Snow Falls On Desert Skies

Prologue1

The breeze blew at a quick speed though the forest.2

"The island is near," a female voice was heard, a rather large group of cats behind her. "We must hurry. The others are already there."3

The group continued along the long mossy tree, over a large body of water.4

"Flowerstar, how much longer? My paws are going to fall off," an older apprentice decided to complain about the walk.5

"Mosspaw, your paws must adapt to this, if you want to become a warrior," Flowerstar looked at Mosspaw, her eyes beginning to narrow. Mosspaw sighed, and looked at her friends, Spottedpaw, Sparrowpaw, Swiftpaw, Ravenpaw, and Featherpaw. Mosspaw blinked slowly, her eyes to meet another cat. This cat, Mosspaw swore she could kill her if she wanted to. The she-cat looked back at her.6

"What are you looking at, mouse-brain?" the cat spat at Mosspaw.7

"Nice to see you to, Blackpaw," Mosspaw replied to her. Suddenly, Mosspaw turned away from Blackpaw, hearing a sound from her clan, ThunderClan. Soon, the clan was across the fallen tree, and onto the island. Towering pines circled the rather small island, large enough to hold about seventy full-grown cats. Mosspaw’s green eyes looked around at the island, and went off to meet her friends. The ThunderClan cat went to a group of apprentices, their scent belonging to the other clans; WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan.8

“Hello,” Mosspaw licked her short light tanned coloured fur, to look back up at them.9

“Mosspaw, good to see you!” a strong sounding meow came from a RiverClan tom, his sleek tabby pelt shone in the full white moon.10

“Hello Brackenpaw,” Mosspaw greeted him, with a gentle smile. Her gaze turned to another tom, his gaze dark.11

“Joy,” he said sarcastically, and he flicked his tail.12

“Pinepaw, must you be so prickly? Who knew ShadowClan could be so much like their territory,” Brakenpaw rolled his eyes at the apprentice, and Pinepaw raised a lip in anger.13

Mosspaw looked at Pinepaw, and back at Brakenpaw.14

“Brakenpaw, just ignore him,” a WindClan she-cat smiled at Mosspaw, Pinepaw, and Brakenpaw.15

“Badgerpaw! You’re here!” Mosspaw smiled back at her, and poked her side in gentle greeting. Badgerpaw purred gently, her glee brimming though her eyes.16

Soon, a loud yowl sounded though the island, the voice echoing among the trees.17

“May the gathering begin!”18

All the gazes turned to the leaders. Flowerstar, her beautiful amber eyes were looking down upon the clan cats.19

“I will start. Whitesnow has given birth to a new litter of kits, Redkit and Greenkit. We’re sure that their father, Ashtalon, is very proud of his mate and children,” the white she-cat smiled at the dark-gray tom, and looked back into the sky. “I am finished.”20

“I will begin!” a large black tom padded to the front, his pale ice blue eyes looked down on the cats, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.21

“I don’t really like him, that Eaglestar. Too picky, I say,” Mosspaw meowed to Pinepaw.22

“Shush!” Ashtalon had silenced Mosspaw right away.23

Eaglestar looked at the cats, an eyebrow raised in confusion. Rolling his eyes, he continued. “You may wonder why so many cats of RiverClan are missing today. Badgers had attacked our camp, like what happened to ThunderClan many, many seasons ago. They killed many, including our deputy, Moonfire. We have yet to sit vigil for the fallen, but we have appointed a new deputy. And that deputy is Tallwind,” Eaglestar’s eyes fell onto a tall tabby she-cat, her mouth formed in a sly smile.24

“I don’t trust her,” Brakenpaw meowed in Mosspaw’s ear.25

Eaglestar looked at Coldstar, the ShadowClan leader. The large tom held his head up high to assume his position of speaking on the branch.26

“We are proud to announce a new warrior, she is Silentspirit,” a group of loud yowls rang though the island’s soul, to welcome the new warrior. Mosspaw looked around, and saw a white she-cat with her head held high, but fear scent trickling from her.27

She must be nervous, Mosspaw thought, as she looked up at Coldstar. 28

“That is all.” Coldstar dipped his head, and all the clan cat’s heads looked at a slim, long-legged tom. The WindClan leader, Talonstar, looked back down at them.29

“WindClan has nothing special to report. The prey is running greatly in our territory and hope for the best it’ll stay that way. The gathering is over!”30

And with that, the clan cats left for home.31

Chapter One32

Mossface woke with a jolt in the warriors den. Swifttalon was beside her, but she still felt quite uncomfortable. She felt so alone without Spottedfire at her side, but Mossface knew that her friend had a job to do. Getting up, Mossface padded out of the den to stretch. She saw that the camp was already buzzing with activity. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. Blacksoul was staring right at her. Mossface padded up swiftly towards her, only to brush past her to get to the medicine cat den. Spottedfire was gone. Sighing, Mossface looked off to the exit of the camp. Nodding her head, she padded off to the camp entrance, and she decided to look for Spottedfire.33

Mossface continued in the search, scents wafting up her nose of water and prey. Mossface went on, following Spottedfire’s scent trail. Mossface soon found the pretty calico she-cat, and she smiled. She padded up to her, the smile still on her face.34

