Okay! So- I know the last chapter was a major cliff hanger.
But I refuse to apologize. It was too fun writing that. So instead, I will make a chapter that surely can make up for it.
Announcements:
Don't forget to read a Spark In the Dark by me and Pondfrost!
Riddle answer: A candle and a match. The third son lit the candle, and the light filled the room.
NTC winner: Dappledleaf!
Don't forget our goal of 200 reviews! We are at these stats currently:
Faves: 21
Follows: 24
Reviews: 167
We only need 37 more! Advertise this story to your pals, chums, amigas, amigos, friends, etc. The more readers, the more reviews/faves/follows! Thank you for being so dedicated to my story!
Ashheart of ThunderClan~ ;)
Silverstar of LightningClan~ Please reference previous chapters. And thanks!
Lovmark~ That makes sense. Hi Emoji! And another new username, I see. I got a new avatar myself. And we'll see...
Pondfrost~ Yes, yes, yes, yes, Aster is like extreme psychopath bunny. But he has a story.
And NOW- *whisks away magical glittering broadway curtain*
THE SHOW BEGINS!
Chapter 17
Nightpaw triumphantly puffed out her chest as her clanmates started to murmur. Cats were looking back and forth between Aster and Nightpaw, weighing the options. Finally, Squirrelstar spoke up.
"What is your proof?" Squirrelstar asked Nightpaw, climbing onto Highledge and narrowing her eyes slightly. Nightpaw suddenly felt a wave of nausea. How could she prove it? Suddenly, she had a thought.
"He wants to lure you to a small clearing, and kill you. I heard him myself," the clan began to whisper as Nightpaw started. She flattened her ears. Let them whisper, she thought. "The white fur on Aster's claw was his own fur. He planted it there to make Duskfall seem guilty so that he would have someone to accuse of killing Squirrelstar after he had done the job. After Squirrelstar is dead and the blame is on someone else, he has the power to lead ThunderClan, as he is deputy, which he obtained by killing Lionblaze." Nightpaw finished, glaring at Daylight.
"And Daylight helped him with all of these plans," she hissed loudly. The clan broke into hushed meows of worry. Nightpaw wasn't a respected clanmate, but all of her evidence had sense. Squirrelstar rose her tail for silence, and the clan quieted.
"This still isn't enough proof that my deputy wishes to murder me," Squirrelstar quietly meowed. "I'm sorry Nightpaw, but this constant suspicion can't continue. Blaming clanmates will not get you anywhere." Nightpaw frowned.
"I will ask Aster what he thinks of this story," Squirrelstar's eyes glazed over slightly as they met Aster's. "Aster. Do you agree?"
"No," he meowed, tail drooping. "Why would I murder my leader?" Squirrelstar curtly nodded.
"The evidence shows that Aster is most likely innocent," she sighed.
"What are you doing?!" Nightpaw hissed, glaring at Daylight. Daylight gazed at Nightpaw with an expression of pure disgust.
"Nothing, sister," Daylight murmured, just loud enough for Nightpaw to hear. Nightpaw screeched in anger.
"You will never be my sister!" Nightpaw yowled, running full speed at Daylight. She dragged her claws down Daylight's pelt, drawing blood. Daylight howled in agony, before retaliating with quick, forceful swipes. They were a bit sloppy, but still hit Nightpaw's pelt.
"Enough!" Squirrelstar yowled, causing the two she-cats to break apart. "I will never tolerate fighting between my clanmates. Nightpaw, enough is enough." Squirrelstar used her tail to gesture that Nightpaw was to step forwards. Nightpaw felt blood rushing in her ears as she stepped forwards, her heart nearly pounding out of her ribcage.
"You have fought three clan mates and falsely accused your deputy of treason," Squirrelstar announced. "I, Squirrelstar of ThunderClan, hereby banish you from ever treading upon ThunderClan territory. Should you come into our land, our warriors will treat you as we would treat any trespasser. You will leave come sundown." Nightpaw gasped in shock, along with almost everyone in the clan. Rockpaw smiled, relieved that Nightpaw would be leaving. Daylight simply twitched her tail. Aster gazed down upon Nightpaw as if she were a worth nothing.
"This clan meeting is over," Squirrelstar sighed, leaping down from Highledge. A few warriors left on patrols, but many stayed to gossip with clan mates. Nightpaw slowly walked over to the fresh kill pile, passing a group of apprentices, Blackpaw, Rockpaw, and Lightpaw. Blackpaw's eyes widened as she backed away, while Lightpaw simply ignored Nightpaw. Rockpaw was unable to contain his happiness. He smirked, pretending to speak to Lightpaw.
"Wow, it's about time that Nightpaw was banished," he taunted. "She is a nuisance!" Lightpaw's ears flattened to her head, but she nodded slowly.
