Shadestorm's pov

Soon after Rowanclaw, Tawnypelt padded into camp. Russetfur followed her, suspicion evident in her dark green eyes.

Shadestorm sprang up. Her breath caught in her throat. Her friend had been gone for so long, and now she just stood there in the middle of the camp.

She ran over to her best friend. "Im so glad to see you again!"

Tawnypelt looked very nervous. Her gaze flickered from one old clanmate to another.

"Me too."

The two friends pressed against eachother for a moment. Cats were staring at Tawnypelt with suspicious eyes.

Then the crowd parted, and Blackstar stepped in front of them.

"Where have you been and why did you leave?" He asked, his voice eerily calm. There was no indication of their conversation earlier.

"I'd rather not speak in front of the whole clan."

She replied, her gaze at the ground.

Blackstar gave an order to Tawnypelt, Russetfur, Littlecloud and Shadestorm to follow him to the leaders den.

When they settled in, Tawnypelt began to speak.

The tortoiseshell she-cat told them about how Nightstar had visited her in a dream and given a message.

The forest would be in great danger, and she had to meet other cats ast midnight in the Fourtrees. Starclan had told them to go on a journey, and they did.

It had turned out Midnight was a badger. After they had spoken to her, they had begun the long journey back home. She told them about The Tribe of Rushing Water, and the terrifying lioncat terrorising them.

And about how Feathertail had died to save them all.

Blackstar listened intently. His eyes were wide. With disbelief or confusion, Shadestorm couldn't tell.

There was silence when Tawnypelt finished.

"What do you think, Blackstar? Will you go to the meeting?"

He was silent for a moment.

"I will go. And Littlecloud will come with me too. But I dont promise anything else."

Tawnypelt bowed her head respectfully. "Thats all I ask from you."

There was silence again, but Shadestorm broke it. "Will Tawnypelt be allowed back?"

Her voice was questioning. She knew she was stepping into thinner ice by asking.

"Yes. But I cant promise all of our clanmates will be very welcoming." He mewed.

Russetfur shot a glare at Tawnypelt before exiting the den, as to enforce their leader's words. Shadestorm felt a jab of resentment towards the ginger deputy.

Littlecloud hurried after her, mumbling something about herbs.

Tawnypelt glanced at her paws. Then she spoke. "I should get going now. I'll tell you more later."

As she said it, she glanced at her friend. Only then Shadestorm could see the twinkle of amusement in her pale green eyes.

The two of them were left alone in the den. Shadestorm couldn't meet his eye.

"I think Im going to go now. It's getting pretty late." She mewed.

"Wait."

She turned to him. "What is it?"

"Remember the other day when you said you don't like the dark?" He asked, his voice questioning.

She flashed him a tired smile. "Yeah."

"How can you not? You are a Shadowclan cat." There was confusion in his eyes.

"I'll leave you to think about that." She replied, whiskers twitching with amusement.

But her eyes betrayed her saddness.

Then she stepped out of the den, into the moonlit camp clearing.

Im sure Tawnypelt has an interesting story to tell me.

...

Blackstar's pov

As Shadestorm left his den, he felt oddly hollow. The gray she-cat hadn't ansvered his question.

His whiskers twitched with annoyance. Why couldn't she tell me?

He thought about it for a moment. And instantly the question answered itself.

Her sister died in the dark, didn't she?

The Shadowclan leader felt sorry for her. She's been through so much. Why haven't I realized that sooner?

...

A few days later the monsters were buzzing even closer to the camp. In fact, you could hear the twolegs yowling orders to eachother. Blackstar was adamant they had to stay in camp. We have nowhere else to go. It's not safe out there.

And Shadowclan cats were good at hiding. Maybe they wont even notice the camp.

But as the daylight faded, and the monsters got even closer, tensions started to rise. Cats were huddled in their nests, trying to ignore it.

Then, as the first tree fell on top of the camp wall, a full panic set in.

In moments, the whole camp was in chaos. Even warriors were running around like rabbits. Its too dangerous for all us to leave camp now! We are trapped!

Suddenly Tawnypelt and Shadestorm appeared in front of him.

Over the noise, he could hardly hear Tawnypelt's words. "We have to fetch help from the rest of the clans!"

For once, he agreed. "Yes. Go alone, Tawnypelt. You'll be faster that way. And for Starclan's sake, be guick!"

As the tortoiseshell ran off, he was left to face Shadestorm. Even in the midst of danger, he couldn't help but admire her.

The time seemed to slow as their gazes locked, eyes wide with fear. Not knowing what would happen next.

A realisation hit him like an enemy's claws. Her smile. It could make him feel better even in the darkest of times. Infectious, but not in a bad way. The feeling that his heart felt like it was ripped out of his chest every time she turned away or looked at him with those pretty vibrant green eyes.

This was a different kind of thing. She was perfect. And now he realized that.

Now, as he stared into her wide eyes, fire burning within them, he accepted the truth he had been holding from himself for so long.

And suddenly everything made sense.

I love her.

Shadestorm's pov

As Tawnypelt ran off, she was left to face Blackstar. They stared into eachother's eyes for a moment. The chaos around them seemed to be forgotten. Everything was a noiseless buzz. The only thing she knew in that heartbeat was that pair of amber eyes, burning like a wildfire.

And in that moment Shadestorm realized just how much he meant to her.

The moment was interrupted by cats streaming from the entrance tunnel. The other clans came to help us!

The camp was slowly but surely emptied of cats. Shadestorm was one of the last ones to leave.

When they reached the safety of the Thunderclan border, some of the Shadowclan cats seemed to be too exhausted to continue.

So they rested for a while.

Shadestorm's gaze found Tallpoppy and Cedarheart with their kits. Tawnypelt and Blackstar looked to be safe, too. At least all of us are alive. But where will we go?

When they reached the sunningrocks, Shadestorm felt more tired than ever in her life. Most of the Shadowclan cats were already settling down, huddling against eachother for warmth.

She looked for a spot to settle down, and saw Tawnypelt. The tortoiseshell was at the edge of the huddle, and Shadestorm joined her.

She looked at the star speckled sky. Are you watching, Redpaw? Whats going to happen to us?