Hi again, everyone! I've updated this time fairly quickly, so I hope you enjoy.
Replying to reviews...
Twinkle Legacy: Hey, thanks for that suggestion! But for the part about StarClan helping, that was explained vaguely, a little bit, in the second chapter. Anyway. You gave me the idea for a significant part of this chapter, so thank you so much! You'll see, now, when you read this chapter.
Scarlet Vow: Thanks for reviewing! Maybe I'll do a chapter at the end to explain how Snowstar became leader... thanks for that idea!
Callie the Dog Goddess: Ugh. Redfire's so perfect. (Or at least, for now *wink*). No, don't worry, you can keep fangirling over him *wink*. Anyway, thank you so much for all that support!
DragonFrost9000: Thank you so much!
DragonFrost9000: Yes, here's your update! Thanks for reviewing!
Sootfire: I hate to say it, but if I was Brightshadow, I would march up to Snowstar and recommend an anger management treatment. No joke. Anyway, thanks for your support!
Honeyflame: Thanks!
Always Fire: Don't worry, I feel you. I get your 'morbidness'. It makes so much sense. I hate Snowstar but I love her at the same time. She's pretty fun to write about... all the evil characters are, anyway.
Now, onto the story!
Chapter 4
Brightshadow flicked her tail as Snowstar sprang onto the Highledge with a yowl, summoning the clan to hear her words. Unsheathing her claws, Brightshadow padded slowly into the midst of the cats waiting in the clearing, her fur tingling along her spine.
She resisted the urge to flinch as she saw the wound on Snowstar's shoulder - the wound that she had caused. Ever since that day, Snowstar seemed to be avoiding her unless it was absolutely necessary to make direct conversation. Lucky me.
Brightshadow shook away the thought that she had injured her leader, her mother. Snowstar definitely deserved it. It hurt slightly even to prick her ears, or to turn her head too fast, ever since she had received the two most recent scars.
"The cats who will be accompanying Redfire and me to the Gathering," Snowstar was announcing, "Daisyfoot, Dustfang, Lizardpaw, Bluestrike, Rainclaw, Mottledspring, Thornpaw, Whitefang, and-" she looked as though the words tasted bitter on her tongue "-Brightshadow."
Brightshadow's fur bristled slightly at the mention of her name.
"We will be leaving at moonhigh, as usual," Snowstar growled, before dipping her head in dismissal and springing down from the Highledge. Immediately, the clan broke into excited murmurs, before dispersing into its small groups, some entering the dens, and others staying in the clearing or going out into the pine forest.
Almost as soon as Brightshadow turned to pad into the warriors' den, a young russet-furred kit bounced over, amber eyes wide. "You're going to the Gathering, Brightshadow!" He sprang playfully onto Brightshadow's tail, but she drew it to her side, out of his reach. "You're lucky!"
"You'll be able to go in a few moons, Foxkit," Brightshadow mewed, recalling the little kit's name just as she said it. Foxkit was... although just a kit, he was her friend. A close friend.
Foxkit pouted. "Everyone tells me that! Why can't it be now?"
"You know the rules. You must be an apprentice to go to the Gathering."
"I'll be an apprentice in a moon," Foxkit reminded her, puffing out his chest importantly. Then, he swished his tail from side to side, eyes lighting up. "Who will be my mentor?"
She let out a purr, stroking the kit's head with her tail. "We won't know until you become an apprentice."
"Brightshadow!"
Brightshadow turned at the sound of Snowstar's voice. She had to clamp her jaws shut tightly to stop a snide remark from pouring out. Oh, look. The oh-so-great ShadowClan leader decides to acknowledge her daughter in such a long time.
Instead of saying that, she dipped her head. "Yes, Snowstar?"
"Come to my den." Turning, the white she-cat flicked her tail and padded away, leaving Brightshadow to follow.
But before she could take a step, a set of small, thorn-sharp teeth sank into her tail, and she winced, turning. Foxkit's amber eyes were round. "Did you do something bad? Mother said that Snowstar kills-" Before the kit could finish, Brightshadow ripped her tail free from his teeth, ignoring the pain, and slapped it over his jaws.
"Don't say anything like that ever again!" Brightshadow hissed. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Foxkit, if you say anything like that when she's listening, she'll kill you without a second thought." Foxkit's eyes were round as he nodded.
"Sorry, Brightshadow." Brightshadow just flicked her tail, trying to get rid of the slight sting, and padded toward Snowstar's den. Foxkit's mother... Shadespring. I think she's against Snowstar, too. She's a smart cat, or she would have been killed by now...
Brightshadow often remembered cats based on whether or not they supported Snowstar. Generally, the cats who didn't support her were her closer friends.
Snowstar was waiting for her, her fur fluffed up. "Brightshadow." She nodded her approval, her voice cold, as usual.
"Is there anything you need?" Brightshadow asked. Because I don't want to be here if you don't need me.
