Chapter 4
Trailheart's punishment wasn't bad at all. She merely asked them to be more careful in the future "so that my kits will not grow up as hooligans and rogues". But her eyes.. they blazed with hunger. Hunger which Blazekit could not identify. But many times in the span of her life-time she would see that kind of hunger. Blood-hunger.
Blazekit slunk along in the shadows. Sunkit followed. It was unnaturally gloomy for the middle of Greenleaf, but that was to their advantage. They finally reached the warriors' den. The bramble walls loomed above them. She began to have her doubts. Maybe Grasskit was right not to come… No, but she couldn't think that. Now Sunkit was in front of her, confidently pressing a paw against a gap to see if it was stable. Blazekit took a deep breath and tripped down towards Sunkit. It'll be worth your while, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice whispered in her head. She pressed a paw against a branch that was sticking out. She pushed hard. It stayed. Good, she whispered to herself. Then she started climbing.
As Blazekit climbed, she soon found herself quite at ease in the air. She stopped staying in one place for a long time to check if the next gap was stable, and soon just kept reaching a paw forward unthinkingly. She found that she didn't need to look for a branch sticking out, she could just reach unsheathed claws straight through the brambles.
Finally she reached the top. She strained her leg and got it onto the roof. With a proud sigh she stood on top of the den and looked down. She could see forever! She looked… and forgot everything.
She forgot about Cinderheart, sleeping peacefully, and about Trailheart's evil eyes, and Grasskit watching them from below, and Sunkit sitting beside her, taking in the breath-taking scene.
The forest was beautiful. She closed her eyes and just took in the sounds and smells. She thought about Jayfeather. Could he enjoy the forest like this if he couldn't see? She opened her eyes and looked down at the camp. Clawear was slinking out of the camp. She narrowed her eyes. She and Sunkit had used the gloominess to their advantage- maybe gray-brown Clawear would use it too?
Her sharp eyes followed Clawear. He was almost out of the camp. She acted on impulse.
Jumping down from the dizzyingly high den, she aimed to the spot where Clawear would be in a few heartbeats. He looked down at her with a rainbow of emotions; surprise, shock, anger, fear. Fear? Yes. Fear. Her eyebrows raised. Scared of a kit, aren't you now? She wanted to say, but she was already in enough trouble. She decided to instead make sure that Clawear wouldn't get out of the camp to do whatever sneaky thing he was about to do.
She nonchalantly turned her head to lap at her neck fur. " Nice day for a walk, huh, Clawear?"
"Er...".
"It's too bad that Trailheart's in her nest."
"It is?".
"Yup. Looks like no one else in the Clan likes you." She sniffed disapprovingly."Suprising, you since you are a pretty nice guy." Even if you do get carried away talking to me at times.
"I am?"
"What, you don't think so? What a humble cat! Trailheart sure chose well!"
Clawear impatiently scuffled the ground. " And you're getting at?".
"Oh, what, my point? Oh, yeah, well Coaltail is looking pretty listless. Why not go on a walk with him? Hunt a bit on the way."
"You're not my leader! Don't tell me what to do!" You're my deputy, and I'm telling you what to do!
"What, you don't like him? Too bad, I like him much better than Trailheart. Hmmm, but he is a good hunter. Clawear! You shouldn't be jealous! Jealously can lead to violence, you know!".
"Shut up, you worthless piece of mouse-dung!" Shortear exploded.
Blazekit licked her lips. She knew that if she messed this one up Clawear would go do whatever evil thing he had to do. She took a deep breath.
" Clawear! Shame on you! And talking like that to a kit! My kit, not to mention that!".
Lionblaze!
" Shame on you yourself, Lionblaze! Talking like that to the deputy? SHAME ON BOTH OF YOU! What, it must be in that old kittypet Firestar's blood." Clawear muttered angrily.
" Just shut-up!" Lionblaze snarled. " And don't talk like that about Firestar."
By now a group of cats were surrounding the two. A flame-colored cat with equally inflamed green eyes strode through the crowd. " Squirrelstar!" whispered Clawear.
" Squirrelstar indeed! Clawear, you're the deputy of a prestigious and refined Clan, not a nameless rogue whose only purpose in life is to bother other cats and disturb the dead!" Squirrelstar's eyes were blazing. Like mine, noticed Blazekit. She also noticed she would have to get out of there fast. She looked around. Squirrelstar was still lecturing Clawear. " Firestar was my father, did you know that?!"
There! In between Bumblestripe's legs! She raced under them and scurried to the safety of the nursery.
