This is a very different chapter but it'll be back to normal next time. Thanx to Fallowfire for favoring!
Gloryheart looked up at Beestripe, stunned.
"How long has she been doing this?" he asked at last.
"Since she left, I guess."
He dashed off, with Beestripe following him.
"Wait, Gloryheart," she panted, "you're not going to tell Crashstar are you?"
"I..." he didn't know what he was going to do.
"Please, she's one of our closest friends. Let's give her a chance to explain herself. And let's not be so harsh on her! I mean she left her friends in ShadowClan while one of them was soon to expect kits! It's got to be hard for her to leave them behind."
He sighed. "Alright, I won't tell Crashstar. Let's just try to make her stop it or at least limit it to gatherings and coincidental meetings during hunting or patrolling."
Beestripe nodded. "That sounds fair."
The camp seemed to have an ominous air to it.
"Ebonyflower. Is she here?" Beestripe asked Shrewatail, who was sunning herself outside the warriors den.
"Yeah, she's inside. Why?"
"We wanted to ask her if she wanted to go hunting." Beestripe improvised. She was a master at this, since she was a little kit.
Gloryheart nodded to Shrewtail and went in. Thankfully, the only one in the den was Ebonyflower.
"Hi, guys," she mewed cheerfully. "What's up?"
Gloryheart took a deep breath. Leappaw let something slip. He said that you are meeting a friend from ShadowClan on the border. Is this true?"
Ebonyflower looked into her friends' stricken faces. "Yes. But I can explain," she added hastily. "Let me tell you why I really left…"
Ebonyflower's tale
Ebonypaw walked into the nursery, visiting her siblings, Leapkit, Plumkit and Squirrelkit, when she noticed that her father was there. He never visited his kits, even though her mother was dead. Then she realized that he was talking to Clumsytail, a senior queen. They were probably planning to invade Thunderclan or something but Ebonypaw didn't really care. She knew something was up, but being a lowly apprentice, she wouldn't be involved. Her father glanced in her direction and left, as if he were a kit caught doing something naughty.
"Hi, Clumsytail. Are they asleep?"
"Yes," she said rather hastily than usual "they're sleeping so you'd better leave."
Okay, ShadowClan was always planning raids on Thunderclan that never actually happened. But never, ever, were the warriors secretive about it.
"Thanks anyway," she replied getting out fast.
Her best friends, Swayingwillow and Birchpaw were talking together in the corner of camp. Swayingwillow's mate, Flailtail was calmly licking her fur while they talked. Swayingwillow was very young to have a mate, but Flailtail wasn't rushing anything so it didn't really matter.
"Hi, guys!" she called pout cheerfully.
Flailtail looked up. "Umm, I am missing a patrol." He said and got up.
"Yeah, I think I'll join him." Birchpaw said.
"I've got hunting to do," Swayingwillow called out and raced away.
Ebonypaw ran after her and caught up easily. "What is going on? Why is everyone avoiding me?"
"Urr, well, I…"
"Tell me!"
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you. Your father has told everyone that…well, Plumkit, Squirrelkit and Leapkit aren't his kits. You are but not them."
"That's ridiculous!"
"I know. But he says they belong to a cat called Scrounger who lives at the edge of the forest. He plans to take them to their father tomorrow night."
"they cant do that! I cant live without them! They are almost apprentices, and that's what they know. How can he do this now?"
"That's why he's not telling you. You're a valuable ShadowClan warrior and he knows it. He doesn't want them here. They think they are ShadowClan but they're not. They are better at climbing and moving through undergrowth than us."
"How does he know that?! No brother or sister of mine is going to live outside of clans!"
"You're my best friend, so I'll tell you what to do. Take them to Thunderclan and you'll see them at gatherings."
"But I want to be with them, Swayingwillow!"
"I know, but there is no way you can."
Ebonypaw lifted he head and closed her eyes. An idea came to her. "I'll go to Thunderclan with them."
"You can't do that!'
"Yes I can."
"No you can't! What about Birchpaw, what about me? I'm going to have kits one day, and I wanted you to mentor them!"
"I'm sorry but I have to do this. You'll always be my best friend. Please, let me take them tonight. Don't tell anyone. I'll meet you at the border every night after that, you can tell me everything, just, please don't tell anyone."
Swayingwilow sighed. "I promise."
Gloryheart looked at her carefully. "I won't tell Crashstar. Just stop meeting her at night, okay?"
She nodded. Beestripe went out but before he followed her he added, "don't hold a grudge, please. Look, if I hadn't found out, someone else would've."
"I never hold a grudge. But Gloryheart, make sure you don't do this to other cats. It's not a good feeling."
Gloryheart didn't really understand but he left regardless.
I hope she forgives me.
Sorry for a short chapter. The next one will be extra long to make up for it.