Thank you everyone for letting me know about Spottedleaf's mentor and Goldenflower's family. I realized that I messed up right there, but I didn't know, and I'm just glad all of you haven't judged my story for it. So thank you. On to the next chapter :}
Chapter 10.
Her paws ached and her head spun. The forest was covered in white snow, but she could notice that it had begun to thaw. Leaf-bare had gone on long enough anyways. She sighed and laid down in the snow in order to clear her head. Her belly wasn't swollen like it should be. Goldenflower had lost her first litter of kits only a few sunrises ago. Spottedleaf and Featherwhisker had made that clear, but now, Featherwhisker was sick with Greencough, and going back to the medicine cat's den was out of question until he got better – if he got better.
The pale ginger she-cat took a deep breathe, her head finally clearing as she got up to stand on sturdy paws. She could smell Tigerclaw and Darkstripe approaching, Darkstripe with his new apprentice, Longpaw. Darkstripe had only been a warrior for less than two moons, but Sunstar believed that he was ready to become a mentor. Goldenflower, on the other hand, would have done anything to be a mentor, but due to the loss of her kits, Sunstar believed that she should wait. When Goldenflower had announced to the Clan that she had lost her first litter, she could see Bluefur's eyes cloud with pain as if she shared the same pain – in all honesty, she did, just not in quite the same way.
When the three toms appeared from the gorse tunnel, her eyes slowly fell on Tigerclaw. He looked menacing, his hackles raised and his lips pulled back into a fierce snarl. Someone had upset him, and by the look on Longpaw's face, it had been him. Even Darkstripe looked uncomfortable. Goldenflower snorted. Good. She thought. He deserves to get that cocky smirk off his face. Ever since Darkstripe had been made a warrior, he had such an attitude with every other cat around the Clan. He had boasted so bad and believed that he was better than every cat. All except Tigerclaw, of course. His mentor didn't approve of his boasting, up until Darkstripe pleaded that Tigerclaw was a better warrior than he ever will be, and Tigerclaw shrugged his massive shoulders and let him go on with boasting after that point in time. It infuriated Goldenflower, but she kept her mouth shut.
Flickering her ears towards the toms, she padded towards them, bowing her head to her mate. "Good morning, Tigerclaw." She than turned her attention towards the new warrior and his new apprentice. "Morning Darkstripe, Longpaw." When her eyes set on the young apprentice, no matter how fierce or angry she was, her eyes went soft. Kits and apprentices always had a soft spot in her heart. Tigerclaw knew it from experience, and he refused to let that go. However, he never told anyone in the Clan about their encounter, and she was curious as to why.
"Morning." Tigerclaw mewed back in reply, giving his mate a swift lick on the ear.
Darkstripe and Longpaw fidgeted uncomfortably and mewed their mornings quietly.
"We're out on a hunting patrol. Would you like to join us?" Tigerclaw asked. Darkstripe opened his mouth to object, but the look Tigerclaw gave to him made him shut it and stare at the ground angrily.
Goldenflower purred and nodded. "Sure."
Ever since Goldenflower had told him that she had lost their kits, he had been surprisingly nicer to her than he had for the last few moons. He had just been so crabby for so long, and she knew that it was because of Bluefur being deputy. He had always wanted to be deputy. Goldenflower had reason to believe it was because of his father that he had wanted to show the Clan that he could be just as good, even better. After Pinestar had left to join the soft life of a kittypet, Tigerclaw had wanted to prove he was better – at least, that's what everyone else told Goldenflower.
So, on with their patrol they went, and since the thaw was beginning, Goldenflower knew that prey would be lurking for food, just as they were.
A few heartbeats later, she could hear scuttling near a tree. With her ears perked, she crouched down low, keeping her tail high enough away from the ground and crept closer, keeping as quiet as possible. When the mouse finally detected that she was there, it was too late. She pounced and ended its life with a quick bite to its neck, the body going limp.
She gazed around and noticed Tigerclaw gazing at her. His eyes were warm. He was still in love with her and seeing that look in his eyes made her heart beat faster.
"Nice catch." He purred, bounding up to her.
Longpaw and Darkstripe came after him, wearily.
"Thanks." She purred. He licked her ear, before turning his gaze onto the apprentice and his mentor. "Why don't you show Longpaw how to hunt for squirrels? Goldenflower and I are going to go a little further to find more prey." Darkstripe nodded at his former mentor as the two cats bounded away, deeper into the forest.
Goldenflower opened her mouth and sighed in satisfaction, dropping the mouse in the snow. "What a beautiful day." She purred as she buried her prey in the snow to come back later for.
