Chapter 25
Silverpaw bristled as the white tom got to his paws. His eyes glinted like ice in the weak light. They circled each other slowly, waiting for someone to make the first move. Silverpaw was acutely aware of Snowyowl watching her. His eyes trailed over her every movement and his body was tense. Silverpaw knew that he would fight Belugastar off of her if he was about to win. Silently she prayed he would withhold himself.
Belugastar charged forward on heavy paws. Eating too much fish, Silverpaw thought as she waited for him to get close. To her surprise he put on a burst of speed and rammed into her before she could move. Gasping for air and skidded across the clearing. The Frostclan cats gasped.
Belugastar didn't waste a second. Within moments he was on her. His long claws driving into her back and raking down the side. Silverpaw struggled against him but he was too heavy for her to move.
Dig inside yourself Silverpaw. Find your inner strength, the voice whispered. Silverpaw took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Blacking out the pain and the watching eyes she found a reserve of energy. With a mighty heave she flung Belugastar off of her.
"H-how did you?" Belugastar stammered. He shook his head in wonder. While he was shaking his head Silverpaw pounced.
Digging her claws into his shoulders she held on. Unsheathing her back claws she raked them down his back. She bit his ear for extra pain. The leader screeched and leapt to his paws. He ran towards the White Tree and flung himself upon it.
Silverpaw was crushed in between the powerful tom and the tree. She let go of him and began to flail desperately. Belugastar pushed harder. Silverpaw found it hard to breath as he crushed her lungs. Dots swam in front of her. She could vaguely see Snowyowl. His blue eyes wide with rage. He was staring at Belugastar with such hatred that if looks could kill, Belugastar would have lost a life.
Focusing on his face Silverpaw put her paws against Belugastar's black. She gave a great push and he moved forward a little. Silverpaw could breath now. She took a deep breath and shoved him forward. Belugastar tumbled forward and Silverpaw fell from the tree. Without hesitation she attacked.
Gripping his scruff with her teeth she raked his back with her claws. Clumps of white fur made a pile behind her. Then pieces of flesh and blood joined the pile. Still Silverpaw raked. All that seemed to matter was that she kept scratching him. She could hear her clanmates but she couldn't make out their words.
Then soft fur brushed against her. She stopped. Snowyowl was standing next to her. His blue eyes were no longer full of rage. They were unreadable. He looked down. Silverpaw followed his gaze. She was standing in a pool of blood, over a gruesome looking body. It was fleshy and destroyed. It took Silverpaw a moment to realize it was Belugastar.
She gasped and back away. Her eyes snapped to her legs when they moved. They were coated in blood. So was her chest. Her whole body was coated in Belugastar's blood. Feeling sick she crouched down. Closing her eyes so she wouldn't have to see herself she listened to the clans.
"She killed Belugastar," some cat yowled.
"Murderer," another growled.
"Belugastar was going to murderer her. It was a defensive act," Silverpaw recognized Duskpaw's voice. "Anyways she has won so take your leader and leave our camp," she hissed.
"We don't take orders from apprentices," some cat growled.
"Then take it from me," Maplestar mewed. "Take Belugastar and leave," she demanded. Silverpaw heard the Oceanclan warriors muttering and then the sound of the walking to Belugastar's body. She opened her eyes to slits and watched them carry him out of the camp.
"Why don't you go wash off," Snowyowl suggested. Silverpaw nodded and shakily got to her paws. Snowyowl rushed over to support her. "I'll come with you," he mewed. Silverpaw smiled at him and walked out of camp.
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Duskpaw watched her sister leave with Snowyowl. She could hardly make out Silverpaw's silver pelt under the blood. She shivered at the thought of her sister tearing Belugastar apart. Shaking her head she turned back to the camp.
Her heart froze when she saw Twigshade standing over a body. The sun was just rising and in the early dawn light Duskpaw could just make out a cream pelt. Oh Starclan no, she thought as she rushed forward. Twigshade raised his head slowly as she approached.
"I'm so sorry," he mewed. Duskpaw felt tears rising in her eyes as she took in her mother's body. She was covered in multiple gashes and wounds. She had died from a loss of blood. Duskpaw buried her nose her fur as her tears started to pour. Twigshade bowed his head sadly.
Maplestar lay next to her and pushed her nose into her sister's fur. Her eyes were closed but Duskpaw could see the silver of tears peeking out from under her eyelids. Then her vision was obscured by her own tears and she turned back to Creamfoot.
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Silverpaw walked back into camp slowly. She was still shaky but she felt better now that she wasn't covered in blood. Snowyowl walked next to her. They stopped when they saw their clanmates gathered around a body. They turned to look at her.
"Silverpaw," Duskpaw mewed. She was sitting in the middle of the crowd. Silverpaw hurried towards her. When she got close Duskpaw stepped to the side. Laying behind her was Creamfoot's body. Silverpaw froze.
"No," she breathed. Tears fell from her eyes as she ran to her mother's side. Sobs shook her body as she pressed her nose into her fur. Duskpaw joined her. Maplestar was already there. Snowyowl lay next to her. The rest of the clan gathered round.
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After a while Maplestar left her sister's body. She walked to the White Tree and leapt onto her branch. "Let all cats old enough to hunt for themselves gather beneath the White Tree for a clan meeting," she called. The clan turned to face her. "Tonight one of our apprentices saved the clan for the Oceanclan take over. I think she deserves her warrior name," she mewed. The clan nodded their agreement.
"Silverpaw please come forward," Maplestar mewed. Silverpaw rose to her paws and walked underneath the tree. She didn't feel much like a warrior as she sat beneath the meeting tree. Maplestar looked at her. "I, Maplestar, leader of Frostclan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has saved her clan from a great threat and is ready to become a full member of Frostclan," Maplestar mewed. She jumped from the tree to stand next to Silverpaw. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your life?" she asked.
"I do," Silverpaw mewed. Despite the situation her voice rang strong and clear through the camp.
"Then from now on you shall be known as Silvertear. Starclan honors your strength and fighting skills and we welcome you as a full member of Frostclan," Maplestar finished. She rested her muzzle in between her ears. Silvertear licked her shoulder. She stepped back and began to walk back to Creamfoot's body.
"Silvertear, Silvertear," Duskpaw called. The clan joined her. "Silvertear, Silvertear." Silvertear ignored them and returned to mourning for her mother. The clan grew silent as she ignored them. Closing her eyes she droned out.
"I like your new name Silvertear," Snowyowl whispered, bringing Silvertear back from her thoughts.
"Thanks Snowyowl," she sighed. Snowyowl moved closer to her.
"I like you too Silvertear," he mewed. Silvertear turned to him. His blue eyes were watching her carefully. She recognized fear in his eyes. Fear that she'd reject him. Silvertear felt her heart warm.
"I like you too Snowyowl," she mewed. She entwined her tail with his and snuggled against him. Together the two cats mourned for Creamfoot.
Eyes watched them from across the clearing. Angry eyes. Envious eyes. Revengeful eyes.
A/N:
Awww. I just love Snowyowl and Silvertear. They're such a cute couple don't you think? Oh what do you think of her new name? I like it. It fits her life. Well make sure to review and keep reading. I'm leaving for the lake tomorrow so I probably won't get another chapter up but I don't know when we're leaving so I might have time to write another one. I seriously doubt it though so don't count on it. Well thanks for having read this for so long. It means a lot.