The Kin of the Tortured Servant
Chapter 2
Tigerpaw's POV
Gingerstar14: The plot really hasn't taken shape. Yes, I'll still take ideas from reviewers.
My paws tingled as we neared the bridge to the island. I could see the shapes of cats, most likely RiverClan, padding out onto it. We hadn't met any WindClan cats on their way yet, but I guessed not because it was barely dark.
Copperstar padded out after the last few RiverClan cats, ThunderClan following. I caught up to my mentor and followed him to the tree. "Now Tigerpaw," He growled slowly, as if I were dumb. "Make sure you don't slip."
"Yeah Tigerpaw!" Redpaw spat from behind me. He shoved past Copperstar and leaped onto the bridge, and padded easily to the other side. "It's easy. Come on, Stormpaw!" Stormpaw leaped after him.
"Be careful!" Copperstar snarled as Stormpaw swayed. But the young tom regained his balance and padded over to the other side. Copperstar leaped up after him, and the others flowed past me onto the bridge. I waited until Flowerheart was behind me, then jumped up nervously and began to slowly claw my way over the water.
I nearly slipped, but Flowerheart caught me. "Be careful!" She meowed, repeating Copperstar's exact words. I nodded and with a sudden rush, pelted off the branch and leaped onto the solid ground below. I followed Nightstripe and Hawkclaw into the clearing in the center of the island.
On a a huge tree sat a sleek, blue-gray tom, looking out over the cats. Most likely Pebblestar, RiverClan's leader. A gray and white tabby she-cat sat at the roots, and Hawkclaw joined her. That was where deputies sat, and I knew that RiverClan's deputy was Sleektail.
I joined Redpaw and Stormpaw, already talking to two other apprentices. "Hey Tigerpaw. This is Waterpaw and Smoothpaw." Stormpaw motionend to the blue-gray she-cat and the sleek brown tom.
"Hi," I mewed. Waterpaw dipped her head, but said nothing. Smoothpaw flicked his tail.
Suddenly a shape flew past me and leaped onto the tree. It was a dark brown, black, and gray patchy she-cat with cold amber eyes. I knew from the scent of my border patrol I went on, it was Snakefang, ShadowClan's obviously new leader. I looked around, and saw the deputy was a small, scarred gray tom. His eyes burned, and I knew that he didn't seem like too nice a cat.
Copperstar heaved himself up the side of the tree, and sat on a branch just above the one the others were sitting on.
A black she-cat settled down a little bit away from me, and her red eyes flicked back and forth. They rested on me. "Hey, apprentice! Over here!" I glanced around, then padded over to her.
"Your ThunderClan," Her voice was dismissing. "I am Darksoul."
"Are- are you from ShadowClan?" I asked. She nodded, then gazed up at the moon. Her red eyes burned like firey embers. "Do other cats have red eyes, too?" I asked.
Darksoul merely laughed. "I've never met another cat like that." She purred. "Ooh, looks like WindClan's here!" I turned to see the tawny-colored WindClan leader leap onto the tree, and the deputy, a hefty gray tom sit by Hawkclaw and the others. I turned back to Darksoul, but she was gone.
I looked around, then in the shadows, two red eyes glowed at me, then blinked. They were gone in a second, and all that was left was a swirling shadow. I stared at it for a moment, then, unnerved, turned. Two ShadowClan cats padded past me, and sat down by Ravenstrike. They didn't smell anything like Darksoul. But was she ShadowClan? I couldn't be sure. After all, before this, I had never smelled RiverClan.
A loud yowl sounded, and Copperstar started the meeting. "Thistlestar, do you wish to begin?" He asked.
Thistlestar dipped his head. "Thank you, Copperstar." He stood up, balancing on the branch. "WindClan has been attacked by dogs. But, thanks to Crowfleet, Gorseheart, Amberwing and Hedgepaw, we had enough of a warning." I couldn't see the cats he mentioned except the small golden she-cat, who dipped her head shyly.
"And we've made a new warrior only two moonsises ago. Swiftheart is not here tonight, but he proudly sat his vigil." A few murmurs rose from the crowd. "That is all. Pebblestar?"
Pebblestar shook his head, so Snakefang took stood up, proudly lifting her tail. "I must report, that as many of you know now," Her voice was cold and she cast a scathing glance at a tortoiseshell she-cat who bowed her head, "Scorchstar died in battle with RiverClan." Every cat knew of the border fight ShadowClan had had when Scorchstar was leader. It happened only days after the last gathering. Sympathetic murmurs rose from the crowd.
"I have taken over as Snakestar." She went on. "And already I have made a new warrior also. Two, infact. Amberlash and Thunderfang." With that, she sat down.
"I'll go," Copperstar stood up. "My patrols," he growled, "Have scented ShadowClan in our territory!" He whirled around to glare at Snakestar. Snakestar leaped to her paws. "Well?" I hadn't expected that, though the warriors had been whispering about something.
"ShadowClan hasn't crossed borders. It's obvious that ThunderClan can't tell rogues from Clan. You remember Foxheart and the others Scorchstar exiled, don't you? Or has old age taken its toll?" That was a rude comment, because Copperstar had only been leader for two moons before I was born.
"At least ThunderClan doesn't have traitors that need exiled by fives! Five cats ShadowClan lost. Is that making you weak?" Copperstar growled. Snakestar turned away, fury in her eyes.
"I'll go then, if your quite done," Pebblestar meowed. "RiverClan has had plentiful prey, and we've had two more litters of kits, and- ."
"We leave now," Snakestar snarled. She leaped down, gathered her cats and padded toward the tree-bridge. I stared after her. What was she doing? Pebblestar looked anxious, and he turned to Thistlestar, his head tipped to the side.
Copperstar leaped down from the tree. "We can't continue without ShadowClan. Good-night, Pebblestar, Thistlestar." He swished his tail, and I got up to join the others. I guessed Snakestar had had quite enough. But it seemed a disasterous meeting anyhow. I traveled back with ThunderClan, all the while Darksoul in my mind. Was this just a game the cat was playing? Or was it something dangerous, something evil, about the black she-cat with red eyes.
