I padded into Leopardclan's camp as the sun began to rise. Killing Storm was talking to Crystal Sky with his head held high. Crystal Sky had her eyes narrowed as she listened. I growled and padded off to the nursery. Rising Star was sprawled out on her nest while Young Heart and Dappled Fish examined her belly. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" Rising Star asked. Dappled Fish looked irritated and she pawed the ground while Young Heart looked at Rising Star calmly.
"I can assure you, Rising Star. Everything is alright. Even if there is something wrong, I can't do anything about it until the kits are born." Young Heart meowed. I walked over to Rising Star.
"Don't listen to Killing Storm." I murmured. Rising Star looked at me.
"But he predicted Light Eyes' death!" she protested. I sighed and looked at her.
"Really?" I muttered.
"Before Light Eyes died, Killing Storm said that a brave warrior's death shall come upon the clan. And look what happened!" Rising Star snapped. I growled in annoyance. Oh, come on! You gotta be kidding me! Killing Storm didn't predict anything! He's the reason we even had a death! Why won't anyone listen?! I realized there was no use talking sense into Rising Star as I saw determination and stubbornness in her gaze. I just have to make them see why Killing Storm can't be trusted. I padded out of the nursery and looked around. Then I saw Thunder Light with Silver Frost. The two leopards were sharing tongues with loud purrs rumbling deep in their throats. I smiled at the two leopards. Then I saw Killing Storm staring at them as well. His eyes were narrowed in thought and he began to stand up. I ran over to him before he could take a step.
"Don't you even think about ruining things for those two!" I growled. Killing Storm didn't flinch but instead he scoffed and licked his giant paw.
"Why would I want to ruin things for two cats who are obviously meant to be together?" he snickered. "I was just going to go see how Rising Star is with the kits." I glared at him.
"You won't go near anyone." I snapped. Killing Storm chuckled and poked my nose with a long, sharp claw.
"Who's gonna stop me, little leopard? I already caused your father to get sent into exile. And you know what? You did nothing to stop it." he sneered. My expression dropped as I realized he was right. I shook my head and stepped up to him.
"Tigerclaw made his choice. You just happened to help him decide." I spat. Then I shoved him causing him to stumble back onto his haunches. I sat next to him with my head held high. "Now that you decided to kill Light Eyes, you won't go near another cat. I don't care even if you just want to say hello. You're going to stay in this spot with me guarding you." I declared. Killing Storm scoffed and covered his mouth to hold in his laugh.
"Guarding me? Are you kidding? You can barely fight off a mouse!" he snickered. Then he burst out laughing. I growled and flattened my ears in annoyance. "Get it? You got attacked by the mouse?" Killing Storm breathed. I glared at him and he looked at me. "No? Oh, well tough crowd."
"Shut up!" I snapped. Killing Storm ignored me.
"But seriously. How are you gonna guard a big tiger like me? I can move you without breaking a sweat!" he chuckled. I rolled my eyes as he nudged my shoulder with his paw. "See? You're already swaying on your feet and I'm barely touching-" he broke off with a yowl as I snatched his paw into my teeth. Killing Storm yanked his paw out of my mouth and nuzzled it. "Not bad." he snickered. I growled and dug my claws into the earth.
"If you don't be quiet…" I growled through gritted teeth.
"What are you gonna do? Call your little mouse attacker? Aren't you afraid he'll attack you again?" Killing Storm chuckled. I bared my teeth as anger and annoyance took control and I swiped his nose with unsheathed claws. Blood pooled around Killing Storm's wound and he slightly winced. "Why you little-" he began to growl but pawsteps came towards us.
"What's going on?" a voice asked. I looked over to see Flying Eagle. Killing Storm began to whimper and rubbed his nose.
"I was just sitting down and grooming my fur while Storm Dream came over and swatted my nose." he whimpered. I gaped at him and Flying Eagle looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"What has gotten into you lately, Storm Dream? Instead of causing trouble, go out and hunt! The clan is still recovering from the fire. We don't need you clawing everyone's nose off." he scolded.
"But I-"
"Go." Flying Eagle ordered. I growled under my breath and stomped away. I pricked my ears as Flying Eagle turned to Killing Storm. "I'm sorry about her. She usually isn't like that." he meowed. I clamped my teeth together tightly in anger. I'm not a kit! I don't need anyone apologizing for me! I padded out the camp and made my way to the river. The water swirled as fish dove through the water causing whirlpools to form. I sighed and sniffed the air. Then I felt something tackle me to the ground. I tumbled over in the dirt with a grunt and turned to face my attacker.
"Look what you did to my nose!" he snarled. I spat at Killing Storm and leapt at him.
"I'll do a lot worse to your throat if you don't leave the clans alone!" I hissed. We tackled each other in the dirt with our claws deep in each other's fur. Killing Storm smacked my head with his huge paws causing me to go dizzy. I shook my head and heaved him off of me. Killing Storm landed in the water and I leapt on him before he could move. I held his head down under the water as he struggled for air.
"Storm Dream?" a voice asked. I looked behind me to see a cub. I realized he was Freeze Heart.
"Oh hey, Freeze Heart!" I said with a smile as I struggled to hold Killing Storm down under the water. Freeze Heart looked a little scared as he saw Killing Storm's flailing paws in the water.
"What are you doing?" he asked. I pawed Killing Storm's nose as he smacked my neck.
"Just playing with the fish!" I chuckled cheerfully, my voice wavering as Killing Storm began to buck around.
"Killing Storm's not a fish…" Freeze Heart pointed out.
"Oh! We're just playing a game! See, he's the baby fish and I'm the mama fish." I explained. Then I looked down at Killing Storm. "Aw! Does the baby fish like taking his bath?" I gushed, shaking him around in the water. Then Thunder Light padded out from the bushes.
"Storm Dream… what are you doing?" he asked. Freeze Heart looked at him cheerfully.
"They're playing a game! See? She's giving him a bath!" he squeaked. Killing Storm's voice bubbled the water and his voice was muffled. Thunder Light raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, really?" he asked. I smiled innocently while Freeze Heart nodded excitedly. Thunder Light scoffed and padded over to me. "Let him go."
"But he's having fun! Aren't you Killing Storm?" I gushed. His response was his paw slapping my head. The force sent me to fall off and I grunted. Killing Storm jumped to his paws and gasped in air.
"She tried to kill me!" he spat, water dripping from his face. Thunder Light looked at me with a look. I smiled nervously.
"Oops! I got carried away!" I giggled. Thunder Light scoffed and helped Killing Storm to his paws.
"You know Crystal Sky won't approve of you doing this." he chuckled. I rolled my eyes as Killing Storm glared at me with smug. Freeze Heart looked confused.
"So were you giving him a bath or drowning him?" he asked uncertainly. I flicked my ear.
"Bath. I guess he got stuck under the water somehow. No need to worry." I mewed.
"Oh! Ok!" Freeze Heart exclaimed. Then he padded back to camp. Thunder Light shook his head.
"Why was he out here?" Thunder Light asked. I shrugged.
"I was too busy drow- I mean, bathing Killing Storm to notice." I said. Thunder Light scoffed while Killing Storm growled. We both shared a glare. Oh don't worry you mangy tom. We're just getting started.