Chapter 8: Without a Friend

Snowstorm stood beside the Shadowheart as Lightningstar prepared to race down the slope. With a flick of her tail, the wolves were off. Once in the clearing with ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan, Lightningstar went to Great Rock with Snowstorm. Shadowheart stayed with Wildpaw and Bramblespot, for Leopardmask, Sawtooth, and Darkrock were staring at her menacingly.

"So…where is your friend?" Darkrock teased. "Shut up! Don't talk to her!" Bramblespot barked. "She wants to be alone." Shadowheart looked at him gratefully, then she walked over to where some other warriors were, sitting beside Windnose. He nodded to her, sympathy showing in his eyes. She licked his muzzle in reply.

"Then, when our warriors thought we were defeated, BloodClan surrendered!" It was Shocktail. "They saw we were going to kill a pup from our own Clan, so they just gave up and ran away." Rustpaw called out. "Which pup were you going to kill?" Shadowheart's ears and tail flicked angrily. How could he ask a question like that?

"We were going to kill Shadowheart." The warriors gasped. "Why did you want to kill her?" Gentlepaw asked sweetly. "Because, we wanted to show that Dragonpelt wolf that we were serious." There were gasps and murmurs throughout the wolves surrounding him. "Is Dragonpelt still the leader of BloodClan? And is his son still alive?" Leappaw asked. Shocktail nodded. "Both of them are alive, even though they were almost killed."

"You should have seen the look on Darkear's face when we brought out Shadowheart!" Mossear growled happily. "He looked as if he had seen a Twoleg!" The wolves growled and laughed softly. A howl sounded from Great Rock, and the wolves all separated and sat under Great Rock. Shadowheart sat close to Wildpaw, who did not seem to care.

"An apprentice was killed five days ago by a traitor and his friends," Lightninstar began, "the wolves were much stronger than him, and his friend did her best to save him. Rogueear was the leader, with three other wolves by his side. They are Leopardmask, Sawtooth, and Darkrock. Darkrock killed the apprentice, while the other two tried killing his friend."

Growls and snarls rose from the crowd of wolves, and Shadowheart snorted. Tornstar howled. "Quiet! My warrior was punished, for the apprentice was Rainpaw, one of our own. She will be hunting for another moon for our Clan." It was Fallenstar's turn to howl.

"Sawtooth and Darkrock were punished also. They will not eat until every Clan member has eaten." Swiftstar was silent, until…"Lightningstar, you still haven't decided on the BloodClan and ThunderClan truce. You have to decide tonight!" Lightningstar nodded.

"The BloodClan and ThunderClan deciding truce has continued for two years." Truce, Shadowheart thought. "Now, I have decided that we truce. Six wolves will be joining us in a week." Shadowheart gave a sigh of relief. Now, Darkear, her pups, and she could be together. But if Dragonpelt…

"Also, the whole BloodClan will go to different Clans," Lightningstar continued. "Dragonpelt and his son, Darkear, will be two of the wolves joining us." There were howls of joy from the crowd. "Finally!" was the most said howl. The leaders parted, as did the wolves of the Clans.

"Shadowheart!" Bramblespot called. He loped over to her. "Are you ever going to say it?" he asked. "Say what?" Shadowheart whispered. Bramblespot's eyes narrowed. "About you and the BloodClan wolf?" She looked around, then shook her head. "I can't. At least not now. Soon. When they come."

When they returned to camp, it was destroyed. Blood spattered the rocks, and the nursery had been broken into. While two warriors went to Dewleaf's den, Shadowheart and Bramblespot checked the nursery. It was dark, but their eyes adapted fast. The elders were huddled around the pups, shaking.

"Are you okay?" Bramblespot asked. One of the elders nodded, and the warriors backed out. Whiskerpelt came racing into the clearing, along with Silverrock. "Dewleaf is dead!" he panted. "Dead?" Lightningstar echoed. "Who killed her?" Silverrock answered, "Rogueear. That traitor!"

"How could he do that?" Snowstorm snarled. Shadowheart was confused. How could he do that? She raced over to Dewleaf's den, heart racing with her. She skidded to a halt outside the den, paws trembling. She saw blood, bright red like the sunset. Another wolf was standing over her, one she never saw before.

"Who are you?" Shadowheart asked. When it looked up, she realized it was a cat, not a wolf. "My name is Spottedleaf," the she-cat whispered. "Hello Shadowheart." Shadowheart took a few steps forward. "What warning do you have for me now?" she sighed. The she-cat walked forward and touched noses with her. "Your love's father is not pleased. He will kill everyone you love leading up to you."

