A/N: So sorry for the long wait everyone! New job has taken over my life atm. Though this chapter is nice and long just for you guys!
Chapter Nineteen
Shadowheart smelled the air as he followed his Clanmates through the snow-filled forest. In the past half-moon, Leaf-bare hit the Clans hard and snow filled every crevice. The crunching of snow underpaw echoed through the trees, weak sunlight shimmering through their barren branches.
"We'll be lucky to catch anything with the snow like this," Sandpool muttered, shifting through the snow with her nose.
Blackflame looked up at the pale gray sky. "Prey has to come out eventually. And we'll be waiting for it when it does."
"Hopefully it does soon!" complained Sparrowpaw, hopping through a snow drift to stand beside her mentor, Firelight. "The snow clings to my fur worse than burrs!"
"You look like a sheep!" Blackflame teased, eyes twinkling mischievously.
Sandpool nudged him. "Hush!" there was laughter in her mew.
Shadowheart watched them, and felt a little prick of jealously. Why did everything seem so easy for his brother? He fit into the Clan almost instantly, and was becoming a capable warrior. Shadowheart knew it was wrong to feel this way about his littermate, and that he should be happy for him, but something kept him from doing so.
Snow splashed up in the air suddenly, and Firelight was like a bolt of fire against the white landscape. The brown tail of a squirrel bobbed frantically as it dashed up a nearby tree. Firelight was on it in an instant, leaping up the tree trunk and sinking her teeth into its tail. It let our a cry of alarm as the two of them crashed to the ground below. Firelight quickly finished it off with a quick nip to its neck, before carrying the squirrel back to the patrol.
"That was amazing!" Sparrowpaw squeaked, bouncing up to her mentor excitedly. "That squirrel didn't stand a chance!"
Blackflame nodded. "Brilliant catch as always."
"It's nice and plump too," Sandpool purred approvingly. "Yellowsky and Ivyfrost will love this."
Shadowheart met Firelight's gaze awkwardly. "Yeah, it was a nice catch." He muttered, flinching when Firelight shot him a glare before dropping the squirrel and burying it.
Turning away from them, she called to Sparrowpaw. "Sparrowpaw, why don't you try hunting near the hollow ravine?" she suggested. "Meet back here in a little while okay?"
"O-Okay!" Sparrowpaw mewed a bit nervously, glancing at Shadowheart. She quickly skittered off to hunt, Firelight going in the opposite direction.
Feeling miserable, Shadowheart just held back a sigh. He still hadn't made up with Firelight since their argument by the river, and he wasn't sure how he was supposed to make up with her. He knew simply apologizing wouldn't be good enough, but what else was there?
"Still having your lovers quarrel eh, Shadowheart?" his brother teased, only to be chided by Sandpool.
Sandpool shooed Blackflame away, calling back to him. "We're going to try hunting by the river. We'll meet back up here later!"
Too annoyed to respond, Shadowheart just stalked off away from them. Tail dragging in the snow, he halfheartedly listened for any sounds of prey. For the past half-moon, he felt alone. Pinefrost was too busy training Ravenpaw—his former apprentice—and Firelight was still angry with him. Meanwhile, Blackflame spent more time with Sandpool than he did him. Glancing up, he saw a thrush pecking at the snow just up ahead. Trying to focus on catching prey for the Clan, he slowly crept along the snow. As he went to pounce, snow flung forward, alerting the bird to his presence. Hissing angrily he tried to leap up to grab it, but just missed it.
"Mouse-dung!" he spat, kicking at the snow angrily. Sagepelt taught you better than that! What are you doing? He thought to himself scathingly.
A new scent drifted into his nose and he blinked, distracted. Fox! Pelt prickling he gazed around warily. The scent was fairly fresh, which meant the red-furred creature wasn't too far away. Twitching his nose in the direction it came from, he nearly froze in panic. Firelight went off in that direction!
Pushing aside his fear, Shadowheart rushed off in the direction of the fox stench. As he burst through some brambles, he found the fox. Firelight was cornered against an oak tree, her eyes wide as she snarled defiantly at the larger creature. Not waiting to give the fox a chance to strike, Shadowheart lunged forward. He landed on the fox's back, and clung on tightly.
"Go and get help!" Shadowheart yowled, struggling to keep his grip as the fox snarled and bit as him angrily.
Firelight dashed forward, biting at the fox's legs. "Like I'd do that!" she hissed at him.
Leaping off the fox's back, Shadowheart swiped at its muzzle. Firelight sunk her teeth into one of the fox's hing legs, while Shadowheart slashed at its face. Unable to keep up with the two warriors, the fox let out a frustrated snarl and pelted off back into the woods. Breathing heavily, Shadowheart glanced over to see if Firelight was unharmed.
Relief was quickly flooded with irritation. "Why didn't you go and get help?" he snapped.