"I guess," Lightpaw mewed quietly. Nightpaw nearly hissed, but instead she grabbed a mouse and began to eat, taking careful bites. Duskfall ran up to her, his eyes wide and uncertain.
"I can't believe that she is banishing you," he murmured, sitting down across from her.
"Me either," Nightpaw groaned, the full force of what had happened flowing through her. She buried her face in his fur. "I will miss you so much." Duskfall's tail twitched happily, and he laughed. Nightpaw sat up and glared at him.
"What's so funny?!" she demanded. Duskfall just shook his head.
"Im not leaving you," he meowed firmly. "I will go with you." Nightpaw gasped.
"But our clanmates will hate you!" Nightpaw hissed. Duskfall shrugged.
"I'll be leaving anyways," he stated. Nightpaw smiled, happy for the first time that day.
"Thank you so much," she meowed gratefully. Suddenly, an amused voice wafted around her.
"Leaving without me?" Silvertail laughed, stepping next to Nightpaw. Nightpaw smiled at her old friend.
"You're coming?" she asked in disbelief. "Why?"
"Did you honestly think that you two could go on an adventure without me?" she laughed. "I am your best friend; the real question is 'Why wouldn't I?'" Nightpaw laughed, happy that her friends were back together, almost like before.
"Get over here," Nightpaw faintly heard Silvertail hiss, her head looking in the direction of the nursery. Nightpaw almost yowled in shock. Raincloud crept out from behind the nursery and hesitantly walked over to Silvertail.
"What are you coming for?!" Nightpaw hissed, her ears flattening against her head. Raincloud sighed,
"Sorry I took advantage of you when we were apprentices," he muttered. "But I have to come with you anyways. Silvertail is expecting my kits!" Raincloud's chest suddenly puffed out in pride. Nightpaw purred.
"Congratulations," Nightpaw smiled, her anger ebbing away. Silvertail was a good judge of character, and if Raincloud was her mate, then Nightpaw could trust him.
Daylight watched Nightpaw and her annoying friends gather around a puny mouse. She looked around, but no cat dared approach her out of fear. Daylight felt a small pang in her chest, realizing that Nightpaw had something that she didn't.
Friends.
Daylight resented this fact, but was resigned to accept it. She didn't need friends. After she and Aster took ThunderClan, there was no stopping them from taking the rest of the clans with force. Daylight felt excited about this, but as Aster approached her, she began to feel doubts. Was this whole plan ever going to work? And what benefits would be for her? Daylight shook out her fur and walked to Aster.
"It's dusk," Aster meowed loudly, so that the entire clan could hear. "Nightpaw, you must leave now." Nightpaw walked to the entrance of the thorn tunnel, taking a deep breath. Silvertail stood to her left and Duskfall to her right. Raincloud stood next to Silvertail.
"Ready?" Nightpaw asked her friends. Raincloud nodded with a small grin.
"Always ready," Silvertail smiled, a glimmer of defiance in her blue eyes.
"Never felt better," Duskfall laughed. With only a moment's hesitation, Nightpaw launched herself into the thorn tunnel, her friends following close behind. Daylight was grinning on the outside, but inside she was having strange feelings that left a hollowness in her chest.
"This is only the first step," Daylight jumped as Aster walked up to her. "Soon every cat with traitorous thoughts will be punished, just as soon as I deal with our leader." Aster gestured over to Squirrelstar, who was grooming herself beneath Highledge.
"Hide in a bush nearby the clearing," Aster whispered to Daylight. "I'll ask her to go 'hunting' with me." Daylight's eyes widened, but she nodded. She walked slowly out of the camp entrance, her tail hanging as low as she felt.
HAHAHA! Cliff hanger! I am so evil! ;)
What did you think? I hope this was as good as I hoped it sounded...
Anyways, I have something special for the Deviantart users out there. I was sitting down at my computer, wondering what a fun contest for the readers would be...when it hit me.
Literally. A pencil hit me, which was thrown by a sibling- but that is hardly the point (get it?! POINT!). I had a great idea that Deviantart users could create a scene from Day and Night, the winner of the best scene representation getting a one shot and a follow on their story. So, here is how to enter:
One Easy Step: Review on this chapter with this form:
Deviantart username:
The Scene You Chose:
The One Shot You Want:
The Story You Want Me To Follow:
Date Finished:
Thanks! Good luck! :)
NTC: I have a fear of fire, as it killed my siblings and father. I am WindClan, but I am extremely slow and have short legs. I am quite timid. My fur is a glossy brown tabby, but my tail is white. My eyes are green.
GTC: My pelt is as white as snow,
My paws quite the opposite,
My life long and full of larger ones than me.
Hidden in the shadow of the others.
See ya!
~Midnight