Okay, I've noticed the interest in this story has dwindled, so I have decided to focus my attention. Shorter chapters, faster updates. I figure this way I don't run this series, the future-most in the Gray World project, into the ground. I'm afraid all the chapters in all my stories will probably decrease in size. Cheers, viewers!
Cookies to those who have sticked with me and my unreliability so far!
Chapter 13: War on the Wind
Lightningpaw was eating a mouse when the first war in the clans began. It had been looking to be a good day so far, the sky was clear, sun was shining, and prey was in the pile for once. Lightningpaw was able to think optimistically even in the wake of his meeting with the other cats from the clans. Wolfpaw, and Reedpaw, who had both looked so frightened at the prospect that they might be cursed. Lightningpaw certainly felt unease at the thought of someone trying to control him. Now, though he was able to just soak in the sun.
Beside him, Rainpaw and Firepaw were eating prey as well. The heat coming off of them kept Lightningpaw comfortable in the cold midday air. The pale orange tabby tom scanned the camp as the silence lasted between the three of them. Next to the medicine den, the female apprentices, Graypaw, Whitepaw, and Hazelpaw were sitting and eating together. Maplestar and Acorneye were talking next to the leader's den with Thistlefang, Boulderfrost and Bushpelt. Lightningpaw's gaze lingered on his father, and he wondered where his mother was. Looking around, he spied Mallowleap with Mistbreeze, Skyleaf, and Sageflower. The latter had recently announced she was having Maplestar's kits and moved into the nursery. No doubt the older she-cats were talking about their kits, because Lightningpaw caught them looking in his direction, and then over at the female apprentices.
Firepaw jerked his head up, and narrowed his eyes when he noticed Lightningpaw's look. "Hmm, I can't wait until those kits are apprentices, can you? Thistlefang's making me clean the elders' bedding today, and relish the day when I don't have to do that anymore!"
Lightningpaw rolled his eyes. "We'll be warriors before those kits become apprentices, dummy!"
"Speaking of which," Rainpaw exclaimed, speaking up. "Remember when we were kits and we used to come up with warrior names for each other?"
"Yes, I remember that you were playing leader the day Firepaw, Hazelpaw, and I became apprentices!" Lightningpaw meowed.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Rainpaw said, frowning. "Being stuck the only tom in the nursery for awhile made me want to tear my fur out!"
"And eventually, you're going to be the only tom in the apprentice den!" Firepaw crowed.
Rainpaw scoffed. "Please, with the way things are going, I'll just perform splendidly in a battle with BranchClan, and become a warrior early!"
"Oh, yeah?" Firepaw said, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll see," Rainpaw said, tilting his chin up. "And next thing you know, I really will be Rainstar!"
"Pfff, and Maplestar will just give up and name me Firestar for my warrior ceremony, because we know who here is actually leader material!" Firepaw shot back.
Lightningpaw snickered, unable to help himself, and then broke out into outright peals of laughter. Rainpaw and Firepaw exchanged a look, and broke down, joining Lightningpaw in making a cacophony.
For one moment, everything felt right again, and the next, a group of unfamiliar cats burst into the camp. Lightningpaw whirled, breaking off mid-laugh to face the strange-smelling group. His yellow eyes widened when he recognized the tortoiseshell she-cat at the head of the group. She had been on the Great Stump's roots with the other clan leaders during the last two Gatherings Lightningpaw had been to. She was Lilystar, leader of MarshClan, and she looked furious.
"Maplestar!" The she-cat hissed, her tone as icy as her blue eyes.
Maplestar exchanged a concerned look with Acorneye, and he reluctantly approached the livid she-cat. Lightningpaw had heard stories from his mother about the thoughtful, patient leader from MarshClan. It took a whole lot to make Lilystar mad, and when she did get mad, everyone should watch out. The pale orange tabby scanned the MarshClan cats who had come with their leader, and saw a similarly angry, dark gray tom at her side. Next to him, though, was a very familiar cat.
"Wolfpa—!" Lightningpaw clamped down on his jaw before he could finish speaking the she-cat's name. The silver-gray and white she-cat had had her head pressed against the dark tom's flank, and upon hearing Lightningpaw's voice, she turned her head. There were more than a few gasps from the assembled ForestClan cats, and Lightningpaw could see, all too well, why.
