Burned Ashes

## **Blurb:**

**Up in the mountains, the tribe has made it past a tough Ice-wind. But when tribe cats start to vanish, the cats still remaining in the tribe don't know who to trust. And one question still remains: who has started all this?.**

## Prologue:

Stoneteller starred silently at the sky. He watched closely as a star shot across the sky. His ear twitched. A voice bellowed in his mind. *Darkness in coming.* The voice said. *And you must stop it before the first rain. The first rain?* He echoed silently. He shook his head. Confused, he rose silently to his paws and trotted back into the cave, careful not to wake any of the others. He trotted down the tunnel way leading to his den. Before he could reach his nest, paws sounded behind him. Before he could turn to see who it was, something slammed into his side. Shock pulsed his heart as he was knocked off his paws. He let out a gasp when he hit the ground. Before he could get up, he felt claws dig into his fur. Panic rose in his mind, and he lashed out, but his paw did not get his target. The claws dug harder as he fought. He lashed out again. This time he felt his claws met something. His enemy yowled. But did not let go. He squirmed more, but did not get anywhere. Then the cat spoke.

"Stoneteller stop!" Stoneteller froze. *it knows my name!.* he thought in horror. This time, paws shook him.

"Wake up!". the voice sounded again. With a nip at his shoulder, he jerked awake, panting. Looking up, he saw the white glow of Star's pelt against the dim light.

"Star, what is it?". He asked.

"The Tribe". She mewed.

"The tribe is waiting for you, Stoneteller". *The tribe. Of course.* He knew that every morning the tribe would want to know if he got any omens from the tribe of rushing water. He leaped to his paws and followed Star to the main cave. The tribe was already gathered. When he walked in, heads turned to his direction. His pelt burned as he trotted over to High-cliff and scrambled up it. Once he reached the top, he starred down at the cats below. Before he could speak, he was greeting by questions.

"Did you get an omen?"

"What did you see?"

"Did yo-?"

"Enough". He said firmly.

"Yes i did get an omen". He mewed.

"What did they say?". Sunlight asked. As he spoke, his vision came more vivid in his mind.

"*Darkness is coming. And you must stop it before the first rain".* There was shocked silence. Cats exchanged confused glances. *I don't blame them.* He thought. *The omen confuses me myself.* Then he drew his paws together and starred at the cloudy sky, wondering what the future would hold.

## Chapter 1: (Star)

Star stretched, yawing. She gazed around, her gaze falling on an empty prey pile. *It needs to be stocked up.* Leaping to her paws, she bounded over to Feather and Swan.

"Want to go hunting?" She asked.

"Sure!" Swan responded.

"It would be nice to stretch my legs". With that, Star turned and led the way out the cave. The three trotted up a couple boulders before they reached the hunting area.

"So?". Feather said at last. looking around.

"Where to we start?". But Star barely heard her. she watched as a squirrel shot out between Swan's paws. She let out a shocked yowl before taking off after it. Seeing that Swan didn't need any help, she turned and stalked up the hill to the other side. At first glance, she spotted an eagle whiskers away from her muzzle. Launching into the air, she lunged at the eagle and clamped her jaws on it's right wing. The eagle let out a pained screech. Pain shot though her as she felt the eagles beak met her shoulder, but she held on.

"Star!" Feather's wail sounded behind her, and she saw the flash of brown fur before she landed behind her. Removing her fangs from the wing, she lunged at the eagles neck, sinking them deep. The eagle screeched. It struggled, throwing off Feather. Flapping it's wings, it took off to the sky, Taking Star with it. *No!.* With a snarl, she bit down harder and racked her claws across it's back, drawing blood. She felt the eagle weaken beneath her. This time, she let go and racked her claws across it's neck. That was it, the eagle's wings buckled and both she and the eagle, began to fall to the rocky floor. Fear shot though her. she let a wail and clung to the eagle tightly, eyes closed shut. Then she felt the thud of the eagle hitting the ground. Opening her eyes she glanced around. She sighed with relief.

