Hateful Truths
Chapter Nine
The dark tom shifted uncomfortably, waiting in the midst of a fern bush by the Stormvalley border, blending in with the leafy underbrush. He had grown over the past few months, and now he was as big as a burly raccoon. He must have inherited his size from his ancestor, Tigerstar, along other things.
His tabby pelt bristled at that thought, accompanied by a shiver that shook him to the bone.
Thistleoak stared out at the territory that did not belong to him, his broken and confused gaze longing for a certain silver-furred she-cat to appear . . . He thought again of what had gone through his mind last night, after the Gathering.
You have to tell her now, you know – you can't wait any longer, one voice had pointed out gently, though firmly. There was no question who 'her' was.
Yes, but how? She'll hate me, a second voice had groaned, and his stomach had turned. He knew this was true.
If you don't tell her, she'll figure out soon, the first voice had continued, suddenly harsher. You don't have to tell her, you have other choices, you know: tell her, and risk the wrath of both Rippedstar and Duskcloud, or choose not to tell her, and carry out Rippedstar's original plan. The last few words had echoed in his mind last night, and they continued to do so now.
He felt sick as he tried to decide – but he knew what he was going to do; deep down, he knew that he had already made the decision long ago . . .
He waited, growing sick with worry, as he waited for Duskcloud to appear. He hadn't made any plans to meet her, but he had hoped that she would come.
It was almost sunhigh, though, and a patrol would come by soon enough. If she wasn't here by then, he would have to give up, and go back to camp . . .
Suddenly, a nearby rustle in the bushes across the invisible border brought him back to the present. Sniffing the air, Thistleoak immediately recognized Redpaw – with a jolt he remembered her warrior name was Redruby.
Knowing what to look for, he gazed among the bushes for a ginger-pelted she-cat, and he was pleased to find her dark red-golden eyes glowing from between the leaves of a bush opposite the small clearing. She pounced a moment later, catching an unsuspecting mouse in her paws.
With a cry of triumph, she raised her head – to find herself staring into deep pools of liquid amber.
Thistleoak grinned, and stepped forward, taking care not to step over the boundaries. "Hello, Redruby," he dipped his head in greeting. His fur lay flat along his spine, all traces of uneasiness gone. He would wait until he was with Duskcloud before beginning to show his true feelings.
"Hey, Thistleoak," Redruby replied warily, but a slight smile warmed her face. "I'm sorry, but Duskcloud is not with me. She's patrolling the northern border," Redruby explained, seeming to notice the puzzled expression in Thistleoak's eyes.
He nodded, deep in thought. "Yes, I doubted I'd find her here – but I had hoped . . . Can you . . . fetch her for me?" he pleaded, turning to look at Redruby hopefully.
"I can't get her without causing suspicion," Redruby murmured, a troubled frown forming on her lips. Her eyes reflected the anxious despair that flashed in Thistleoak's eyes, and she quickly added, "Though she'll be coming this way – if you stick around, I'm sure you can manage to pull her away somehow." Redruby suggested with a half-confident shrug.
Thistleoak nodded, his heart slowing its mad thumping against his rib cage. "Thanks," he sighed, his eyes half-narrowing in relief.
"No problem. I hope it goes well." Redruby dipped her head. Thistleoak's eyes widened – he hadn't thought Redruby was so supportive of him seeing Duskcloud, when they were from different Clans.
Redruby picked up her catch, and twirled around before heading back into her own territory. She flicked her tail in farewell, and Thistleoak watched her disappear between the sky-sweeping trees that populated Stormvalley's territory.
He stepped back, slipping into the fern bush once more. His breathing slowed until it almost looked like Thistleoak had died, he was so still. He narrowed his eyes, waiting in ambush for the she-cat who he adored with all his heart.