리틀팍스

CHAPTER 2

The searching patrol went for the Twolegplace. Honeypaw lazily yawned as her mentor, Blackspot went on bragging about her.

“She learned that move in two days,” he was meowing. “The others took five days. Honeypaw is a genius!”

“Will you please stop doing that?” Honeypaw asked. “You give me extra lessons, and that’s why I’m so good.”

“Yes, you are good!” Blackspot turned and touched noses with Honeypaw. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Are we linked in some way?” Honeypaw asked. “You treat me as if I’m your daughter.”

“It’s his first time having an apprentice,” Paleheart explained as Blackspot kept on screeching with pride. “And he’s excited to teach you since you are Stripestar’s daughter.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen cats like that,” Honeypaw muttered.

“We’re near the Twolegplace,” Dandelionfur announced. “Be careful.”

“Are you kidding me?” Blackspot lashed his tail. “Honeypaw doesn’t need warnings like that. She knows everything.”

“No, I don’t,” Honeypaw frowned. “Seriously, Blackspot, it’s not as if I’m a StarClan cat.”

“Hey!” Sandygorse interrupted. “Look at this!”

The patrol hastily gathered around. Honeypaw joined in, grunting among the weight of older cats.

Sandygorse was pointing with her tail at a spot where the snow hadn’t touched.

“Paw prints!” Honeypaw exclaimed. “Is it Snowpaw’s?”

“We’re lucky,” Paleheart took in a deep breath. “The snow has been going on for like two days now, but thanks to this tree, we found a clue to where Snowpaw left!”

“She must have got past here,” Honeypaw mewed, tasting the air. “It’s faint, but she went that way.” She pointed with her nose to where the rows of Twoleg nests ended.

“Thank you for telling us,” Blackspot gleamed with energy. His soaked pelt fluffed up eagerly. “Let’s go, shall we?”

“My paws feel as if they would drop off!” Paleheart exclaimed. The patrol was still following Snowpaw’s scent, and it seemed to last forever.

“How long have we been walking?” Sandygorse asked.

“A very long time,” Honeypaw replied. “We can all see that.”

“Yeah,” Blackspot agreed. “And a warrior had to ask an apprentice for that!”

This time, no one reacted to Blackspot’s taunts. They were too exhausted even to speak.

“Maybe we should go back for the day,” Paleheart suggested. “Our Clanmates must be worried about us.”

“No way,” Dandelionfur spoke. “The scent is already faint; it might be gone by tomorrow.”

“Then we can send another patrol to check it out, today,” Honeypaw pointed out. “We can send Mistystream. She’s good at tracking, too.”

“But not better than you!” Blackspot lost balance and crouched down with his paws folded beside his chest. Then he began to laugh hysterically.

“The long walk must have done it,” Paleheart decided, looking uncomfortable. “The long walk should have done it, yeah.”

“Let’s go back now,” Paleheart meowed. “We’ll send another patrol as soon as we can.”

“But...” Dandelionfur moaned. “All right. Let’s go.”

As the patrol went back to LittleClan’s camp, Honeypaw felt tired. She looked up to see Dandelionfur leaning on Sandygorse’s shoulder.

“You have overworked yourself,” Sandygorse was mewing. “Let’s get back and get some rest. I’ll share with you the best place to snuggle at the warriors’ den.”

“Not after we send the patrol,” Dandelionfur grumbled. “Remember? I’m not losing our sister.”

Sandygorse bowed her head in such a grieving way, Honeypaw was shocked. Then she remembered; the three were sisters, Dandelionfur, Sandygorse, and Snowpaw. She couldn’t imagine herself being torn apart from her littermates. How could they bear such a thing?

“As long as we’re together,” Sandygorse meowed. “We would be able to find her.”

“We would be able to find her,” Dandelionfur repeated. “Snowpaw.”