WyldClaw- Thank you so much, I appreciate your feedback
Short chapter today, but the next one will have some good stuff and different POVs.
"We should get going," Shadowstar said. Gray Wing watched as she led her group out, Cloud Tail at the rear.
"I can't believe he left," Fire Heart murmured from beside him.
"Hey, it's okay," Raven Hope murmured, pressing his nose to the ginger tom's cheek. "He's growing and may want a different life."
"You'll just have to accept it," Gray Wing agreed, but felt hollow. All over again, this felt like the battle at Four Trees except with less morbidness…just desertion.
Slate took the lead and led the moorland group out. All of them carried a kit. Dust Muzzle wriggled around in his father's grip and waved his little tail at the apprentices. "Bye Owl Eyes! Bye Birch!"
"Bye!" Both apprentices called simultaneously.
Sparrow Fur was looking suspicious as the river group left. "Why did Cloud Tail join ShadowClan? He's never shown interest in any other Clan."
"Maybe he just wanted to be with Pebble Heart," Owl Eyes suggested.
"Maybe."
Gray Wing sadly watched as they all disappeared. Things just keep changing way too fast.
"Does anyone wanna go hunting with me?" He sighed. He needed to take his mind off of his friends.
"We'll come," Nettle meowed, padding up with his apprentice.
Gray Wing led his patrol out and they split up.
Just then he caught an unfamiliar scent. It wasn't strange to see rogues passing by since most were just interested in joining, but this one seemed to be hiding, perhaps? He smelled a tomcat and a she-cat.
Gray Wing stalked forward until he could hear voices and pricked his ears to listen.
"I don't have time for this," the tom growled. He peered around a tree and stifled his gasp. The tom was brown with white front legs, but the she-cat…she was one of the rogues who had been in their camp. And Thunder had told him, she was The black she-cat.
This is the first time I've seen her clearly.
"But I don't want to go by myself!" she cried.
"Stop being a kit!" the tomcat snapped. "Now go spy on the SkyClan cats," the tom ordered. "I saw half of them leaving and we need to know what's up. We need to know their weaknesses and such. Find out everything!"
"What for, Slash?" the she-cat asked.
Slash unsheathed his claws. "Just do what you're told!" he growled.
"Can't you come with me?"
Slash stepped towards her, teeth bared and she flinched. She was being threatened.
"I have other things to do," Slash meowed. "Don't let me down. Remember when Star Flower and her father failed? You're supposed to be a good spy! Now go. Or your friends will take the punishment because of you."
"I won't let you down!" the she-cat said quickly. She tried to look determined, but her fear was clear.
"And whatever you do, don't let them see you," Slash said.
"I'll be a shadow," she replied. "Like I always have."
"Good." He turned and stalked away.
Once he was gone, the she-cat took in a deep, shaky breath.
Gray Wing didn't like this. These rogues were definitely more trouble than he thought. Defeating One Eye hadn't stopped them. But from what he could see, their group was held together by fear– like ThunderClan. I've seen too much of that lately, he thought drily.
He waited for the she-cat to pad away- towards their camp. Had One Eye and Fury not been the leaders, after all? Had they been carrying out orders from bigger enemies?
He tracked the she-cat's scent but it seemed she had left towards the border to keep low.
He'd keep a lookout for her and catch her, so he could talk to her.
The reason I make short chapters is because they have one little thing that's significant, but can't be put into a bigger chapter. Either because it doesn't go with the topic of the bigger chapter or it'll make it even more long.
So just wanted to let you know. Now Gray Wing has seen the spy and will meet her face to face soon.