Chapter 10, Searching
Demonshadow stared, stiff with horror at the dark brown and grey tabby.
"Demonshadow," Russetstar walked up to her. She looked bewildered, and scared.
Then the look in her eyes instantly changed to one of knowing.
"You're insane, of course!" She exclaimed.
"I'm not insane," Demonshadow argued.
"Then why did you kill Tawnypelt?"
Demonshadow smiled a cold smile. "Ambition," she answered, and launched herself at the leader in front of her, who only had two lives left.
OoOoO
Thornclaw looked down at Moonhowl, who was pacing beneath the Highrock. He stood atop, looking down at the young medicine cat.
She was strong, and beautiful.
He could never have her.
The crazy cats were sitting down, and had stopped fighting each other.
Thornclaw was still thinking.
This is all Ravenshadow's fault! If he wasn't alive, I could have her! Thornclaw poured blame on the young ShadowClan tom almost every day.
He leaped down from the Highrock and padded over to Moonhowl. Time to try again.
"Moonhowl, Ravenshadow is crazy. I'm not. If you love me-,"
Moonhowl whirled on him with such power that wind buffeted his ginger fur.
"How many times do I need to tell you, that I don't love you, I love Ravenshadow!"
Thornclaw looked into her eyes, and seemed to be staring right into her heart. She did love him, if just a small amount.
"I understand," he meowed, and walked away from her.
"No you don't understand," Moonhowl murmured, but he didn't hear.
OoOoO
"Spottedleaf what do you want?" Moonhowl called out to the dead medicine cat.
"Go to the Clan of streams, and take the plant with silver stalks. But beware, the enemy watches from the shadows, and he will stop you if he can."
"Spottedleaf?" Moonhowl asked uncertainly, "are you all right?"
The young medicine cat faded, into mist.
Moonhowl woke in the medicine cats den. Get a plant with silver stalks? What Clan of streams?
Moonhowl stood up and walked out of the den. She looked at her smashed and devastated Clan.
Sorrelstar, crazy, and Cloudtail, dead. Moonhowl swallowed. She was the next cat in rank. She was in charge for now.
"Spiderleg," Moonhowl addressed the black tom. "You're in charge of camp while I go…er…herb hunting."
"Yes," Spiderleg meowed, you can go."
Moonhowl walked out of camp.
"Moonhowl," said a voice behind her. Moonhowl turned. It was Thornclaw.
"Moonhowl" he exclaimed. "Why did you pick him?"
Moonhowl swished her tail. "He is trustworthy and strong. I trust him to take care of camp."
Thornclaw flattened his ears. "I don't believe that for a second. Why would you choose him while I am right under your nose, a perfect choice of tom?"
"I don't love Spiderleg! I don't love you! I don't love Ravenshadow! I don't love anybody! I'm a medicine cat! So stop trying to break the warrior code, and back off!"
Thornclaw stared. "Why are you really going out of camp? To meet Ravenshadow?"
"No. To look for herbs."
Thornclaw turned around and walked back to camp.
Moonhowl turned around and sprinted away, pushing the quarrel out of her mind.
The Clan of streams; that was…RiverClan!
Moonhowl bounded through the undergrowth. She charged through ThunderClan territory, and into WindClan.
She stayed close to the border and soon was at RiverClan territory.
Hawkfrost ran up to her. "Intruder! What are you doing here?"
"Medicine cat business," Moonhowl replied stiffly.
Hawkfrost stood along time, and Moonhowl noticed a small silver cat with brown paws at his side.
"Yes," Hawkfrost said, "go."
He walked away and Moonhowl watched him climb through the valley and away.
Moonhowl crouched down, low in the grass. She fell into a pool of marsh.
"Ugg…" she mumbled, shaking thick murky water from her pelt.
Disgusted, she climbed out, and staggered along.
Only marsh stretched out in front of her.
She looked around. There was a cliff edge not far away, a thin sandy path ran on the edge, and below was the lake.
She struggled over and trotted along the path.
On and on she trotted.
"There's nothing here," she grumbled, turning around. "I'll just go back home."
"Wait," said a soft voice behind her. Moonhowl turned around.
"Never give up," Spottedleaf whispered, and disappeared.
Moonhowl sighed. She trotted on.
The path grew closer to the water. Slippery waves crossed the path.
Suddenly there was a bird call from in front of her. Hungry, Moonhowl crouched down.
She slipped and fell off the path, plunging to her death.
Sorry! (Cries) It's a shock to you, I know. More Demonshadow in the next chapter!
