Chapter 6

                                    Chapter 6 

Gasps echoed through the room. “Shadestorm.” Lakestar growled. “I told you that you’d marry Dawnstripe to unite the two kingdoms!”

“Well it’s just…” Shadestorm struggled to find a way to say how he felt, knowing that if he shared his feelings Lakestar wouldn’t understand. Finally he forced himself to quickly say, “I don’t love her.”

A trickle of understanding swept across Lakestar’s face, yet he pushed it away. “I understand she isn’t what YOU may want.” He growled. “But it is not about what YOU want. It is about what the KINGDOM wants.” He realized his tone was a bit harsh, yet it was too late to take back his words.

“But…” Shadestorm stumbled half-heartedly, knowing he had lost this argument. “Me and Whistlewind are meant for each other.”

Lakestar sighed. “You may love each other, but that doesn’t change anything. Dawnstripe is coming tomorrow for your wedding.”

Shadestorm looked depressed. “No! But you can’t.” His voice got softer, the depression of the moment sinking in.

Whistlewind looked at the floor, ashamed of herself. Shadestorm looked into her eyes, drinking in the sight of his love before they were separated. “Don’t be ashamed.” Shadestorm murmured to her. “It’s my fault.” He frowned at the ground, his tail sweeping with shame and disappointment.

“It seems that that matter is settled.” Lakestar announced. The other wolves chattered and whispered excitedly at the newfound drama, quieting down at Lakestar’s warning glare. “It is time we settled down for the night.” He barked. “Sunstreak, please show Whiteclaw to her guest room.”

The two worried wolves hurried out of the room, grateful for the privacy their room allowed.
“Follow me.” Sunstreak whispered. They padded up the creaky wooden steps, the moonlight pouring shadows across the dozens upon dozens of marble corridors.

Finally, right before Whiteclaw collapsed with effort, they reached the top floor. Whiteclaw was led into a giant bedroom, with red jadestone columns and famous paintings and portraits of royalty from long ago. A fluffy rug rested on the wooden floor, made of red mouse fur and rare tropical feathers.

But that was nothing compared to the bed. It’s posts towered over the room, and it had a small balcony above it, like a bunk bed. The top bunk was more of a den, with posters and photos crowding the walls and small patches of moss for relaxing in. Ink dripped from a feathered-purple pen lying on the floor, unlike anything Whiteclaw had seen before. Bones, sticks, and hibiscus flowers lay in neat piles, next to the patches of moss.

“Your room is…” Whiteclaw struggled to find the right word. Amazing? Fantastic? Terrific? “Breath-taking.” Whiteclaw breathed.

“This is your bed.” Sunstreak padded over to a second bed, almost as magnificent as the first.

Suddenly, Shadestorm raced in, huffing and puffing and gasping for breath. "I'm leaving." He explained.

"What!" Sunstreak exclaimed. "But... you can't."

"Yes I can." Shadestorm replied sadly, pausing to glance back at his mate. "I don't love-"

"Yes yes I know." Sunstreak cut in angrily. "You don't love Dawnstripe."

"I'm sorry." Shadestorm murmured. Sunstreak wanted to convince him to stay, but his eyes looked determined.

"You can't leave me here alone!" Sunstreak cried. "So much..." Responsiblity. Chores. Your the only one who understands me!" She corrected herself when seeing Whiteclaw's annoyed expression. "You, and Whiteclaw are the only ones who understand me."

"I'm leaving now,"Shadestorm stated.

"But but..." Sunstreak stumbled. "Where will you go?" She knew she had lost this argument, but it wasn't terrible to keep trying.

"We'll be going to Tropical Rock." Shadestorm replied. "We'll stay near the Misty Mines, with the Wolf Tribe  that lives there."

"I'll miss you so much." Sunstreak said wistfully, walking forward to touch noses with her brother. "Goodbye." Whistlewind and Shadestorm said their goodbyes, promising to write to them, and left. Whiteclaw had a lot of questions, and hardly waited before jumping into what she wanted to say.

