Shadestorm's pov
As Shadestorm padded outside a little past dawn, she was consumed by three kits. "Can we be apprentices?" Applekit asked eagerly. "Can you play hide the pinecone with us?" Marshkit put in.
"Get off me first." Even though Shadestorm's words were harsh, her green eyes were dancing with amusement.
"No! Youre a badger! Toadkit exclaimed, bouncing on her fluffy tail.
As Tallpoppy trotted after the kits, exhaustion in her eyes, they stopped their playing. "Get off Shadestorm now. She has to go on patrol, and while she is gone, you can take a nap."
Tallpoppy mewed.
Shadestorm joined her hunting partol, and caught Tawnypelt's eye. The tortoiseshell she-cat was looking troubled, but Shadestorm had no time to ask her about it.
...
Shadestorm was heading to her nest at dusk when she heard a whisper behind the apprentice's den. "Shadestorm! Come here for a second." It was Tawnypelt.
"I have to tell you something."
She seemed to struggle in finding the right words. "I... Im leaving Shadowclan!"
Tawnypelt blurted out the words. She couldn't meet Shadestorm's eyes. And the gray she-cat felt her world collapsing.
"Why? You have been doing so well lately! You cant give up now!" The tortoiseshell's voice was sad. "You dont understand. I have to do this."
Shadestorm couldnt believe what her friend was saying. "I suppose you'll be going back to Thunderclan." Her voice was flat with disbelief.
"No. I cant tell you more, but I wouldnt do it unless I had to. Im sorry Shadestorm, but this is for me to do."
She didnt know what to say. Her friend obviously thought she had to leave. And Shadestorm knew she couldnt stop her.
"Will you be coming back?" She heard her own voice guivering.
"I promise to try."
The two friends looked at eachother for a moment. Finally, Shadestorm broke the tension by whispering; "I'll miss you."
"Me too... Im sorry I didnt tell you sooner. I'll be leaving at moonhigh today."
The two she-cats pressed against eachother for a moment, sadness in their eyes. Shadestorm spoke hesitantly, after a moment of silence.
"You are like a sister to me. I told you I would support you, so now I will. Stay safe."
...
As Shadestorm woke up the next morning, her mind went back to the converstation with Tawnypelt.
They had said goodbyes at moonhigh the previous day.
She glanced over at Tawnypelt's empty nest. Sorrow pierced her heart. She truly left, then. I just hope she's okay.
She streched and padded out of the den. As soon as she stepped out, she was greeted by Russetfur. "Where is Tawnypelt? I have looked for her everywhere! She was supposed to go on the dawn patrol." Her dark green eyes were glowing with anger, the russet tip of her tail twitching dangerously.
"She left."
Shadestorm responded flatly. It was bad enough her friend had left, but she didnt want to face the clan and tell them.
She was sure Tawnypelt was going to come back.
"What?" Russetfur looked confused.
"She left us." Shadestorm didnt want to anger the deputy more, so she didnt say anything about her possible return.
Russetfur had always been suspicious of the tortoiseshell she cat.
"I suppose you should report this to Blackstar. And if this is some kind of prank I'll shred your ears." As Russetfur escorted her to Blackstar's den, Shadestorm felt her heart drop. She remembered the converstation with Tawnypelt in Littlecloud's a few days back.
Russetfur called his name at the mouth of the den, and the Shadowclan leader emerged a moment later. His pelt was still a little ruffled from sleep. Even at a situation like this she admired him. "What's going on?"
Russetfur began to speak, her voice filled with anger and confusion.
"Shadestorm here is telling me that Tawnypelt has left Shadowclan. I dont know what kind trick they're pulling, but I want nothing to do with it."
She stormed away, towards the fresh-kill pile.
Blackstar ignored his deputy's angry demeanor and turned to Shadestorm. "Is it true? Tawnypelt has left us?"
She couldn't meet his eye as she replied. "Yes."
There was confusion in his eyes as he asked;
"Why would she leave us? Did she go to Thunderclan?"
"No. She told me that she had to do this, and that she would come back if she could. Nothing else."
Shadestorm looked up at Blackstar. He isn't going to be happy about this. I just hope Tawnypelt can return.
The Shadowclan leader started speaking angrily. "Why did she go? My warriors cant just leave the clan whenever they feel like it!"
"I dont know why she went. She didnt tell me."
Shadestorm was nervous. She didnt want her friend getting exiled or something!
Blackstar watched her moment, amber eyes narrowed. Then he spoke. "I'll allow her to return if she comes back. But if she has joined some other clan, there is nothing we can do."
Shadestorm's belly lurched as she realised he now had sympathy in his eyes. Our leader thinks she's a traitor!
...
Shadestorm walked in the forest. She had visited Redpaw's grave much more ofter than before Tawnypelt had left.
But her sister's final resting place had already been consumed by the monsters. Along with so much of our territory.
As Shadestorm got to a tree, she narrowed her eyes. This was the place me and Redpaw used to play in when we were younger. Its not the same as her grave, but it'll do.
She settled herself near the roots of the tree and closed her eyes briefly.
...
As she lay at the foot of the tree, thinking, she suddenly heard a rustle in the bushes. Shadowclan scent drifted to her.
Why does everybody keep interrupting my thinking! Cant I be alone for one moment? "Who's there?" She asked drowsily.
To her suprise, Blackstar emerged from the bushes with a frog in his jaws. Prey has been sarce since the monsters came. She remarked in her mind.
"Just me." He mumbled around the prey.
He buried the frog to collect it later, and settled beside her. After a moment he spoke.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, suddenly curious.
"Thinking." She replied.
They looked at eachother for a moment. The afternoon sun was shining to their pelts, reflecting the shine in their eyes.
But the Shadowclan leader broke the silence. "What do you think about Tawnypelt leaving?"
"I dont know, really. That's why I came here." Shadestorm replied. He was quiet for a moment before replying. "Do you think she'll come back?"
"If she can she will. I dont know when but Im certain we'll see eachother again." Shadestorm sighed. I miss Tawnypelt. Not for the first time, she wondered where her friend had gone. Surely she would've told me if she has left for good.
"It's going to be okay, you know."
She had never heard him speaking in such a gentle tone. Her heart was starting to flutter like a bird. Time seemed to slow as she pressed her pelt against his.
Blackstar's pov
Shadestorm pressed closer to him, and rested her head on his shoulder. In response, he touched her ear with his nose and curled his tail around her. It felt great, laying here in the sunlight with her.
In fact, he liked everything about her. Her personality, her gray pelt, which had lighter stripes on it. Her grin, which seemed almost infectious. The way her green eyes shone. Even the way she laughed.
Do I like her?
...
He didn't know how long they had laid there together, but soon Shadestorm raised her head and spoke. "I think we should go back to camp. It's starting to get dark." Her voice was a bit shaky, and Blackstar noticed her fearscent.
"What's the matter?" He asked, confused. Shadestorm never seems to be afraid of anything. What has gotten into her now?
"I just dont like the dark." She was looking around now, wary.
"You'll be safe with me." He said, only half joking.
To his suprise, Shadestorm leaned in, and whispered in his ear. "I know."
She got up with a smirk on her face. When she noticed his shock, she chuckled lightly.
"Lets just go back now."