“Hello,” Mossface greeted her friend with a poke on her ear. Spottedfire looked up at Mossface, and meowed.35

“Hi Mossface. Did you follow me here?” she looked back at the yarrow she was collecting, and flicked her tail, waiting for her friend’s reply. Mossface nodded at her. Mossface’s ear flicked, as a rustle was heard in the bushes. Nodding farewell to Spottedfire, she went to go catch the prey that was there. Dropping into a crouch, Mossface sniffed the air. Vole, she thought, as she soon spotted it. You’re all mine now! Mossface smirked, and launched herself in its direction. Sinking its claws into his body, she swiftly killed it without a sound by a bite to the neck. Smiling proudly, Mossface went off to put it in the fresh kill pile. Ravenfeather peered up from her laying spot, and stood up to greet her friend, Swifttalon following along. The two smiled at Mossface, the tan she-cat meowed in greeting.36

“Swifttalon, Ravenfeather,” she nodded her head. Ravenfeather looked in the nursery.37

“I wonder when we will get an apprentice..” she said, talking to herself. Swifttalon sighed, and turned to face her friend.38

“There needs to be kits first, mouse-brain. Redpaw and Greenpaw are apprenticed to Flowerstar and Spottedfire, so that means we can’t have one.” Swifttalon’s eyes narrowed at Ravenfeather. The tabby opened her eyes fully again, and, after a moment of silence, a yowl sounded though the camp. All three turned their heads, Feathersong and Sparrowwing coming out of the elder’s den, after helping the apprentices remove ticks. Spottedfire was racing into the camp, panting heavily.39

“ShadowClan has invaded! ShadowClan has invaded!” she announced, her eyes wide in fright. Flowerstar came out of her den immediately.40

“Swifttalon, Mossface, Feathersong, Ravenfeather, Sparrowwing, Ashtalon, and Greenpaw. Come with me. You come as well, Spottedfire and Redpaw. We’ll need your assistance.” Flowerstar raced out of camp, all of the warriors following. Mossface’s eyes lit up. She was going to defeat ShadowClan with her fellow clanmates. She felt proud. But they were there sooner than expected. ShadowClan don’t live in this kind of territory. They move slowly in undergrowth, Mossface thought, as she saw the enemy clan’s warriors moving though the trees. With a battle cry from Flowerstar, the warriors leapt into battle. Mossface took on a bracken-coloured tom. “You may be my friend, Pineclaw, but I won’t back down!” Mossface growled, bringing her paw down heavily on his head. Pineclaw hissed at her, narrowly dodging her attack. Pineclaw jumped backwards, and leapt at Mossface, pinning her down. Mossface smirked at him, and began to claw his belly with her hind legs. Pineclaw growled, and jumped off once more. Mossface leapt back at him, blood pounding in her ears. Mossface stopped in front of him, only to rear up on her hind legs. Putting all her weight on her hind legs, she thrashed back down on him, her paws landing hard on his back. With a grunt, he landed a top of the undergrowth, fleeing from the battle when he got back up. Mossface smirked, and went to help Feathersong with her opponent. Mossface nipped at his paws, while Feathersong nipped at his face, her face formed in a snarl. The ShadowClan apprentice growled in warning, and fled as well, after Pineclaw. The ShadowClan deputy growled, and yowled to abandon battle. The warriors pulled away from the victors, and fled to the pine tree territory where they belonged. The ThunderClan cats cheered in glee, and went to go back to camp. Sparrowwing had quite a bit of scratches on her, but Spottedfire was looking at her. Soon they entered the camp, and cats peered out of the dens. A lot of the cats went to Spottedfire’s den to get treated. Instead, Mossface, Swifttalon, Feathersong, and Ravenfeather went to the warriors den to get some rest. Swifttalon went to go by Rockfang, and soon the two feel asleep by each other. Mossface watched as Ravenfeather went by Liontooth, and smiled at Ravenfeather. She was glad most of her friends had someone they could love. Looking to Feathersong, Mossface padded to the she-cat. She lay by her, and soon closed her eyes, deeping into her slumber.41

The sun was just rising when Ashtalon woke her up. Mossface groaned, but straightened up to stand. She had nearly forgotten that she had dawn patrol. Mossface exited the den, trying not to wake Feathersong as she crept out. When outside, she began to stretch her limbs in the sunlight.42

“Wake up Greenpaw.” Ashtalon ordered Mossface. With a nod, Mossface slowly padded to the apprentice’s den. Only two cats were in the rather large den, Redpaw and Greenpaw. Going to Greenpaw, she prodded him.43

“Time for the patrol,” she whispered to him. With a groan, he got up, his eyes narrowed. “I was just about to catch that mouse!” Greenpaw sighed, and he followed Mossface out of the den. Ashtalon was waiting for the two, Spottedfire with him.44

“Spottedfire has to come along to look for herbs,” and with that, Ashtalon lead the four cats out of camp, the sun beginning to warm the forest ground.45

The patrol followed around the territory borders, and soon camp the lake. From there they could see RiverClan territory. Mossface wondered what Brackenthorn was doing there. Spottedfire looked at Mossface, and prodded her with her paw. Mossface was surprised, and looked at Spottedfire, her eyes wide.46