"You let them leave, just like that?" She roared. "Tropical Rock doesn't even have messengers to pass hieroglyphs back and forth! They all get eaten by snakes! And I can't even read hieroglyphs..."

"Quiet!" Sunstreak warned, growling to empathize her angry words. "I have a plan."

"Oh." Whiteclaw murmured. "What is it?"

"We follow them." Sunstreak planned. "Follow me." She crept into the mud path hallway, not even waiting for a response.

Whiteclaw stalked behind her, cringing as the wood creaked on the staircase. It was late, and surely they would be punished for being up and about at this time.

Soon they drifted outside, taking in the fresh autumn air. The crackling leaves swayed in the breeze, glowing blue by the deep moonlight being poured down like spilt milk.

Soon they spotted Whistlewind and Shadestorm walking in the distance, their tails curled around each other's. "Wow." Whiteclaw breathed, her eyes sparkling. "I've never seen two wolves so much in love."

"Wait a moment." Sunstreak realized. "Where did Mudfoot go?" Her eyes glanced at a second shadow walking by the two love-dazed wolves. It was attached to a yellow-brown cat, and Sunstreak  instantly recognized the sandy brown ripped tail. "It's Mudfoot." She whispered. "He must've sneaked out with them after they visited us."

They continued to follow the runaway wolves, taking quick breaks to catch a squirrel or two. Soon the sun rose up into the sky, warming the dark green grass shoots popping up from the forest floor. Suddenly, five foot tall flowers started growing from the ground, and in a few minutes their petals brushed against the sky. Sparkling vines wrapped themselves around the tall tree trunks too. "This must be the Enchanted Forest!" Whiteclaw leapt through the tall grass, until her eyes drooped. 

"I'm exhausted." Grumbled Sunstreak. "We've been following them all night."

"But what if they get ahead of us?" Whiteclaw wondered. "Then we'd never find them!"

"Wait a moment... I think I remember my father talking about air travel here..." Suddenly a dark shadow passed over the two friends. They gasped, peeking up into the sky, their eyes straining to spot the strange creature. They nearly fainted when a five-foot tall barn owl swept over, folding his wings down and ruffling his tired feathers. 

"Hello." He greeted warmly.

"He-hello." Whiteclaw stumbled. "Who are you?" 

"A messenger owl of the Tropical Rock Tribe." The owl proudly quoted, as if he had been practicing that line and repeating it over and over just for an occasion such as this one.

"Do you know where my brother is?" Sunstreak cut in.

"Actually." The owl hooted. "I was looking for him too." He pecked at his feathers worriedly, his beak curling into an expression of single-minded commitment. "I must find him." The owl hooted again, his eyes practically burning with determinedness. 

"Your... looking for him?" Sunstreak asked, confused.

"Why yes, of course. I was sent here on a quest to find him. He sent a message to the tribe, telling them he would be there. I need to tell him that they don't have Oak Stamp mail service."

"And..." He added, his determined, yet worried eyes showing that his message was not only about mail service. 

He paused briefly to collect his thoughts. He seemed reluctant to tell them, his eyes finally giving in to Sunstreak and Whiteclaw's expectant faces.

"I need to tell him that..." He leaned in closer, his eyes searching for anyone nearby that could hear. 

"Just tell us already!" Sunstreak snapped impatiently.

 "There was a flood in Tropical Rock. The main entrance has an enchantment, so you have no idea there is a flood in the main chamber, until you walk in. The Welcomer twists the knob to lower his raft, and if you are an unwanted or uninvited guest he will not let you in." The owl blabbered on.

"But isn't Shadestorm a guest? And if he isn't, can't they tell The Welcomer to let him in?" Sunstreak asked.

"The Welcomer isn't an owl or wolf. Hes..." The owl gulped. "He's the Beast."