"Star! There you are!" Swan's yowl echoed in her ears, and she skidded to a halt beside her. Feather appeared on her other side

"Nice catch". she mewed. Pointing her muzzle to the bird.

"Thanks". Star rasped painfully, still sore from her little "Flight".

"I think we should head back now". She mewed. She turned to Swan, who had the squirrel clamped firmly in her jaws. With a nod of approval, she turned back to the eagle and clamped her jaws around it's wings. With the help of Feather. The two followed Swan back up the cliff to the tribe's cave.

\*\*\*\*

"There you guys are!" Breeze yowled as soon as they entered the cave. Panting, Star and Feather dropped the eagle into the prey pile. Leaving Feather to talk with Breeze, Star bounded across the cave to where Wind and Squirrel were sharing a sparrow. Their heads turned toward her as she approached them.

"Is it okay if i join you".

"Yes!" Wind said quickly, shooting a quick glance at Squirrel, who started to bristle as he returned Wind's glare coldly. Then he leaped to his paws and turned his tail on them, padding away to join Sparrow and Fire.

"What's with him?''. She asked, turning back to Wind, who was watching Squirrel with interest, eyes narrowed. He shrugged.

"Must be in one of his moods". He then turned to her, challenge showed brightly in his eyes.

"How about a race to the meadow?''.

"Okay". Before Wind had the chance to get up, she whipped around and charged up out of the cave. Paws pounded behind, and soon Wind came into view and shot past her, throwing up leaves behind him. With a yowl, she ran harder, taking a few heartbeats to catch up. She felt the wind tear at her pelt as she jumped, landing on Wind's shoulders. With a grunt, he fell to the ground. She leaped off and raced the few tail lengths between her and the meadow. Once she got there she let out a yowl of victory.

"I win!"

## Chapter 2: (Breeze)

Breeze sighed, shifted her paws. every since Stoneteller's omen, everyone has been down and confused. She glanced across the clearing. She spotted Wind and Star laying side by side, heads together. She looked away quickly, but couldn't hold down a stab of jealously. With a sigh, she rested her head on her paws and watched them sadly. Then Squirrel's mew sounded in her ear, catching her attention.

"You okay". He asked.

"I'm fine". she replied, rising to her paws, she walked past Squirrel at out the cave to the meadow. Trotting up a steep hill, she watched as a feather floated across her head and into the cloud. As she reached the top of the hill she stopped, frozen. In front of her was the first sunset the tribe has seen in a long while. Sitting back on her haunches, she gazed at the sun silently. in awe of it's great beauty. before the sun vanished under the horizon, she became aware of Star next to her, almost making her jump. Then Star spoke.

"It's a pretty sunset, isn't it Breeze?. Star asked who had her gaze set firmly where the sun just was. "Yes it is". Her voice coming out sharper then she expected. This time Star turned her gaze on her. Breeze felt her glare burning her fur. Then at last she snapped.

"What's wrong with you?".

"Nothing, nothing!" Breeze spat, fury rising in her chest.

''Well if nothing is wrong, i don't see what could be bothering you!'. Star flashed back. Without another word, Star leaped to her paws and turned tail on Breeze, and made her way down the slope to the cave. Breeze felt a tinge of regret as she watched Star leave. Though she wanted to call her back and apologize, she could not. She turned back to where the moon now was starting to rise. she starred at it for a few heart-beats before getting to her paws and making for the cave. Cool breeze ruffled her fur before she got inside the cave, making her shudder. Then she came in, she noticed that there was an eerie silence. She looked around. Every cat had a gaze full of fear and confusion. *What's going on?*. She time she became aware that something was missing. she glanced the part of High-cliff where Stoneteller hung out at. But she saw nothing but an bare empty space. confused, she shook herself and trotted over to Sparrow and Amber.

"Where's Stoneteller?''

"No one knows Breeze sighed, shifted her paws. every since Stoneteller's omen, everyone has been down and confused. She glanced across the clearing. She spotted Wind and Star laying side by side, heads together. She looked away quickly, but couldn't hold down a stab of jealously. With a sigh, she rested her head on her paws and watched them sadly. Then Squirrel's mew sounded in her ear, catching her attention.

