Chapter 4

Skykit blinked open her eyes. In the darkness of the nursery, she could make out her brother, Cloudkit, and her mother, Bladepelt, sleeping soundly in their nests. If only I were like them, Skykit thought sadly. I would fall asleep in a heartbeat. Cloudkit is just way more energetic than me. He tires himself out so fast. She glanced outside. The moonlight shone a wide circle in the center of camp, lighting the warriors coming back from the dusk patrol. I’d better go see them, Skykit thought. I don’t want to waste my time sleeping. She quietly slipped out of the den.

She padded along the edge of the camp, squeezing through the tight spaces. Eventually she reached a large bush, close enough for her to see the warriors, and leaped inside, peeking out from the gaps.

The dusk patrol, which was made up of Shadowleap, Rockheart, Stormsky, Riverleap, and Glidepaw, were standing together in a group as Breezestar appeared from her den and leaped lightly down to them. “Rockheart,” she greeted them. “Shadowleap and Stormsky. How did you do? Did you see any signs of ShadowClan?”

So they’re looking for ShadowClan? Skykit thought with a shiver. For what?

“No, not exactly,” Rockheart replied. “But I bet they’d come around eventually and show themselves. I just know that they’re hiding something.”

Breezestar nodded slowly. “Thank you, Rockheart.” Her gaze swept to the other cats. “Anyone else have a different opinion?”

Glidepaw glanced at his mentor, and Riverleap nodded. “This morning,” the pale gray apprentice began, “I went on the border patrol to check ShadowClan’s border, too, as you know already. Well, that time the ShadowClan warriors, I think it was Windcloud, Firepelt, and…others. Anyway, they said they didn’t cross the border, and we broke up into an argument. And Nimblepaw protested. She said we should believe them and leave them alone. And Darkfur said no.” He shivered. “I agree with Nimblepaw that we should just believe them.”

Breezestar’s eyes widened.

“But,” Glidepaw meowed, “I also agree that we should keep an eye on the border, just in case.”

Wow, Skykit thought, impressed. That was a nice speech. I wonder if I’ll have to do that one day. She shuddered at the thought. I wish I don’t have to.

“Thank you, Glidepaw,” Breezestar meowed. “You can all have a good sleep tonight. Go on, you’ve done well.” She turned and started to pad back to her den.

“Wait,” Shadowleap called. Breezestar turned back. “There’s one more thing. We heard something–most likely a cat–on our way back, wandering through the forest.”

Breezestar frowned. “Did you see it?”

“No,” Stormsky answered. “We just heard it. Heard paw steps through the forest.” The black-and-white she-cat stared at her leader expectantly.

A cat? Skykit wondered. In the forest? Should I check it out? She glanced toward the nursery. I don’t think Bladepelt or Cloudkit will be waking up soon. Maybe.

Breezestar thought for a moment. “I think we should check it out tomorrow,” she meowed. “I’ll put Darkfur on guard duty tonight, in case it’s an enemy.”

Darkfur? Skykit froze. She’d have to be quick if she wanted to investigate. Darkfur was a pretty harsh warrior. He’d send her back in a heartbeat.

The warriors all retreated to their dens. Skykit watched for another moment as Glidepaw hesitantly stepped into the apprentices’ den, and stayed where she was until the tip of his tail vanished inside. Skykit took a deep breath and jumped out of her hiding spot. She would be brave. She would go look for the strange cat.

Skykit scampered through the entrance as fast as she could before Darkfur could even take a step out of the warriors’ den. She bounded through the forest, unsure of where to go. Where should I go? she wondered. I’ll just wander around, maybe…

But before she could even take a few steps, there was a faint glow from somewhere in the forest. Maybe it’s that! Skykit thought excitedly. She hurried across the damp forest floor, not even bothering to look around at the amazing sights of the forest. She leaped over a large branch and sped down a small hill. Skykit looked up and let out a small gasp. There was a cat standing at the top of the small hill, staring down at her, its gray-and-white tabby fur shining in the light, its sharp yellow eyes sparkling in surprise.

Then it was gone.

Skykit let out a yelp and stumbled back. What was that? she wondered. Was it a StarClan cat? She shook out her pelt. No, Skykit, how can it be a StarClan cat? You’re not a medicine cat! “But then what was it?” she muttered to herself.

She headed back home, tracing her steps back. It wasn’t a long walk. But as she nearly reached the entrance, she heard paw steps thrumming on the forest floor. Skykit looked around. No glow this time. It’s the mystery cat! she thought frantically. She dashed through the entrance, thankful that Darkfur hadn’t been guarding the entrance yet, and scampered back into the nursery and stopped, panting. She looked over at her mother and brother. Still sleeping.

Skykit sighed and lay down in her own nest, still breathing heavily. What had happened? Was it real? Her thoughts swirling in her mind, she fell asleep.