Today, I am sick. I have a cold. I have been sitting on the couch like a lazy bum all day, typing and reading and posting story chapters.
*coughcough*
Missing School! Yay!
*cough*
DISCLAIMER: I do not own warriors.
Chapter 7
ShadowClan
Skullpaw gave a hiss of annoyance as Grasskit and Frenzykit tumbled into him, knocking away what was left of his half-eaten mouse.
"Buzz off!" He hissed as the two tom-kits got off of him; Frenzykit was giggling, but Grasskit looked genuinely hurt at his comment.
"Grasskit, Frenzykit. Come into the nursery. And for StarClan's sake, apologize to Skullpaw!" their mother, Fernstem, came out of the nursery with Waterkit and Crevicekit following behind her. The five tom-kits of Fernstem were among the mischievous in the Clan, but not one cat—except Skullpaw—thought they were annoying.
Grasskit looked down at his feet. "Sorry, Skullpaw." He mumbled. Frenzykit just muttered something unintelligible and raced off to be with his other brothers.
Skullpaw just growled and flicked his tail. He padded toward where Deathpaw was speaking with Blackpaw by the fresh-kill pile, and felt a tinge of jealousy at how calm and easy he was with she-cats.
Skullpaw had never really been a person who she-cats flocked to or crushed on; it was always his twin brother Deathpaw. It wasn't that Skullpaw wasn't friendly, which he was most of the time, it was just that Deathpaw was…easier to talk to. Whenever Blackpaw tried to ask Skullpaw something, he would immediately turn her down and go back to his own thoughts. Deathpaw listened and joked with everyone he met, and acted so normal.
But we're twins for StarClan's sake. We look the same in appearance. Why would they flock to him instead of me? Skullpaw shook his head, stole one longing glance at Blackpaw, and then joined a patrol as fast as he could.
Skullpaw followed Smokefoot and Ravenclaw as they headed toward the ThunderClan border, and remembered what Napoleon had told him.
"Look for any weaknesses within and outside of the Clans. Remember to look for potential recruits. Keep an eye on that ThunderClan she-cat…"
Skullpaw aimed to be good this moon so he could be a part of the Gathering, where he could meet and befriend some possible recruits for Napoleon; including the she-cat. Skullpaw and Napoleon were planning a revolt against the Clans, and badly needed other cats to see their ways. After they had taken over, Napoleon promised that Skullpaw could be the leader of them all, and dispose any cats he wanted. It was a wonderful dream for Skullpaw; he dreamed of being the leader of a great Clan, made of all of the Clans combined, that would be fair, strong, and powerful in the mind and body. He planned to find other Clans like his own, and take them over, and then keep expanding his territory until he could rule the whole of the wilderness…
Skullpaw shook away his ambitious thoughts, focusing on the task at hand. They would take it one step at a time.
He padded behind Smokefoot as the pine trees thinned until the Twolegpath that bordered ThunderClan and ShadowClan territory could be seen. Skullpaw crinkled his nose at the acrid scent of ThunderClan; he knew he would never venture into their territory; yet, anyways.
Ravenclaw nosed around the bushes. "No sign of anything, except moss." He reported, and Smokefoot marked the borders. All ShadowClan cats were ordered by Duskstar to look around carefully while inspecting the borders; they loathed when cats trespassed and then returned.
"Come on, Skullpaw. What're you staring at anyways?" Smokefoot called. Skullpaw had been looking at a tree with slit eyes; he thought he saw something move in the shadows, and a familiar scent wreathed around him. He shook his head to clear it, and followed his Clanmates up the hill towards the rest of the border.
"Hey, Skullpaw. Would you like to hunt with me and Deathpaw?" Blackpaw mewed hopefully as Skullpaw returned from his patrol. These days, Skullpaw refused to look her in the eyes, and she wondered why he was being so mean.
Blackpaw's heart sunk as she realized Skullpaw wasn't listening, and sighed. She always tried to talk to Skullpaw when he was alone, and often tried to bond, but it seemed as if her love wouldn't penetrate the dark aura that surrounded him.
Deathpaw padded up to stand beside her, their pelts brushing. He laid his tail-tip on her shoulder, steering her away from Skullpaw's direction. "Come along now, Blackpaw. We need to go now if we want to hunt." Blackpaw looked into his friendly yellow eyes, and almost gave in as Leopardpaw did whenever he talked to her. But Blackpaw knew that for now, her heart belonged to Skullpaw.
She flicked her ears, thinking. "Why don't I try again to get Skullpaw to join us?" Deathpaw looked slightly annoyed, but let her go so she could talk to him.
Blackpaw raced over to where Skullpaw was lying in a sunny patch near the water pool, and she raised her head high.
"Skullpaw?"
Skullpaw looked up at her, then looked back down again. He sighed, "What is it, Blackpaw?" He sounded bored, and Blackpaw was only slightly discouraged.
"Would you like to go hunting with me and Deathpaw? We're leaving right now." Blackpaw's voice quivered, but her heart soared as she saw he was considering.
After a moment's pause, Skullpaw nodded. "All right, Blackpaw. I'll go." Blackpaw held in a purr of satisfaction, and together they walked back over to Deathpaw.
Blackpaw noticed that neither of the brothers seemed too happy to see the other, and she tipped her head to the side, puzzled. "What? Shouldn't you be happy that you're going on a patrol together?"
"No." Deathpaw and Skullpaw said in unison, and Blackpaw found it unnerving how two cats could sound the same and look the same but have very different personalities.
"All right then. Let's go." Blackpaw stated, and without another word Blackpaw exited the camp, Deathpaw and Skullpaw following behind.
Go Blackpaw! The twins both don't know what to do with her ;-)