“Your wondering about your friend aren’t you?” she meowed to Mossface, her tone was worried.47

“I’m fine.” Mossface snorted. “Just leave me alone.” Mossface’s eyes narrowed at the medicine cat, and she padded off to keep up with the patrol.48

“To much sight-seeing, Mossface?” Ashtalon smirked jokingly.49

“Maybe. Let’s just get back to camp as soon as possible.” Mossface’s eyes narrowed again, and tried to keep the sourness out of her tone.50

Soon the group was back at the ThunderClan camp, prey held tightly in Mossface’s mouth. She dropped it in the fresh kill pile, only to see a the tabby form of Swifttalon talking to Rockfang. Mossface smiled, and she padded over to the group. She noticed the tabby she-cat looked bigger than before. Is she visiting twolegs for food? Mossface wondered. Swifttalon looked at Mossface, and smiled. Rockfang followed her gaze, giving Mossface a curt nod. He smiled at Swifttalon, and padded away out of the camp.51

“What was that about?” Mossface asked Swifttalon, her eyes burning with curiosity. Swifttalon looked back up to her, a smile craved into her slender face, blue eyes blinking and long whiskers twitching in excitement.52

“I was talking to Spottedfire about seven moons ago, and I was talking to Rockfang about it. She said….” Swifttalon looked to her paws.53

“ She said wha-?” Mossface was cut off by the appearance of Sparrowwing.54

“Swifttalon, Flowerstar said she wanted you for a hunting patrol.” Sparrowwing meowed, gently pushing Mossface out of the way. As Mossface walked away, she could hear Sparrowwing talking on about her morning hunting trip. Mossface rolled her eyes, only to mutter under her breath.55

“Mouse-brain.”56

Mossface continued on, and padded to the medicine cat den. Spottedfire was her best friend, and her sister. She had to see her sometime. Mossface smiled as she saw the calico, but frowned at the sight of Tawnyclaw.57

“Oh no. Tawnyclaw hasn’t come down with a fever, as he?” Mossface could smell the scent of feverfew from outside in the camp.58

Spottedfire looked at Mossface, and nodded slowly. Mossface sighed, and turned around towords the exit of the den. She flicked her tail in good-bye, and she padded out. She looked around for everyone. Then, she sighed. She decided to turn in. It was getting late, and she was getting tired. Mossface went into the warriors den, laying in her bed of moss. She sighed sweetly, and she closed her eyes gently, falling to sleep bit by bit.59

Mossface soon awoke. Swifttalon, for some reason, wasn’t in the den. Where could she be? Mossface looked around. It wasn’t even sunrise yet! Swifttalon’s scent entered the air. Had so much time passed since she had thought about her? Mossface ran out of the camp, following Swifttalon’s scent. Suddenly, she heard a sharp yowl pierce the cold, leafbare air. Mossface rounded around the Sky Oak. She saw Swifttalon, laying on the chilly dirt, Blacksoul standing above her, her back to Mossface. Rockfang lay beside her, his eyes glazed, staring into nothingness. Swifttalon’s eyes were wide, their ice blue eyes were full of the emotion of fear and sorrow. Mossface’s lip rose. She growled aloud, and once Blacksoul turned to face her, Mossface leapt, her claws unsheathed. She looked at Blacksoul’s claws. Inbedded between her claws, she saw Rockfang’s fur. Mossface aimed to score her claws down her face.60

“Murderer!” she spat at Blacksoul. Blacksoul hissed, as Mossface’s claws stabbed into her eyes. Blacksoul fled as fast as she could. Mossface spat at her as she raced away. Mossface padded over to her friend. She gasped. Mossface noticed four little kits suckling at their mother’s side. Three of them looked exactly like Rockfang. One looked like Swifttalon. Mossface pressed her nose into her best friend’s side. Tears welled up in both of their eyes, as both of their eyes traveled to the large brown tom. Mossface stood up, and put a paw on his body.61

“Deathly cold,” she meowed, mostly to herself. She turned to Swifttalon, and she meowed. “What will you name them?” Mossface dared to meet her friends eyes. Swifttalon looked back up at Mossface, and down at the four kittens. She motioned to a dark brown she-cat, and meowed. “Deathkit.” She looked to another dark brown kit, but a tom. “Revengekit.” She looked to the tabby tom. “Lifelesskit.” And lastly, her gaze slipped to the dark brown tom. “Gravekit.” Swifttalon looked up to Mossface.62

“I’m sorry for your lo –“ Mossface began to talk, but was interrupted from an angry growl from Swifttalon.63

“I don’t need your pity!” she spat at her friend. She looked at Rockfang, and meowed after a moment. “I need some time alone.” She looked at Mossface. Mossface nodded, and she ran off, towards the camp. She had to tell Flowerstar about the murder!64

Chapter Two65

Mossface burst into the camp. “Flowerstar, Flowerstar!” she yowled at the top of her lungs. Flowerstar came out of her den, he eyes wide.66