"Oh and leave you to be eaten by a fox? Oh thanks, maybe I should have!" she spat back, ears flat.
Meeting his friend's furious blue gaze, he felt his irritation fade. Firelight did the same thing Shadowheart would have done. How could he really be made at her for that?
"Look, I'm sorry," Shadowheart began, the words tumbling out. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. Not today or by the river. You're right, I've been too busy feeling sorry for myself. No wonder you got sick of me."
Firelight snorted. "You got that right! But," she flicked her tail. "I should have been more understanding. I'm sorry too."
Feeling relieved to put their argument behind them, Shadowheart just gave a grateful nod. "It's okay. Thanks, Firelight."
"Firelight! Shadowheart!" Blackflame's yowl came from afar.
Turning to look, Shadowheart could make out his brother's black tabby pelt nearby. Sandpool wasn't too far behind, her eyes wide.
"We heard yowling! What happened? Are you okay?" Blackflame asked, sniffing at them both carefully.
Firelight stepped away from him. "We're fine. A fox ambushed me while I was hunting, but we managed to chase it off."
"By yourselves?" Sandpool stared at them in amazement. "And neither of you are hurt?"
Shadowheart shook his head. "No. Although, we should get moving. I want to let Foxstar know that there's a hungry fox lurking in our borders."
Firelight suddenly bristled. "Oh! Sparrowpaw! I have to go make sure she's alright!"
Stepping aside to let Firelight dash off, Shadowheart followed Blackflame and Sandpool back towards the area they started in. Digging up Firelight's squirrel, the three cats quickly made it back towards camp. Foxstar was laying on top the Highoak, her ginger pelt glowing brightly in the weak sunlight. Shadowheart left the squirrel to Sandpool and Blackflame, calling out to Foxstar.
"Hm? Shadowheart?" the LeafClan leader blinked at him from dozing eyes. "What is it?"
"There's a fox on our territory," he told her. "It ambushed us while we were out hunting. We fought it off, but I'm not sure if it's gone."
Foxstar quickly sat up. "A fox? Are you injured?"
Shadowheart shook his head. "No, we managed to escape any injury."
"Did I hear a fox attacked you?" Ravenpaw rushed over from the nursery. She instantly sniffed Shadowheart over for any injuries.
Shadowheart gently nudged her away. "I'm fine, honest. No one was hurt fortunately."
"You're fine when I say you are," she scolded, still checking him over.
When did his former apprentice become so bossy? As she looked him over, he silently remarked how quickly she was learning under Pinefrost. Pride bubbled up in his chest for the small black she-cat. She'll make a great medicine cat one day!
Ravenpaw finished checking him over, before tilting her head. "Looks like you made it out without any wounds," she sighed in relief. "I'm glad."
"Where was the fox last seen?' Foxstar asked, Alderleaf at her heels.
"If you're asking about the fox, it was last seen close to the big oak tree," mewed Firelight, returning to camp with Sparrowpaw beside her.
Signaling the cats closest to her with her tail, Foxstar issued her orders. "I want you to sweep the border and make sure the fox is gone, understood?"
"I'll make sure of it," Alderleaf promised, leading Softstep, Timberfall, and Dawnrise through the camp entrance.
"Shadowheart! Firelight!" called Blackflame from beside the fresh-kill pile. "Come join us!"
Happy to rest his paws, Shadowheart grabbed a mouse from the pile and settled beside Blackflame. Firelight joined shortly after, having picked a shrew for herself. The cats ate in a comfortable silence, before Sandpool glanced up at the gray sky.
"Who do you think will be chosen for the gathering tonight?" she mewed.
Firelight snorted. "Who cares about that? I'm more concerned about what ReedClan will say about the battle with the rogues."
"I'm curious too," Blackflame agreed. He gave a happy purr. "I'll just be happy to see Stonetail again if I get to go."
Thinking of his father, Shadowheart murmured an agreement. However his thoughts drifted to Cinder and their previous encounter. If Stonetail had not intervened, the two of them would have fought. Did he really have it in him to fight his own kin? Just what could he do to make his sister see sense? Or, the thought was like a dark cloud in his mind, was Cinder too late for any help?
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highoak!" Foxstar's voice cut through Shadowheart's gloomy thoughts.
Amberfur, squeezed out of the nursery with Yellowsky and her three kits bundled at her paws. Ivyfrost poked out from the shadows, while Rainfall, Silverleaf, and Redfur looked up from their conversation near the warriors' den. All of the apprentices stopped their play fight and looked up alert, while the elders gathering at the entrance to their den. Cloudflight, Lionclaw, Hollycloud, Snowfoot, and Brownclaw gathered underneath to the Highoak to listen to Foxstar while Pinefrost and Ravenpaw sat nearby.
