A/N: New chapter! Also wanted to thank everyone for the reviews and reads. It means more to me than I can express
Chapter Fourteen
Snow crunched under Shadowheart's paws as they headed back home. The forest was still and quiet, a sharp cold breeze chilling his spine. Firelight was in the lead, her ginger pelt like fire among the snow and ice. Blackflame was prancing beside Shadowheart, his ears perked up for any sounds.
How can he stand this cold? Shadowheart wondered bitterly. He hated the cold. The snow had been pretty at first, but now it just felt as though his paws would fall off like chips of ice. Firelight didn't seem to enjoy it either, her tail twitching irritably. The sooner they were back home, the better. I want to sleep in my nest for the next moon!
The scent of fresh LeafClan border markers drifted towards them, and heart leaping with relief, Shadowheart bounded straight across the border towards home. Firelight and Blackflame were right on his heels, snow spraying up in clumps as they ran. Happily Shadowheart pushed through the tunnel to the entrance of camp, surprised to see a mixture of hostile and surprised looks staring at him. Cloudflight was sitting outside the nursery with her kits, and quickly shooed them back inside, a look of disapproval on her face as she gazed at Firelight.
"Where have you been?" Foxstar instantly demanded, bursting from her den.
Flinching back, Shadowheart felt Blackflame push past him to meet Foxstar's question. "We went to see Cinder."
What a mouse-brain! Shadowheart hissed at Blackflame, as Foxstar's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. The cats in the camp were gathered outside the dens now, all watching with wide eyes at the return of their missing warriors. Foxstar jerked her head towards her den, not waiting for a response as she stormed inside. Exchanging a glance with Firelight, Shadowheart followed his leader into her den.
The den was warmer than outside, which Shadowheart felt grateful for after the long trek in the snow. However the icy chill that of Foxstar's gaze sent shivers up the tom's spine. Firelight was pressed closely beside him, while Blackflame sat closer to the entrance. Foxstar was in her nest, her amber eyes blazing angrily.
"Do you three have any idea how much trouble you have caused? How much time was wasted on trying to hunt you down?" she snarled, lashing her tail. Blackflame opened his mouth to speak, but was promptly cut off. "No, you don't. Valuable time was wasted searching for cats who should have known better than to wander off on a whim during leaf-bare of all seasons! Wasted time we could have used to be hunting to keep our Clan strong!"
"I'm sorry!" Shadowheart blurted out, guilt coming off his pelt in waves. "I never intended to drag Blackflame or Firelight into this! I just wanted to see Cinder, and tell her about our brother. I didn't mean for things to go so wrong."
Foxstar curled up her lip. "What you want doesn't matter! The Clan comes first, always! I expected you of all cats to have learned that by now! As for you two," she shot Firelight and Blackflame sharp looks. "They are grown cats. They made their own decisions and will receive the same punishment as you will."
For once Blackflame looked subdued, his eyes round with shock. "It's not all Shadowheart's fault!" he defended. "When we went to find Cinder, I convinced Firelight and Shadowheart to come with me to the twolegplace to see the cats I grew up with. The ones Mole raised me alongside. Then we got caught up in the rogue forest and-"
"You what?" the snarl in Foxstar's voice sent Blackflame reeling back as if he were struck. "Are you three completely stupid? Have you any idea why that was irresponsible? What if the rogues were to come here? Or worse! The half-moon was last night! What if Pinefrost or Sleetwhisker were attacked in retaliation? Do you three only think of yourselves? What right do you have to be warriors when all you do are foolish things?"
Shame burned Shadowheart's ears and he looked down at his paws. He knew Foxstar was right. A good warrior was meant to care for the Clan first, themselves second. That was the code. And yet once again, he had dragged Firelight into breaking it once more for his own selfish reasons. Firelight met Foxstar's gaze with a hint of defiance, and Shadowheart silently willed for her to keep quiet. To his relief, she just shifted her gaze down to her paws, as Blackflame sunk to the floor of the den like a moping kit.
"I want you three to do apprentice duties until further notice," Foxstar said after taking a deep breath to calm herself. "As for your apprentices, you may continue to be their mentors; only because they have suffered enough from your lack of being here. Now get out. I have had enough of seeing you two for the day. Blackflame, you will stay here. I have things to ask you."
Obeying silently, the two cats slunk out of the den tails low. The Clan was still gathered, their eyes both curious, and even sympathetic. Shadowheart raised his chin, not wanting the other cats to take pity on him. He made his choices, and even if they weren't the right ones, he wanted to face them with some dignity at least. Firelight did the same, meeting the gaze of any cat who dared meet it directly.
"Shadowheart!" Ravenpaw's excited yell startled him. The black she-cat's amber eyes were wide with astonishment. "You're finally back! Everyone was so worried!"
Touching his nose to her ear in greeting, he forced out a purr. "I'm sorry I worried you. We'll start up your training first thing tomorrow, alright? Maybe we can even bring Larkpaw and Sparrowpaw along too."
Eyes lighting up, Ravenpaw gave a little hop. "That sounds great! I bet I can catch more prey than them too!"
Firelight looked around. "Where is Sparrowpaw anyways?"
"Oh, she's out with Brownclaw hunting," Ravenpaw shrugged. "She'll be back soon I'm sure. They've been gone quite a while now."
"Who's her mentor? Me or Brownclaw?" Firelight muttered quietly enough that Ravenpaw didn't hear.
Shadowheart gently laid his tail on her shoulders in brief support. As he looked up at the camp entrance, the scent of blood wafted through the air. A lot of blood. Pelt spiking with horror, Pinefrost came through covered with blood. She was panting heavily and nearly collapsed in the snow as the ground underneath her died a dark red. Ravenpaw let out a shriek of horror, darting back as Pinefrost looked up at Shadowheart hollowed eyed.
Just behind her, still in the log tunnel, was the lifeless corpse of Sleetwhisker.