"But BloodClan and ThunderClan made a truce. They are coming in a week. Will he kill me then?" The she-cat shook her head. "No. It will be later. For now, save your daughters." Spottedleaf sat down, and disappeared. For a moment, Shadowheart did not know whether to be happy or sad, angry or confused. She sat there, heart still racing, until Lightningstar and Snowstorm came in and told her to go to the warriors' den.

Shadowheart lay down on her mossy bed, waiting for the other warriors until she fell asleep.

She was sitting on the cliff again, with Rainpaw at her side. He disappeared, and shadows closed in on her. "Help!" she wailed. "Please, somebody save me!" A strange she-cat stepped up beside her, and she recognized her as Bluestar. "Hello," Bluestar murmured. "Your forbidden love is coming to your Clan. What will you do?"

"I won't tell them that we fell in love and had two pups. We have to remain a secret," Shadowheart replied. "Do you have a warning?" Bluestar glanced at her. "It is somewhat a warning. Two wolves from your Clan will die. Another will go to another Clan. And after many moons, as Firestar put it, Four Will Become Two. Night and Storm Will Meet In Battle, and Blood Will Rule the Forest."

Shadowheart's eyes shot open. 'Night and Storm…Night and Storm…' She shivered. Why was she receiving all these dreams? She didn't know. When she looked outside, it was still dark. Probably moonhigh, she thought. She closed her eyes and shut the world away in a dark corner of her mind, leaving the shadows to cover her like a thick cloud.

A breeze ruffled the wolves' fur. It had been six days since the Gathering. Snowstorm was leading his patrol along the Thunderpath. Whiskerpelt walked beside Shadowheart in anticipation of when they were going to cross. "Snowstorm," Silverrock growled, "we need to cross soon." Spottedpaw glanced at him, then smiled.

"We will cross soon. Once the monsters have passed." A monster roared past, its stench making the wolves' faces scrunch up. When they were gone, Snowstorm assigned groups. "Whiskerpelt and Shadowheart, you two go first. Mousefang and Silverrock, second. Spottedpaw, you and me will go last," he snorted.

Whiskerpelt and Shadowheart had no trouble when going, nor Mousefang and Silverrock. Snowstorm called, "Go ahead! We'll catch up!" The wolves turned and headed toward the old stream they normally rested at. Just then, two shrieking howls rose from behind them. "Snowstorm! Spottedpaw!" the wolves howled. They raced back to them, their paws slipping on the wet ground.

"Oh, Snowstorm!" Shadowheart cried. The deputy and apprentice lay close, their bodies ripped open and flowing with blood. Silverrock gasped, "No! Spottedpaw!" Shadowheart began to tremble. This was the first part of her dream…it was happening. Her eyes clouded with sadness, she picked up the deputy and began to walk back to camp, the others following behind. She could hear the soft sobs from Mousefang as she stared at her daughter.

"Shadow—" Leopardpaw began, but gasped as she saw the bodies. "Lightningstar!" Shadowheart cringed when the emotional apprentice raised the alarm. Lightningstar exited her den, gasping at the sight before her. "How did this happen?" she demanded, tears threatening to fall. Shadowheart dropped the gray-and-white body. "W-we were cross…crossing the Thunder…Thunderpath a-and when they…they crossed, they were hit by a…a monster!" she wailed.

Lightningstar nodded. "Go bury her I will join you She sounded so sad, and Shadowheart could not help crying. Wildpaw gasped at the sight. "No…" she murmured. By now, all of the wolves were outside their dens, horrified at what they saw. Lightningstar looked at the apprentices. "Back in your den!" she barked. Shadowheart was dragging Spottedpaw's body to their favorite hunting place, Sunningrocks.

They had claimed the grounds over a year ago. Snowstorm led four wolves there to fight, and they won the battle. Snowstorm…I will always remember you…Shadowheart thought. They reached the burial site, still muddy from the past storm. Silverrock was behind her, and Mousefang and Lightningstar brought up the rear.

"Right here," Lightningstar sighed. They dugone for her. Mousefang buriedthe apprentice. Shadowheart was silent, her eyes still cloudy. She let out a shaky sigh, "They were brave." Mousefang sniffed. "Yes." They walked slowly back to camp, their footsteps stirring prey from their homes.

