Shadeflame was excited as she sat there waiting for the rest of the cats and Lionclaw to show up. Her mood didn't even dampen when Bugeye came and sat beside here, giving her an imploring look. She didn't care, she had a plan, and if she worded it right it would give her power she would've never thought she could wield.
"Rabbitstrike?" Bugeye asked hesitantly, which irked her. Why wouldn't he say her new name, her real name? "Are you alright? What's going on?"
Pawsteps alerted them of Lionclaw's presence. Shadeflame's tail lashed in excitement. "Many of you have done excellent; none of you have strayed since our little activity I hope..." He hissed the last part. Shadeflame watched him with large amber eyes. Lionclaw glanced at her briefly but that was it. "There is more training to be done, you know what to do. Get with your mentors. Shadeflame," and the she cat shivered. She loved hearing him say her name now, the pride in it was evident. "Come with me."
Shadeflame rise and eagerly followed him, not turning to watch the jealousy dance in Bugeye's eyes. When the distance grew far Shadeflame eagerly told him her plan. "I wanted to bring my clan to the Dark Forest, but the risk of losing them is too high," she said at first, continuing at the irritated look in his eyes. "But, I can use them like an outside force, like how you and the other Dark Forest cat train warrior here, I can get them trained in the real world, they are already riled up as it is. Maybe I can even bring a couple of them here to train if it suits your plan."
"And you think this would work?" Lionclaw growled.
Shadeflame's ear twitched. "Yes I do. They already want revenge on Windclan. Once that is done they can attack the other clans."
Lionclaw narrowed his eyes as he thought it over. "I have to say it would make our progress much quicker..." He muttered. "And you want me to leave you in charge of them?"
"Yes, if you can," she added and sat down. Lionclaw circled her, and in truth it intimidated her, but she was a Dark Forest warrior, she would not cower.
Lionclaw hummed lowly. "I actually like the idea. Rile them up, make them hate the clans. Use Cherryfrost as your rat; make her your lowly cur. I will be watching you." He warned.
"I won't disappoint you," she promised, the ducked, almost getting hit by Lionclaw's paw.
~ooo~
Shadeflame wroke up sore and cursed her performance last night. She was rusty, but she did manage to hit him pretty good. She only got a mark on her flank, a deep one. Ficklesnap cleaned it after Shadeflame told her a lie about nightmares. Once that was done she fed her kits, played with them and watched them play in turn. She smiled as Addersnap pretended to be an intruder and was attacked by all seven kits.
'Really nice,' she thought absently. It made her think of Bugeye, and at that her heart dropped. Why wouldn't he leave with her? They could've riled and built Shadeclan up to rule the clans together. Why wouldn't he leave?
Suckleheart and Tinysquirrel, a ginger tom with a white underbelly, socks and blue eyes, and a very small tom with brown and black patches and abnormally large green eyes, were chatting with each other. Firetuft and Sagewinter were lounging in the sun and the other cats were pretty much doing the same.
Addersnap surprised her by sitting next to her. "What?" She snapped, her heart racing. The white tabby shied away from her a bit.
"I'm sorry, should've spoke first." He mumbled. "Um..." He glanced back at Amberbee and saw the grey she cat flick her tail at him, urging him on. "Um..."
"What is it Addersnap?" Shadeflame said calmly. Taking in a deep breath and sighing, he spoke.
"I know you haven't been here long, barely half a moon, but uh...um..." He looked down at his paws and fidgeted, and at that moment Shadeflame wondered why a tom with such intimidating fangs, adding on with his height and the ferocity of his eyes, was so shy? "Will you hunt with me?"
The grey and brown she cat blinked her eyes really slowly. "Uuuum...yea? I'll just ask Dovetalon if we can go on the next patrol..."
"N-no, I mean, together, just you and me?"
And then it dawned on her.
Addersnap like her.
'Oh boy...' She thought with a sigh. She didn't know what to think of that, she hasn't been here long indeed, so she didn't really know him. 'What about Bugeye?' She thought suddenly. She just as quickly banished the idea. Bugeye chose the clan over her, he didn't matter anymore. That notion made her heart drop. She still loved Bugeye.
"Alright." She agreed.
Addersnap's eyes lit up at that and he jumped up. "I'll tell Dovetalon, be right back." He trotted off to the warriors den. Shadeflame watched him with a bit of annoyance.
Amberbee waltzed over to her with a smirk on her face. "Going on a hunt?"
"A friendly hunt, mind you. Did you set him up to this?" She asked flatly.
The grey she cat sighed. "Well he would've burned your fur off with his eyes if I didn't, not that you'd notice." The other hummed softly.
Shadeflame rose as she saw Dovetalon glance her way and turn back to Addersnap with a scowl in his face. Judging by the way he bared his impressively sharp fangs at the white tabby, he was warning him of something. Whatever it was Dovetalon was telling him about; Addersnap promised and walked over to her. He then led her out of the camp.
~ooo~
They walked in silence. Shadeflame was fine with that, she was too busy going over all the things she would tell her father to make him and the whole clan want to completely wipe out Windclan. 'Except for Brownheart,' she thought, 'I will spare him. He is the only one who was there for me.' Redspirit crossed her mind, but she snuffed it out. She wouldn't think about her sister.
"Tell me a little about yourself," Shadeflame mewed absently. Addersnap blinked in surprise and gulped.
"Uh, well, I'm the tallest cat in the clan; I'm the fastest runner and the best rabbit catcher."
"I was the best rabbit catcher in Windclan," Shadeflame said. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You are fast?"
"Really fast," he added.
Shadeflame having him a challenging look. "Prove it."
Addersnap smirked, catching Shadeflame by surprise. "Alright, I will race you to that tree up there." He said, pointing towards a tree a while away. Shadeflame rolled her shoulders.
"Alright then, ready, set, go!" The two took off. Shadeflame was annoyed that she lost.
"Run on your toes."
"I've been running on my toes." She grumbled.
Addersnap sighed. "Get into a running position." Suspicious she did what he told. Addersnap shook his head. "Not all of your toes it seems. No, don't run directly on them, they will be sprained, yes, lightly like that. Now when you run lower by our head a bit like that. It will help the wind carry you farther..."
Shadeflame drunk in the information with eager, and when she tested it out she was thrilled. "The only reason I'm faster than you is because my legs are way longer." He mewed in amusement.
Shadeflame huffed. "Oh well."
They hunted and went back to the camp, Shadeflame feeling happy and Addersnap applauding himself for making her so.