Chapter 2

Pinepaw sat outside the hollow tree, listening to the quiet sound of the rain falling softly onto the green grass. He felt extremely guilty about accusing Spiralpaw earlier. It wasn’t my job, he thought sadly. Just like it wasn’t my job to meet Nimblepaw, to watch her die, to start meeting her brother right after that. It wasn’t even my job to come on this journey.

“Pinepaw?” a voice called behind him.

Pinepaw turned, and as soon as he saw the silver on Spiralpaw’s pelt, he blurted, “I’m so sorry, Spiralpaw! I didn’t mean to discourage you earlier.”

Spiralpaw sat down beside him. “It’s fine, Pinepaw. What are you doing out here?”

This time the pang of grief was so sharp and painful that Pinepaw dug his claws into the ground and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Spiralpaw was staring at him curiously. “Are you okay?” she asked gently.

Pinepaw hesitated for a moment. Should he tell her about Nimblepaw’s death? About being in love with her? Would Spiralpaw accuse him of trespassing on another Clan’s territory, or of falling in love with a cat from a different Clan?

“I’m grieving,” Pinepaw finally forced out.

Spiralpaw looked at him again, this time her eyes full of concern. “For who?” she mewed gently.

Pinepaw stared at the rain falling a few tail-lengths in front of him and wondered if he should really tell her. If I do, how will I say it? “Well,” he began, “this may sound crazy, but…I fell in love with a SkyClan cat.”

Spiralpaw stiffened, but the concern in her eyes didn’t disappear. “Did she…?” She trailed off.

Pinepaw looked at his paws. “Yes,” he mewed, his throat tightening until he could barely speak anymore. “I met her brother one night, and then we heard her shriek…” He shivered. “And then we rushed to SkyClan’s camp, and found her body in the clearing…” He didn’t mention the part where they had gone onto SkyClan territory on purpose.

Spiralpaw moved closer to him, their pelts brushing. “I’m sorry,” she breathed. “That must have been hard.” She wrapped her tail around his shoulders.

“Thank you,” Pinepaw whispered, grateful for her support. “I thought you wouldn’t understand.”

Suddenly Spiralpaw whirled around to gaze at him. “Wait,” she hissed, “can you tell me how the cat you fell in love with looked like, and her name?”

Pinepaw’s throat tightened again. “Her name was Nimblepaw. She was golden…all golden, like the afternoon sunshine…and her eyes were two large blue sparkling pools.”

Spiralpaw tilted her head, thinking. “Okay,” she said slowly, uncertainly. “Thank you, Pinepaw.” And she disappeared into the hollow tree.

Pinepaw took one last look at the rain, then followed her back inside and curled up in his nest.

 

Pinepaw blinked open his eyes to bright morning sunshine. The scent of fresh mouse swirled in the air, and he scrambled outside, hungry.

Spiralpaw, Swirlpaw, and Skypaw were already awake, gathered around four dead mice. Swirlpaw looked up at the sound of his paw steps and narrowed her eyes. Spiralpaw nudged her and murmured something in her ear. Pinepaw guessed she was telling her friend that he was forgiven.

“Come eat with us, Pinepaw,” Skypaw invited as she tore another strip off her mouse.

Pinepaw padded over and sank his teeth into the only mouse that was unbitten. The warm, juicy blood and flesh slid down his throat, and suddenly everything felt better.

“Let’s keep going,” Spiralpaw meowed when everyone was finished. “We haven’t got time to waste.”

Pinepaw fell in beside Spiralpaw as they set off again. “Do we have to get to the Crystal Sun thing before the next full moon, or do we get back from it before the next full moon?” he wondered aloud.

“Get back from it,” Spiralpaw answered. “If it was to just get there, we could be playing around chasing our tails right now.”

“Oh,” Pinepaw muttered, embarrassed. “Then…do you have any idea what the Crystal Sun is?”

Spiralpaw shook her head. “No! I don’t even get why it’s called a Crystal Sun. Is it a sun that’s made of crystals…?”

“I don’t think so,” Skypaw piped up from behind. “It’s got to be better than that. Something sacred, maybe something old…and powerful.”

Pinepaw shrugged. “I guess. But it could also be a small object that we have to carry back,” he suggested.

“Are you crazy?” Skypaw cried. “Why would StarClan want us to carry something all the way back home and break our jaws?”

“I could be right,” Pinepaw growled.

“I think I’m right,” Skypaw shot back.

Spiralpaw snorted. “We’ll see. Now let’s focus on actually getting there.”

Pinepaw lifted his head toward the sun, carefully avoiding its bright glare. We’re going to get there…and then we can go back.