Prologue
Water sprayed Flycloud’s face as he sprinted past a puddle. He paid no attention to it, not even stopping to clean his muddy fur. He was keen on following the scent.
The grey tom paused near a small hazel bush. He sniffed it, satisfied as he breathed in his mate’s sweet scent. But another scent lingered in Flycloud’s nostrils... the distinct aroma of blood and... fox! It was strong and unmistakable. I knew it! he thought, fur bristling, This isn’t one of Cloverstream’s harmless tricks... she’s in danger.
Flycloud was almost too preoccupied to notice the large red-and-white shape emerging from underneath the bushes. The fox let out a low growl and leaped forwards. The grey tabby whipped around, unsheathing his thorn-sharp claws. The fox just barely missed Flycloud’s throat as he dodged swiftly. This is the fox that attacked Cloverstream, he thought bitterly. Once I lay my claws on it, it’ll surely regret it.
Grey and red fur scattered across the clearing, turning it red with crimson blood. Flycloud raked his claws across the fox’s pelt. It yowled in fury, eyes gleaming in agony, and flailed its paws dangerously close to Flycloud’s exposed neck. The tabby warrior sank his teeth deep into the fox’s haunches. The fox screeched again, aggressively trying to knock the cat off. Flycloud tightened his grip. In one final kick, the fox sent him flying off into the bushes, landing hard with a thud! As soon as Flycloud struggled to stand up, his mind swayed in dizziness. The world faded into empty blackness and Flycloud fell onto the sandy ground.
“Finally! You’re waking up!”
Flycloud awoke, sighing in relief as he saw his mate’s face. “Cloverstream,” he breathed, giving his dusty fur a lick.
Cloverstream eyes gleamed in amusement and worry. “Holy StarClan! What did that fox do to you? Roll you in mud?”
Flycloud glanced down at his pelt. It was coated in drying mud and crimson blood. He began to wash it. “Where is the fox?” He realized with a jolt that the fox was gone.
“Oh—Don’t worry! I think I scared it off.”
Flycloud noticed she used the word “think.” Must’ve been a mistake in words… hopefully.
“Are you wounded?” Cloverstream interrupted his thoughts.
“No, I don’t think so. What about you?”
“Just a scratch.”
Flycloud focused his yellow-green eyes on her hind leg. His mate’s “just a scratch” was worse than she had described. Hesitantly, he meowed, “Let’s get you back to camp.”
Cloverstream nodded reluctantly. “Is there something wrong? You look as if the fox has returned.”
Flycloud sighed. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”
“Didn’t I already tell you? I scared it off.” When Flycloud didn’t look reassured, she meowed, “Don’t worry. And if the fox does come back, I’ll really show it who owns EmberClan!” There was a hint of sympathy in Cloverstream’s meow.
“I suppose so…”
A low growl sounded from behind the two warriors. Their heads whipped around to see the fox.
It lunged at Flycloud, pinning him. In an instant, Cloverstream threw herself at the massive red fox, leaping farther than she ever had. Flycloud watched in terror as his mate and the fox tumbled dangerously close to the cliff together, paws flailing. “No! Stop!” he begged.
He pushed away his fears and slashed the fox hard in the neck. It fell backwards off the edge of the cliff. He turned to Cloverstream. She was just barely hanging on to the edge. “Flycloud…” she whispered. Flycloud froze. “Help!” his mate called to him gently. The tabby closed his eyes and grabbed Cloverstream’s black scruff. Flycloud opened his eyes again. He had been in this position before. Memories of his kithood flashed in his mind, distracting him. Why can’t I pull her up? Am I too distracted? Is it my exhaustion? StarClan, help me! “Flycloud!” He felt fur sliding from his grip. His beloved Cloverstream was slipping away.
She fell until Flycloud could barely make out her single black stripe. “No!” he wailed, rushing down the steep boulders to see if Cloverstream was still alive. The fox lay there, dead. Flycloud shivered. The tom searched until he found his mate’s limp body. Her fur was clumped together in blood. “Cloverstream! Wake up! StarClan, please!” He prodded the black-and-white she-cat.
You’re still alive…! he thought as Cloverstream’s dark green eyes opened for the last time. “Flycloud…” she huffed. “…I’ll always love you. I wish we could live together, forever… Tell Shadedpaw and Rainclaw I know they will serve EmberClan very well… Good-bye, my love. StarClan is waiting for me,” she drew in her last breath, “Don’t forget me…”
“I won’t,” Flycloud whispered. I’ll never forget.
His mate’s eyes closed; Flycloud stroked her fur with his paw.
“Cloverstream… No! Why her? Cloverstream