“What’s wrong?”67

“Rockfang is dead!”68

The whole camp came to a quiet pause. Suddenly, the morning patrol came with a mournful yowl. Rockfang was dragged into the camp, his ice blue eyes seemed to pierce every cat as his body passed them. Swifttalon came in later, carrying two kits in her jaws, and two other cats of the patrol carried one each. Swifttalon went straight to the nursery. She placed them there, along with the other two. Spottedfire went into the den, making sure they were healthy. Ravenfeather and Feathersong padded out of the warriors den, along with Sparrowwing and Blacksoul. Mossface’s eyes narrowed at Blacksoul, her eyes bloody from her now non-seeing eyes that recently happened that morning.69

“And I know who did it.” Mossface didn’t take her eyes off of the tabby she-cat. Flowerstar raced to Mossface’s side. “Who?”70

“Blacksoul.”71

Blacksoul suddenly lunged at Mossface, having good aim from her excellent sence of hearing and scent.72

“Crowfood!” Blacksoul snarled, as she aimed to sink her claws into her neck. Mossface landed on her back, trying to overthrow her attacker. Mossface kicked up her hind legs as Blacksoul landed, Mossface hitting her right in the stomach. Blacksoul landed with a thud, and Rabbitleg and Liontooth pinned her down. Flowerstar padded up to Blacksoul.73

“Is this true?” Flowerstar questioned her. Blacksoul snarled, and tried to lift her paw up to hit Flowerstar in the muzzle. Flowerstar snarled, her claws unsheathed into the chilly dirt. “Blacksoul, you are now exiled from ThunderClan. If you come into our territory again, we will treat you like we would any other intruder. Get out of my sight.” Rabbitleg and Liontooth released the tabby, and she sped off into the cold, frosty morning. Thornnose and Sparrowwing followed in pursuit, making sure she did leave. Flowerstar watched them as they left.74

“Now, let us all sit vigil for the fallen.”75

Swifttalon sat beside him, Mossface following her, along with the other cats of ThunderClan. They all sat, shivering either because of cold, or from shock of Blacksoul’s betrayal. Mossface looked to Swifttalon, and sighed. She padded to the nursery, to look at the kits. She sighed, and she lay down in the den. The kits seemed to cuddle up to her quickly. Mossface gently pushed them towards her, to keep them nice and warm. Mossface closed her eyes, and slowly, but surely drifted off to sleep.76

Mossface woke up, Swifttalon was beside her, already awake. Mossface stood up, looking embarrassed. “Sorry about that, Swifttalon. I thought they’d be cold.” Swifttalon nodded.77

“I understand.” She smiled. “Thank you.” Mossface nodded towords her, and padded out of the den. She sighed sadly. Why wasn’t there anyone for her? She felt so lonely. Mossface went into the medicine cat’s den, to look for Spottedfire. She saw her sister there, still looking after Tawnyclaw. “Is he going to be okay?” she asked. Mossface was really worried about the elder. Could he pull out of it? Spottedfire shook her head.78

“His fever moved to greencough. I don’t know if he will make it.” She sighed. “Will you go to the old twoleg place for me, and collect some catnip?”79

“Sure.”80

“Make sure you take someone else with you.”81

“Alright.” Mossface walked out of the den.82

“And hurry! Who knows when he will stop breathing!” Spottedfire yowled after her. With a flick of Mossface’s tail, Spottedfire turned back to look after Tawnyclaw.83

Mossface padded into the warriors den, and saw Rabbitleg. She smiled at him, and meowed. “Rabbitleg, will you come with me to the old twoleg place with me?” The tom looked up, and nodded, smiling. He stood up, shook his pelt, and began to pad out of the camp with her.84

They continued to walk, and as they did, the sun began to set. It was beginning to get even colder than it was before, and Mossface was growing very, very cold. Rabbitleg looked at her, and meowed.85

“Do you need to go back?”86

“No. I’m fine.” Mossface continued on, and soon the two were at the twoleg house. It looked rusty, made on finely cut beige stones, snow falling from the sky. Rabbitleg padded over to the garden. He sniffed around, and found the catmint Mossface needed to get.87

“Is that what you wanted?”88

“Yes it is, thank you Rabbitleg.” Mossface padded over to look at it. It looked withered, but it had to do. It just had to! Mossface ripped the sweet-smelling plant from the snow-covered ground. She nodded to Rabbitleg, and raced off into the darkness.89

Mossface came into the camp with Rabbitleg at her heels. They raced into the medicine cat’s den, Greenpaw looking over Tawnyclaw. Mossface sighed in relief. Tawnyclaw was still alive. Spottedfire looked up to Mossface.90

“Thank you,” she meowed, and she took the catmint. Mossface nodded, and left with Rabbitleg at her side. The two padded into the den to lay down. Rabbitleg looked at her. “Want to go hunting with me after we’re done resting?” Rabbitleg asked Mossface. Mossface couldn’t help but smile.91

“Sure. We can go right after I go see Swifttalon,” she meowed. Rabbitleg nodded, and decided to go with Mossface. Mossface looked over her shoulder, and looked inside the nursery. “Swifttalon?” Mossface meowed. The she-cat looked around, only seeing the four sleeping kits of hers. A puzzled look was put on Mossface’s face. She looked back at Rabbitleg. “Have you seen Swifttalon? She usually doesn’t go off alone.” Mossface wondered. Rabbitleg shook his head.92