"You okay". He asked.

"I'm fine". she replied, rising to her paws, she walked past Squirrel at out the cave to the meadow. Trotting up a steep hill, she watched as a feather floated across her head and into the cloud. As she reached the top of the hill she stopped, frozen. In front of her was the first sunset the tribe has seen in a long while. Sitting back on her haunches, she gazed at the sun silently. in awe of it's great beauty. before the sun vanished under the horizon, she became aware of Star next to her, almost making her jump. Then Star spoke.

"It's a pretty sunset, isn't it Breeze?. Star asked who had her gaze set firmly where the sun just was. "Yes it is". Her voice coming out sharper then she expected. This time Star turned her gaze on her. Breeze felt her glare burning her fur. Then at last she snapped.

"What's wrong with you?".

"Nothing, nothing!" Breeze spat, fury rising in her chest.

''Well if nothing is wrong, i don't see what could be bothering you!'. Star flashed back. Without another word, Star leaped to her paws and turned tail on Breeze, and made her way down the slope to the cave. Breeze felt a tinge of regret as she watched Star leave. Though she wanted to call her back and apologize, she could not. She turned back to where the moon now was starting to rise. she starred at it for a few heart-beats before getting to her paws and making for the cave. Cool breeze ruffled her fur before she got inside the cave, making her shudder. Then she came in, she noticed that there was an eerie silence. She looked around. Every cat had a gaze full of fear and confusion. *What's going on?*. She time she became aware that something was missing. she glanced the part of High-cliff where Stoneteller hung out at. But she saw nothing but an bare empty space. confused, she shook herself and trotted over to Sparrow and Amber.

"Where's stoneteller?''

"No one knows". Amber responded

"Me and Wind saw him leave before dawn, but no one has seen him since". Breeze frowned.

"Maybe he's on his way back?"

"Maybe he is, maybe he's not". Sparrow mewed, glancing anxiously at the cave opening as if expecting Stoneteller to appear.

"He's hardly ever out as it is, and what bothers me is that h's been gone for so long". Amber said blankly. Breeze responded with a twitch of her ear to show that she heard. She stared at the cave opening. *But if Stoneteller isn't on his way back or just going for a walk, where is he?*ows". Amber responded

"Me and Wind saw him leave before dawn, but no one has seen him since". Breeze frowned.

"Maybe he's on his way back?"

"Maybe he is, maybe he's not". Sparrow mewed, glancing anxiously at the cave opening as if expecting Stoneteller to appear.

"He's hardly ever out as it is, and what bothers me is that h's been gone for so long". Amber said blankly. Breeze responded with a twitch of her ear to show that she heard. She stared at the cave opening. *But if Stoneteller isn't on his way back or just going for a walk, where is he?*

## Chapter 3: (Star)

Star paced the cave entrance. now and then she would glance at the rocky hillside, hoping to catch a glance of Stoneteller. but nothing. ever since Stoneteller has left, the tribe was torn. patrol after patrol have searched the whole territory, but they found no sigh that he was nowhere near them. She abandoned her watch and headed over to Wind and Sunlight, who had their heads together. Worry clung to their pelts like thorns. Sunlight lifted her head to Star. Pain and loss shone in her eyes.

"I don't what else to do!''. Sunlight cried.

"He could be anywhere!". Star could understand her fear. She was just as confused as all the cats in this cave.

"I'm not sure what to do either Sunlight, but i know Stoneteller, and he wouldn't just leave without telling a guard if he thought something bad was going to happen. Wind nodded agreement. But Sunlight stilled looked dumbfounded.

"But what about his omen?'' Star turned to see Leaf standing next to her, looking shaken.

"His omen says that darkness is coming, and must be stop before the first rain". Leaf's mew rose to panicked wail.

"And the first rain is a only two days away, and if we don't happen to find Stoneteller before then, it's over!" one by one, heads jerked towards Leaf. Misery and despair rose in Star's chest. *Leaf has a point, who knows if we will find Stoneteller or stop this darkness before the first rain.* She thought, suddenly heading for High-cliff. *But i know for one thing, someone needs to fill in Stoneteller's place until we find him and bring him home.* She leaped onto High-cliff and starred down to the cats below.

