Bluestar's Prophecy

“Okay, okay!” Reluctantly Snowfur climbed out of her nest.

“Don’t come back till your paws ache!” Robinwing called as Snowfur followed Bluefur out of the nursery.

“Hurry up!”

Snowfur was dragging her paws as Bluefur led her to the entrance. “But what if he gets hungry?”

“He won’t starve.”

“What if he gets anxious without me?”

“He’s got a whole Clan looking out for him.” Bluefur nudged her sister into the gorse tunnel. “I think he’ll be okay.” Great StarClan, if this is what it’s like to have kits, I’m glad I don’t have any!

She shooed Snowfur up the ravine, shaking her head when Snowfur halted at the top and peered wistfully down at the camp.

“Look,” Bluefur huffed. “It’s a lovely day. Whitekit will be fine. It’s not like we’re going to Highstones. You’ll see him again before the sun’s moved a mouse-length.”

Chapter 27

Bluefur led her sister through the trees, following the route she’d taken that morning. It’ll be quiet by the river, she told herself, out of the way of hunting patrols. The sound of the water would soothe Snowfur. And it would be sunny, so they could bask for a while.

Snowfur was already looking happier, trotting through the breeze-rustled forest. “I’d forgotten how good it smells,” she chirped, taking another deep breath. Suddenly she stopped. “Wait.”

Bluefur paused, trying not to sigh. “What is it now?”

With a playful hiss, Snowfur lunged at her, giving her a shove that sent her tumbling against a bramble heavy with blackberries. The fruit trembled as Bluefur found her paws.

“Why, you—” She sprang out of the sweet-smelling thorns, bowling her sister to the ground, where they tussled like kits.

Snowfur pinned Bluefur down. “Do you give in?”

“Never!” Bluefur yowled. She pushed with her hind paws and rolled Snowfur off, tumbling her into the brambles so that the berries stained her fur.

Snowfur leaped away. “Look what you’ve done.” She stared in mock dismay at her purple-streaked pelt.

“Let’s go and wash it off in the river,” Bluefur suggested.

Snowfur blinked. “Or I could just lick it off.”

“It’s nice down by the river,” Bluefur pressed. She wanted to make sure Oakheart hadn’t returned.

“Okay. I could do with a drink,” Snowfur meowed. “It’ll be nice to lap water that doesn’t taste of moss.”

Bluefur headed for the riverbank.

“Not so fast.” Snowfur was puffing. “I’m out of practice, remember?”

Bluefur slowed as they padded from the trees onto the riverbank. She tasted the air, her pelt bristling with anticipation. Had he returned?

No sign of fresh scent.

Good.

And yet why did she feel disappointed? She padded to the spot where he’d been lying. The stone felt warm beneath her paws, and his scent lingered in the still air.

Snowfur had been lapping from the river; she lifted her dripping muzzle and stared across at the RiverClan bank. “Do you think they’ll try invading again?”

“Who knows?” Bluefur murmured.

“They’re so greedy, I wouldn’t be surprised.” Snowfur crunched over to her and sat down. “When do you think Sunstar will make a stand for Sunningrocks?”

“Do we really need to fight?” Bluefur queried.

Snowfur looked sharply at her. “Don’t you want to?”

“Battles are dangerous,” Bluefur reminded her.

Snowfur blinked. “Yeah?”

“Cats get hurt.” Bluefur gazed across the river. “RiverClan can’t be all bad, can they? I mean, they must be cats like us.”

“So that gives them the right to take Sunningrocks?”

“No, but…” Bluefur wasn’t thinking about Sunningrocks. “I just mean, why fight? We all want the same things.”

“You’ll be telling me you want to eat fish next,” Snowfur teased. She nosed Bluefur toward the water. “Why don’t you have a swim?”

Bluefur dug her paws into the stones to stop herself staggering into the water. She’d already gotten wet once today. “They probably think we’re strange for living under trees and chasing squirrels.”

Snowfur tipped her head on one side. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Fine,” Bluefur answered.

“Where’s your loyalty to ThunderClan gone?”

“I am loyal!” Bluefur snapped. “I chased a RiverClan warrior off this rock only this morning.”

Snowfur’s eyes grew wide. “Are they trying to invade again? Did you tell Sunstar?”

Bluefur shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. He was just sunning himself.”

“Who?”

Bluefur looked away. “Crookedjaw’s brother.”

“Oakheart?”

When Bluefur didn’t reply, Snowfur moved closer. “Why didn’t you mention it?”

“I chased him off, didn’t I?”

“Then why are you being so secretive?”

“He wasn’t invading. He was just lying in the sunshine.”

“On our side of the river,” Snowfur growled. “Arrogant fur-ball.”

“He wasn’t arrogant.” Bluefur’s heart lurched when she realized she’d jumped to Oakheart’s defense too quickly.

“You like him!” Snowfur’s eyes were huge and round. “You like a RiverClan cat!”

“No, I don’t!”