The rifts between Seaclan and Ravenclan only grew. The feud between the clans festered and boiled, and left unattended, it would erupt in a massive explosion of all out war.
It was exactly what Larkflight wanted. He wanted to sink his claws into some pretentious cats neck. He wanted to tear into another cats pelt and watch them wither in agony and scream in pain. He wanted the whole forest to understand how he felt.
But of course, no one would ever understand. No one in Ravenclan was even aware of what had happened in Cedarclan the night before.
Larkflight's ears pricked as Pebblestep called out the names for the dawn patrol. He was pleased to have been picked for the group, but his smugness was cut short as Stormpaw was also asked to join. He pushed aside his qualms and followed the patrol out of camp. He forced his way to the front as Stormpaw looked on with annoyance. A grin split across his face. Pebblestep allowed him to lead the patrol, but she clearly wasn't happy about it. Larkflight's grin faltered.
The dawn patrol moved across the Cedarclan border. Larkflight froze in his tracks as he spotted the Cedarclan patrol approaching. Would any of them recognize him? His stomach did a flip as he noticed Gingerfern leading the patrol. Or perhaps she was Gingerstar now.
"Greetings," Gingerfern nodded to the Ravenclan warriors. Scratches were evident in the pelts of the Cedarclan cats. Larkflight hoped his clan mates would look on.
"Hello," Pebblestep smiled warmly at the Cedarclan deputy. It looked as if she was trying to start up a conversation. Larkflight was having little luck today.
"How is the prey running in Cedarclan?" Pebblestep continued.
"Fine. I trust all is well in Ravenclan?" Gingerfern murmured.
"Yes, we are just finishing up the dawn patrol now. Give Hailstar our best," Pebblestep said. Gingerfern frowned with tight lips.
"Hailstar...is dead," she muttered. "My name is Gingerstar now,"
The Ravenclan cats were speechless. Pebblestep sputtered to herself while Stormpaw spoke up.
"I thought he had many lives left," she commented.
"He was sickly," Gingerfern said uncomfortably. She caught Larkflight's eye and he stared at his paws.
"Yes, well, congratulations on becoming leader," Larkflight said quietly before moving the patrol along. The group kept chattering like starlings about the encounter with the Cedarclan patrol. Larkflight tuned them out and tried to focus on something other than Sol and Jaysong. His thoughts drifted back around to Stormpaw and Shadepaw.
Larkflight...is mine, Shadepaw had said venoumsly after she killed Lilytail. Larkflight shuddered. He didn't want to contemplate those words. It was probably a hollow threat. Stormpaw couldn't be crazy enough to actually believe that she could kill him, right?
Once the patrol made it back to camp Larkflight quickly entered the warriors den to get some shut eye, he didn't sleep at all last night. However as he entered the den he noticed Shadepaw staring at him from the apprentice den. He ducked his head and looked away as shivers crawled up the back of his spine. He couldn't lose focus, he couldn't let Stormpaw win. He could still be leader of the clans soon.
"I will beat you," he muttered to himself as he curled up, tail drawn tightly over his chin. His paws tucked under his chest as he slowly closed his eyes.
Nightstar made the announcement the following morning. When Larkflight was awoken my the leader issuing the clan call he couldn't believe he had slept through the entire day and night. But he supposed it had been a while since he had gotten an even semi decent sleep. He felt rejuvenated and stronger than he ever had before. He padded out of the warriors den and gathered with his clan mates to listen to Nightstars spiel.
"Seaclan was wronged us, but no longer!" Nightstar ranted. Larkflight cringed at the sharp words being shouted across camp. It was too early in the morning for ranting.
"Today at sun high, we attack!" the black furred leader cheered. Larkflights ears pricked at the words. This wasn't just some rant, this was real. Ravenclan would be declaring war on Seaclan. Everything seemed to be falling into place. Ravenclan would battle their enemy clan and Larkflight could prove his worth. Perhaps even earning him an apprentice. Soon he could become Pebblestep's deputy. He figured the ancient Nightstar didn't have too long until he moved on to Starclan's green pastures.
Unfortunately it seemed Stormpaw had the same idea, what with the excited glances she kept sharing with her sister. Larkflight rolled his eyes. He was one step ahead of her, he was a warrior. She was an apprentice.
And Nightstar declared they weren't to be on the battle mission.
Larkflight flashed her a smug smile and slyly sent a pawful of mud flying in her direction. She let a huff of annoyance and stalked off with Shadepaw in tow. Larkflight knew that she was no longer a threat to him, he had already one. Soon he would become deputy and then leader of Ravenclan. And eventually, the entire forest and beaches would be under his paw.
That being said, he decided to start making an impression early. He wanted Pebblestep to see him as someone who could lead. As the clan sorted out patrols for the battle Larkflight positioned himself up front. He gulped as he saw the glares Pebblestep caste him. Perhaps his plan had backfired, maybe he had come off as pushy and trying to replace her.
Or perhaps Stormpaw had whispered a few poisonous words in her ear. Larkflight thought to himself as he noted the silver apprentice leaning close to the deputy with a sneer on her face.