"Yes, Stoneteller is missing". She yowled.

"But we will find him. No, i am not sure before the first rain". She gazed calmly at Sunlight, then turned her gaze on a cowering Leaf.

"We might not be to stop the darkness, but we will get though it". she said, confidence ringing in her mew.

"But we will get though this together. I promise''. She then stopped and starred sadly at the outside world. *Stoneteller please. You have to come back home. Without you, we are nothing*

\*\*\*

Star stalked down High-cliff and headed outside. Climbing up a hill, she marched over to one over to one of Stoneteller's main resting places. She lowed her muzzle at sniffed at the flatted grass in front of her paws. She quickly picked up Stoneteller's scent. Even though it was stale, she could detect the smell of fear. Star's hackles rose. She sniffed harder for an intruder, but smelled nothing but Stoneteller and the strong scent of wild garlic. She grunted, rubbing her paws against her nose. Her eyes burned, and the wild garlic smelled filled her nose. irritated, she made to turn around and had back but the rustle of grass behind her made her freeze. Panic rose inside her, but she did not run. Slowly she turned her head and looked behind her and the think grassy stalks. She saw no sign of movement. *It must just be my imagination getting the best of me again.* With a grunt, she turned and padded out the hollow. At the same time, the rustling was louder, and paws met her shoulder. With a yelp, she tumbled across the clearing. *What in the world!.* She whipped her head around and caught sight of white fur. *Wind!*.Her hackles rose again as she glared at Wind.

"What you doing here?!". she spat

''Doing the same thing you are doing". Wind replied, sounding amused. Star huffed in anger.

"That does not mean you have to scare me like that". Star mewed turning tail and walking out the hollow. Wind followed, falling in beside her. every so often he would glance her like her want to say something, but he remained quiet as they entered the cave. She reluctantly left Winds side and dashed over to High-cliff. She quietly climbed up it and gave a soft call. she watched as the cats gathered around High-cliff and watched her nervously. Then she spoke.

"Has anyone found any sign of Stoneteller yet". There was no response. After a few heart-beats, Owl rose two his paws

"No one has seen him yet, but i have smelled his scent over by the hollow at dawn. There was also the reek of wild garlic too". Star nodded.

"I've been to that place too. And i want a patrol to go down to that area and investigate some more.... Owl, Amber, Sunlight, Fire, and Breeze." As soon as she said their names, they leaped to their paws and raced outside. She stared after them. *Bring Stoneteller home!.*

## Chapter 4: (Breeze)

Breeze watched the tribe sadly as they moved away from High-cliff and went to different areas. *Oh Stoneteller, where are you.* She headed across the clearing and headed over to Star, who had her shoulders hunched.

"Hi Star". She mewed.

"i'm sorry about our fight".

"Oh no, Breeze!". Star exclaimed.

"It's alright!. I understand that the tribe is worried about Stoneteller. I just hope we can cope until he comes back". Breeze could not help but to agree with Star. *But will we be able to cope?.* She thought as she sat down close to Star, who was now rested her head on her paws. *And if we are to survive the first rain, we need to stop this darkness.* Breeze glanced at Star.

"Should i take out a patrol?". Star shook her head.

"No, Amber and the others should be back soon. She glanced back behind Breeze and at the cloudy sky.

"I just hope the find him soon. Stoneteller has never been gone for so long". Breeze followed her gaze slowly. She flicked her tail. *Stoneteller is out there somewhere. I know it.* She thought. *I think i am going to help the others on their search.* she trotted out the cave and followed the patrols scent. heading past the meadow, she turned sharply to the left when the trail ended. confusion bolted in her. she lifted her head, starting to get uneasy. *where are they.* panic rose inside her. Just as she was about to turn around and head back, fangs dug deep into her neck. Pain shot though Breeze. With a squeal, she struggled to fight of her attacker, but it was too strong. Then a paw slammed hard against her head, causing her world to spin. Her paws buckled before she fell to the ground. Pain washed over her, but she forced her eyes to stay open. In her blurred vision, she could just make out to bloody gray paws, and she saw a flash of blue eyes. *Stoneteller?.* She thought. *Please, don't.* But she watched as a paw came crashing down on her neck before falling in complete darkness.