“Maybe she decided to go hunting,” he suggested.93

“With no one to look after her kits? I don’t think so.” Mossface meowed. “Lets look.” She meowed, and they took off again. Rabbitleg and Mossface soon found a scent trail of the tabby she-cat. They followed it, it only leading toward the lake. Rabbitleg looked around.94

“Where would she be?”95

“There she is!” Mossface meowed shocked. On ShadowClan territory, Mossface could see Swifttalon quickly sharing tongues along the shore with a ShadowClan tom. Mossface saw Swifttalon’s eyes flicker, showing that she saw them. Her eyes widened, and she said good-bye to the tom, racing towards ThunderClan territory. Mossface flicked her tail for Rabbitleg to follow as she raced back towards camp.96

Back at camp, Mossface didn’t bother to talk to Swifttalon as she passed her to get to the warriors den. Mossface went to lie in her nest. The pale ginger she-cat sighed heavily, and waited awhile. Wasn’t Rabbitleg going to come? Suddenly, the gray tom’s steady blue eyes entered the nest, two voles dangling by their tails from his mouth for the two warriors. Mossface looked up, a put a delicate smile on her face.97

“I brought this for you.” Rabbitleg meowed softly, and placed one of the voles in his mouth in front of her. He smiled back. Mossface looked up and him, seeing him drag his nest over. Rabbitleg lay down, taking a bite of his vole. Mossface looked at it, and prodded at it. She took a nibble. Rabbitleg reached towards her ear. “Are you upset about Swifttalon?” he asked. Mossface looked back, and nodded sadly.98

“She betrayed me.”99

“But how do you know she did something bad?”100

“Didn’t you see the panic in her eyes? Obviously she was up to something.” Mossface meowed, eyes brimming with sadness. Rabbitleg pressed his nose into her side, trying to comfort her. Mossface sighed, and took another bite of the vole Rabbitleg had given her. Mossface laid her head in her paws, her eyes flickering between Rabbitleg and the vole. Her black paw gently nudged the prey away, inviting Rabbitleg to eat it. Rabbitleg nodded, and reached in to eat it for Mossface. Mossface let out a weak smile, and curled herself into her nest more. Rabbitleg did the same, seeing Mossface watching him. Mossface purred, and lay her head on his back, and soon the two fell into their slumber.101

Chapter Three102

Mossface awoke once more. She found her head laying on cold dust-like dirt. The she-cat frowned. Mossface stood up, and she shook her pelt. She walked outside, looking for Rabbitleg. She padded to the medicine cat den. Maybe Spottedfire would know.103

“Have you seen Rabbi-!” Mossface ended with a gasp. There, in front of her, was Rabbitleg laying in a moss nest, his pelt bloody, and his left hindleg completely spun around and cracked in half. Mossface wailed, and went to cover his ear in comforting licks. “What happened?!” she exclaimed. Spottedfire looked up from her work. 104

“Badger.” She only spoke one word, as she continued to work. “Please leave. It won’t help if my patient is sadder than he is.” She meowed. Mossface looked her friend in the eyes, and left the den, running into the warriors den. She lay where her and Rabbitleg lay the night before. It tore her heart to think of what would happen. He’d have to move to the elders den, since there was already a medicine cat. Mossface sighed, and she continued to think sadly. The she-cat silently gasped, eyes widening. She soon realized that she liked Rabbitleg more than a friend. After all, he cared for her very well, and she loved him for that. Crippled or not, she’d love him. Mossface soon stood up, and she took a deep breath. She soon raced into the medicine cat den, a bright smile on her face. Mossface looked at Spottedfire, and asked,105

“May I speak to him? Alone?”106

“Go ahead. But be quick.” Spottedfire meowed, and padded out of the den. She lay by the tom, her eyes shining with happiness. Rabbitleg placed a weak smile on his face, but shortly after he cringed in pain. Mossface put a gentle smile, and began to speak softly to him.107

“Rabbitleg. After all this time, I realized how I really felt. About the world, about life – About you.” Her hot breath blew against the tom’s ear. Rabbitleg looked her in the eye, obviously still mildly confused in the situation. Mossface smiled again, and continued. “I began to think, and after how nice you’ve been to me, I noticed.” Mossface meowed, and looked at him deeply in his eyes. She twined his tail with hers, and purred. “I love you.” Rabbitleg looked at her, his eyes beginning to water. Mossface was confused, but soon realized. He was crying. Of joy. Rabbitleg began to cover her face in licks.108

“I love you too.” He weakly meowed. Tears streamed from his face. “If only I could ever offer you more. My leg – Spottedfire says it’ll never get better.” He meowed. “You’d be stuck with an elder.” Rabbitleg’s bright smile turned into a frown. Mossface licked him delicately on the cheek. “Than that is how it’ll be,” she meowed. Rabbitleg looked at her, and smiled. “Thank you so much, Mossface.” He meowed quietly with a purr. “I’ll try to get better.” Rabbitleg smiled. Mossface stood up, and nodded.109

“Good-Bye,” she meowed, and she padded out of the den, Spottedfire entering once she exited. She smiled happily at Spottedfire. “I think he’ll be fine.” Mossface meowed, and Spottedfire nodded in acknowledgement. Mossface smiled, her head in the clouds. She saw Swifttalon’s litter playing happily outside the nursery. Mossface nodded to the four kits, and saw Flowerstar coming towards her.110

