Chapter 29

Darkshadow was running.

The forest blurred around him as he scrambled over moss-covered stones and soared over the tiny stream that carved through RiverClan's ancient territory, the heavy rain making his journey much harder than it should have been. Heavy paws thundered from behind him and Darkshadow heard someone stumble into the stream, unable to control the speed that the black warrior was forcing them to run. Darkshadow didn't care though for he had only one thought in his mind: Lakesky.

Darkshadow raced towards JayClan's camp, the sounds of battle reaching his ears. He jumped on top of the treebridge, his claws scraping against the ancient bark in order to balance speed and grace. He waved his tail around to steady himself, but as a painful yowl echoed amongst the trees and rippled across the lake, Darkshadow found himself slipping into the numb water around him, lightning flashing from above as his head went under. Water flowed into his mouth and Darkshadow let out a loud yowl, his claws scraping against the water before everything faded to darkness.

"Darkshadow!"

Darkshadow's black eyes flew open as he scrambled to his paws, gasping for air before he realized he was safe in the warriors' den. The bush that he and the others called home was leaking and Darkshadow could hear the rain outside, heavily falling against the ground.

It was just a dream, Darkshadow thought to himself, but he couldn't shake the memory of the panic that had gripped his heart nor the feel of the water as it drowned him in the lake. It was only a dream.

Darkshadow didn't even realize he was shaking until Lakesky rested a tail on his shoulder, "Are you alright, Darkshadow? You're shaking like a leaf. Should I fetch Talonclaw?"

Darkshadow shook his head and whispered, his throat sore as though he really had drowned, "Just a bad dream."

"We figured that out," Reedtail muttered from his corner in the warriors' den, "You were screaming loud enough."

Lakesky shot her father a glare before meowing gently, "You sure you don't need to see Talonclaw?"

Darkshadow nodded and was about to add something when Voleheart's voice joined the conversation, "No need to treat him like a kit, Lakesky. My former apprentice is strong enough to face a nightmare." Voleheart got to his paws and shook his pelt dry, his fur sticking up in all directions, "Nasty weather, but the Clan needs prey. Lakesky, Reedtail, come with me."

"Do you want me to accompany you, Voleheart?" Darkshadow asked.

Voleheart shook his head, "I would like you to lead the sunhigh patrol."

"Any preferences on who I take?" Darkshadow asked, unable to disguise his pleasure at his former mentor who for the first time ever was allowing him to lead an important Clan duty.

"Take Thunderpaw," Voleheart meowed, "Other than that what I say shouldn't really matter. You're not a kit anymore, Darkshadow, you don't need me to hold your paw. Now Lakesky, Reedtail, come on. Let's go see if Flamepaw is awake."

"Bye," Lakesky whispered to her mate and Darkshadow nodded to her before following the two cats out of the warriors' den. He watched as Lakesky bounded over to the apprentices' den and returned with Flamepaw, following her. Then the four cats left the camp.

Darkshadow was about to go back to sleep in the warriors' den when the sounds of a fight reached his ears. He glanced over at Talonclaw's den to see Woodstar and Gingereye standing beside the medicine cat. Woodstar was snarling something at Talonclaw while Gingereye tried to get in between the two toms. Darkshadow padded closer, hiding in the shadows as he heard his father growl,

"I told you nearly a hundred times, Talonclaw. He is not your responsibility."

"I'm not claiming he is," Talonclaw meowed calmly and Darkshadow felt a flash of respect towards the medicine cat. He doubt he would be as calm if Woodstar was snarling at him. "I'm merely telling you of the dream StarClan sent me."

"StarClan has been wrong before," Woodstar snarled, "They could be wrong again. I'm not going to allow you to reveal an important Clan secret just because you have a feeling that something bad could happen to him!"

"He deserves to know," Talonclaw meowed, his voice raising, "And who said anything about a Clan secret? It's my secret!"

"It's my secret too," Woodstar snarled, "And its his secret and Gingereye's secret. You are the only one who wants to tell it. Somethings are better left unknown!"

"Put yourself in my position, Woodstar," Talonclaw growled, "Wouldn't you want to tell him?"

"I would never be in your position because I am not a traitor," Woodstar snarled, "And besides StarClan would be angry."

"It's been moons!" Talonclaw growled, "Why would StarClan be angry now?"

Gingereye stepped forward, "You stupid toms. It's no one's secret, but mine because I was the one who told both of you. I will decide when the right time is to tell him and it is not yet so both of you just shut it."

"But Gingereye," Talonclaw complained, "What about the dream?"

"I'm sorry, Talonclaw," Gingereye whispered before padding away from the two toms.

"It's not fair, Woodstar," Talonclaw growled, "Maroonfeather has a similar secret and he knows the truth."

"That was different," Woodstar hissed, although his voice softened, "Goodbye Talonclaw."

Darkshadow waited until Woodstar was gone before padding over to medicine cat, "Talonclaw?"

Talonclaw jumped, "Darkshadow, how can I help you? Are you sick?"

"No," Darkshadow meowed and then paused before whispering, "I heard you and my parents arguring. What's wrong? Can I help?"

Talonclaw's eyes widened, "No Darkshadow. This is between your parents and me."

Darkshadow nodded. He had been expecting that answer. "What about Maroonfeather? What does he have to do with everything?"

"Maroonfeather?" Talonclaw meowed in surprise before whispering, "I forgot that was before your time."

"What?" Darkshadow asked.

"Well you know that Maroonfeather is not fully Clanborn," Talonclaw meowed and Darkshadow nodded even though it wasn't a question. It was common knowledge that Maroonfeather had been born a loner before Woodstar found him on his own. Back then Woodstar had been Woodheart, the deputy of JayClan. "The truth was that-" Talonclaw's voice trailed off.

"Yes?" Darkshadow prompted.

"Now you can't tell anyone I told you this. I'm in enough trouble as it is," Talonclaw paused and waited for Darkshadow's confirming nod before continuing, "Maroonfeather was born in ShadowClan's ancient territory." Darkshadow opened his jaws to protest, but Talonclaw shook his head, "It's the truth. Maroonfeather was supposed to become the next leader of the rogues. His father was Toby and his mother was Squirrel."

Talonclaw paused in case Darkshadow wanted to say something, but the black warrior just watched the medicine cat without blinking, "Well, Maroonfeather was Toby and Squirrel's first born and Squirrel, an ambitious piece of foxdung, wanted her son to become leader of the rogues which meant killing his father. Squirrel only became mates with Toby for power while I believe he, at least one time, truly loved her."

Darkshadow shook his head, "Rogues can't fall in love. They stem from ShadowClan."

"And you think ShadowClan cats couldn't love?" Talonclaw meowed, "Our ancestor and founder of this Clan loved a ShadowClan warrior and our first deputy fell in love with a ShadowClan warrior."

Darkshadow bowed his head and Talonclaw continued, "Anyway, Toby didn't want his first son to be a part of the rogues which either meant a life of violence where he would be killed one day. He met with Woodstar, than the deputy, and Maroonfeather was adopted into JayClan."

"Does Maroonfeather know?" Darkshadow asked.

Talonclaw nodded, "Woodstar told Maroonfeather when he was an apprentice."

"But-" Darkshadow began, but another voice called,

"Darkshadow are you ready for sunhigh patrol?"

Darkshadow turned to face Maroonfeather who was padding towards them with Thunderpaw. Darkshadow glanced at Talonclaw who nodded and the black warrior padded towards his two Clanmates, "Let's go."