## Chapter 5: (Star)

Star woke up with a jolt. She leaped to her paws, heart pounding. Her back fur bristled along her spine like flames. She glared around the area until she was sure there was no threat.

"Star, Star!". Wind's voice calmed her, but her fur didn't fall flat.

"Star, are you alright?". this time Feather spoke. Star soon came aware that every cat was starring at her.

"Something happened". she finally rasped. She glanced around.

"Has the patrol returned yet?".

"No, they have not". Swan muttered. Star barely heard her. Her mind raced, and her vision blurred. Swaying on her paws, she numbly turned and dashed out into the snow. *I don't know whats happening! First the prophecy, Stoneteller's gone, and now this! i don't know what to do!.* She bit back a wail. She didn't know how far the has run. But sh knew she was way past the border. she glanced at the hills ahead of her, debating weather or not she should continue on, or head back. *I could just leave. Have sometime to think. But then the tribe needs me.* she shook her head. *i should just leave.* She began to head forward. but after two paw-steps she suddenly whipped around and charged back the way she came. As she walked back, she looked at the undergrowth, hoping to catch sight of Stoneteller. She then stopped to sniff at a bush. Her thoughts wandered. *Maybe the patrol has returned.* Leaving the bush, she headed toward the cave. But a groan in the bush next to her made her freeze. Slowly she turned and headed to the bush. Once she was a mouse-tail away, the strong scent of blood hit her nose, making it so she could only use her ears. Stalking to the bush, she slowly stepped behind it and starred down. Star sucked in a shocked breath. *No!.* Instead of finding Stoneteller, Star found herself starring at a bloody body. Then under it, she spotted the Breeze's blue-gray fur. *Breeze, no.* Stretching out her neck, she dug her teeth into Breeze's scruff and started dragging her backward, but a low snarl behind her made her stop. Dropping Breeze, Star whipped around and found herself face to face with a gray and white rouge. Star's mouth quivered as she drew her fangs into a furious snarl. She glared at the rouge.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here!" She spat. The tom chuckled.

"You know me very well, Star". The cat's voice made her blood turn cold.

"Stoneteller?". She gasped.

Stoneteller didn't respond. She watched as he narrowed his eyes and lunged at her neck. Fear shot though her as she knocked him away. Hissing, Stoneteller stumbled. With a snarl, Star sprung at him, Landing on his shoulders and digging her claws into his neck. Stoneteller let out a yowl, and shook her off. Landing on her back, Star struggled to get up. But she was not fast enough. She felt claws at her throat. Pain flashed in her mind as she felt claws go down her belly. She let out a screech of rage and pain before making way to blackness.

## Chapter 6: (Swan)

Swan paced around the cave. *Where was the patrol?* She waited for several minutes, although they seemed like moons. Finally, paw-steps sounded at the mouth of the cave. She looked up, expecting to see Star and Breeze and all the others. But her hopes were quickly crushed as she saw the two limp bodies the patrol was carrying. The rest of the Tribe clustered around them, firing questions.

"What happened?"

"Why are they dead?"

"Who killed them?"

"Where's Stoneteller?"

The head of the patrol, Owl, raised his tail for silence. "We will explain, but you must stop crowding us. But first, we must bury our fallen Tribemates before their bodies get cold." The Tribe nodded. Swan felt as if her paws were frozen to the cave floor. *Star and Breeze were dead? No! How can they be?* She swayed on her paws. A body pressed up against her. She recognized Squirrel's scent. He murmured, "Would you like to help spread the herbs onto them?" Swan nodded her head. "They were my sisters," she whispered. "Why did the Tribe Of Endless Hunting have to take them?" Squirrel nodded his head solemnly. "I'm sure they're with you now. Come, we will gather the herbs." Swan saw her mother, Pine, licking their fur and positioning them to look as if they were sleeping. She gathered the herbs and helped Pine apply them to Breeze and Star's bodies, washing away the scent of death. They each took a body, and a patrol dug two holes. They gently placed them down. Owl raised his head. "You have taken two fine cats this night," he yowled. "But their spirits will live on as long as the Tribe stands. Grief is strong, but love is stronger and we now know the stars have only become wiser." He nodded his head and the cats scraped earth over the bodies. *Goodbye, Breeze and Star. I will be a better cat because of you and for you. Thank you for influencing me as you have.*

