Chapter Thirteen

Here's an extra chapter cause I haven't updated forever

DISCLAIMER

If I owned warriors, Feathertail would've survived the fall, the three would belong to Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, and Spottedleaf and Firestar would never have loved each other

"Quick! Turn faster, Lighteningclaw!" Tigerstar sat commandingly on a rock, watching Lighteningclaw do battle training with Hawkfrost. Lighteningclaw felt energy surge through his veins as he leaped up and landed on Hawkfrost's shoulders. Hawkfrost swiped at him, claws sheathed, and rolled away. Thinking fast, Lighteningclaw rolled onto his stomach and slithered forward, quick as a snake. Hawkfrost stood nearby, his tail twitching, his ice blue eyes unnervingly analysing Lighteningclaw's every move. Lighteningclaw leaped into the air, spun around and landed behind Hawkfrost on his hind legs. He battered Hawkfrost's flank, and Hawkfrost spun around on his hind legs. Flailing their forepaws madly, the two locked in battle.

"Enough!" Tigerstar's powerful mew sounded behind them. Lighteningclaw felt his tail-tip rest on his shoulder. "That was very good, Lighteningclaw." He felt pride surge through him. He looked upward; he knew that the light shed unto the clearing was not from the moon or stars, but from the glowing fungi around them.

"Lighteningclaw, do you want to go hunting?" He recognised the cheery mew of Silverdapple and blinked his eyes open to see her tortoiseshell figure. The energy that had coursed through his veins was gone, and he felt his limbs numb with exhaustion.

"Ok, Silverdapple." She waved her tail at him and bounded out of the den. Lighteningclaw followed more slowly, feeling his paws aching and he found himself longing for his mossy nest. He felt like he hadn't slept a wink. It was one of the lousy side affects of training with Tigerstar. Nevertheless, the clan had to be fed so he went into the forest. He buried a mouse beneath a tree and spotted Silverdapple trotting toward him with a vole and a shrew.

"What's wrong, Lighteningclaw? Usually, you would be boasting about how much prey you had by now." She indicated toward his measly mouse. He felt anger surge through him as he saw amusement light her eyes. The truth of her words stung a little. But what business was it hers? She had no idea. So hunting wasn't his strong point. She would shiver in her stupid tortoiseshell coat if she saw some of the moves he could do.

"Nothing," he snapped, "Maybe I would find more if you weren't scaring all the prey away!" Silverdapple looked at him, her eyes defiant, and a light of surprise in them.

"You've been so grumpy lately, Lighteningclaw. The Lighteningclaw I know wouldn't be so impatient. He's arrogant, yes, but he is not aggressive. Something's changed Lighteningclaw." She stared at him, trying to read his expression. This only made him angrier. Why did she have to be so nosy? Rage pounded through him. Stupid Silverdapple.

"Yeah, I've changed alright. I'm a lot more powerful than you. I've matured more than you. It's you who hasn't changed. You're still as stupid as you were when you were a kit." His growls came out in deep, menacing tones. Silverdapple's face changed.

"No need to bite my head off! I was just being concerned for my brother! But I guess it was pointless, because he isn't here!" She yowled, leaping at her brother. He swatted her aside easily.

"You couldn't attack me even if you had your precious Foxleap here to protect you." He snarled. Lighteningclaw broke off, his tail twitching in surprise. Silverdapple's eyes filled with a cold fury, and hurt. Her green eyes narrowed menacingly. He had gone too far, and the words he spoke to his sister were not his own. It felt as though a dark force were using him.

"Leave Foxleap out of this. Let me just say this though, Lighteningclaw. At least with him, I know I'm safe. I can't say the same anymore when I'm with you." She her voice was icy, and distant. He shivered. She had only used that tone of voice once before, when another cat had attempted to kill him. She stalked off, carrying her vole and shrew to camp. Lighteningclaw just stared after her with narrowed eyes. He spun around, confusion and exhaustion spinning in the corners of his mind. He took his mouse and walked back slowly. He caught scent of a bird. Robin! Silverdapple's favourite. He slowly stalked it, and killed it. He brought it back to camp to look for his sister. He wanted to apologise, so when he spotted her, he walked over, the robin swinging in his jaws. She veered away in the other direction when she saw him, turning her head pointedly. Hurt, he stalked to Blossomfall to show Silverdapple he didn't care. He crouched down and muttered 'hi' to the dappled she-cat.

"Hi, Lighteningclaw." Her cheerful mew made him forget about his fight with his sister. He crouched and ate the robin.

"Hi, Blossomfall."

"I'm going to watch Briarlight's session with Peachpaw. Apparently, he's a really fast learner and has already mastered the hunting crouch. Do you want to come watch with me?" Lighteningclaw flicked her ear with his tail and was about to reply when Firestar joined him suddenly.

"Hello, Blossomfall, Lighteningclaw," Blossomfall and Lighteningclaw dipped their heads. "Lighteningclaw, you're coming on patrol with me. Spiderleg was meant to lead it, but he had a bellyache." Lighteningclaw glanced at Blossomfall, and she shrugged, so he nodded, stretching.

"Of course Firestar." He felt a flutter of unreasonable hatred for the leader, suddenly. He fought the urge to unsheathe his claws. He wanted to claw that arrogant kittypet's face. What right had he to order him around? He wanted to… he wanted to… Fear pulsed through him. For moment, he had wanted to, to, to kill Firestar, for absolutely no reason. What was wrong with him? First he attacks Silverdapple for being concerned, and now he wants to kill his leader for something that should have been an honour? Firestar had padded away, already, and Lighteningclaw felt relief that the leader hadn't seemed to notice his moment of hatred. Why had he felt like that?

On such a good day, it seemed almost possible to let your worries be carried away in the breeze, but dark thoughts lay in the back of Lighteningclaw's mind, like a heavy rock lying in a dark pit.

"This is going to be my last patrol!" Cinderheart announced excitedly. Lighteningclaw tipped his head to the side.

"Why?" Firestar and Sandstorm were looking at him, amused.

"I'm having kits!" Cinderheart blurted out.

"Congratulations, Cinderheart." Lighteningclaw and Firestar mewed happily.

"You're going to make a wonderful mother." Sandstorm purred at the young she-cat.

"Who's the father? Have you told him yet?" Lighteningclaw could tell Cinderheart looked a bit overwhelmed at his flurry of questions and a flicker of happiness – and fear? – went through her eyes. She must be worried for when her kits come.

"Yes, he knows." Lighteningclaw slumped back. That wasn't a full answer. But then, Squirrelflight's voice rung through his mind. A queen doesn't have to say who the father of her kits is if she doesn't want to.

Suddenly, Firestar stopped dead.

Then the scent stopped Lighteningclaw in his tracks.

A dark shape loomed over them.

It was the badger that killed Ashfur! Yowling in fury, Lighteningclaw leaped at it, the leader at his side. At the corner of his eyes, he spotted Sandstorm ushering Cinderheart into a shelter of thorns and leap back out to join the fight. They chased it through the undergrowth. Lighteningclaw tried to follow, but a thorny tendril snaked around his ankle and he slipped.

"Is the badger gone?" Cinderheart's worried mew sounded from behind him. He nodded numbly, though his mind was alive with power. He could hear Tigerstar saying Good job, and could almost see Hawkfrost's proud blue eyes.