The dark russet-red feline let out a fierce yowl, determination shining bright in her silver-green eyes. She chased after the retreating rogues, lashing out with thorn-sharp claws whenever she got close enough. Her apprentice, a young ebony tom ran with her, his bright yellow eyes shining with a different emotion. Betrayal. Hate. And, beneath it all, confusion. They weren't the only FrostClan cats to running after the fleeing cats, or perhaps the traitors would have turned and fought again. But, as it was, they ran right over the border and beyond. Rowannight hissed angrily, stalking back and forth along the scent markers, ignoring the throbbing pain in her shoulder, the blood trickling down her foreleg. "Nighthaunt should have a look at that."Her pale gaze snapped to young Warpaw, still blazing from battle. For a moment, she almost mistook him for his father, Warstrike, the leader of that band of mangy traitors, but she knew her apprentice. She gave him a quick nod, but shot a glance back over the border, almost daring them to return. She flexed her unusually long claws, feeling them sink satisfactorily into the damp soil beneath. Oh, they would pay!
The loud call echoed throughout the camp and the woods beyond, Fiercestar's call for a clan meeting. Rowannight pulled herself gingerly to her paws, a fresh wave of pain spider-webbing from her shoulder. She hissed, biting back anything louder. Nighthaunt, passing her as he, too, made his way to the clearing, shot her a warning look. She scowled, but kept her weight off her right foreleg, walking carefully. The battle the night before had left her in a sore temper as well as a sore body, and she couldn't even help around the camp!
Rowannight settled down beside the calico warrior, Specklestream, managing a small smile for her clan mate. Her pale silver-green eyes scanned the gathering cats, spotting Warpaw and his sister Deathpaw and brother Lostpaw. The ebony she-cat was Nighthaunt's apprentice, while the medicine cat's carbon copy was mentored by the warrior beside her. Most cats of FrostClan had escaped the battle virtually unscathed, missing patches of fur and carrying minor scratched and bruises, and, of course, worn and tired muscles.
Her brother, from a different litter, stood high above their heads, a fallen trunk his perch. His amber eyes shone darkly, his tail flicking impatiently. He, too, was on short nerves. "Cats of FrostClan, Warstrike has betrayed us! Fleetfeather and her two young kits, as well as Flamefrost, have left with him and his rogues. They have attacked our camp, attacked their own clan mates, and, trust this, they will pay!" Yowls of agreement rose from the gathered cats, fire in their eyes. "But FrostClan has other business to attend to as well, cause for joy and pride."A smile graced the large brown-black tom's muzzle, than faded. "Dreamkit, Hopekit, Lonekit, and Shiverkit, please step forward. You four are ready to become apprentices and, in your turn, warriors of FrostClan. From this day forth, you will be known as Dreampaw, Hopepaw, Lonepaw, and Shiverpaw." He paused for a moment, eyes flicking from cat to cat. The four waiting cats were tense, excited, forgetting the horror of the attack.
"Battlestrike, Warstrike may have been your mentor, but you have also lost your brother Jaggedclaw, and we still see you as a noble and loyal warrior. Shiverpaw will be your apprentice. Swiftclaw, your brother Flamefrost has left us, and your sister Firewing died fighting against this new threat. You have proved yourself to be a kind clan mate as well as a fierce warrior. Hopepaw will be your apprentice. Breezestorm, Fleetfeather may have abandoned and turned against her birth clan, but you have shown yourself to be a wise and gentle follower of the warrior code. Dreampaw will be your apprentice. Young Lonepaw, you have lost both your mother and father, Firewing and Jaggedclaw, but I see the beginning of a great warrior in you. You shall be my apprentice."The FrostClan leader jumped down to the clearing floor, striding to his new apprentice to touch noses. The young tom's emerald eyes were sad, mourning, when he looked up at his mentor and leader, but also bright.
Rowannight smiled to herself, glancing across the clearing to Warpaw. He may be the spitting image of his father, but she knew he was different. And she could tell her older brother knew that too, the same way he didn't judge the other he had just made proud mentors. But... The dark russet she-cat turned her head, catching Raventalon's brooding gaze. He, too, was watching her young apprentice, the son of his brother, and his golden-green orbs were clouded with distrust. Clearly, not all the clan were as fair as Fiercestar.
It was perhaps half a moon later, and no scent nor sight of the rogues had been reported. But they were out there, the clan cats could feel it.
The dark russet warrior stalked silently through the forest, her pale silver-green eyes trained on her apprentice fox-lengths ahead. It was an assessment, and, so far, he was doing well. Already he had caught and hidden a thrush, a vole, and two small mice. She was hoping he would try after a squirrel next, seeing as they had just gone over that particular species of prey a day or two ago.
As to the status of FrostClan, things were getting back to normal, at least somewhat. The unease and tension set the air crackling like static, and Rowannight's pelt was often sent prickling. The new apprentices were doing well, and there were quite a lot of apprentices. Every cat but Swirlnight, their elder, and Softshimmer, mother of the three newest apprentices, was training. But, on the bright side, that would mean twice as many warriors as soon as they had earned their names.
RushClan had been mysteriously quiet, their border markings fainter and fainter with each passing day. Something was wrong there too, but there was no way for FrostClan to find out.
Rowannight shook her head, focusing once more on Warpaw. He had spotted a squirrel. She moved closer, but stayed far enough away not to interfere with his hunt, and watched him carefully. A moment before he stepped on a small twig, she grimaced, then heard the tell-tale "Snap!" and watched him chase futively after his prey. But the bushy-tailed creature was very soon clambering up the side of a tree, and escaped into the branches. With a quiet chuckle to herself, Rowannight padded up to her now-angry apprentice. "Hey, cheer up. You can't catch them all. For one, that would leave no fun for me." She flicked him lightly on the shoulder with her dark russet tail, and his scowl shifted to a small grin. "Now, watch this!" She bounded to the tree, pausing at the trunk to gather her strength, before leaping high up its trunk.
This was one of those times that long claws was a definite advantage.
She scrambled onto the lowest branch with relative ease, casting a look down to see Warpaw's wide eyes. He would probably never be able to do something like that with the grace and agility of a slender she-cat like herself. Instead, her apprentice was a fighter, and every inch of him advertised that fact. So, she could would show him a trick or two.
Crouching on her new perch, her pale silver-green eyes scanned the boughs around her. A few levels up and the to the right, she spotted her quarry, fortunately facing the other way. With a smirk, she jumped almost silently from branch to branch, her long claws gripping the bark. And then she was tail-lengths away from the squirrel, and she pounced, aiming for the branch and not her prey. It let out a shrill squeal and then grew silent, seeing as Rowannight had delivered the killing bite to the neck.
She picked up her catch by its fluffy tail, and turned, leaping easily downward from branch to branch. On the second lowest branch she paused, though only for a moment. Looking back, she never knew why she did, but only knew thatit had happened. Then something slipped, something tore. And a resounding "Crack!" filled the air, the snap of Warpaw's twig, only amplified many times over. Rownnight's silver-green eyes grew wide as she realized what was happening, her claws gripping the back even as it shifted, even as it suddenly broke free from the tree it had grown from, even as she fell to the ground.
"Rowannight!"Warpaw's voice yowled. Then there was a smack, a thud, and the world went black.