A thin scar marred the left side of Wolfpaw's head. While not going very deep, it was long, crossing in a jagged, vicious line from her forehead to her chin. It crossed over her eye-lid, but miraculously left her left eye intact, and functional. Lightningpaw knew this because he could see the blue iris flick in synchrony with the right eye as Wolfpaw scanned the crowd. Realizing her movement had revealed her new wound, the gray she-cat turned her head back against the flank of the cat next to her.
"We found evidence of ForestClan stealing prey from our territory," Lilystar growled. "And while doing so, one of your cats had the audacity to attack one of our own!" The dark gray tom beside her growled in assent.
Maplestar's eyes widened in surprise, and there was a ripple of whispers and surprised cries from the other cats. Lightningpaw exchanged a look with Firepaw and Rainpaw, before looking back at Wolfpaw. Did the creature that's been attacking her do this to her, too? What Lightningpaw couldn't puzzle out was how there was ForestClan scent on MarshClan territory. Was there really ForestClan cats that were crossing borders? Was that why there had been more prey lately?
"I-I don't know how this could have happened!" Maplestar exclaimed, his voice betraying his surprise.
"Obviously, you're mistaken!" Acorneye butted in, snarling. "ForestClan is above stealing from your swamp!"
Lilystar turned, narrowing her eyes at Acorneye. "I smelled it for myself, Acorneye, and several of my warriors could attest to seeing the half-eaten prey one of your numbers left on our border. Are you suggesting Wolfpaw's injury was an accident?"
Acorneye snorted. "Have you considered the possibility that Thornfrost dealt it himself? We've all heard stories about him. And what idiot would leave their food on your side of the border?"
The dark gray tom, who had to be Thornfrost, snarled. His ears went back, and Wolfpaw turned her head to tilt it up at Acorneye angrily. "Thornfrost wouldn't hurt me!" she hissed. Then, she blinked, as if she couldn't believe what she had just said.
"Obviously whoever left the prey wants war," Lilystar said, continuing as if Wolfpaw hadn't spoken. "And if you and Maplestar can't find the culprit and sort them out, we'll give them that war! MarshClan won't allow for one scrap of their food to be stolen or one innocent clanmate to be harmed without blood being spilled! You have until the half moon to stop the raids!"
With that, the tortoiseshell cat turned, and exited the camp with a flick of her tail. The four cats she had brought with her followed suit, and Lightningpaw lost sight of Wolfpaw in the clump of gray and brown fur. As soon as the MarshClan cats left, the ForestClan camp came to life with chatter. Wherever Lightningpaw looked, cats were arguing, shaking their heads, or comforting each other.
"Lightningpaw?" The pale orange tom turned, and saw Hazelpaw approaching. Her expression was quizzical. "Why did you try to say the MarshClan apprentice's name?"
An icy shiver went down Lightningpaw's spine. Graypaw and Whitepaw flanked his sister, and he knew Firepaw and Rainpaw were staring at him, too. He could just imagine his brother's angry gaze, and shrank under his pelt. He'd messed up bad. Firepaw would be enraged to know he'd told Graypaw about their secret, and would have his head if he didn't tell the others a convincing enough lie. Even if he just said that he met Wolfpaw at the Gathering, would they believe him? Well, he had no other option. "U-uh, I met her at the Gathering, and I was so surprised to see her scar that I said her name without thinking!"
Hazelpaw's eyes widened with realization, and then they narrowed, shining with hurt. "I bet if Rainpaw was my brother, I would've already known that sort of thing!" She ducked her head, and pushed past her brother, a low sob starting up in her throat.
Lightningpaw whirled around, staring after the brown she-cat in surprise and confusion. "Wait, Hazelpaw, what do you mean?" He ran after her, following her out of the camp entrance, and into the clearing outside. A whiff of Wolfpaw's scent crossed his path, but he didn't falter. Hazelpaw finally paused by the training clearing, and she turned to glare at Lightningpaw malevolently.
"Both you and Firepaw barely talk to me anymore!" Hazelpaw snarled accusingly.
