CotS #1: The Dark Path (currently being rewritten)

I took Swanpaw, Fallowpaw and Stripepaw out, along with Duckpaw. Trailing behind were Heathermist, Cloudysky and Peacewind, who didn't seem happy that me, the inexperienced brand-new warrior, was leading us. Cloudysky seemed perfectly fine, and Heathermist looked encouraging, but it was my own mother who'd not liked it.

She'd objected when Cloudysky suggested it. Heathermist had yelled at her.

And that was the only reason why Peacewind was trailing quietly behind us, only looking slightly disgruntled. Because her former mentor had yelled at her in front of her brand-new apprentice, and she was embarrassed. What a disgrace!

"Great job," Peacewind praised as Duckpaw stepped on a twig. There was sarcasm in her mew.

"Hey, I'm not hunting," Duckpaw responded with a jovial grin.

"Alas," Heathermist sighed gravely. "I suppose we have nothing left to do except show you the Twolegplace." Why did she look so grave when she said that? I opened my mouth to ask, but Cloudysky answered my question.

"No, Heathermist," Cloudysky objected. "You know what happened when you showed Littlecloud Twolegplace!" His eyes widened in fear. I paused.

"That ... we could see him," I said, thinking more of Eagletail when I said that. "He doesn't know Minnowpelt is dead, does he?"

Cloudysky relented. "Fine."

He followed Heathermist to Twolegplace slightly unwillingly. I did too, slowly trudging behind the group, my thoughts anywhere but on Littlecloud.

~

We did meet Littlecloud and he was devastated by Minnowpelt's death.

"My sister? Dead?" Littlecloud choked. "From standing a warriors' vigil?" He was petrified.

"That's right," Peacewind agreed unsympathetically. She glanced at us as if to say, can we go now? I glared at her.

"That day?" Littlecloud repeated. He looked shocked. Perhaps because he had been woefully absent from her vigil, and maybe his warmth would've helped her survive. He was stiff, and he didn't move.

We all nodded. I thought, what was the problem? But Littlecloud's eyes were darkening with fury.

"You should have told me right then, Stormpaw!" he spat. He was angry at me, was he now?

"Stormdawn, you stupid furball," I meowed casually. "You know, if you had stuck around instead of running off, perhaps you would have been notified when she died." My gaze hardened. "But you were selfish and decided to become a kittypet. Not the best choice, but hey, I'm not you. I don't enjoy food pellets and Twoleg pelts."

Littlecloud took a step back at the insult. "Look. Stormdawn. I did ... I loved her. A lot. But I love my new mate more. Okay? Just ... StarClan can judge me as they please, but a lot of our Clanmates are among these Twolegs, you know? Eagletail. Some others that weren't even there when I was born! There's this funny gray she-cat called Mousewing. She's apparently Hollowmist's mother, did you know? She left with her mate Stoneshadow."

I shrugged. "I don't need to know this, Littlecloud. Minnowpelt is dead." I turned to leave, absently watching Swanpaw.

"Can I pay my respects?"

I shrugged. It wasn't my choice. But Heathermist was already shaking her head swiftly but decisively and fixing her former apprentice with a hard stare.