Disappearance

Chapter One
“The clan is growing...for the first time in moons,” Adderleap said, eyeing the Queens as they relaxed under the shade of the Dawn Tree.

Eaglestar’s light eyes blinked, and for a moment, he declined to comment, pawing at a fallen leaf.

“Early to call that a blessing, don’t you think?,” he murmured.

Adderleap sighed, turning to lock eyes with the reddish brown tom. Great, silvery mane fluffing out, she swiped at the fallen leaf, pulling it away from his paws. Just what we need.

“And why would that be?” She queried, tilting her head to the side.

Several moments passed, and Eaglestar said nothing, his graying muzzle twitching in thought. Out with it already. Narrowing her light green eyes, Adderleap opened her mouth to pseak, when suddenly, Eaglestar rose to his paws. Even at his full height--he was still smaller than his thick-furred deputy.

“Not here,” he rumbled, pointing his tail to a more secluded area of the camp-- a shaded place, at the far corner, and away from the others.

Only shaking her head, Adderleap brushed past him, the end of her fluffy tail flicking him on the nose as she padded over, claws raking over the stone floor of the camp. Should we cover it again with moss? Mothcloud was complaining of aching paws the other day to Cinderfoot, she mused, recalling a half-overheard discussion between the clan’s medicine cat and one of three elders. However, the thought did not last long, as Eaglestar had already begun to speak when he reached the location, voice hushed and reedy.

“Too few warriors. And now, a missing patrol,” he announced.

Adderleap’s eyes widened as she turned her head to count the clan members, ears flattening to the back of her head when she noticed an absence.

“They didn’t return the other night...,” she began, loweering her voice when Cinderfoot looked their way, his mouth stuffed with...cobwebs?

“Reedpool, Windclaw, and Sharpnose did not return,” Eaglestar finished, cutting off the she-cat before she could say anymore.

“As if we needed to lose more warriors,” Adderleap huffed, eyes locking onto Eaglestar’s face, her tail lashing back and forth.

“I’ll lead a patrol to look for them,” she announced, cutting Eaglestar off before the tom could ask.

For a moment, he paused, and then shook his head, as if to banish whatever words were clawing to leave his mouth. Shoulders loosening, the reddish brown leader of DuskClan only nodded, muzzle twitching.

“”We’ll find Sharpnose--I know you’re worried about your mother. Now, isn’t it time for you to train Littlepaw? He’s waiting,” Adderleap continued, tail swishing to indicate a small, dark gray apprentice  who had just padded out of the den.

Shaking himself, Eaglestar nodded.

“Go. And I...will manage things here. Keep an eye out for...all of them,” he replied, turning swiftly to pad away on stiff legs.