“Mossface, you are going to the gathering tonight. Tell Sparrowwing she is going as well.” Flowerstar meowed with a nod. Mossface nodded back, and went to go tell Sparrowwing. She found Sparrowwing in the warrior’s den, and Mossface stood at the entrance. “Flowerstar told me to tell you that you’ll be going to the gathering tonight,” she meowed. Sparrowwing flicked her tail, to sign that she heard Mossface. Mossface nodded, and decided to spend the rest of her day hunting.111

“Hurry up everyone!” Flowerstar called behind her as they crossed the tree bridge.112

Mossface smiled at Sparrowwing, and continued on along the bridge above the murky, dark water. Mossface soon saw the large trees, a smile creeping up her face. Seeing Sparrowwing far ahead of her, Mossface raced to catch up. Sparrowwing looked back, and put a smile on her face.113

“You have too much time on your hands.” Sparrowwing purred. Mossface nudged her jokingly, and the two padded to meet the other cats. Sparrowwing split from Mossface, and Mossface went to join Brackenthorn, Pineclaw, and Badgertail. The she-cat nodded in greeting to her friends. She looked at Pineclaw, a humorous smile on her face.
“How are your cuts healing, Pineclaw?” Mossface laughed, but her friend didn’t give any happiness back to her.
“Shut it, crowfood!” he snarled. “ShadowClan deserve more territory than the other clans! We have more to feed, and we have purer blood!” That ticked Mossface off. She wasn’t completely pureblood – her grandparents were loners. Mossface felt her lip curl.
“Blood has nothing to do with it! It all depends on your loyalty!” she hissed. Her fur began to bristle. “You’re just like the other ShadowClan cats. All you care about is yourself!” The she-cat’s claws unsheathed in anger. Her voice grew louder. “You’re a selfish piece of foxdung, and I never want to hear from you again!” she screeched. The she-cat spun around from the tom, and raced out of the trees, towards the bridge. She felt the gazes of other cats on her, with some footsteps behind her.
“Mossface, please come back!” Mossface heard the calls of her sister behind her. The she-cat felt herself race across the tree log that lead back to their territory. Yet, one of her hind legs slipped. Mossface fallen into the cold, dark lake. She struggled to keep her head above water. Mossface cried for help. Spottedfire came onto the tree, and tried to help her sister out of the water, but their reach wasn’t long enough.114

A splash was heard from the distance. Brackenthorn had leapt into the water, and began to swiftly swim towards his friend. The tom dove under the water, and came back up with Mossface on his back, her eyes closed with exhaustion. Her pale ginger fur stood out against his light tan tabby fur, as he strongly swam back towards the shore, Spottedfire trying to run and keep stable on the log as she ran towards Mossface. Brackenthorn brought the she-cat onto the shore, Spottedfire pushing him out of the way, beginning to do her medicine work. Brackenthorn only watch, his ear flicked when he heard Badgertail coming along. Mossface could slightly smell Sparrowwing along with her. Mossface groaned in pain, her eyes still closed. She felt pain in her stomach, but she ignored it. Mossface felt her sister’s gentle paws on her torso, Mossface waiting patiently. Sparrowwing watched in silence, her eyes wide in shock at the sudden incident. The silence was broken after Mossface began to cough, water coming out of her mouth, landing on the ground beside her.
“Are you alright?” Spottedfire asked her, placing a paw lightly on her cheek. Mossface slowly nodded, her body feeling sore and tired. Mossface stood up shakily, Brackenthorn and Badgertail going up beside her to help her stay balanced. Mossface put a small smile on her face.
“Thanks.”115

When the Gathering was over, Ravenfeather and Sparrowwing had taken over for Brackenthorn and Badgertail. Mossface thanked them with a nod and a weak smile, and they began to cross the bridge, but much more slowly. Pawstep by pawstep, Mossface began to shake – what if she fell in the water again? The she-cat tried hard to keep her balance, and thank StarClan she succeeded. Back on her own territory, Mossface felt relieved. But she wanted to get back to Rabbitleg – she needed some comforting of her own. With Flowerstar’s approval, the she-cat ran ahead of the group.116

