Chapter 27

"Little Kit Lost."

8/18/16 - 8/19/16

It was three days and Stealthfire was getting the hang of being Tigerpaw's mentor. His hunting needs more work, but he's still learning. His brother Goldpaw caught his first prey on his first try, and the praise was beginning to get to his head.

She even caught him trying to start a fight with Darkkit again yesterday.

I seriously need to talk to Fernfoot about him.

Stealthfire woke up early morning to check on her kits. Stoatfrost came out of the nursery with Sweetflower quickly padding straight to Thornstar.

"Have you seen Darkkit?"

"Isn't he in the nursery?"

Stoatfrost shook his head. "I just check Seabreeze's nest. He's not there, and Sweetflower was sleeping the whole day so she's going to talk to Thornstar."

Stealthfire was quickly approached by Thornstar.

"Sweetflower told me that Darkkit is missing. Do you know where he hides?"

"Behind the nursery, elder's den, anywhere he could stay out of sight."

Thornstar, Eaglecry and Stoatfrost checked Darkkit's favorite hiding spots, but he didn't turn up. Stealthfire began to panic. Where did he go?

"He must've left the camp." Eaglecry reported to Thornstar.

"He can't get an farther if we leave now and find him."

"Then go, take Sweetflower with you."

Stealthfire watches the two capable she cats leave as Stoatfrost pressed himself against her.

"They'll find him."


Eaglecry follows Darkkit's scent trail through the moorland edge and near the tree bridge. Eaglecry sees a black, lean shape of Crowstar.

"Greetings, Eaglecry." He said smoothly. "Are you looking for someone?"

Eaglecry narrowed her eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"Now that's just rude," Crowstar said. "I was hoping we'd exchange information about certain things. Like missing kits."

Sweetflower notices a small, black shape underneath Crowstar's paw.

"He's got Darkkit!"

"How perceptive of you." Crowstar said mockingly. "I've just waited for this runt to leave the camp, and 'convinced' him to come with me for the time being."

"As if you couldn't get any lower." Sweetflower snapped. Eaglecry flicks her tail.

"Let Darkkit go."

"Under one condition: bring Stealthfire to me. No one can go with her and she must come alone."

Eaglecry tensed herself.

"What for?"

Crowstar sneered.

"That little rogue needs to answer for humiliating ShadowClan. If she doesn't agree to my terms, I'll end this runt's life immediately."


All of ThunderClan was outraged by Crowstar's challenge, but Stealthfire was more infuriated.

He's pissed off with me, but he goes after my kit? He is so done!

"Thornstar." She said. "I'm getting my kit back."

"No you're not." Thornstar argued. "This could very well be a trap. Or he might have already killed Darkkit after Eaglecry and Sweetflower left."

"Like that big headed fool would miss a chance to see me die." Stealthfire spat.

"Stealthfire," Stoatfrost said. "Think about what you're saying. Crowstar's a vicious fighter, he could kill you!"

"And he could kill Darkkit! I have to get him back."

Thornstar was beginning to see that Stealthfire wasn't going to change her mind.

"Alright then. You can go."

"What?!" Stoatfrost exclaimed. Stealthfire dips her head to Thornstar and looks at Stoatfrost.

"Listen, I want you to trust me. I'll bring back Darkkit in one piece."

The white tom flattened his ears.

"... Okay, I trust you."


As promised, Stealthfire leaves by herself and goes to the tree bridge.

Coincidentally the rain fell down, beating against her frame.

I swear to StarClan if he laid a scratch on him…

Stealthfire stops in the middle of the bridge and sees Crowstar three fox lengths away from her, running his paw on Darkkit's head.

"So glad you could join us, Stealthfire." He said. "We were just talking about you."

Thunder sounds erupted in the sky as the stream below the bridge began to crash against the tree.

"Leave Darkkit alone and face me." She growled, lashing her tail. Crowstar chuckles.

"No, no. I was just going to teach Darkkit how to swim." Crowstar uses his back paw on Darkkit and pushed him over the edge. The black kitten quickly grips his claws on the bark and tries to pull himself up.

"Mom!" He cried.

Stealthfire immediately lunges forward and was hit by Crowstar's paw, and claws began scoring her flank before she used her whole body to flip Crowstar over her.

Stealthfire pulls Darkkit up before Crowstar knocks her down.

Stealthfire's head hung over the edge as Crowstar pinned her down and uses his free paw on her throat.

"Say your prayers, rogue."

"No!" Darkkit bites Crowstar's hind leg and head buts him. "Get away from her you scum!"

Stealthfire uses this distraction to bite his muzzle. Crowstar jerks back as blood sprayed, and a scar was left on his nose, and Stealthfire knocks him down and makes him lose balance and fall off the edge.

Crowstar grips on the edge just as Darkkit did. Stealthfire places her paw on his, and froze. Would she really take another life? Lionstar's was easy, he had to be stopped, but Crowstar…

No! He tried to kill Darkkit!

Crowstar suddenly lunged for her throat, and she sank her claws into his paws and flung him off the bridge. The ShadowClan leader fell into the crashing wave currents, his black paw disappears from sight as the current pulled him under.

Stealthfire stared at the stream with stiff cold fear, despite the thunder roaring in the sky. She feels Darkkit's tail brush her leg and looks at him.

Darkkit's blue and amber eyes blinked at her. Stealthfire presses her nose on his head.

"Let's go home."

"... What about that cat?"

Stealthfire shook her head. "He won't bother us anymore."

Super short, I know. But I think after this or the next chapter will be the Epilogue, and then it's off to Book 2!

Reviews and constructive criticism is appreciated, but flames will be doubled with Hydro Pump by my Totodile, Snap. ~ Kyubi