A Feather in a Storm

-BoudicaFlamespirit- Good, I wasn't sure. Oh well, I guess.

- Guest (Kkkkkkkk) - Yes, I liked that part. 2. Yeah, I tried.

- xScarclawx- Uh…I didn't want to make it seem that way…

- Sunofaia- Thanks, I try to keep writing interesting. I will check out yours.

*Thanks to xScarclawx for the Author Alert*

* Thanks to Nightstar of BreezeClan for the Author and Story Alerts*

*Thanks to Sunofaia for the Favourite Story*

Chapter 24

Preparations (Stormfeather)

Once the newly named Driftkit had told the two Clans of the Pride's plan to attack on the night there would be no moon, both CloudClan and OneClan went into an uproar. As Whitesky was the only cat to know of the Pride's way of fighting- Poolstar and Thunderstar would not let Driftkit fight, as he was a kit in the Clan, no matter his spot was in the Pride- he was running around from dawn to moonrise trying to prepare the Clans with what knowledge he had. Sometimes Whitesky would ask Driftkit a question, but never was the kit allowed to participate in the fighting.

One thing the little kit did do was enjoy being a kit. Every cat was afraid Driftkit would not be happy that he was not allowed to do anything, but the small kit loved being taken care of for once in his life. He finally got to enjoy being young, having other kits to play with his new friends-and siblings. The four had made themselves into a Clan- Driftkit- being the eldest- was the leader, Sunkit his deputy, and Seakit and Sandkit warriors. When Stormfeather ask why there was no healer, Driftkit responded "We are too awesome to get injured or sick."

The two Clans were fast on training hard for the final attack. There were always warriors in the back of the camp, getting lessons from Whitesky. They could not train in the forest or the training hollow, for fear of the Pride learning of the training. Flutterbird and Dawnmoon also needed to learn how to defend themselves, hide their herbs, and hide themselves. Whitesky told them that the Pride would not have any qualms about fighting untrained apprentices, medicine cats, or queens. In hearing that, Poolstar and Thunderstar both agreed to keep Driftkit a kit- even though according to Driftkit's warning, he would be seven moons during the attack- untill after the war was over. They did not want an untrained apprentice forced into battle, and Driftkit was fine with it. He loved being a kit with his new friends.

Stormfeather was watching the kits play at that moment. She found it adorable how they got along so well, without any taunts from the three younger kits about Driftkit's blood. Stormfeather noticed Whitesky coming up towards her from the spot where he was talking with Rowanspot.

"Stormfeather, could you get Rainfall, Mistdrop, and Lightningflash and yourself to come to train? I know you are friends so I thought you may like to work together."

"Sure," she replied. She got her three friends and went to the area where Whitesky was training cats. She thought of bringing Brambleheart too, but then remembered she was training with Everbright, Strongheart, and Emberflame; and it would be easier to train in pairs anyway.

"Okay, so the Pride is ruthless. They fight better balancing on their front paws, kicking with their hind legs. So to counter that, we need to be quick on our back paws, striking with our front. Also, fighting in pairs works great against them, as they can only concentrate on one cat. Like this. Stormfeather, Lightningflash, come help me. I'll be a Pride cat; you work to take me down." He crouched down and motion for them to get ready. "Remember that I may not fight exactly as a Pride of Rock cat would, as I now have Clan fighting moves I know. But I'll do my best to forget those right now, and fight as a Pride full-member would."

Stormfeather and Lightningflash glanced at each other, silently communicating with blinks and ear twitches. They leapt at Whitesky, Lightningflash first aiming behind the tomcat. Stormfeather leapt after her friend, attacking from the front. Whitesky struggled to fight off both of the cats. Sure enough, Stormfeather and Lightningflash started to overwhelm him.

Stormfeather locked eyes with Lightningflash. She blinked once, twitched her ear, and flicked her tail, pointing from Whitesky to her CloudClan friend. He nodded once, tensed his muscles and started edging away. Stormfeather leapt at Whitesky, putting her front paws on his shoulders and shoving him into Lightningflash. Lightningflash pinned the larger tom beneath him, held him there for a few heartbeats, and then let him loose. Whitesky got to his paws.

"Great job, you two. You'll have the Pride under your paws in no time. Working together like that without speaking in a fight is very difficult; it's a great way to fight off other cats. You two did that very well. Mistdrop, Rainfall, it's your turn. Try to beat me."

"Wait."

The five cats started at the sound of a soft voice stopping them. They looked over to see a small grey tom-kit. Driftkit.

