw growled and flung herself at Bubble, claws outstretched. The stupid rogue was going to pay, for everything she’d done, for all the pain she’d caused for the Clans. Skypaw reached for Bubble’s throat. She felt like her whole body was blazing with determination. She seemed to be soaring through the air toward Bubble, about to be the hero who saved everyone, about to end the enemy once and for all.

She should have known it couldn’t be that easy.

The next heartbeat powerful paws slammed against her belly, sending her flying backwards. Skypaw landed hard on the ground, all the breath driven out of her. She hauled herself to her paws again, breathing heavily.

No. Skypaw backed away as Bubble advanced, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest. She’s going to kill me. No, please, StarClan…

Suddenly a flash of black lightning shot out from a tree above and landed between Skypaw and Bubble. “Go back to camp!” Shadowleap growled. “I’ll hold her off.”

Skypaw’s mind was whirling too much for her to react properly in shock. “But–”

“GO!” Shadowleap yowled.

Skypaw turned around and bolted towards camp, racing through the forest as fast as her paws could carry her. She ignored the thorns digging into her fur, her mind blank and her insides full of fear and shock.

She burst into camp, gasping for breath, stumbling to a halt in the center of the clearing, trembling uncontrollably. She felt as if all her bravery had just suddenly vanished. Cloudpaw, of course, was the first one to bound up to her, followed by his mentor and a few other warriors.

“What happened?” her brother asked, concern in his blue eyes. “Skypaw, what happened? Are you alright?”

“I…I–” Skypaw gasped, her chest aching. She was so out of breath she could barely talk, and her mind was blank from shock so she couldn’t find any words anyway.

“Get her to the medicine den,” Treespring ordered. “She can tell Yarrowleaf and Breezestar what happened after she rests.”

Cloudpaw nodded and started helping her toward the medicine den. “This–is—urgent!” Skypaw protested. “I don’t need any rest!”

Cloudpaw betrayed her and shoved her into the den anyway, where Skypaw reluctantly lapped up the thyme Yarrowleaf gave her. She was just getting forced into lying in a nest when Cloudpaw appeared at the den entrance again.

“Breezestar’s here,” the fluffy white tom announced.

The black-and-gray she-cat padded in, her yellow eyes fixed on Skypaw. “What happened?” she immediately demanded.

Skypaw took a deep breath and told her the whole story. When she was finished, she realized Breezestar was glaring at her, her gaze sharper than ice.

Oh. Skypaw hadn’t realized the problem with this entire situation until now. Uh-oh.

The whole world seemed to collapse as her Clan leader mewed, “Why, exactly, were you seeing Bubble again?”