"I will now explain. We were looking for Stoneteller, and we smelled blood. Lots of it. We found Breeze's body, and she had no wounds except for one to the neck. That was the same with Star. But we know who killed them, for we found his fur in the blood." Everyone looked around uneasily, then gazed back up at Owl who was perched upon Stoneteller's ledge. "I wish I could say a different name, but I cannot. It was Stoneteller." The crowd of cats gasped with surprise and anger. Pine wrapped her tail around her kits, gazing wide-eyed up at Owl. "We found his fur in their claws too. I do not know why he did it, but what's done is done. Now we must choose a new Stoneteller. The cats were silent, but Pine spoke up. "I think you should be the new Stoneteller. Not just because you did this, not because you're my mate, because you have saved *all* of us so many times in the past. You have the courage of a leader, Owl." The cats below murmured their agreement. Owl actually looked flustered for once, Swan thought, but he quickly rid of it. "Very well. I will talk to our ancestors tonight to receive their approval. For now, all cats are dismissed.

Swan padded out of her nest. It was night, but she couldn't sleep. Too much had happened last night. It was extremely dark, and she carefully wove between nests, trying not to step on any stray paws or tails. She walked down the path out of the waterfall, and sat down on the rocky ledge. Swan looked up at the stars. *Is the Tribe Of Endless Hunting going to accept Owl as our new leader? Who will lead us if they don't?* She shook her head. Of course they would! They had no reason not to. But with all that had happened, doubt was a common feeling. "Hey, Swan." She jumped at the voice behind her. She whipped around to see Squirrel standing behind her, his green eyes catching the starlight. "Oh, hi Squirrel. You startled me!" Squirrel purred in amusement. "Sorry." He sat down next to her and looked up at the stars. "You know they're going to accept Owl, right?" Swan gasped. *How did he know what I was thinking?* "I know," she sighed. "I just...so much has gone on recently. Star and Breeze were murdered by Stoneteller, he ran away, and we still have no clue what the prophecy means. It's so frustrating!" she yowled. She snapped a twig with her paws. "Sorry..." she muttered. Squirrel shook his head. "No need to apologize," he meowed. "I'm just as frustrated as you are. But I'm better at hiding it!" he purred. Swan flicked him with her tail "Hey!" She sighed. "I just don't know if things will be the same without my sisters. None of my kin is alive, except my mother. And her new litter of kits are too young to understand. I don't have anyone." Squirrel gazed at her, his green eyes locked with hers. "You have me," he murmured. "Day or night, greenleaf or leaf-bare, I'll be here for you." Swan's ginger and brown pelt prickled. She felt hot with embarrassment. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Thank you," she murmured. Before she could stop it, she purred and their tails twined. *I have my mother, but now I also have Squirrel. Everything will be alright.*

## Chapter 7: (The original Stoneteller)

Stoneteller padded to the river. He couldn't believe what he'd just done. He'd killed two fine cats of his Tribe. No---his former Tribe. He was no longer their leader. A new cat was. He didn't know who, but he couldn't go back there. Not after what he did. They had probably told everyone what he did. They didn't know why though. He had a reason. But that didn't mean he liked killing Star and Breeze. They could have lived many, many seasons more, brought new kits into the world, be by their kin's deathbed, and live long and happy. But no. He took away that chance. Stoneteller dipped his paws in the river, washing the blood away. The water turned a faint red. *That's how much blood I've taken from their bodies...* He shook his head. *No. You had to kill them because of the prophecy. You did what was right.* But the other voice spoke differently. *You took the lives of two young she-cats because of a stupid prophecy. You could have just simply run away and* not *have killed them. But no. You're a murderer.* He sighed. *How do I know if that was the right thing to do?*

Stoneteller was growing tired. He had walked for days. He needed to escape Tribe territories. But there had been no shelter anywhere. Stoneteller sat down to take a breath, then heard a voice behind him.

