Chapter 10

The sun was beginning to set by the time Lucy had reached the ShadowClan camp. She suddenly felt very scared. Eaglestar is bound to see me, and then to kill me!

"Hey!" A loud whisper sounded from a holly bush. "This is ShadowClan territory! SkyClan cats aren't allowed to be here!"

Lucy ducked into some heather fronds, and stayed very still. A rather handsome silver tabby tom emerged, his nose twitching. I dearly hope he doesn't pick up my scent! She prayed quickly. The tom stopped right in front of the fronds of heather Lucy was in. The tom growled, "Come out now, and maybe I won't hurt you as much."

Lucy sprang from the heather, but she missed the tom. He raised his tail, and more cats came out from the bushes. Lucy was pinned down quickly, and taken into the ShadowClan camp.

"We caught a trespasser!" The silver tom meowed. Eaglestar appeared out of a cleft in a rock.

"Well done, Thornfang. Let's see what they look like." The small group of cats parted to reveal Lucy, and most of the ShadowClan camp gasped. "Why, it's Blossompaw!" Eaglestar meowed with pleasure. "I've been waiting for this moment for moons," The large tom was circling Lucy, as if she were his prey. But he was still very skinny. If I can manage to attack Eaglestar, maybe the other cats will help me? Eaglestar suddenly leaped on top of her, and began mauling her. Lucy flattened her ears and whipped around, unsheathing her claws and slashing at Eaglestar's eye. She pushed the large tom off of her, and charged towards him. Her wounds stung, but there would be no way she would allow Eaglestar to treat her as such.

"ShadowClan, attack this traitor!" Eaglestar yowled. Some cats immediately sprang towards them, but others hung back.

"Eaglestar!" Lucy recognized Qailstar's mew. "Give us that she-cat, and we'll leave ShadowClan in peace!"

"Nev-" Lucy leaped on top of the tom, and bit down hard on his neck. Another cat bowled into her, and Lucy was launched into the heat of battle. ShadowClan cats began attacking the SkyClan ones, and Lucy had no idea who to fight. Her back felt like it was on fire. Eaglestar stood, but brushed past her. He was heading towards Qailstar.

Lucy crashed into a den, her breath fast and shallow. She heard a cat coming towards her, and she smelled Birchfang. "Please…" She muttered. "Just help me."

"Why would I do that?" Birchfang replied, his eyes cold. "You nearly killed my mate! Now I'm going to hurt you as much as your dog hurt Robinmist!" He raised a paw, and hit Lucy's side hard. She rose to her paws, shaking out her fur. I must fight this sorry excuse of a medicine cat.

"At least I'm well-fed at night. And it was me who saved Mossflight." Lucy hissed. Birchfang lunged for her throat, his jaws narrowly missing it. He raked his hind claws down her underbelly. Lucy could only screech.

"You saved Mossflight?" Lucy realized who it was.

"Lionpaw!" She yowled before Birchfang slashed at her throat. She rolled over, and Birchfang tumbled off of her.

"It's Lionfire now." The ginger tom stated. Despite being as thin as everyone else, Lionfire still looked reasonably healthy. He reared up and started attacking Birchfang, but more cats came into the small den. Lionfire and Lucy were outnumbered!

"Well Lucy, it looks like the end of your life has finally come." Birchfang meowed coldly. "SkyClan, attack!" Lionfire shielded her from the SkyClan cat's blows, but the tom was weakening. A dark blue-gray tabby landed on top of Lucy, and the she-cat's name was Poolsky.

"Don't lay another scratch on that she-cat!" A black and white tom charged into the den, his green eyes flashing with rage. "That's my sister."

"That's your sister?" Birchfang meowed, letting out an eerie laugh. "She's not ShadowClan, flea-brain."

"Yes she is. I remember." The tom came over to Lucy, and meowed, "Do you remember me?"

"I remember you trying to kill me." Lucy stated flatly. The only cat in the den that had her trust was Lionfire.

"Good." Birchfang lunged towards Lucy, but Talonpaw stopped him. He lashed out a massive paw on top of Birchfang's head.

"SkyClan, retreat!" Qailstar yowled.

"This isn't over," Birchfang growled as he left. The other cats did too. Lucy gazed at Talonpaw and Lionfire.

"Lucy, I'm so sorry for betraying you. What I did was wrong. All of it was. The only thing I can ask for is your forgiveness. Please. Will you forgive me?" Talonpaw dipped his head towards Lucy. "Also, it's Talonclaw now."

Instead of accepting his apology, Lucy started backing out of the den slowly. Her brain needed time to process all of the information being thrown at her. "I need to return to my human," she meowed nervously. She didn't want to admit she was leaving because of Eaglestar.

Lionfire rested his tail on her flank, meowing, "We'll pro-" He was cut off by the ShadowClan deputy, Kestrelwind.

"Let all cats gather in the clearing for a Clan meeting!" The ShadowClan cats began to assemble, and Lucy was trembling from head to toe. I know Eaglestar is bound to kill me now! Suddenly Mossflight entered the den.

"Is she okay?" He asked, flicking his tail at Lucy. Lionfire shrugged, while Talonclaw stared at the ground. A low growl sounded from Mossflight's throat. "Leave at once, Talonclaw. I don't want to see you anywhere near Lucy." The tom stood and left without protest. Mossflight turned to Lucy. "Come. Eaglestar is gone now."

"Really?" She asked, still feeling shaky.

"Of course. I wouldn't be here if he was still alive." Mossflight and Lionfire began to exit the den, and Lucy trailed behind them. It seemed as the whole of ShadowClan were watching them now.

Kestrelwind cast the trio a weary glance before continuing the meeting, "Eaglestar is dead. As you all know, now that he is gone, there will be some…adjustments to be made…" The tom kept staring at Lucy. She shifted under his prying gaze. Why is he staring at me like that? I hope he doesn't ask if I'm Blossompaw…

"First and foremost, any cat who supported Eaglestar, please step forward now." Kestrelwind added, and a few cats stepped up.

"We will always support him," Flashbreeze meowed. Several others nodded.

"Then leave my Clan," Kestrelwind meowed forcefully. "I don't want any more cats like him at all. You have until sun-up to be off of ShadowClan's territory."

"I will never leave!" Flashbreeze hissed, the other Eaglestar supporters joining him. "He's our true leader!"

Kestrelwind hissed. More cats joined the fray. But soon there was nothing left to join, because the challengers had fled from the camp.

"Mossflight, please begin treating everyone." Kestrelwind meowed, then he padded over to Lucy. She shifted uncomfortably.

"He's a good cat, Lucy." Lionfire muttered into her ear.

"What is your name?" Kestrelwind asked her.

"L-lucy." She meowed flatly.

"Come with me into my den, where we can talk." Kestrelwind meowed, flicking his tail for her to follow. Lucy felt her pelt grow hot. She couldn't do this!

"Let me come with her," Mossflight meowed. "Someone can fetch Jaystorm of ThunderClan,"

Kestrelwind shook his head. "I wish to speak with her alone," Lucy followed the tom into his den.