Sky (book)/Chapter 1

==Chapter description==
:Walking through the pine forest, Sunbeam holds back her exasperation as Gullswoop trots cheerfully beside her. The white she-cat suggests that they head over to the mossy stream, while her friend makes another attempt to convince her that they should split up in order to cover more grounds for hunting. Gullswoop reminds her that Cloverfoot told them to stick together for the hunt, causing Sunbeam to let out a snark remark that the deputy didn't tell them that they had to share pawsteps. Struggling to calm herself, the brown-and-white warrior recalls the humiliation of being rejected by Blazefire half a moon prior, growing frustrated at the Clan's neverending gossip around the topic. As Sunbeam feels the ground beneath her tilt upwards, she pads up to the top and begins to run; feeling a surge of excitement as she zigzaggs through the forest. Her denmate calls out for her as she struggles to keep up with her pace, and Sunbeam eventually stops for her. 
:When Gullswoop catches up, she bursts out eager compliments about her speed, which irritates the tabby all the more until she snaps at her, venting out her frustrations on how it feels more like her Clanmates are throwing pity at her for Blazefire's rejection more than anything else, even though she knows that they're just trying to cheer her up. She instructs Gullswoop to pretend that she never liked the tom in the first place, before feeling a sense of regret as she realizes that her fellow ShadowClan cats are genuinely concerned.
:Sunbeam lets the pain of Blazefire's rejection occupy her mind for a moment, and Gullswoops attempts to console her by telling her that she could find a real ShadowClan warrior to be mates with instead, though Sunbeam insists that he's just as great of a warrior as the ones born and raised in ShadowClan. Her friend clarifies that she meant one from their Clan, as there are other good toms for her to like, and that she and Blazefire will still be friends. Her thoughts trail off, and she struggles to remind herself that Blazefire becoming friends with Lightleap at the same time as the rejection was merely a coincidence, but feels bitterly towards the she-cat for what happened to Blazefire at the rockfall. She turns away from Gullswoop and says that they should hunt, mindful of Dovewing and Tigerstar's sick kits. The two later return to camp with fresh-kill, where it's begun to rain.
:They notice Fringewhisker and Cloverfoot outside in the downpour, with the latter swiping blood-soaked dirt away from the fresh-kill pile. Gullswoop walks over to the pile and drops her mouse near two unappetizing pieces of prey. She asks Cloverfoot if she should dump them for the crows, to which the deputy growls that prey shouldn't be wasted so close to leaf-bare. Fringewhisker offers to eat the frog herself, however Cloverfoot insists she leave it until later, as the nursery needs changed bedding. The former SkyClan cat happily complies as Cloverfoot advices her to take Yarrowleaf with her, informing her that she knows where the thickest bracken grows. As she heads off to gather the materials, the gray tabby calls out to put them in the empty apprentices' den to dry when she comes back.
:Cloverfoot compliments Sunbeam on her starling, though the she-cat irritably rejects it before the deputy orders Gullswoop to take it to Blazefire in the medicine den. Sunbeam insists on taking the starling she caught to Blazefire herself, believing Cloverfoot to be trying to protect her from seeing the tom. She picks up the bird and pushes her way into the medicine den, uncomfortably noticing that none of the medicine cats are present. She freezes as she realizes that only Blazefire is there, who sits up in his nest as he spots her. After a moment of silence, he looks at the starling in Sunbeam's jaws and asks if she brought it for him. Approaching the white patched tom and dropping it at his side, she informs him that Cloverfoot ordered her to bring him food, self-consciously hoping to herself that he won't find out that she insisted on bringing it. When Sunbeam then decides to ask if his sprained paw still hurts, the tom says that it only hurts a bit. He goes on to ask if she was the one to catch the starling, which Sunbeam confirms, going on to explain that she went out hunting with Gullswoop because they weren't assigned to the dawn patrol. 
:Blazefire asks if she's still keeping busy, which causes the she-cat to nervously stiffen in response and stumble over her words that no, she isn't; that a good warrior is always ready to hunt for their Clan. Blazefire comments that he wishes he could still hunt, but Sunbeam reminds him that he'll be able to soon, going on to ask when exactly he will be. Just as the injured warrior informs her that he'll be able to hunt in a few days, Shadowsight pushes his way into the den with Dovewing and Tigerstar following, the leader carrying a sick and matted Rowankit. After Tigerstar puts down his son in an empty bedding, Shadowsight immediately examines his brother. Dovewing fearfully mentions that he's been coughing the whole the night and was hot and fatigued that very morning. The scrawny medicine cat reassures her that he'll wake up once he treats the fever, but Tigerstar points out that whitecough shouldn't be causing one. His mate echoes his worries before Shadowsight tells them that they can't be sure yet.
:Pressing against her, Tigerstar comforts Dovewing by reminding her that the two medicine cats are sure to take good care of Rowankit, which Shadowsight reaffirms. The gray queen inquires if he'll have to stay in the medicine den, Shadowsight informing her that he'll have to in order to not infect the others. Sunbeam tenses, quickly asking if Blazefire should move, but pauses mid-sentence in embarassment as she quietly reminds herself that they aren't mates. Without acknowledging her question, the striped healer rummages through the herbs store before Puddleshine enters. He tells his mentor that he's looking for catmint as he suspects that Rowankit may have greencough. Puddleshine hurries over to the kit's bedding and sniffs him, before Shadowsight pulls out a small bundle of leaves and anxiously asks if this is all they have. Puddleshine grimly affirms that it is, informing them that the catmint patch by the half-bridge has died due to the flood last greenleaf. 
:Suggesting they go to SkyClan, Shadowsight mentions they have catmint there. Dovewing frantically offers to go, but the leader gently tells her that it would be better fit for a medicine cat. Puddleshine reassures them both that Frecklewish will share if they have any potential catmint, telling them that he'll go immediately while his former apprentice treats Rowankit's fever. Shadowsight begins preparing herbs and assures Dovewing that Rowankit will be fine if he gets catmint. Tigerstar observes how little catmint is left, causing Sunbeam to feel wary and wonder whether she should offer reassurance. She looks to Blazefire for support, but he is also worried. Tigerstar sends Dovewing to look after Birchkit while he stays with Rowankit. Shadowsight advises Sunbeam to leave in case Rowankit has greencough, causing Tigerstar to seem alarmed. Embarrassed for staying so long, Sunbeam leaves the medicine den and sees Lightleap watching Dovewing. She contemplates offering Lightleap comfort for her brother's illness, but decides that the wounds are still too fresh and that their friendship still needs time to recover.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Sky (book)
Category:A Starless Clan arc
Category:Chapter subpages