She saw Tigerclaw nod briefly at her, as he crouched low, his paws heavy in the snow, but light enough to not be heard. Within a few seconds, Tigerclaw had a vole dangling from his mouth. It wasn't too plump, much like Goldenflower's mouse, but it had more meat on it than any of the other prey they had caught during leaf-bare.
"Great catch!" Goldenflower purred.
Tigerclaw flicked his ears to acknowledge her praise.
Suddenly, Tigerclaw's ears perked up in alarm. His lips were pulled back in a vicious snarl. They were nearing Sunningrocks in their hunt, and as they got closer, Tigerclaw had scented a very fishy smell. "RiverClan!" Tigerclaw hissed, his eyes formed into narrow slits.
Goldenflower's hackles raised, her lips pulling back into a snarl. There were four RiverClan cats on their territory! "I thought we got rid of them last time!" She hissed angrily.
Tigerclaw's eyes flashed. "Mangy fish-breaths can never get enough!"
Tigerclaw turned towards Goldenflower, and with one swift movement, the two cats ran towards the RiverClan cats, running towards battle.
There was only four cats at Sunningrocks, so Tigerclaw and Goldenflower figured that they could take it. And after having lost her kits, Goldenflower needed the thrill of battle and blood roaring in her ears. She ran with all her might and jumped with the power of StarClan and leaped on top of the back of a tom that was hunting at Sunningrocks. He yelped in surprise, but she raked her claws against his back and hissed. "Hunting on ThunderClan territory! I thought we taught you a lesson the last time!" The tom hissed in defiance and tried to shake the she-cat off, but she held on with all her strength.
She could hear Tigerclaw battling off with another cat. They were outnumbered, but they knew they could handle it. Goldenflower's release on the tom was soon uplifted when a she-cat raced to his side and raked her claws against her back. She hissed in pain and jumped at the two RiverClan cats. Her eyes fell on the she-cat and tom that she was battling and stared in horror: Oakheart and Graypool! Her thoughts fell on Bluefur almost instantly, thinking of how she had gave her kits to her former mate in order to become deputy. Her ambition had drove her to it, but Goldenflower knew that she did it for her the better of her Clan, and she would stick by her deputy thought it all. But she shook those thoughts out of her head and charged them again. She raked her claws against the she-cat's face and got a yowl in response. Goldenflower had blinded her for the moment, so she rounded on Oakheart.
She barred her fangs and leaped on the tom. He replied with just as much brute strength and tackled her, pinning her against the ground. She growled and went limp in his paws. He took the bait and went to nip at her belly fur, but she was ready. She sprang at him as he closed in. He was surprised and fell back onto his back, exposing his soft belly fur. She raked her claws against his stomach, blood swelling up. The tom yowled, and judging by the fight going on around him, ThunderClan was winning.
She turned to Graypool, just as the she-cat went to attack her and struck her in the jaw, the she-cat tumbling down in surprise. "Why don't you go tend to your kits instead of battling a useless battle!" Goldenflower hissed, her eyes glistening dangerously.
Graypool tried to stand her ground, but the cut on her jaw was too much for her and she fled the scene. A young tom ran after her, yowling with pain. His back legs were torn with scratch markings that would turn into scars. He would have those for many moons.
"This isn't over ThunderClan!" Hissed Oakheart, but it was evident that it already was. He ran off with the remaining warrior and they were gone, leaving the triumphant ThunderClan cats behind.
That battle was exactly what she needed! She felt alive and her heart was beating fast within her chest. She turned to gaze at her mate to congratulate him on the battle, when she saw a dark look in his eyes. He was looking at her, but then again, he wasn't. He was breathing heavily and Goldenflower wasn't sure why, but this side of Tigerclaw terrified her. She took a step back in alarm. He looked as if he were going to kill her, but as soon as the look appeared upon his face, it was gone. He padded up to her and nudged her. "Let's go home. You did great." He mewed and bounded off back into the forest.
Goldenflower stared at him for a heartbeat before following.
Was she just imagining things or was there a side of her mate that she didn't know?
A/N: So, I'm re-reading the first Warriors series and I realized just how much I left out. Like Tawnyspots retiring and the fact that Bluefur and Oakheart had met at the Gathering when she told him she was bringing him the kits. However, I think what I have in my story, with all of it, goes better. I promise, however, that in the next story I write, I'll have my facts more right. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Tigerclaw's treachery is slowly making its way into my story. Please review! Thank you :}