Chapter 8
Lizardtuft felt Hollyflame's tail flick over her ears. But when she turned the other way in her nest, she was greeted by Strikeleap's snoring. After a while, she decided to get up.
The moon was still high in the sky as she walked into the clearing. She spotted Cobaltstripe sitting near the tunnel, as the night guard. She avoided him, and, while he wasn't looking, slipped into the tunnel and out into the forest.
The trees had leaves, but they were still too small to block out the moonlight, which danced across the forest floor. Lizardtuft thought of three moons ago, when Brambleblaze, Gorse, and Echo had left for twolegplace. Lizardtuft had watched them go, knowing she couldn't have done anything to make Brambleblaze stay.
But it still hurts.
"Lizardtuft!"
The light brown she-cat swiveled her head around, where she met Duckwing's gaze. The black tom brushed her side.
"Are you okay?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah." She sat down in a spot bathed my moonlight, staring up at the stars.
"You don't look alright." Duckwing sat too, his tail crossing over hers. "Is Strikeleap bothering you?"
"No."
Duckwing was silent for a moment, then he turned to her.
"Do you like me?"
Lizardtuft tried not to burst out in laughter. "As a friend, yeah."
Duckwing looked at the ground for a second, then back up at her. "We could make each other happy."
"No, we can't." Lizardtuft dug her claws into the ground. "Why, Duckwing? Why can't you see when someone's trying to beleft alone? Why are you asking me this, when you can see that I'm trying to sort out my own life? Or are you just too blind?"
Lizardtuft didn't wait for his reply. She got up, dashing in the direction of camp. She wanted to curl up with Tawnyflight and Alderfern. She wanted to be a kit again.
"Lizardtuft, wait!"
"NO! I'm never talking to you again!"
Suddenly, a paw hit her in the side. "Can you stop screaming?"
Lizardtuft's eyes popped open, where she realized that she was in the warriors' den, with Strikeleap standing over her. Her brother's green eyes were full of worry.
"Go away!" Lizardtuft hissed, pushing past him into the camp. No one was there.
Good.
She turned around and dashed into the tunnel. As the scents of forest wafted up her nose, she relaxed.
"Lizardtuft?"
Lizardtuft almost sliced Duckwing's nose as he came up to her. "Are you okay?"
"Leave me alone." Lizardtuft hissed. "Can't you tell when some cat wants solitude?"
Duckwing turned and fled down the tunnel.
Lizardtuft snorted in amusement.
She walked farther from the Clan, towards the SunClan. When she got to the ravine, nobody was there.
Suddenly an idea popped into her head.
# # #
Lizardtuft didn't bother to use the tunnel, she slid down the camp walls, landing on her face. To her pleasure, Thunderstar was out and about.
"Thunderstar!" Shaking dirt from her muzzle, Lizardtuft raced towards the ScarClan leader.
"Yes?"
Lizardtuft panted. "I want to take a patrol to the -what did Stormstar call it- the city?"
Thunderstar shook his head. "Why in the name of StarClan would you want to do that?"
Lizardtuft found herself wordless.
"There will be no unnecessary travels." Thunderstar turned away and started towards Buckoflight's den.
I don't need his permission.