Mossface came into the camp, with a gasp. Her head swung around wildly, her breathing becoming shallow and loud. The camp stunk of badger. Her clanmates, as shown before her, were ether dead, or they ran. Mossface’s heart froze. Rabbitleg couldn’t have possibly ran off with his disability! Mossface raced towards the medicine cat den; no Rabbitleg. She raced over towards all the dens, trying to find if any cats were dead. Some were. The she-cat felt tears coming to her eyes as she pulled out Greenpaw, Gravekit, Thornnose, Tawnyclaw, and Liontooth, one at a time. The she-cat sat around them, waiting for her clan to come. Hearing the paws, Mossface stood up, the frown very noticeable on her face. Flowerstar came in the camp. The cats of her clan gasped as the flowed into the camp, seeing the dead bodies. A wail erupted from Ravenfeather – Liontooth and her were very close, and now he was dead. Mossface began to worry that the clan would think that she had killed her clanmates. Mossface looked at Flowerstar.
“Flowerstar.. I didn-,” she was cut short by Flowerstar’s nod.
“Do not fret – I understand,” Flowerstar meowed. “It smells like badger anyway.” Flowerstar’s tone was sad, but strong for her clan. “We will sit vigil for the ones that were lost. We will find the others as soon as we can,” she added. With the bodies in the middle of the camp, Mossface whispered her final words to all the cats, her tone softening nearby the kit’s body. She watched Ravenfeather sit close to Liontooth, her head hung down low. Mossface began to run out of the camp. She had to find Rabbitleg as soon as she could! The she-cat began to pick up a scent, the scent of fear, blood, and Rabbitleg. But only one scent wasn’t full of fear – it was actually full of dominance. Swifttalon! She thought with her eyes narrowed. She knew it! Mossface raced after the scent. Soon, loner, rouge, and ShadowClan scent mixed with it. She continued to ran along the scent, soon coming to the border of the river. It continued on into the territory towards the Moonpool. Mossface pulled herself on the path. Suddenly, the smell strengthened. She looked around, but couldn’t see them anywhere. She looked around at the grassy ground – a hole caught her sight. 117

Mossface smirked. Jackpot! She thought. Mossface rolled around in some damp ferns to cover her scent. Her black paws carried her in the tunnel. She saw some cats, their scent heavy with ShadowClan’s sickening smell. Their backs were to Mossface, thank StarClan, but she could still see the cats inside – including Rabbitleg. Mossface silently gasped. The cat’s she had known all her life, were getting tortured. Legs were being pulled backwards, some being blinded, others getting ears torn off. Mossface could see Swifttalon standing above Rabbitleg, a smirk on her face. Swifttalon’s claws unsheathed, and she suddenly struck him across the face. 118

Rabbitleg let out a yelp of pain, blood welling from his face. Swifttalon chuckled at Rabbitleg’s pain. Mossface let out a soft hiss, yet when she did so, a guard spun around to face her. Mossface snarled as the guard leapt at her. Smokefur! She thought, as she looked into the tom’s eyes. Smokefur attempted to grab her scruff in his teeth. Mossface growled, and began to roll, trying to free herself. She suddenly felt a paw push on her neck, making Smokefur release, but now there was a paw holding her down. Mossface looked up at the cat, hissing at her. It was Swifttalon.119


“Mossface! How nice of you to join us,” she meowed. Mossface struggled to breath as Swifttalon applied pressure to her neck. The she-cat caught the eye of Rabbitleg, his eyes wide. His mouth formed the word ‘Mossface’, even though he didn’t speak.
“I’ve come back to retrieve the rest of the clan, traitor!” Mossface spat. Swifttalon chuckled.
“What a brave little kitty! Too bad no one will help her!” Swifttalon looked at one of the cats further back in the hole. “Grass!” she called. At that moment, a black and white tom came up to her side. He meowed promptly.
“Yes Swifttalon!”
“Put this filthy rat with the rest of her clan!”120


“Yes madam!” With that, Grass padded up to Mossface. He gripped her paw in his jaws, pulling hard. Blood spurred from her paw, hissing angrily. Grass didn’t pause for a second, nor did he look back. He pulled Mossface into one of the tunnels, where she smelt the rest of the warriors from ThunderClan. It was pitch black, the tunnel small it could hardly fit a cat in it. When the tunnel widened, Mossface was dropped. Mossface grunted, Grass’ scent fading away back down the tunnel.121


“Anyone?”
“Mossface!” she spun around to face the voice.
“Feathersong!” Mossface cried loudly. The she-cat attempted to push her nose into her cheek, but couldn’t find her – it was too dark to see. Yet the tunnel stunk of crowfood and blood. Feathersong didn’t seem like herself. A small beam of moonlight shone through a hole in the top of the cave, the only source of light in the area. The tunnel felt dry on her pads, soon seeing some of her clanmates emerging from the light. Mossface’s face turned into sadness, her eyes beginning to water. How could her clanmate, make that her friend, do this to the clan? Mossface’s sad emotions turned into sudden rage. How could she?! Mossface soon heard Rabbitleg’s voice from the dim-lit tunnel. She spun around to run for Rabbitleg.122


“Rabbitleg!” Mossface leapt towards him, but didn’t land on him incase she would injure him. His purr was rough and hoarse from his pain. Mossface’s tongue glided over his cheek fur. Rabbitleg put on a gentle smile. “Thank StarClan you’re safe!” she cried. Rabbitleg chuckled.
“I could escape them any day!” Mossface laughed at his little joke. But where they were was not the perfect place for happiness.
“We need to think of a plan.” Mossface whispered gently, flicking her tail and waving her paws to motion the rest of her lost clan together. “Any ideas?” No cat made a peep. Mossface sighed. “Okay then. We outnumber them by a few, so once we all gain enough courage, we could either attack their forces, or just attempt to escape.”123


“That’s the most idiotic thing I ever heard!” Swifttalon laughed evilly when she entered their part of the tunnel. “After all, it’s not like any of you are going to make it out of here alive.” Swifttalon laughed again, seeing all her clanmates widen their eyes, gasps coming from all over the crowd. Mossface, being the most battle fit, had her fur bristled, her lip curled in a silent snarl. Swifttalon’s narrowed blue eyes glared down on the ginger she-cat. “Don’t try to play hero with me, Mossface. You have no chance.”
“What makes you say that?”
“The fact that ThunderClan is full of cowards!” Swifttalon insulted them, with another demonic laugh. Mossface’s claws unsheathed.124


