Chapter 1
Darkleaf fought every urge to lick mud off her thick pelt. She looked up, and saw a claw-moon. She sighed in relief. She'd have enough time.
As she padded through ThunderClan territory, she felt excitement fizzing beneath her pelt. She couldn't wait to see her brother again!
Before she knew it, Darkleaf was already passing by the Owltree. She looked up at the ancient oak, it's spindly branches almost scaring her. She shook her head and moved on.
Darkleaf could hear mice scuffling in the underbrush, but she ignored it. She had other things to do.
But then again, she hadn't eaten since this sunrise…
She shook her head again.
It was Greenleaf; there's be prey everywhere in the morning.
As her thoughts raced, she bumped into a rock. She looked up, then over. She was in Fourtrees. No, it couldn't possibly work here. She thought, giving the rock a reluctant glance.
She swept past two great oaks, then headed for the Thunderpath that divided ShadowClan from ThunderClan.
Darkleaf had always always admired ShadowClan. The way their warriors could blend into darkness, how thick and marshy the land was.
She darted across the Thunderpath, not waiting for any monsters.
Once she reached the stretch of grass in the center, she had realized what she'd done. She licked her chest fur in embarrassment, then turned and faced the other half of the Thunderpath.
She listened for monsters this time, and when she didn't pick up anything, she ran across.
Breathless, she tumbled into ShadowClan territory. Her flanks heaved, then she got to her paws, looking around.
Darkleaf was always enchanted by ShadowClan, and preferred it over ThunderClan.
Her heart stopped as she heard rustling.
She whipped around, staring into the long grass. She unsheathed her claws. "Who's there?" she challenged, her tail lashing.
A tortoiseshell she-cat padded out from the grass, along with two apprentices. The gray she-cat sniffed. "Who's this?" The gray-and-white one smirked, tail lashing. "Is this secret battle training?"
The tortoiseshell she-cat glared down at him. "No, and be quiet,"
She turned to Darkleaf. "Greetings. My name is Shadefire. And this-" she turned to the gray she-cat, "-is Breezepaw, and the tom-" she turned the the gray-and-white one, "- is Graypaw."
Darkleaf sat, though her shoulders were still bristling. "My name is Darkleaf. What are you doing, out of camp, this late at night?"
Shadefire's claws unsheathed. "You can only get that information if you're dead." Darkleaf's eyes widened. "Sorry! Well, I'm here because-"
"Yes, yes, now I'm going." Shadefire brushed past her, towards the Thunderpath. The two apprentices looked back at Darkleaf pitifully, but followed Shadefire.
Suddenly, they both stopped, looking over their shoulder at Darkleaf. "Hey, uh…" Graypaw's speech trailed off.
He and Breezepaw both quickly rushed over to her. "You seem nicer than Shadefire." Breezepaw mewed quietly, looking down at her paws. She looked up. "Can we join you?"
Darkleaf felt a cold stone drop in her belly. "Um, are you going back to ShadowClan, where you belong?"
Graypaw looked away. Breezepaw shook her head. "The Clan will question us why we left and why Shadefire isn't with us, and will think we're traitors for our ThunderClan scent, with no blood on our paws."
Darkleaf dipped her head. "Then come with me."
Breezepaw smiled, turning to Graypaw. He hadn't spoken since he, Breezepaw, and Darkleaf were left alone. "Cheer up, Graypaw! We don't have to listen to that nasty Shadefire anymore!"
What Breezepaw said seemed to cheer him up a bit.
Darkleaf padded a few pawsteps away from them, beckoning with her tail. "Come on," she whispered. The whole of ShadowClan could possibly be hearing them right now.
Graypaw and Breezepaw tussled for a few heartbeats, but then happily followed Darkleaf.
The rusted black cat pricked her ears toward the two apprentices.
"I was only following you…" Graypaw stammered. "We aren't supposed to be following strange cats… Especially if they're from ThunderClan."
Darkleaf swallowed harshly, her muscles growing stiff.
She could hear Breezepaw smack Graypaw with a paw. "Come on! She seems so much nicer than that mousebrain Shadefire,"
Darkleaf flicked her tail with happiness, silently cheering Breezepaw.
"What if she's tricking us?" Graypaw's out-of-nowhere voice made Darkleaf shudder. The small apprentice didn't trust her. Could it lead to worse things?
No Darkleaf… You're being silly. Now shut up and keep walking.
"Graypaw! You're so silly!" Breezepaw's cheerful mew scared Darkleaf for a second time.
It's ShadowClan. Remember? The Clan you've always wanted to be in?
The residents are frightening.
Darkleaf let out a groan of resentment.
Breezepaw and Graypaw stopped in their tracks. "What's the matter, Darkleaf?" Breezepaw mewed; the first time she had said the rusted she-cat's name out loud.
Darkleaf shook her head. "Nothing, I promise."
"I can tell you're lying." Graypaw mewed blatantly as Darkleaf turned to face him. "When cats say they promise, they're lying."
Darkleaf frowned. "I don't lie!" Her sparkling eyes gave her away.
Graypaw sat, slightly amused. "Great. Another lie. How great." As Darkleaf showed her displeasure in a grimace, Graypaw smirked.
Breezepaw shot him a look. "Come on! Darkleaf will let us have a much better than with that Stupidfire!"
Graypaw looked down at his paws, hesitant, but stifled a sigh. "Only because of you, Breezepaw."
Darkleaf flicked her tail in half-hearted satisfaction. "Great. Now let's move on."
Shadefire raced across the Thunderpath, her fur still prickling. "Okay… Now that that's over with…"
She pelted into ThunderClan territory, instinctively leaping over fallen trees and brambles.
"Come on, you guys! The training hasn't even started yet!" She whipped around, but to no avail.
The two gray cats weren't there.
Shadefire paused, eyes widened, then lowered her head, whispering a curse to herself.
"Fine then." She looked to the side, grinning crazily at a tree sprout. "I don't care. I didn't need them."
She stiffened.
"But they'll pay for abandoning me."
A/N
Dang it I keep forgetting to put a dash between perspectives