"Driftkit, what are you doing here? The leaders told you to not fight," Whitesky reminded the young cat.

"I know. But I have something to tell you. Whitesky, you remember that to become a full-member, you must get that cut under your eye, correct?"

"Yes," Whitesky said hesitantly.

"Well, you are lucky Dawnmoon treated yours. Eagle Claw does not allow for those scars to be treated. So almost every cat in the Pride, other than Dawn Fall, as a Healer, and Sky Moon's new kit, Red Storm, who won't be fighting anyway, has an infected and/or swollen eye on one side. Every cat like that has a partial blind side on that eye. If you can stick to that side, it will be slightly easier to fight them. Not much of an advantage, but it counts," said the kit.

"Thank you, Driftkit. I did not think of that. That will be useful, though the Pride probably knows of how to keep us away from that side; they won't be expecting us to know about this." Whitesky replied. The young cat took his leave and returned to the nursery.

Stormfeather felt bad for the young cat. He wasn't even out of kit-hood, and already was expected to fight in the Pride. Luckily he could be a kit again in the Clan, and he seemed to be enjoying it.

"All right. Stormfeather, Lightningflash, you can either stay or leave while Mistdrop and Rainfall fight me." Whitesky looked to his two new "opponents" and got ready. Stormfeather and Lightningflash decided to stay, just so the four of them could discuss how they could improve after.

Though it took longer for Mistdrop and Rainfall to defeat Whitesky than it took for Stormfeather and Lightningflash, because they could not communicate silently as well, they eventually took him down. After Whitesky told them to go, they went to eat. Over the rabbit they shared, they discussed how to improve.

"Stormfeather, Lightningflash, how did you two defeat Whitesky so fast? It was like you were one cat instead of two," Mistdrop said in wonder.

"Yeah, Stormfeather, I haven't seen you fight that smoothly with a cat ever, even with your sister or Brambleheart," added Rainfall.

"Well, I could just understand what she wanted to tell me, I guess," Lightningflash said, kind of awkwardly.

"I just tried to signal the way I would have understood it. You need to make as small movements as possible, so it's best if you know your partner well," Stormfeather added.

"I guess you know each other very well, then, huh?" Mistdrop questioned, twitching her whiskers.

"Uh, yeah, I guess," Lightningflash said awkwardly. Stormfeather just shrugged and looked away. Just then, Brambleheart and Flutterbird approached.

"Hey, what are you talking about?" Brambleheart asked.

"Oh, just how much similar Stormfeather and Lightningflash are. They go together so well," Mistdrop said, trying to contain a purr. Brambleheart purred mischievously, while Flutterbird twitched her whiskers knowingly.

Stormfeather tried to tune out her friends, when Brambleheart joined in the banter. "Oh yes, they are always together, they should know each other very well by now," the queen said. Lightningflash ducked his head away, and Stormfeather groaned and put her head on her paws. Flutterbird shook her head, and the other three cats purred.

"Yes Lightningflash, how well do you know Stormfeather?" Mistdrop teased.

"Or, more likely, how well do you want to get to know her?" Brambleheart countered, purring.

Lightningflash's eyes widened and Stormfeather was horrified at her friend. Stormfeather hissed in refutation and anger, fur growing hot. She could not believe how obvious Brambleheart was being. And they just had to talk like this while Lightningflash was around too. She could feel the embarrassment wafting off her white-pelted friend. She cringed and mouthed 'I'm sorry' to him. He responded silently with 'It's all right'.

"See, now they're having a silent conversation. What is it you two don't want us to know?" Rainfall asked teasingly. Stormfeather flattened her ears and turned away. Lightningflash did the same. She looked at him again, and twitched her ear towards the camp entrance. He nodded. They got up and walked away into the forest.

"There they go. Into the forest together. Alone," Brambleheart called after them.

"I'm sorry, Lightningflash," Stormfeather apologised as soon as they got away. "My friends are.."

"It's okay. Mistdrop was from my Clan, so they're both our friends. I'm sorry for that too," he replied. Stormfeather nodded, assuring him it was okay. But, in reality, it wasn't. That was awful. The worst thing was, Stormfeather wondered what Lightningflash thought of her after all that. She got lost in thought, not noticing Lightningflash step in front of her to clear a path through the underbrush.

How did the conversation turn to that anyway? I can't believe it, she thought. We started out talking about war preparations!

A/N- I am actually leaving on the nineteenth of July for ten days. Not the tenth. So you guys have a few more updates before I leave.

Wow this chapter took up just about three pages.