Lightningpaw's eyes widened in shock. He was totally blindsided by her claim, even more so because she was right. Ever since Firepaw and him had confirmed there was something more than normal concerning them and two other cats from the clans, he and his brother had accidentally turned their backs on their sister. Lightningpaw couldn't remember a time between the meeting and now when he and Hazelpaw had had a legitimate conversation. "I-I'm sorry Hazelpaw, I've been caught up in everything. Ever since . . . BranchClan came, things have changed."
Hazelpaw's gaze softened, and she nodded. "Yeah, BranchClan's screwed up everything here, huh? If we still had that territory, we wouldn't be at war with MarshClan."
"But we aren't at war now, are we?"
"The way things are going, it seems like we're going to be," Hazelpaw said grimly. She padded up to her brother, and laid a comforting tail on his shoulder. "Don't worry though," she exclaimed, voice a low growl. "BranchClan will be gone eventually, even if we have to chase them out of their territory."
There was a pattering of paws behind them, suddenly, and Lightningpaw turned to see Graypaw pelting towards them, Whitepaw, Rainpaw, and Firepaw following close behind. The gray and white she-cat up-front slowed, looking between Hazelpaw and Lightningpaw hesitantly. "Are you both alright? We shouldn't be out of camp, you know." Lightningpaw flinched at her last words, and the underlying comment between them. Sorry, Graypaw, but I can't change who I am, and I need every chance to learn from the others like me.
Firepaw shot a glare at Lightningpaw. "Your queenfriend here told them everything."
Lightningpaw's eyes widened in horror. Everything?
Graypaw huffed, and nodded solemnly. "I couldn't help it, Lightningpaw, I'm not used to keeping secrets from my litter mates."
"You've been keeping secrets from me?" Hazelpaw cried, stepping back away from Lightningpaw.
"N-no, please! It isn't what it looks like, I swear, I was trying to protec—"
A ginger and white tail slapped Lightningpaw on the muzzle, and the pale orange tom turned to see his brother looking at him with furious green eyes. "Shut up, Lightningpaw."
He wilted, and obliged his bigger brother. He pressed his belly to the ground, feeling miserable. Had their careful secrets fallen apart just like that? Lightningpaw cursed himself, and felt a wave of misery when he realized he already was cursed. I should've never trusted Graypaw.
"Lightningpaw and Firepaw met some cats at the Gathering, and hatched a plan to run BranchClan out of the clans," Graypaw explained, turning to Whitepaw, Rainpaw, and Hazelpaw.
Wait, what?
"They met together the night after the Gathering, and Lightningpaw told me about it, wanting to recruit me. I'm still thinking about it, though, because I couldn't bear living a double life and keeping secrets from the rest of you. It just wouldn't be fair!" Graypaw crouched down, burying her face in her paws.
Firepaw looked at Lightningpaw with a meaningful gaze, one that the orange tom was easily able to interpret. Play along.
"Um, yeah, that's why I've been so distracted, Hazelpaw," Lightningpaw said, turning to his brown-pelting littermate. "I can't rest thinking about those smug nomads filling up on our prey, and Firepaw can't either, so we decided to make a resistance group."
Hazelpaw looked indignant. "I would've liked to join, too, you know? Why didn't either of you tell me?"
"We were trying to keep it as secret as possible, and slowly gain new members. My informing Graypaw was an accident, really! I was going to propose I recruit you at the next meeting, I swear!" Lightningpaw said, growing more confident as the lies continued flowing.
Hazelpaw tilted her head, considered her brother's reply. "Alright, fine, I understand. But when is your next meeting? I want to come!"
"Count me in!" Rainpaw chirped, looking at the other two toms fiercely. "I want to be part of this!"
Whitepaw looked hesitant. "If we can figure out a peaceful solution, I won't object. Maybe I should come too!"
"So, when is it, Gray? Spill!" Rainpaw said. All three of them turned to look at Graypaw, and Lightningpaw caught her look of terror. Uh-oh, what now?
Before you flip out at me, the next chapter will be from Firepaw's point of view, so you don't have to worry about this matter not being resolved. Since chapters are shorter, this'll be easier to update. Hope to be back with another chapter soon!