Path of Stars/Chapter 9

==Chapter description==
:Clear Sky asks Sparrow Fur if she can see any prey, and the tortoiseshell she-cat comments they should have brought Blossom and Acorn Fur with them. However, the gray tom tells Sparrow Fur the camp needs to be protected, and Sparrow Fur tells Clear Sky she sees a squirrel. Clear Sky stalks the squirrel, excitement in the air. Sparrow Fur chases the squirrel and Clear Sky stops its escape route, sinking his claws into the squirrel's pelt. The tortoiseshell praises Clear Sky and he offers for her to hold it, deciding they would get the squirrel and return back to camp. Clear Sky thinks that he could give Star Flower the rabbit as she needs to feed the kits. He feels protective and guilty at the same time, thinking about Storm and Thunder, who he didn't take care of properly. As he nears the place he and Sparrow Fur buried the rabbit, he realizes it is gone and Slash slinks out of the trees with Beetle and Splinter, telling Clear Sky they found the rabbit. Snake follows, making Clear Sky uncomfortable, as he was once part of his group. Sparrow Fur hisses the prey was not for them, but for the group. Slash growls that, at the meeting, they promised to give them all the prey, imitating Clear Sky's desperate plea for Star Flower.
:However, Clear Sky tells Slash he got Star Flower back, but Slash insists on the squirrel. Sparrow Fur refuses and Clear Sky, wanting to make peace, tells her to give it the rogues much to her surprise. He mocks Slash that they are growing lazy and fat, and the rogue slashes at Clear Sky. Sparrow Fur unbalances Slash but his allies drag her away, including Snake ordering them to kill the she-cat. Clear Sky hisses to them to just take the prey and to leave, and Slash sarcastically thanks him. The rogue tom tells Clear Sky to give the rabbit to Star Flower as a gift and they leave. Clear Sky notices Sparrow Fur's wounds and gets her back to camp, and tells her he will send out another patrol.
:Clear Sky had sent out a larger hunting patrol consisting of Nettle, Blossom, Birch, Thorn and Quick Water. He begs Star Flower to take the rabbit but she refuses. Tiny Branch climbs onto her flank and Dew Petal and Flower Foot wrestle playfully. Clear Sky hears pawsteps outside and realizes the hunting patrol is back. He sees Blossom with two mice but only a vole from Nettle, and Nettle apologizes for the pitiful catch, even though they didn't meet the rogues. Quick Water tries to comfort, Clear Sky reminding him about the Tribe's hard times, when prey was scarce. Blossom tells Clear Sky to give Star Flower a mouse, and Clear Sky thanks her. He enters the den and tells Star Flower to eat the mouse, and the golden tabby asks if the rest of the group have something to eat, and Clear Sky confirms it. Star Flower tells Clear Sky to give Alder and Birch the rabbit, and the gray tom exits the den. He tells Birch he will eat tomorrow, scenting mouse blood, thinking Star Flower ate the mouse already. Tiny Branch asks Clear Sky if they can leave the den tomorrow and Clear Sky tells him they can, much to the kits' excitement. Clear Sky feels happiness wash over him, but feels anxious of the idea of his kits going into the forest, where Slash and his rogues are.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
Category:Dawn of the Clans arc
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Path of Stars