Hai! :D Sorry I haven't updated earlier :/ I know it's been a few days or so (possibly even a week… :/) Anyway…
The Silver Doge Queen: thanks for reviewing :D I felt bad when I was writing the last chapter with the part about Featherkit… hehe
D4rkShadows55: I'm SORRRYY! I KNOOWW! THERE IS A REASON, DON'T WORRY!
drsgon eclipse: I'm sorry for killing Featherkit off Dx Anyway thanks for reviewing! :)
I hope you like the chapter!
~Marble out
"Rosethorn! Blackfur! Rosethorn! Blackfur!" The chants rang through the clearing, the two new warriors standing beside their leader proudly. "Congratulations," I purred to them. I noticed Rosethorn looked kind of sad. "Are you thinking of Featherkit?" I asked softly. She looked up and nodded.
"She was supposed to become a warrior with us…" she murmured. I glanced at the fresh-kill pile. "I know… Well, you two better grab some fresh-kill and get some rest before your vigil," I advised her, gesturing to Blackfur.
Rosethorn glanced at the small pile of prey. "I'm not really tired. I think I'll go hunting instead," she meowed, padding quickly out of camp and into the forest. I sighed. Want revenge? a voice whispered sickeningly in my head. I blinked and glanced around.
What? Why would I need revenge? There was a pause, and the voice answered. Featherkit. Remember her? And all those cats who wronged you when you were young… You need revenge.
"No I don't," I accidentally muttered out loud, drawing the attention of a few cats nearby. "Are you okay, Swanfeather?" I spun around to see my father. "What? Oh, sure. Yes, I'm fine," I stumbled over my words, and Moonwhisker studied me. "I'm going hunting," I announced, stalking away from them.
A surge of anger rose up inside of me as I padded through the undergrowth. A bird sang in the trees above me. So peaceful. I lay in the shade of a tree and rested my muzzle on my paws. Peace, quiet. Here, I didn't have the judging eyes of my Clanmates watching me.
(A/N: k since, ah, Featherkit… yeah, the POV will now be between Swanfeather and Marblefur)
Marblefur P.O.V.
I twitched my whiskers as I headed to the Gathering. Warriors and apprentices swarmed around me, talking and laughing happily. I saw Swanfeather, walking alone behind every cat. Hanging back to wait for her, I silently padded beside her.
"Hi," I said quietly. She didn't look up from her paws. "Hi," she meowed. I guessed she was thinking of Featherkit- the white she-cat had been excited to see her adopted kit go to her first Gathering.
Of course, this wouldn't have been Featherkit's first one, but Swanfeather didn't care. She wanted to see the little kit grow up, watch her become an apprentice, a warrior, maybe even deputy and then leader…
I thought Featherkit had potential to be a leader, actually. I swallowed back a snarl. SunClan. Those rotten, mangy fur-balls invade our camp, right before leaf-bare, and kill one of our kits? How dare they!
That was why this attack we had planned was going to be perfect. I grinned, turning my face away from Swanfeather. "I'm going to walk with Rosethorn," she suddenly mewed, running ahead to catch up with the new warrior.
I tilted my head thoughtfully, and padded up to the front of the group. "Dewstar? Is Swanfeather going on the… patrol?" I asked the leader as we approached the Gathering place. "Well, I haven't really considered her… but, do you think she should go?" I nodded quickly. "Yes, she will have even more to fight for than we will… She needs to go."
Dewstar shrugged. "Alright, I'll include her, then." I smiled. Great…
"SmokeClan is proud to introduce two new warriors: Rosethorn and Blackfur!" Dewstar yowled. The Clans began to cheer their names half-heartedly, and I spotted the littermates sitting, Blackfur looking proud and Rosethorn just looking embarrassed at getting this much attention.
"We also have a new litter of kits, born to Redleaf, and we are ready to fight off any enemies." As Dewstar's report finished, Skystar, the SunClan leader, stepped forward. "SunClan has no news to report- except that IceClan has been stealing prey!" Brownstar blinked. "What? Never, not since Brightstar was leader, have we stolen prey from your Clan!" he defended his Clan, the rest of his cats looking startled and some angry.
"Why would IceClan need to steal from your StarClan-forsaken forest? We fish, remember?" I heard an IceClan apprentice growl to a SunClan cat. "Yeah, right! We all know that once the river freezes over, there'll be no fish left for you all leaf-bare, and I bet a whole squirrel you turned to our territory first!"
Dewstar stepped forward. "That is enough!" he snarled, silencing the arguing cats. "Skystar, if you and your Clan have an issue with IceClan, sort it out between yourselves- don't drag us into it!" Skystar narrowed her eyes at the younger leader. "And why should we listen to you? I'm pretty sure I have more experience in leading than you do!" she retorted angrily, lashing her tail.
Dewstar shook his head. "The Gathering is over!" he announced. SmokeClan began walking home.
-~- Time skip -~-
"Foxstep, you and your patrol go around to the back entrance. Me and the rest of the cats will go in the front," Dewstar ordered his deputy quietly. Foxstep nodded. His patrol, including me, slunk around the camp wall and he peered in the opening.
"SmokeClan, attack!" we heard Dewstar's yowl and rushed forward, me and Brackenfoot darting into the nursery immediately. Inside were a few kits, huddled with their mother, who hissed weakly. Brackenfoot gestured behind her and he slashed at her side, drawing her away from the kits.
I grabbed one, a small, blue tom, and Brackenfoot distracted the queen while I ran out and towards the forest. A scrawny brown tom stopped me, and I snorted. Dropping the kit and standing over him, I snarled, "You're going to try and stop me?" He widened his eyes and backed up, calling for help.
I sighed and carried the kit quickly through the trees, stopping to comfort it when it began wailing. "Shh, shh, it's okay," I murmured. "It's okay, we aren't going to hurt you." He blinked up at me with brilliant blue eyes. "What's your name?" I asked. "My name is Stormkit…" he told me, and then sneezed and shivered. "It's cold out here," Stormkit mumbled, and looked around.
"When can I go back to my mother?" he questioned. I smiled warmly and answered, "Soon." Stormkit nodded, satisfied. "Promise?" The blue tom-kit demanded. "I promise," I said, purring.
"What's your name?" he suddenly asked after a while of silence, me carefully padding through the forest with his body swinging from my jaws. "Marblefur," I answered, and he grinned. "You're nice! Some warriors in my Clan are really mean," he frowned. "I wish they would be nicer."
"They will be when you grow up." He snorted. "Do you know why they are mean to you?" Stormkit shrugged. "I think it's mostly because my mother used to be a rogue, but I know there is another reason- I just don't know what it is."
Okay I'm sorry it took me so long to write this! I have been busy with homework and school and going places with my family and all that good stuff… :/ Sorry, but I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review! :)