9
Shadowheart stood on the border between Thunderclan and Shadowclan, the strange Shadowclan smell almost overpowering her.
Bramblestar had let Shadowheart be around camp, and wander freely inside the border, but she wasn't allowed to participate in patrols. And there was also a silent rule, Shadowheart didn't converse with other Thunderclan cats. These rules applied to her until the next gathering, when Bramblestar would ask the other clan leaders what to do about it.
Shadowheart shivered. She hoped that Frostcloud would come. She could control things, but she wasn't sure cats were in her power, or that it would work over such long distances. Her heart almost burst with anticipation as she saw a familiar white pelt flash between the bushes.
"Shadowheart!" Frostcloud purred, walking up to the border. "Why are you here? Are you on a patrol? Where are the other cats?" The white cat bombarded her with questions.
"They found me out," she murmured, stepping over the border to brush pelts with him. He gasped.
"What? Shadowheart, you didn't tell them, did you?" he asked.
"No," Shadowheart replied. "I stopped a tree crushing an apprentice while on a patrol, and the other six cats told the clan."
"Shadowheart, that's awful," Frostcloud breathed, gently rasping his tongue over her head, making Shadowheart feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"Frostcloud," she murmured. "I think I love you."
"I think I love you too," he replied, twining his tail through hers before breaking away. "But we can't be together. Not yet."
It hurt Shadowheart to hear, and she physically recoiled, back over to Thunderclan. "What?" she gasped. "But, you just said you loved me…"
"I do, Shadowheart," he reassured. "But we can be together, only after this whole prophecy is over." He stepped towards her, over the border.
"Ok," Shadowheart murmured, licking Frostcloud's face. They spent what felt like a small forever there, until he suddenly bristled.
"Patrol," he warned, and Shadowheart dashed into the bushes, darting between the trees. She trusted Frostcloud to hide her scent. She bounded back to the camp, quietly slipping through the thorn barrier. She felt the stares of cats on her back as she padded up to Bramblestar.
"Bramblestar," she asked uncertainly. Bramblestar glanced at her.
"I can't talk right now, Shadowheart," he mewed, trying to doge her.
"But this important," Shadowheart protested. "Who is Thymepaw's mentor going to be?"
"Ivypool will be her mentor," Bramblestar sighed. "We are about to go on a patrol."
"Oh, ok," Shadowheart dropped back a few paces and waited for the patrol to leave, before quietly following them. Hanging back in the bushes, she watched Thymepaw catch her first thrush, and she couldn't help feeling a stab of pride.
They soon reached the Windclan border, where a patrol including Emberpelt, Onestar, Crowfeather and Moorflight was patrolling their side of the border.
"Greetings, Bramblestar," Onestar dipped his head respectfully. Bramblestar nodded back.
"Onestar, keep watch among your cats, the Thunderclan cat from the Starclan prophecy moons ago has stepped forward, revealing herself," Bramblestar warned. "I will tell the other leaders at the gathering, but be wary. Any one of you cats could be a traitor." Shadowheart gagged when Bramblestar called her a traitor. What did I do?! She wailed silently.
Onestar bristled but forced his hackles to lie flat. "My cats are loyal, Bramblestar," he growled. "If your cats are treacherous then that is Thunderclan's problem, not Windclan's. But I will take your warning with thanks."
They nodded curtly at each other, before their patrols carried on in opposite directions.
"Hang on," Emberpelt called. "I need to make dirt."
"Well hurry up then," Moorflight growled.
Emberpelt glanced around to make sure the other cats had gone. "I know you're there, Shadowheart!" she yowled. Wow! Shadowheart thought. Emberpelt has a strong sense of smell!
Shadowheart stepped from the cover of the trees. "Bramblestar said that you revealed yourself," Emberpelt asked. "Did you?"
"Not exactly," Shadowheart sighed. "But yes, they now know that the prophecy is true."
Emberpelt yowled in frustration, lashing her tail and clawing the grass. "Why did Starclan do this to us!?" she howled.
"Emberpelt!" Shadowheart hissed. "Your patrol will hear you!"
"No they won't," Emberpelt growled. "The wind will carry my voice away."
"Emberpelt, you can't let them find out about you," Shadowheart growled. "Your punishment could be even worse in Windclan than in Thunderclan."
"Don't worry," Emberpelt reassured, a confident gleam in her eyes. "I'm strong. Some cats suspect me, but I won't let them get me. They won't break me." She smiled, for once. "I can't be broken."