“Cowards? That wasn’t very nice, now was it?”
“I’m not a very nice cat.” At this, two cats, both rouges came from behind her to join her. Mossface recognized Grass, who had dragged her to where the other cats were. The other, Mossface wasn’t sure who that was. But the she-cat looked strangely familiar from her past. Suddenly, Mossface realized who it was.
“Blacksoul?!” The she-cat narrowed her eyes as she looked down on Mossface. She snorted at her. Swifttalon smiled as Mossface spoke her name.
“Actually, this is Burn.” Swifttalon introduced Blacksoul as Burn. Burn flicked her tail, a smirk on her face. Mossface growled at her, her tail flicking. Mossface growled at her, her fur bristled.125


“We loners, rouges, outcasts, have all joined together – it’s about time ThunderClan learned a lesson.” Swifttalon snarled at the she-cat. Mossface snorted at her.
“Outcast?!” Mossface growled. “You had kits! You had friends!” she continued. “What were you thinking?!” Swifttalon looked at her, her eyes narrowed.
“I never had any true friends. I used them to get ThunderClan to trust me. And my four ki-.” Swifttalon was cut off by Mossface.
“Your three kits, you mean. The badgers you sent killed one.” Mossface spat at the brown tabby. Swifttalon growled in anger. “Besides, why are you even teaming up with the she-cat who killed your mate?!” Swifttalon looked at Burn, a smirk on her face. The blind she-cat didn’t even realize that Swifttalon was staring straight at her.126


“Oh yes. I nearly forgot..” with this, Swifttalon launched herself in the air, with silence. Burn was taken by surprise. The she-cat was weak – Swifttalon would always take the food for herself. Burn howled as Swifttalon quickly dug her claws into her chest, Burn continuing to wail in pain. Swifttalon looked very relieved. “Music to my hears.” She meowed. She went down to bite at Burn’s delicate black face. Burn howled in her pain – she didn’t have enough energy to through the tabby off. Mossface only watched. The she-cat didn’t want to waste her energy on a cat like Burn. Swifttalon could only smile. “This will show you not to mess with me!” her head dove down to her neck, clamping on tight to the black she-cat. 127


Burn yowled, her forepaws flailing in the air. Swifttalon continued to hold on, her grip getting tighter and tighter. Mossface turned away from them – she couldn’t watch, no matter how much she hated Burn. Swifttalon suddenly just clamped together, Burn’s yowl being cut off. Swifttalon raised her head, licking the scarlet blood off of her lips. The she-cat got off of Burn, looking back to Mossface and the rest of the ThunderClan warriors.128


“You wouldn’t want that to happen to you, would you?” Swifttalon threatened them. She then flicked her tail, and began to leave, with Grass following. She looked back to the ThunderClan cats. “There’s your supper.” She growled at them, turning away again. Swifttalon soon left with Grass at her side, the carcass of Burn beginning to smell already. Mossface looked at the ThunderClan cats.129


“If we’re being treated like this, we have to leave.” Mossface meowed to them. “We’re not cannibals.” She looked back at the body of Burn, and then back to her clan. Rabbitleg shook his head.
“With our wounds, we’d never be able to make it.” Rabbitleg looked sadly up to Mossface from where he lay. “There’s no way out that we’d be able to fit in.” he added. Mossface thought for a little while.130


“Maybe we can dig a hole.” Gasps came from among the clan. Feathersong shook her head, her blue eyes wide.
“Dig a hole?! We can’t dig a hole! That’d take too long, and they’d find out about it!” she protested. Mossface looked at her.
“It’s a chance to get out.” She meowed simply. Mossface moved over to one of the walls of the cave-tunnel. She tapped the side of it. Seems dry. She thought. She looked up. The hole that had given a small beam of moonlight as way to high for any of the cats to reach, so that idea wasn’t good. Digging a new hole was probably the best idea. She looked back at the cats held hostage. “Who here can dig well?” she asked them.131


“I might be able to help.” Then, a rouge padded into the cave-tunnel. Mossface was instantly hostile to the tom. She began to growl, but she noticed that the rouge’s voice wasn’t hostile at all. “My name is Tree,” he meowed. “I’m only here because my brother, Grass, wished to do so.” Tree added. “I’ll be willing to help.” Tree put a soft smile on his face. Mossface wasn’t very trusting of this tom, but he offered his help anyway. The brown tom went beside Mossface. “What’s the plan?” he asked.
“We plan to dig a hole to escape.” Mossface told him in a quiet whisper. Tree nodded. He and Mossface soon began to dig. They continued to dig, others slowly coming to help them. Feathersong stood beside Mossface, flank-to-flank with the pale ginger she-cat. Feathersong’s gray fur was getting dirty with the dirt that flew up from her paws. 132


Soon, the hole began to grow and grow. The hole in the wall began to curve upward, so Tree, Mossface, and Feathersong moved into the hole to continue their digging.