Chapter 10

Two moons had passed since Wetfeather and Twilightcloud's exile. Still, Shadowclaw had nightmares recalling each gruesome murder. He woke from another one. That of Blackspirit's death. Looking around, he saw that everyone was asleep. I could use from fresh air, he thought. Shadowclaw carefully made his way out of the warriors' den. Then started on his way, nodding to Owlfoot as he left camp.

A sigh of content escaped his lungs as he walked through the forest. As he neared the stream boarder, a familiar scent was caught in his nostrils.
His thoughts were confirmed as a silver she-cat came into view. "Silverpaw?" he said, approaching slowly. The she-cat looked up. The moment she saw him her eyes flashed with joy.

"Shadowclaw! It's been a while." she said, bounding up to the stream.

"It certainly has. I suppose you must have gotten your warrior name by now, yes?" Shadowclaw asked. He never heard the announcement for her warrior name at gatherings. Therefore, he assumed he hadn't been there when it was.

The silver female nodded, "Yep. I'm Silverpetal now."

Shadowclaw tilted his head slightly, "Silverpetal. Has a nice ring to it."

Silverpetal smiled. "Did you hear?" she asked.

"Hear what?" Shadowclaw asked.

"Guess not," Silverpetal said, "I'm going to have kits soon!" Shadowclaw's eyes widened. He certainly did not hear about that. Why did was he never at gatherings when interesting things were happening?

"That's great, congrats. Who's the father?" he asked.

"Thanks. Cloudyflight." Silverpetal said, humming softly after.

"Hey, why are you telling me this anyway?" Shadowclaw asked.

"You're my friend. I think it'd be good for you to know." Silverpetal said, "Well, I should get going. It was nice seeing you again Shadowclaw."

"You too." Shadowclaw said. Silverpetal gave him one last look as she hurried off. Something in her eyes made Shadowclaw get an odd feeling. It was as if she expecting him to stop her from leaving. Why would I do that though? he wondered.

xxxxxx*xxxxxx

(Morning)

"You look like you're going to explode any moment." Lightleaf said, staring at her friend's swollen belly.

Pollenheart laughed, "I know. But that just means that I'm closer to meeting my kits!" Pollenheart and Foxslayer had become mates shortly after Silverstar received his nine lives, and appointed Foxslayer as his deputy.

"Does it feel weird when they kick?" Lightleaf asked.

Pollenheart nodded. "A little, yes. But it just makes me even more excited." she said. Lightleaf smiled, she sure is happy.

She and Pollenheart looked as Foxslayer padded up, licking Pollen heart's ear. "Hey Foxslayer." Lightleaf greeted.

"Hello." Foxslayer said. The ginger tom purred as Pollenheart licked his cheek. Lightleaf could tell it'd be best if she went to do something else, so she excused herself and went to fetch some fresh-kill.

As she settled down to eat, Runningpaw came running into camp. "ShadowClan is attacking!" he shouted.

Lightleaf barely had time to process everything before Shadowclanners invaded the camp. The next thing she knew, she was trying to kick a large tom off her. The tom was suddenly shoved off. Lightleaf looked up at the face of Shadowclaw, "Thanks. I owe you." She stood up.

"Don't mention it." Shadowclaw said, running to help a cornered Hazelstripe. Lightleaf looked around and spotted Sorrelfang. The old she-cat was doing her best to fight off three warriors. That wasn't fair at all.

Quickly, Lightleaf ran over and clawed at a white she-cat, scratching her nose. The white cat hissed in pain, pawing at her nose miserably. Lightleaf snorted, turning to pounce on a gray tom. "Get off!" he growled. Lightleaf did the opposite, digging her claws into his back. The tom hissed, rolling onto his back in an attempt to crush her. Luckily, for Lightleaf, she expected this and jumped away. Once the tom was on his back, belly exposed, Lightleaf pinned him.

"This is what you get for attacking an elder!" she said, clawing his face. Her claws had gotten dangerously close to his left eye. Lightleaf then bit his neck. Not hard enough to kill, but enough to cause blood to well up. She jumped off him before he could bat at her stomach. The tom growled, but moved away quickly. Lightleaf's ears perked at the sound of a cry. She turned and knocked a tortoiseshell off Sorrelfang. The shock of the sudden impact made the tortie lay still. Sorrelfang stood, raw flesh on her shoulder glistened in the sunlight. "Sorrelfang!" Lightleaf gasped.

The elder huffed, "Just go help someone else. No use in being shocked. Go on, I'm fine."

xxxxxx*xxxxxx

Shadowclaw snarled at a brown and gray tom. "Ooh, tough guy." the tom mocked. Shadowclaw clenched his teeth and ran around the side of the tom, scratching his side. This was not a ThunderClan move, but WindClan. Shadowclaw silently thanked his past life as the brown and gray tom fell over in pain. He certainly hadn't expected that from a Thunderclanner. Shadowclaw would not give him time to get up as he grabbed the tom's tail in his jaws and yanked. The warrior shrieked and tried to squirm away.

"Oh, no you don't." Shadowclaw said, letting go to press his paws on the tom's shoulder hard. The tom growled, struggling to lean up and bite one of Shadowclaw's paws. It was then that Shadowclaw released him, "Get." The tom got to his paws and ran out of the camp. "That'll teach 'em." Shadowclaw said.

"Watch out!" someone cried. Shadowclaw whirled around in time to see a gray cat jumping between him and the claws of a ShadowClan warrior. He realized that the gray cat was his apprentice.

A call sounded through the camp, "ShadowClan, retreat!"

Shadowclaw hissed and clawed at the ShadowClan warrior that had harmed Dustpaw. The warrior only laughed and bounded out of the camp along with the rest of his clan. " Dustpaw, are you okay?!" Shadowclaw asked the apprentice.

Dustpaw smiled painfully, "My leg hurts. Otherwise, I'm good."

Shadowclaw sighed in relief, "Good."

Author's Note: Before ya'll start asking, ShadowClan really didn't have a reason to do that. It's just that in the books they always cause trouble. Therefore, I put this in.

If you people have any ideas for future events or cats that were harmed in the battle, speak up. R&R my friends.

Post Author's note: Well, the above thing does still count. Except the part of cats that were harmed in battle. But, I will accept OC's... :D R&R!