Chapter 11

It’s clear she’s expecting kits. I could help her. She could stay with the Clan. But is that a good idea?

Minnowstream looked again at the plump white-furred she-cat. She imagined Clover, cowering at the base of an oak tree, with Beetle in front of her her. She could envision the tom’s eyes glinting with a murderous rage, his bloodstained claws unsheathed, his gruff voice sneering at the she-cat…

I can’t just leave her here to die. Besides, we need more kits. Goldenshine’s are already apprentice age...I suppose I do need to make them apprentices when we reach the new territory.

“Come with me,” she decided.

Clover fell in behind the two cats. Every so often, Minnowstream would glance over her shoulder to make sure she was still following. The white-furred she-cat was steadily limping along. On the way back towards the camp, Spark walked in silence alongside her.

The ginger tom finally spoke. “So why did you leave your Clan?”

Minnowstream blinked, not expecting a question like that. “Leave? I would NEVER leave my Clan! The Clan are waiting for me. I was supposed to be hunting.”

Spark’s icy blue eyes momentarily flashed with surprise, but it was gone so quickly that Minnowstream wondered if she imagined it. “What are you RiverClan cats doing here, away from a river?”

Minnowstream stared at her paws, embarrassed of her Clan’s troubles.”It’s, um, Twolegs came and destroyed our territory. We’re looking for a new home.”

“I’m sorry for your troubles,” Spark meowed.

Minnowstream sighed. “None of it is your fault, or any other cat’s fault. I don’t think there’s anybody to blame.”

“Of course there is!” Spark’s voice was filled with loathing and scorn. “It’s StarClan’s fault, obviously! And I bet they did NOTHING to help you.  You Clan cats all praise StarClan as if they’ve ever helped you or given you anything but bad advice, words from fools. And now you are upset that you can’t escape the truth: StarClan is worthless.”

Minnowstream gaped at him. It can’t be StarClan’s fault! Meanwhile, deep inside, a small part of her agreed. Well? Have StarClan helped us?

“StarClan?” Clover sounded bewildered. “What’s StarClan?”

Minnowstream ignored the rogue she-cat. “Belief is not belief if it is lost in hard times. I trust that StarClan still walks beside us.”

Spark muttered something, then gave a slight nod. “Ignorance is wonderful, Minnowstream, but at one point a cat must step into the real world. The stars twinkle above, aware of your struggles but contented just to watch them. It’s like a cat is drowning in a river and you see them quite clearly, yet you don’t lift a paw to help them. Rather, you delight to watch them suffer and watch their head disappear beneath the surface of the stream.”

Minnowstream came to an abrupt halt and spun to face the tom. “Spark, you can have your beliefs and I can have mine. I will respect your opinions so long as you respect mine. And regardless of your...disrespect for our ancestors, I think you could be a valuable contribution to our Clan. The clearing is only a few tail-lengths away. Why don’t you give Clan life another try? Sparkshine would be a good name for you I think.”

Spark’s eyes narrowed. “The day I left WindClan, I swore I’d never take a Clan name again.”

Clover stopped at their sides. “What’s a Clan name mean?”

“I’ll explain later.” Minnowstream hardly even glanced at the white-furred she-cat. “But Spark, what do you have against StarClan and why won’t you take a Clan name.”

Spark didn’t answer. He scrambled up the tree trunk and looked in the direction of the clearing. “I know where you’re staying. It’s not the most comfortable place to sleep.”

He leapt down to the ground, landing on the leafy forest floor with a soft thud, and gave her a nod that Minnowstream recognized as a nod of farewell. Then, he dashed off and vanished, the trembling of the nearby bushes the only sign that he had been there a moment ago.

“I suppose that’s the last we’ll see of him,” Minnowstream murmured.

She felt only a strange sense of relief.

***

Minnowstream and Clover entered the clearing. The rogue she-cat gasped at the number of cats there were.

"There's so many of you!" she breathed.

Minnowstream rolled her eyes at the rogue's surprise. "There were once many more of us than there are now. Go rest somewhere."

Willowstorm appeared at her side; Dusktail trotted along behind her like her shadow. Minnowstream's sister's reddish-brown fur looked golden-brown in the dying yellow rays of the setting sun. Dusktail's emerald green eyes were focused on Willowstorm, adoration and affection clearly written in his gaze. His dusky brown pelt was ruffled as usual and the splotches of white-colored fur on his chest, paws, and tail glowed cream-colored as the light of the sunset struck him.

