Chapter 15

Skypaw trudged through the forest, her paws squelching through the mud. The air was filled with the scent of rain, and she took a deep breath, breathing it in.

The forest looked gray and gloomy all around her, but she felt utterly safe. This was SkyClan territory, her Clan’s territory, her territory. Branches snapped in the distance, and a nearby bush rustled as a squirrel dashed through it. The sky was bright and pale and Skypaw’s eyes hurt looking at it.

It had just rained earlier this morning, and she had absolutely hated staying in her den, doing nothing but watch the rain pour down from above. Now she was going out in the forest all by herself—

Wait, all by herself? Skypaw had left the camp too quickly to even notice what she was doing. She had felt a strong feeling—something calling her to the border. It had felt like she’d been tugged by something invisible, even though she’d been in full control of her body.

Wait, had she? Skypaw couldn’t find any words to explain the feeling, or what had happened. She had just…felt like it.

Suddenly she remembered the last time she had been called to the border: when Cloudpaw had been telling her about seeing Black, and Spiralpaw had been there to meet with her. Could something like this be happening? Skypaw wondered, but she didn’t think about it more. She should continue doing what her heart was telling her.

The ThunderClan border was up ahead. Skypaw put on a burst of speed and raced toward it. At first she couldn’t see anyone on the other side—it was just quiet trees and bushes and more trees—but after a moment a silver-and-white tabby shape slipped out from a bush, followed by a gray-and-white tabby one.

“Spiralpaw!” Skypaw exclaimed, joy flooding through her. “Swirlstem!”

“Skypaw!” Spiralpaw and Swirlstem meowed simultaneously.

“What called you here?” Skypaw asked, allowing herself a grin at seeing her friends again.

“Something!” Spiralpaw purred. “But the most important part is called, not what called us.”

Swirlstem flicked her tail at her. “One time Spiralpaw got ‘called’ into forest and we had a crazy vision about drowning which led to Curlstar’s death but saved Rubykit’s life which is great but still really unfair.”

“Oh,” Skypaw mewed. “So your sister became leader?” Swirlstem nodded. “And you guys had, like, a million adventures without me?”

“Well, sure,” Spiralpaw answered. “I bet you had some great adventures with Cloudpaw, though!”

Skypaw shuddered, the previous battles with Bubble flashing through her mind. “Not all great.”

“Not all great for us, either,” Swirlstem pointed out. “Curlstar…she lost four lives already.”

Skypaw opened her mouth to sympathize and tell her about Breezestar, but a new voice interjected before she could. “Who lost four lives?”

The three she-cats turned, and Skypaw let out a happy yowl. “Pinepaw!”

The black-and-brown tom was standing beside them, half in SkyClan territory and half in ThunderClan territory. He flashed a big smile as they met eyes. “Long time no see.”

Spiralpaw shrugged. “Not too long.”

Skypaw caught Pinepaw looking at the tabby apprentice with what looked like longing and hurt in his eyes. She was pretty sure the two of them had developed feelings for each other during the journey, and felt a wave of sympathy for him. It must have been hard.

“The days passed by so quickly,” Swirlstem explained. “Curlstar, my sister, became leader, and with all these dangers around, she already lost four lives.” Her eyes darkened with grief.

Pinepaw’s eyes widened. “Oh no,” he breathed. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible.”

Something that looked like annoyance flashed in Spiralpaw’s blue eyes. To avoid more negative feelings, Skypaw quickly meowed, “So what in StarClan called us here?”

Spiralpaw shrugged. “Who knows?”

Skypaw narrowed her eyes. Spiralpaw could be terribly annoying when she was in a bad mood. “Maybe it was just to catch up. It was nice seeing you all.” She turned around and started to head home.

“Wait!” Swirlstem protested. “Is this goodbye already?”

“It’s not goodbye forever,” Skypaw pointed out gently. “Besides, a patrol might catch us if we don’t split apart now. I’ll see you soon.”

Swirlstem sighed. “I hope so.”

Skypaw padded away, confused. She hopes so? What does that mean? “Bye!” she called over her shoulder.

“Bye,” the three other cats chorused quietly. Skypaw could hear them saying their goodbyes to Pinepaw.

Their voices faded behind her as she padded deeper into her territory, back towards the camp, silence echoing around her. She stopped. The only sound she could hear was her own breathing, her own paw steps. She shivered.

But the cold had nothing to do with what she was feeling. An unexplainable wave of fear washed over her. Why is it so quiet?

A twig snapped somewhere near her. Skypaw froze, unable to breathe. Is someone there?

“Hello?” she called anxiously, and then cut herself off abruptly. Why am I even saying this? I know it can be Bubble!

Skypaw clenched her teeth. I’d better get back to camp fast. She broke into a run, splashing noisily through the mud. She could just imagine all the terrible things that could happen if Bubble caught her out in the forest, alone.

She let out a gasp as one of her paws started sinking into the mud as she ran. Skypaw strained to pull it out, panic coursing through her.

As fast as lightning, a shape exploded out of a bush and slammed her down.

Skypaw screeched and tried to push the cat off, but mud splashed onto her face. Her breath coming fast, she unsheathed her claws and kicked out blindly. It’s Bubble! It’s Bubble!

The rogue yowled as Skypaw hit what felt like the center of her belly. Bubble stumbled backward, which gave Skypaw the chance to scramble up. She shook herself wildly and the mud flew off her.

“Stupid cat!” Bubble growled, dropping into a crouch in front of her. “Going out into the forest alone! You know you’re too weak to fight me!”

Skypaw shifted into a stance Shadowleap had taught her just a few days ago. “Actually I don’t know that!”

“Then you’re even dumber than I thought!” A jolt of terror shook Skypaw as Bubble leaped at her again. She shot out of the way and kicked the ground, mud spraying up all over the rogue. Bubble shrieked and lashed out at Skypaw.

Stinging pain bloomed across her shoulder, and Skypaw leaped backward, out of range from Bubble’s next blow. She’s going to kill me. There’s no one here to help me.

“Stupid,” Bubble growled, prowling forward. “Even worse than stupid. What were you thinking, coming out here all alone, little bug? Next time just cower in your den all day like you should.”

Anger flashed through Skypaw. “I won’t!” she screeched, flinging herself at the black-and-ginger she-cat.

She knew she had surprised the rogue. Bubble stumbled backward, unbalanced, allowing Skypaw to pin her down. Skypaw slashed her claws across her belly, leaving bloody marks across her fur.

Miraculously, Bubble heaved herself up and clamped her jaws around Skypaw’s throat. She heard an earsplitting shriek, but it was not hers. Hope bloomed inside her. Help is coming!

Bubble’s eyes flashed with hatred and rage and she bit down harder. Skypaw let out a gurgle of pain as blackness swirled around her. No. I’m not going to make it!

Pinepaw…Spiralpaw…Swirlstem…I’m sorry…

Black, white, brown, and gray fur flashed in the corner of her eye. Shadowleap. Cloudpaw. Treespring. Riverleap. Stormsky. Seeing her Clanmates, thinking about them, gave her a surge of energy.

I can’t let my death be in vain…and she’s so close now… Skypaw summoned all her strength and sliced a long line of red across Bubble’s throat with her claws. Skypaw felt the black-and-ginger cat jerk.

She started to relax, to give in. My work must be done. Just as Bubble began to go limp, she suddenly started struggling wildly. What the—

One of Bubble’s flailing paws hit Skypaw squarely in the eye, and then everything went black.