A/N: Sorry its so short...
Chapter Four
Silverlight felt someone tap her. She jumped instantly, panic seizing her. When she realized it was only Brambleclaw, she relaxed and licked the fur on the back of her shoulders to make it lie flat. "I'm sorry," she apologized.
Brambleclaw ignored the apology and asked, "What were you thinking about, Silverlight?" he asked her, sounding innocent, but int he back of his mind, Brambleclaw knew that his half-sister had been thinking about something very intently to have been staring at her paws for so long. He took note of the unease on her face.
"You wouldn't understand," she replied quietly after a few moments of silence. Both cats got a few glances as they spoke, but no one really paid them any mind. Graystripe, however, stopped and turned to look at Silverlight. She could feel his eyes on her for a few seconds too long before he turned and walked away, oblivious to the odd conversation going to between Brambleclaw and Silverlight.
"Hmm...well, you never know. Did you even listen to Firestar, though?" Brambleclaw asked, changing the subject.
Silverlight nodded, "Yes...well, most of what he said. I heard him talking about ShadowClan. We're going to go to battle with them. That's about all," she responded lightly, looking away from Brambleclaw. She noticed cats gathering. Dustpelt, Graystreip, Squirrelflight, and Sandstorm were all culstered together near the entrance. "What are they doing?"
"I figured you missed something. Some cats are going to check out the ShadowClan border, do you want to come? all cats can go as long as there are enough here to defend the camp," Brableclaw explained, walkign towards them. "I'm going," Silverlight hesitated. She had already been out of camp enough for one day, but one more patrol wouldn't hurt her. Besides, she liked to stay out in the woods, not in this large group of cats. And Graystripe was going, a voice in the back of her mind reminded her. Silverlight shook her head and headed towards the patrol.
She reached it and spotted Graystripe speaking with Sandstorm, "Do you think we'll meet any cats near the ShadowClan border?" he asked the ginger female.
Sandstorm flexed her claws out and responded, "If we do, I'll give them a piece of mind and show them what I think about their little threat," she growled, but of course, every cat knew she didn't mean it. They didn't want to start a war so soon.
Graystripe nodded, "I just hope we don't meet those two kittypets you guys told me about. They sound dangerous," he hissed out, as if the thought of kittypets being dangerous disgusted him.
"I know what you mean. They are dangerous, but I'm pretty sure we taught them a leason." Sandstorm told Graystripe, a gleam in her eye. "I still can't believe how cunning they were with the way they were attacking though. Who would have guessed a kittypet could be smart?"
"Hmm...Well, ones who are raised in the woods I guess," Silverlight spoke up, sitting down in front of the two cats. They turned to look at her and nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you're right about that. Hm, it looks like this is all the cats we're going to get. Come on, let's go out to the ShadowClan borders!" Sandstorm yowled out, and dashed out of camp. Silverlight rushed to keep up, running along Graystripe. Every so often, she couldn't help but look at him. And everytime she did, she'd feel a warmth spread through her, making her feel like she wasn't so alone in the Clans.
---
Graystripe kept his eyes locked ahead of him, but even as he kept an eye out for anything so he wouldn't run into it, his mind kept straying to the silver cat beside him. He could sense her eyes on him every so often but Graystripe dared not return the look. She reminded him too much of his first love, Silverstream. Sadness tugged at his heart as he remembered the beautiful female that had caused him to lose his place in ThunderClan, he hadn't cared though, he only wanted to be with his kits-one which was now dead. Feathertail had died on the way to the sun-drown place. She never even had the chance to say good-bye to all of them.
Sighing, he noticed they were nearing the ShadowClan border. Graystripe could feel himself tiring even as he ran. He hadn't realized how fast they had run to reach the ShadowClan border so soon. He ignored the fact and stopped just as Sandstorm did. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimspe of Silverlight. She wasn't looking at him now. Stealing a quick look, he noticed the confusion and angusih in her eyes. For a fleeting second, Graystripe wondered why, and then it occured to him that Silverlight was about to meet ShadowClan, the cats who had known her father. What lies had she grown up with, he wondered to himself as he turned awya from her, unable to look at her any longer.
"I don't see any signs here," Sandstorm called from near the border. "Nor any nearby cats,"
"But I smell the mouse-brains," Dustpelt growled, glaring into the shadows.
Graystripe turned just as the bushes rustled and a black male cat stepped out. He looked surprised, "What is Thunderclan doing here in such a big patrol? Surely this is now border patrol-and I see no apperentices with you," Blackstar said, his voice slyly mocking.
Squirrelflight bristled, "Just what were your cats doing on our territory today?" she spat.
Brambleclaw pushed his way forward, "Don't start a fight, Squirrelflight," he warned her, pressing his body against hers to calm her down.Squirrelflight pouted, but nodded, anger still in her eyes.
"I had no idea my cats were on your territory, who was it?" Blackstar asked, faking his confusion.
"Don't lie," Graystreip finally spoke up, his voice low and sounding deep in thought.
"Yeah, we saw a ShadowClan cat on our territory-he even spoke to us!" Sandtsorm put in.
"And what did he say to you?" Blackstar interrogated.
"I'm pretty sure you already know that, Blackstar. What I want to know, is why do you smell like a house cat?" Silverlight suddenly snarled, her silver eyes flashing. Graystripe looked down at her in surprise. Through the shadows covering her face, he could make out a thin scar running across her face. He stared at it in shock. What had happened to her? She was too young to have taken on such a serious battle wound, surely those two kittypets hadn't done that! Had Tigerstar done that to her? No...she always spoke highly of him-at least in what she knew of him, but was she keeping a secret?
"House cat?" Blackstar repeated.
"Yeah! You know what I mean, a kittypey!" Silverlight spat, her claws unsheathed. "You smell like those two kittypets from the Twoleg house on your territory-and seeing as you're not hurt-were you speaking with them?"
"That is none of ThunderClan's business!" Blackstar yowled.
"So you admit it. You were speaking with them. About what? They aren't going to listen some Clan cat such as yourself! I know them-we used to talk with each other a while back before...before Tigerstar left when I was a kit. They'd never listen to someone like you-so what were you talking about?" Silverstar asked, her voice flatering for a moment.
"I told you, that is none of ThunderClan's business!" Blackstar repeated, his tail lashing out in anger and his eyes glittering coldly, "Though I must say, you are rather clever. And you do remind me of Tigerstar-you seem to be the only one asking the questions here besides myself now,"
Silverlight stiffened, and then bristled. Fury shot through her blood like fire. She snarled at Blackstar, forgetting the warrior code for a moment. Just as she was about to spring and attack him, Graystripe stepped in front of her and whispered, "He's just trying to intimdate you, calm down, Silverlight. Ignore his comments, okay?" Graystripe asked her.
Silverlight felt her anger fade. She looked down at her paws and nodded, "Sorry," she replied quietly as Graystripe stepped out of her veiw and sat down ebside her.
"Blackstar, that was uncalled for," Brambleclaw snapped.
Blackstar glared at the ThunderClan cats and replied coolly, "We can continue this conversation another time. I have work to do," and then he stalked off, leabing the ThunderClan cats deep in thought about the arugement between Tigerstar's daughter and the leader of ShadowClan.