Without a word Pebblestep shoved her way past Larkflight to be the head of the patrol. Larkflight began to try explaining he didn't mean to downgrade her when she snapped at him, silky soft words leaking form her mouth.
"I know about Cedarclan," she murmured in a dangerously low tone. Larkflight back off to the middle of the patrol, fear in his light golden gaze. How did she know? What would she do about it? Larkflight was so panicked he barley had time to realize Stormpaw and Shadepaw had joined the mission as well thanks to Pebblestep.
The sound of muttered curses directed at Seaclan's expense were what jolted Larkflight from his worries. He shook his head to clear it but only succeeded in shaking a fly from his pelt. He realized how dangerous this was, he was about to go into battle with an enemy clan, distracted.
Larkflight plowed on, knowing he couldn't turn back now. He figured once sand met his eyes it would be all business, and he could deal with Pebblestep later. Seeing the beaches did help eliminate some of Larkflights concerns, but his mind was still elsewhere. He barely connected the fact that the patrol was now surging forward with wild war cry's into the heart of Seaclan's camp.
Seaclan was ready for them.
Maybe they had seen the Ravenclan warriors coming from the east. Maybe they had been spying and overheard the battle plans. Whatever the case, the Seaclan cats were not unprepared for the attack. The elders and queens were in the leaders den, a cavern formed between two giant slabs of stone. The apprentices waited until their mentors had surrounded the attack party and then they jumped into the fray.
Pebblestep let out a confused shriek as claws lashed out at her from all angles. Larkflight spun around as someone bit his side. He shook them off and swiped their muzzle with a hiss. Another cat kicked his spine and sent him tumbling to the ground.
Ravenclan was getting beaten senseless. Larkflight blinked slowly, his head was ringing as the cat kept raining blows onto his skull. Through his foggy gaze he could make out Stormpaw and Shadepaw evading the battle, they dodged any cat who tried to spar with them. They looked like they were searching for something...
"Cowards!" Larkflight spit at them, but they didn't hear him out the yowls of clashing cats. Larkflight rolled over onto his stomach and kicked with his hind legs, his attacked buckled back, allowing him to regain his bearings. After he got in a few more swipes he stepped back, his head hurt too much to continue. His eyes were barley staying open and his legs seemed weak.
He held in a few deep breaths and his headache dimmed. He was about to launch back into the fray when a black shadow hurled itself into his flank. Ravenclan scent flooded his nostrils.
Larkflight's golden gaze lowered to the cat who had tried to knock him down. Shadepaw.
"What are you doing, Slowpaw? The enemy is over there!" he hissed angrily at the stupid apprentice. Shadepaw held her ground, her legs stiff and tall. She raised her chin to look him in the eyes, all trace of the pathetic kit she had once been were gone. He violet eye gleamed with malice and her golden eye remained calm and intriguing.
"I know," she said dryly, her voice devoid of inflection or emotion - it was completely monotone. I chilled Larkflight to the bone. Before he could get in another word Shadepaw had stepped swiftly to his side and shoved his legs from under him.
"Slowpaw. Snailpaw. Dungpaw," she repeated in the same cold voice. Her eyes never left his.
"Get off me," Larkflight demanded as she slashed his shoulder with unsheathed claws. He winced as blood oozed from the wound. Shadepaw ignored him and continued speaking.
"I never hurt you, I never wronged you. But you hurt me,"
Larkflight felt a stab of guilt, she was right. But now what was she trying to do? Larkflight lowered his gaze to the sand around him.
"Look me in the eye!" she screamed, her voice suddenly was brimming with emotion. It was a swirl of rage and sadness and hatred. Every time she breathe Larkflight could ehar a gurgling noise in the back of her throat, its the choking noise you make when you are holding back tears.
"I'm sorry!" Larkflight screamed back.
"It's too late to be sorry!" she fired in response and rose onto her hind legs. She sent her fore paws flying into his chest, knocking the breath from him.
"Every day of my life I felt like I was nothing. I felt like it was my fault you hated me. Stormpaw was the only one who ever stuck by me. She protected me from the night, when I would lay awake and wonder what I had done to deserve this. She protected me from your words like ice and fire, crawling under my skin. But I can't make her watch over me forever," Shadepaw whispered in his ear. Her voice cracked and he saw glistening tears well up in the corners of her eyes.
Larkflight...is mine.
That was what Shadepaw had meant. She was going to kill Larkflight like she had with Lilytail. She was going to get her revenge, the revenge Larkflight had wanted so desperately to serve to Stormpaw. It was like the revenge Sol had craved for against Jaysong for betraying him. It was revenge, as simple and complicated as that.
Larkflight could understand revenge. And he could understand why Shadepaw wanted it so badly. He deserved what he got coming to him. Her words...the very things Larkflight had said to her, they were unforgivable. It was truly too late for sorry.
Larkflight barley noticed the fact Shadepaw's claws were digging into his back. He bowed his head in defeat, Shadepaw jumped off him and moved to face him again.
Larkflight extended his neck slightly, exposing his throat. Their eyes locked.
"Go ahead," he whispered. "Take your revenge,"
This time it was Shadepaw who looked away first.