"What?" Bloodfrost exclaimed, "Is this true?" he said turning on Blackclaw.
He nodded, "yes."
"No, its wrong. It's against the warrior code," Bloodfrost turned on Goldenfrost, "this is your fault! You started all this!"
"Bloodfrost can you really believe that?" she sat down next to Blackclaw, "do you even know what happened the day before the gathering?"
Bloodfrost shook his head defeated.
"We don't even know," Blackclaw, murmured to him, "I'm sorry that you don't understand, but I will never stop seeing Goldenfrost."
Bloodfrost sat down, "What will you do if one of your clans find out?"
Before Goldenfrost could answer Blackclaw growled, "Then I will fight them all of them and find some where to live," he looked at Bloodfrost sorrow in his eyes, "even if I have to fight you."
Bloodfrost looked at the ground, "well you wont have to," he looked up, "you're my best friend I'll be behind you no matter what."
Blackclaw purred, to choked to speak. "Thank you Bloodfrost." Goldenfrost meowed, "So tomorrow at sunrise?" she asked Blackclaw.
"Sorry but I have to train my apprentice," Blackclaw shuffled his paws, "but I'll come in two nights near sunset."
"Okay." As they walked away from the cave, Bloodfrost walked farther back from them.
At the top of the gorge Goldenfrost twined her body around Blackclaw's and whispered something in his ear that Bloodfrost couldn't hear. Blackclaw watched her leave and then bounded back to camp with Bloodfrost at his side. Happy to be with his friend again, Blackclaw slowed down to hunt with Bloodfrost. At once forgetting the complications of him and Goldenfrost and being Shadoweye's kit.
When Bloodfrost and Blackclaw returned to camp, all eyes turned to watch the large black warrior leave the squirrel he caught at the fresh kill pile. The two new apprentices, Firepaw and Winterpaw, stared at Blackclaw a wondrous look in their eyes. Blackclaw cringed at the stares from the other cats. Hurriedly, he picked the squirrel back up and headed to the elder's den, his eyes scorched in shame. As he crept in through the ferns that hung over grassy area that the elders would lay when the sun would shine through the cracks in the hard rock surface he came nose to nose with Largefoot. "Um I brought a rabbit, Largefoot," Blackclaw dipped his head respectfully.
"Blackclaw, it's okay, it was almost my decision to let you into the clan," he walked back into the cave with Blackclaw trailing behind him. "When Stormheart brought you in, that was Stormstar's name before I had a choice to let you in or keep you out."
"Do you regret your decision?"
After a moment, Largefoot sighed, "At first yes, but now I'm glad of what I did. You are a strong and loyal warrior." Blackclaw dipped his head in thanks and left to find his apprentice.
"Stormstar?" Bloodfrost paced out side of Stormstar's den impatiently. His snow-white fur was on end. Bloodfrost was not known for a bad temper but now he was furious. How could the clan treat Blackclaw this way? Blackclaw had proven himself many times before! Other than the Goldenfrost thing he is completely loyal.
"Bloodfrost come in," the voice that came from his leaders den was that of Spottedflower. Worried that his leader was hurt Bloodfrost entered cautiously. Stormstar was sitting in his nest, Spottedflower at his side, Reedclaw at the other, and Firestorm sitting in front of him. Bloodfrost dipped his head in respect to his leader, deputy, and medicine cat.
"Ah Bloodfrost just the cat I was looking for," Stormstar meowed in greeting, "Oh and what's this? No food? What has happened to the manners in this clan?"
Caught by surprise and shock Bloodfrost stumbled on his words, "but, I, you…" Bloodfrost stammered trying to defend himself. He looked around and noticed Spottedflower holding back laughter and Reedclaw's eyes glowing with amusement.
"Bloodfrost, it's ok! Sit down," Stormstar motioned with his tail for Firestorm to come to his side. Bloodfrost sat not knowing what to say. "So I suppose you want to talk about Blackclaw."
"Well yes," Bloodfrost calmed down Stormstar was a fair and strong leader, "the clan is not treating him well, and he hasn't done anything wrong!" Bloodfrost felt his fur rise as Spottedflower scrutinized him as if she knew that he was keeping a dangerous secret.
"You are right of course," Stormstar meowed in agreement, "it is not Blackclaw's fault that he is the son of Shadoweye," Bloodfrost opened his mouth to say something but Stormstar was not done, "but I can not stop them from being suspicious. Sooner or later they will know that this is the same Blackclaw as always."
Bloodfrost's white head dropped accepting the truth, "Do you still want Blackclaw to mentor Firepaw?" he questioned Firestorm.
"If I were to change his mentor it would not be a good choice for a deputy," Firestorm replied.
Bloodfrost looked at Firestorm in confusion, "Oh congratulations," he tuned to Stormstar, "thank you," he growled through clenched teeth trying to keep back his temper.
Blackclaw stuck his head in the apprentice den. Winterpaw was lying next to her brother sharing tongues. "Firepaw it's time for training," he meowed gently.
Firepaw jumped to his feet, "Stay away from us you…you traitor!"
Blackclaw's fur stood on end he could feel a growl growing in his throat. "I am not a traitor," he growled menacingly, "I have not done anything to make you or any other cat think that I'm a traitor," he sighed, "but if you don't mind I need my apprentice."
Firepaw's mouth opened and then shut staring at something behind Blackclaw.
"Firepaw, is that any way to treat a warrior?" Firestorm's harsh voice made his son cringe in fear.
"No, but he is a traitor isn't he?" The apprentice's voice grew stronger, "well he is Shadoweye's son you can't say no to that, and besides I can smell FireClan on him."
Blackclaw's heart froze. He hadn't washed Goldenfrost's scent off of himself. "I went to the FireClan border to hunt," he lied quickly, "and I accidentally crossed over the border so I hid in their bushes whenever a patrol passed."
Firestorm nodded in understanding, "Firepaw, if I ever catch you calling Blackclaw a traitor again, I will personally punish you." Firestorm left, leaving Blackclaw and Firepaw together.
Firepaw looked up at Blackclaw, "I'm sorry, it's just that my emotions get to me."
"It's ok," Blackclaw sighed and looked at his apprentice, "every one is afraid or they hate me, well, most of them do."
Firepaw nodded, "I don't," the ginger red apprentice meowed firmly looking into his mentor's eyes, "can we go train now?"
Blackclaw laughed, "Race you to the gorge."
SnowClan cats were known for their speed and Blackclaw was the fastest of all of them. But Firepaw was fast too. Blackclaw looked behind to see just how far away his apprentice was from him. Blackclaw was shocked to see that his apprentice was flanking him. "We'll stop here," Blackclaw stopped and sat down with Firepaw at his side.
"What can you smell?"
Firepaw took in a deep breath, "FireClan, fresh mouse, SnowClan, and, well, you," Firepaw ducked as Blackclaw swung at his head playfully.
"Good job mouse brain, now can you smell where the mouse is?" But before Firepaw could answer a blood chilling yowl followed by shrieks of warriors fighting emitted through the gorge. "Firestorm!" Blackclaw meowed, "follow me and once we get there, hide! It will be good experience to see how others fight." Firepaw nodded and bounded after his mentor.