"The gathering is tonight, so I am choosing which cats will come. Get some rest if your name is called," the LeafClan leader's voice rang out clearly through the camp. "Cloudflight, Lionclaw, Hollycloud, Snowfoot, Sandpool, Brownclaw, Blackflame, Shadowheart, Firelight, Silverleaf, Leopardpaw, Tigerpaw, and Lynxpaw."
Leaping down from the Highoak, the cats all broke into tiny groups. Shadowheart didn't feel up to talking, his thoughts still weighing heavily on his mind. Suddenly feeling tired, he slunk off the warriors' den and curled up in his nest.
The moon hung low in the sky as the cats made their way through the snowy forest. Shadowheart tried to ignore the cold that stung his paws as he followed his Clanmates. None of the cats spoke, except for the excited whispers of the apprentices. When they reached the ravine, Foxstar led the Clan down the slope. Half-sliding, half-falling, Shadowheart struggled to keep his balance as he bundled down into the gathering.
The ravine was nearly full with both BreezeClan and ReedClan scent, however Shadowheart realized PineClan was not among them. Looking around at all the cats, he caught the eye of Birdfeather, who called him over with a friendly greeting.
"Greetings, Shadowheart!" the small ginger tabby purred.
Shadowheart approached, dipping his head. "Hello Birdfeather, it's nice to see you."
"How have things been in LeafClan?" she asked curiously. "After you left our camp, I had worried you would have trouble with Foxstar."
Sighing, Shadowheart recalled Foxstar's angry lecture upon their return. "She wasn't happy," he replied. "But things have calmed down since then."
Birdfeather nodded happily. "Glad to hear it! Actually," she raised her chin proudly. "I was just made a mentor not long ago. Her name is Quailpaw, and she's quite the pawful!"
Remembering his brief mentor-ship of Ravenpaw, Shadowheart let out a tiny purr of amusement. "They definitely are pretty excitable at that age."
"Hey, Shadowheart!" Blackflame's yowl echoed across the clearing.
Politely mewing his goodbye to Birdfeather, he turned to meet his brother. Stonetail stood nearby, and greeted Shadowheart with a friendly nuzzle.
"It's so good to see you both tonight," his father breathed. "I had hoped you both would be here."
Blackflame tipped his head. "How is ReedClan after the battle? Were any of your Clanmates hurt badly?"
Stonetail sighed wearily. "There were some nasty wounds, but thankfully no cat was lost in the battle. However," he gave Shadowheart a sympathetic look. "I heard about your mentor, Sagepelt. I'm so sorry, Blackflame told me how much he meant to you."
The familiar feeling of loss pulled at Shadowheart's chest. He raised his head, swallowing back his grief. "He died a noble warrior."
His father gently licked his cheek, before heading off to join the other deputies. Following his brother to a clump of cats nearby, he detected the scent of PineClan as they came crashing down into the clearing. Blackstar, the PineClan leader, elegantly kept her stride as she leaped up the tree's low branches to find her spot.
"It's nice of you to finally join us," Skystar grumbled, his fur fluffed out from the cold.
Blackstar ignored his jibe, simply flashing the BreezeClan leader a reproachful look. Icestar stepped forward on his branch, the snow falling from the leaves down below. "Let this gathering begin!" he rasped.
"ReedClan has held its own this past moon, finding plenty of fish in the shallower areas of the marshland," he began. "However not all has been well. We battled with Hawk and his rogues, in defense of LeafClan. While our warriors were not badly hurt, I can not say the same for LeafClan's."
Eyes burning with fury, Foxstar stepped forward next, fur bristling. "Yes, and our Clan thanks you for your help Icestar," she mewed pointedly, letting her fur lay flat. "LeafClan however is as strong as ever. We have recovered from the attack and even gained three new apprentices; Leopardpaw, Lynxpaw, and Tigerpaw."
The cheers were subdued, every cat unnerved by the news of the rogue attack. Blackstar spoke next, her eyes narrowed at Foxstar. "And what will you do about Hawk?" she asked.
"We keep him from our territory," Foxstar retorted, her teeth bared.
Blackstar kept her observant stare, then swept it over the gathering of cats. "How much longer shall we live in fear of this menace?" her voice echoed across the hollow. "Will we continue to live as though everything is normal? I think not!"
"And what do you plan we do?" asked Skystar, rising to his paws. "One Clan isn't enough to face the rogues alone."
Blackstar raised her chin. "Then we fight as one."
Yowls broke out as the cats flew into an uproar. Some agreeing with Blackstar's claims, while others not so much. The four leaders exchanged glances, while the deputies tried to calm their respective Clans. Shadowheart felt his chest tighten at the sight of turmoil, and suddenly froze to the spot. Watching them from the top of the ravine, was a set of piercing yellow eyes that Shadowheart knew very well.
Hawk was here.