Chapter 5, Moonhowl's decision
Demonshadow opened her eyes. Endless stretches of moorland spread before her eyes. She raised her head, but couldn't get up.
She saw that a thick bunch or reeds had her pinned down. The ends were buried strongly in the ground, and reeds crossed her chest, and her paws.
Who was holing her down? Demonshadow raised her head. The group of WindClan cats that had attacked ShadowClan were standing a few foxlengths away, talking quietly.
Demonshadow looked around. It was cold, and a bitter wind was sweeping across the moor. Wetpaw was returning with a rabbit in his jaws he laid it at Weaselfur's feet.
Weaselfur got up and toke the rabbit to Demonshadow. "Share with me," he commanded, and dropped the rabbit at her face.
The smell was delicious, but Demonshadow didn't take a bite. She strained her legs, trying to break the bindings.
She lashed her tail and glared up at Weaselfur. He toke the rabbit away and the cats lay down around her, preparing to go to sleep.
The sun sunk below the horizon, and the toms fell asleep. Demonshadow still tried to break the reeds.
She lashed her tail some more, then looked at it. She eased the tip of her tail into he ground where the reeds for her front paws were buried. Slowly, she flicked sand away and uncovered the ends of the reeds. She wrenched her paws out, then sat up and chewed through the chest one, and the ones for her hind legs.
She was free!
Weaselfur sat up suddenly and looked at her. He growled and lowered himself onto his haunches.
Demonshadow jumped up and sprinted over the hills. On and on she ran until the pattering of Weaselfur's paws behind her faded, and disappeared.
Demonshadow dashed into the ShadowClan camp. The Clan was sleeping when she went into the warriors den and curled up to sleep.
OoOoO
Moonhowl walked across the clearing to Thornclaw, who was waiting for her at the entrance. His ginger fur was cleaned, his pelt shone, and so did his whiskers.
"I thought maybe we could hunt at the ShadowClan border," he said, "You seem to like it there."
"Yes," Moonhowl shuffled her paws with embarrassment. She hadn't even cleaned herself. Scraps of herbs clung to her dusty black pelt, and her whiskers drooped.
She licked her pelt a couple times, and washed her whiskers. She cleaned her fur and face until it shone like Thornclaw's.
He walked slowly into the forest, Moonhowl close behind. When they reached the ShadowClan border, Moonhowl glanced over. Ravenshadow wasn't there. All the better, she thought, but still longed for him.
Thornclaw came over with a mouse and dropped it at her paws. "Share?" he meowed.
Moonhowl bent her head and toke a bite. Thornclaw rubbed his face against hers. "The…sunset is nice tonight," hestammered, looking up.
Moonhowl glanced at the horizon. The sun was setting.
Thornclaw opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, then closed it. Moonhowl half guessed what he was going to say.
He stood up and walked away. "I better go," he meowed, and walked away.
Moonhowl watched him go. She felt funny, as if she had just ate a pinecone instead of the mouse.
But…She had felt that way when she had just met Ravenshadow.
There was a yowl of 'Moonhowl' from across the border. Moonhowl whipped around, to see Ravenshadow bounding through the trees. He skidded when he reached her and was breathing hard.
"Moonhowl!" he gasped. "Moonhowl!"
"Raven…shadow?" Moonhowl asked tentively, sniffing his flank.
"Moonhowl!" he gasped again. He just kept saying it, "Moonhowl!"
He caught his breath slowly. "You…I can't…believe you!" He gazed at Moonhowl with eyes round with shock and betrayal. "I thought you loved me! Why…I saw you…and Thornclaw."
Moonhowl lay down. She didn't know what to say.
"I guess you don't need me!" He snarled. "Just go, and run off with Thornclaw. What ever you do, leave me out of it!" he stared at Moonhowl, his eyes full of anger. Sadness, too.
Moonhowl gazed into his green eyes. "I still love you, Ravenshadow. Thornclaw…well I just met him."
Ravenshadow gazed back, his sides heaving from the dash through the trees. "I have Tortoiseshelltail," he whispered. "I don't need you. Let me live with her, and you go off with Thornclaw!"
Ravenshadow turned around and pelted into the trees, not looking back.
Moonhowl stared after him, slowly shaking her head. She looked away, and buried her face in her paws.
"Are you all right?" said a soft voice behind her. Moonhowl turned around to see Thornclaw.
"I heard you and that black ShadowClan tom arguing," he said. His whiskers twitched.
Moonhowl spun around to face him. "This is your entire fault!" she yowled at him. "You made Ravenshadow hate me! I don't love you and I never will, so stay out of my fur, you ball of ginger fluff!"
He stared at her, then turned around and walked off without looking back, just like Ravenshadow.
Moonhowl dug her claws into the peaty earth, and looked up at Silverpelt.
"Great StarClan!" She yowled. Moonhowl stood up and walked away. She didn't look back, just like Thornclaw and Ravenshadow.
R&R!