"Tired?"

He gasped. "Who are you?" Stoneteller meowed, narrowing his eyes. The tom shrugged. "Just a cat like you." Stoneteller scoffed. "Obviously. What's your name? I haven't seen you around here." The cat sat down. "My name is Hawk," he mewed. Stoneteller nodded. "Okay?" Hawk continued. "I can take you back to where I live. We have plenty of places to rest and eat," the dark ginger cat said. After a hesitant second, Stoneteller accepted. "How far is it?" he asked. "Not too terribly far," Hawk reassured him. After they had walked a while, Hawk led him through hanging willow branches near a river. "This is...oh I never asked your name." Stoneteller purred. "My name is Stoneteller." Hawk tipped his head. "That's an interesting name. Where are you from?" Stoneteller paused. *Should I tell him? Yes, it's fine. I'm far away now from the Tribe, anyways.* "I'm from the mountains," he replied. "Wow." Then he called out, "Briar, Sun! Rocky! We have a new cat here." Three cats padded out from brambles and bushes. A white she-cat narrow her amber eyes. "Who is he?" she asked. "He doesn't smell like a rogue." A small brown she-cat padded out from behind her, and a dark gray tom. "This is Stoneteller. He comes from the mountains far away." The dark gray tom gasped. "Cool!" The white she-cat flicked him with her tail. "Quiet, Rocky. Let's make Stoneteller welcome. And Sun, don't be so hostile," Hawk scolded the white she-cat. He turned to Stoneteller. "Sorry, that's my mate, Sun. She's a bit hostile. And those are our kits, Briar and Rocky." The dark brown she-cat peeked out from behind her mother. "Are you going to hurt us?" Stoneteller looked surprised. "No, of course not." *Really?* He thought. *Says the cat that just killed two of his Tribemates.* Hawk interrupted. "Why don't we all get some fresh-kill, and then Stoneteller can rest. You don't mind right?" he asked. Stoneteller shook his head. "No, of course not." Hawk led him over to the fresh-kill pile. Sun was still glaring at him, distrust in her eyes. They all seemed to trust him except Sun. *But would they trust me if I told them what I did?*

## Chapter 8: (Star)

Star spat out earth. Where was she? She was scared, but told herself not to panic. *It'll only use up your air,* her mother had once told her. She took a deep breath, and started digging what she believed was upwards. Her neck ached, and she had a few scratches that stung, but she kept digging and she finally poked a paw out. Star pushed herself out, and took many deep breaths. *It feels so good to finally be able to breathe again! And now I can go back to the Tribe!* She slowly padded back, she and Breeze were buried not far from the cave. Star hesitated to go in. What was she waiting for? *But what if they don't want to see me? I don't even know how long I've been unconscious. My kin may be dead already, and Swan too. Wind may have already found a new mate. Stoneteller might deny he tried to kill me, if he's even back.* But she pushed her paws to move forward and padded into the cave.

"Star!"
A flurry of cats rushed towards her. She could see Swan! And Wind! And Pine! *Too bad Breeze couldn't be here too...* she thought heavily.

"Are you okay?"

"We thought you were dead!"

"How are you even *alive?"*

"Did Stoneteller try to kill you too?"

Suddenly, Owl padded up and signaled with his tail to clear the cats. Several cats grumbled. "Yes, Stoneteller..." they muttered. *Stoneteller?* Star thought. *Is my father Stoneteller now?* Pride swelled up in her chest. *He's Stoneteller!* She smiled. "Hello, father." Stoneteller dipped his head, emotion filling his eyes. He was quite good at keeping his emotions inside his head, and not letting them leak out of his eyes or onto his face. He was truly happy Star was back. Star broke into a purr and pressed against her father. Stoneteller's deep purr rumbled in his chest, licking his daughter's head. "I'm glad you're back Star. Why don't