The sun was pink on the horizon when the wolves woke. Every wolf arose, and walked to the clearing. It was the seventh day, the day the BloodClan warriors would come. Shadowheart sat near High Rock, letting it cast a shadow on her, making her look like a shadow. "There they are," Whiskerpelt hissed from beside her. "Get ready." Four wolves emerged from the gorse tunnel, and Shadowheart recognized them all. Dragonpelt, the leader, stood beside his son and her love, Darkear. Fernfoot and Ashflower had her pups in their mouths.

"Dragonpelt!" Lightningstar boomed. "You are now a ThunderClan warrior! I suppose your warriors will follow the rules as you will!" Dragonpelt nodded, his eyes flashing when he saw Shadowheart. "My warriors will be loyal to you and your Clan," he growled "Very well. Does one of your warriors know about medicine?" Lightningstar said. "Yes. She is my Clan's medicine wolf!" Dragonpelt snorted. "Fernfoot, step forward." Fernfoot placed the pup on the ground and did as she was told.

"Fernfoot, do you accept being ThunderClan's medicine wolf?" Fernfoot nodded. "Yes. Like Dragonpelt said, I will be loyal to you and your Clan," she replied coolly. Shadowheart's ears twitched. Fernfoot seemed angrier now. Whiskerpelt snorted and walked forward. "They'll need discipline!" he growled. Ashflower shot a look at him, but held her tongue.

"We are not pups!" Dragonpelt howled. "I did not say that!" Whiskerpelt snarled. So much for the first talk, Shadowheart thought with a smile. "Quiet! You will learn to get along!" Lightningstar spat. She narrowed her eyes at the growling wolves. "Fine," they grunted. Whiskerpelt swung around and stalked back to Shadowheart. She nuzzled him. "It's okay," she murmured into his ear. "Okay. You can go back to your dens," Lightningstar announced.

Darkear loped over to her, and licked her ears. "You okay?" he asked. "Yes, my love," Shadowheart replied. "Tonight will be short."

Night came faster than before. Darkear and Shadowheart had to stand away from each other, but they weren't alone. Lightningstar had just called a meeting for the Clan deputy. "A new deputy must be appointed," she said. "But first, let us give thanks for the life of Snowstorm. Tonight he sits with his fellow warriors among the stars."

Silence fell upon the wolves as they looked up at the dark sky. "And now I shall ThunderClan's new deputy," Lightningstar continued. "I say these words before the body of Snowstorm, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice." Shadowheart glanced at Whiskerpelt, who was looking at his paws. "Mooncoat," sighed Lightningstar, "will be the new deputy of ThunderClan." Whiskerpelt nodded, a smile on his face. He congratulated Mooncoat, who was surprised at the sound of his name.

Lightningstar raised her voice. "I shall keep a vigil with Snowstorm's body tonight, before we bury him at sunrise." She jumped down from High Rock and lay down beside Snowstorm. Shadowheart joined her, along with many other wolves.

Snowstorm's burial was almost silent, with the exception of the soft whimpers and sobs from the wolves attending. Mousefang's eyes were dull, small pebbles that never moved from the grave beside Snowstorm's; Spottedpaw. Shadowheart wanted to howl and cry with rage and sadness for their deaths, but remained silent. "Snowstorm, you were brave," she murmured to herself. Mooncoat was sitting next to Lightningstar as she spoke about his achievements.

"And the battle of Sunningrocks," she concluded, "was the bloodiest of them all, but Snowstorm led us to victory." The elders nodded, Sandnose, Snowstorm's father, at the front nodding widely. "I know that Snowstorm and Spottedpaw are with us, but their deaths are almost too much to bear." Lightningstar took a shuddering breath. "They will always be remembered." Shadowheart closed her eyes tightly, shutting the world away.

"Shadowheart. Shadowheart…SHADOWHEART!" Shadowheart jumped as reality came flooding back to her. She look around, bewildered. "Darkear, don't do that!" she growled. Darkear smiled. "I just wanted to know if you wanted to go hunting," he huffed. Shadowheart's ears flattened. "You know we can't go together. What if your father sees us?"

Shadowheart remembered the first time she and Darkear met. Dragonpelt was extremely angry and had clawed her back pretty badly. "I don't want that to happen again." Darkear blinked. "I know…I just want to protect you…" Darkear whispered. "And Mosspup and Lightpup." Their other pups had died due to the wrath of Dragonpelt, now, three moons later, he still wanted to kill them.

"We hunt later. Not now…"