This is a sad chapter about how they all feel. But I promise it will be a bit happier and more adventureful (I make up my own words, muahaha) as it goes on.
Chapter Seven: Alone
Bloodpaw stared into his sister's eyes and wished that this would all just be over. He had never meant for any of this to happen, and he wasn't a murderer or a traitor. He was completely loyal to his Clan, and he thought that everyone would know that by now! But no… ShadowClan had always been very judgmental about whether or not cats were Clanborn, or strong, or brave. What would they do to him now? Surely Soulstar would announce his treachery to the Clan!
Bloodpaw looked away and sadly buried his face in his paws. Maybe if they didn't see his eyes, they would feel less intimidated. Why did they have to treat him like this? Crescentfrost didn't have any proof that he had done it! She hadn't even taken the time to scent the air for any other unknown cats. Instead, she gazed into his eyes, and saw the "fierceness", "bloodthirstiness"… But why couldn't she look past that and see the pain, or the hurt that lied within?
No one understood what he was going through. No one had ever been born with red eyes, and black fur. Everyone just looked at his appearance, and then classified him as an evil cat. Now with the "murder he had committed", he would be the most hated cat in ShadowClan!
Bloodpaw knew he shouldn't be thinking like this—ShadowClan cats don't pity themselves. They are strong, and willing to fight until the end. But could he even call himself a ShadowClan cat any more? He was a prisoner of his own Clan!
Then he found himself feeling grateful for his sister. If Snowpaw hadn't stood up to her leader like that, and risked her place in the Clan, than he would probably be dead by now. Why hadn't anyone else stood up for him, though? Like his brother, or Dogwood, or Sunpaw—
Bloodpaw's heart ached like he had just been stabbed. Sunpaw had betrayed him. Why didn't she come and defend him? They were best friends and he would have did that for her… Bloodpaw paused his thoughts. Why would he have done that for her? Because they're friends!... Right?
A spotted she-cat and a light orange tom walking out of the apprentice's den—Sunpaw and Yarrowpaw. Bloodpaw's fur bristled slightly as he felt them whisk past him. He still kept his head down as he scented hers mingled with his. Was she already moving on? How could she forget him this easily?
What he didn't see, though, was how she looked at him. Her eyelids lowered with sadness as she saw his black fur rise and fall. She missed him in the apprentice's den. Her eyes got moist and her vision blurred slightly, but she forced herself to move on. She couldn't feel this way about… a traitor. Or was he?
Bloodpaw felt Snowpaw stirring beside him as Sunpaw's scent faded. He longed for her beside him, and he noticed how much he felt for her. It almost hurt that she wasn't with him right now. If he could choose anyone—anyone—to help him get through this, it would be her.
xXxXxXxXxXx
Much of the Clan had woken up now and gotten fresh kill for themselves. Soulstar hasn't sent out any patrols, and Bloodpaw knew exactly why. There would be a Clan meeting soon—he could feel it. And he was sure he knew what the Clan meeting would be about.
He still kept his head down, and no one bothered him. He was aware of his sister standing right beside him, and he felt bad for her. Then he thought: Why should I? She volunteered! Disgusted at his thoughts, he bit his paw as a punishment. He flexed his claws and noticed that there was still dry blood on them from the day before. No! Now no one would believe him! It really did look like he had killed Quailflight!
Soulstar's yowl could finally be heard through the clearing and cats began to gather. Bloodpaw stayed right where he was, and noticed that cats veered out of the way so not to sit next to him. Maybe the news had already spread? Why did Soulstar have to announce it again?
"We come here today for a very important reason," Soulstar began. Bloodpaw tried to cover his ears. He didn't want to hear what was going on. He wanted to be gone. After what seemed like forever, Bloodpaw didn't hear muffled yowls of protest coming from the crowd of cats, but… cheering? He opened his ears and glanced up. He saw, through the crowd of cats, two young cats standing next to Skyclaw and Twigtail. The young cats' eyes gleamed with pride, and Bloodpaw recognized them as Dustkit and Oakkit. But now, they were probably Dustpaw and Oakpaw.
"What just happened?" Bloodpaw whispered to Snowpaw.
"Dustpaw and Oakpaw happened," Snowpaw purred. So he was wrong… The meeting wasn't about him at all! It was about the apprenticeship of two kits! Relief surged through him, and he lifted his head up.
"I have one additional announcement to make," Soulstar meowed, after the cats' voices had died down. Bloodpaw's heart dropped, and he rested his head in his paws again. "Last night, I was told by Crescentfrost and Sunpaw about something very serious." Bloodpaw curled his tail around him as he prepared himself. " Bloodpaw was seen next to a dead Quailflight with blood on his claws." Screeches of anger rose through the clearing as they listened. A few eyes glanced back at Bloodpaw. "We are going to keep him in the camp until we have proven his innocence—if he is," Soulstar added in a low growl.
"What if he kills one of us?" a cat meowed from the crowd. What? Do they seriously think I'm going to kill them? I'm not a traitor!
"We'll have to take that risk," Soulstar told them. "I know that the next Gathering will be a real episode, since ThunderClan's medicine cat is now dead." When other yowls broke through the clearing, Soulstar silenced them.
"We talk no more of this!" he growled. "Go about as if it was a normal day, and I will handle him. The meeting is over." Cats shuffled back into their dens, glaring at Bloodpaw as they passed by. Bloodpaw's fur burned with rage and sadness. Now he had to live in a home where he was not trusted. Where he was not loved.
Where he was alone.