Willowstorm eyed the she-cat warily.

Clover took a few timid steps backwards. "Um...hi?"

"Who are you?" Willowstorm asked sharply.

"My-my name is C-clover," she stammered.

Willowstorm shot a glance at Minnowstream. " What is she doing here?"

Minnowstream stared at her paws. "She's expecting kits so I thought we could help her..."

Willowstorm glowered at the silver she-cat. "When we can't even take care of ourselves and we are slowly starving to death? Dusktail and I caught nothing! What do you expect us to give her?"

Minnowstream felt her neck fur rising as fury simmered inside of her. Who does Willowstorm think she is, to try to tell me what to do? Pebblestar chose me to lead the traveling cats, not her!

Clover took a few hasty steps backwards and lowered her head. "I-I can leave."

"No." Minnowstream's voice was firm and she heard the anger in it too. "Willowstorm, could you think of someone but yourself for once?"

Willowstorm flinched in surprise. "What?! I always put the Clan first..."

"I'm sorry," Minnowstream said. "That was mean. I don't have my usual patience since Ratpaw died."

Hurt glittered in Willowstorm's eyes still but Minnowstream sensed her push it away. "I-it's okay. I...I just...how are we supposed to feed another mouth?"

"Perhaps this will help," an amused voice purred.

Minnowstream spun around so quickly that she nearly fell over. Spark was standing only a tail-length away from her. Willowstorm must've pretty upset if she didn't notice him right behind me. She always sees, hears, or smells everything.

The ginger rogue held a squirrel, a thrush, and two mice in his jaws. It wasn't much but to the half-starved RiverClan cats, it looked like a feast.

Minnowstream gave Spark a grateful look. "Perhaps we shall all eat well tonight."

"Who's this?" Willowstorm demanded. "I'm assuming you know my sister? Minnowstream, have you befriended every rogue in the forest?"

Minnowstream rolled her eyes. "Willowstorm, stop complaining. Just shut up and eat."

Willowstorm didn't listen, of course. "What is his name?"

Spark's icy blue gaze met hers. "I suppose you may call me Spark. I've decided that I am going to help you and your Clan."

“Help?” Willowstorm’s fur bristled. “And why would we need help?”

“I assume you RiverClan cats don’t want to stay in a forest. You want to be near a river, I’m guessing.” Spark’s eyes gazed off into the horizon. “There’s a Twolegplace only a little ways away, and beyond that, there’s a valley where a river flows through.”

Minnowstream felt a strange chilling sensation. He must be talking about the place where my mother stayed!

Willowstorm flattened her ears. “Why should we trust you?”

“Willowstorm, stop!” Minnowstream protested. “I trust him! He saved my life! Besides, it sounds like he’s talking about the place that Pebblestar told us to go.”

“You don’t have to trust me,” Spark meowed. “You just have to follow me.”

“But why, Spark, should I follow someone I don’t trust?” Willowstorm demanded.

Spark purred. “You are truly wise, Willowstorm. There may be hope for you ever yet. The one who trusts any cat is as blind as a newborn kit. Trust is a thing only for a fool. Trust only in yourself and rely on your own instincts. It’s the only way to survive.”

Minnowstream couldn’t believe what the ginger rogue was saying. Trust is not only for a fool!

Willowstorm shook her head. “I refuse to listen to that nonsense. I will always trust my sister, no matter what she does.”

Spark sighed. “Oh, Willowstorm, when you have suffered and seen as much in this cruel world as I have, you will never trust anybody. The ones closest to your heart will always betray you.”

“Just stop!” Willowstorm’s glare was directed at Minnowstream this time, as if she had caused Spark’s beliefs. “Just give me one reason why the Clan should follow you?”

Spark lifted his eyes to the stars that were just beginning to appear in the night sky. “As surely as these stars shine, this will not be the River’s End.”

The River’s End…does he mean this will not be RiverClan’s end?

For days afterward, the words that followed would echo through Minnowstream’s mind. Every end is merely a beginning disguised. From now on, your Clan will follow a new path. This moment right here is the dawn of a new age, Willowstorm. I will lead you to the river, and then it is up to you to make sure that this Clan of cats shall never fade away.

A/N: Guess what starts next chapter? The journey to the valley!

If you haven't read Bubblybluebananas books yet, they are awesome! She is an extremely gifted writer whom I'm proud to say I have the privilege of working with again. If you don't read her books, I will be very sad and you don't want that xD

Anyhow, please comment with your thoughts and I hope you enjoyed!