"As your mother, I-"
"You gave up the right to call yourself that a long time ago." The words poured out of Brightshadow's jaws before she could stop them.
Snowstar hissed, unsheathing her claws. Moments later, the flash of anger was gone, replaced by something she couldn't place. "Let me get straight to the point, Brightshadow. I hope you don't find yourself in love with Redfire."
"Of course not!" Brightshadow's fur grew warm. "We're just... friends."
"You're putting the wrong ideas into his mind, Brightshadow." Snowstar's voice was a low, threatening growl. "I can't have my deputy being manipulated by some pathetic kit. He's got a long way ahead of him, daughter. So don't mess with it."
Brightshadow opened her jaws to speak, but she couldn't, so she let Snowstar continue.
"I am your leader. You obey my orders. You have no purpose but to serve ShadowClan," Snowstar hissed. "You are not to mess with the issues of a leader or deputy. You are not to mess with what Redfire thinks. Understood?"
Brightshadow dipped her head, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Is that all, Snowstar?"
"You may go, Brightshadow."
oO0Oo
"Brightshadow!"
For once, the voice calling her was pleasant.
Brightshadow turned her head back to see the ShadowClan deputy, walking towards the back of the group of ShadowClan cats going to the Gathering. He flashed her a warm gaze, before flicking his tail casually to one side. Now that she had seen him, she couldn't ignore him, not even when Snowstar was watching. "Walk with me."
Brightshadow dipped her head and moved to one side, letting the cats pass her as she waited for Redfire to catch up. "What is it?"
"There doesn't have to be something, does there?" Redfire's expression was one of mock hurt. "Why can't I just talk to you? For the fun of it?"
The silver she-cat's blue eyes widened. She shook her head and kept on walking. Snowstar's mew still rang in her head as she padded ahead. Redfire had to run to catch up. "Brightshadow... what's wrong? What happened? Why can't I talk to you?"
Brightshadow turned to glare. "Look. You've been looking at me, waving your tail, and doing all sorts of things since this morning to call me over to talk to you. Don't you get it? I ignored you." She almost choked while saying the last words. "I can't talk to you."
Now, Redfire's teasing expression morphed into hurt, real hurt. "Brightshadow..." His fur brushed hers, but Brightshadow pulled away. "Look, whatever it is, you can talk to me."
"As much as I want to, I can't."
Redfire growled under his breath. "As your deputy, I order you to tell me what's wrong."
Brightshadow sighed. "It's Snowstar... she doesn't want me to talk to you because she thinks I'm putting the wrong ideas about her into your head. And I think she's worried that you'll turn against her or something."
"Mouse-brain," Redfire muttered. "I already am against her."
"I know, but even more... like I'll put the idea of something like... I don't know, a rebellion... into your mind." Brightshadow mewed the first impractical thing that came to her mind, hating that it actually felt good to talk to Redfire.
"That's not a bad idea."
"Redfire!"
"I know! I'm joking... sort of." Redfire flicked his tail, letting Brightshadow pad ahead of him across the tree-bridge. "Someone with enough power should really do that. We seriously can't go on living like this." He sighed, springing off onto the Gathering island next to her.
"I wonder what interesting excuse Snowstar will bring up this time," Brightshadow muttered quietly, and Redfire let his tail rest on her shoulder. She didn't pull away, and Redfire moved slightly closer, almost innoticeably, letting his fur brush hers.
"I'm worried, Redfire." Brightshadow's mew couldn't hide the slight quaver in her voice. "She's going to do anything to get rid of me, now. Even though she's been holding back since I'm her daughter... I think that she's past that, now."
Redfire closed his eyes briefly. "Whatever happens, just talk to me, and I'll be there to help you."
"Thanks, Redfire."
Redfire nodded, before padding away to sit beside the other deputies. Brightshadow stared after him, almost wishing he didn't leave. Her fur pricked as if someone was watching her. Looking around, she saw that a certain icy blue gaze was boring into her.
"Hello, there!"
Brightshadow practically jumped out of her fur as a golden she-cat approached her. "H-hi," Brightshadow murmured, lowering her head awkwardly. She always did that, with strangers. Probably to hide her scar slightly, in the shadows, though she knew they would see it, anyway.
"I'm Goldenlily. I'm from ThunderClan."
"Oh."
Goldenlily stared. "And you are...?"
"Brightshadow," she mewed, quietly. "ShadowClan."
"I hope you don't mind me asking," Goldenlily mewed, her ear twitching, "but why do you have so many scars?"
"It's not a bad thing, is it?"
Goldenlily shrugged. "No... it just makes you stand out, a little more."
Brightshadow looked up, staring incredulously at Goldenlily. Trust ThunderClan to come up with the most ridiculously happy notions. "Fox-dung."
"Really."
"I..." Brightshadow was unsure of what to say. "I've never thought of it like that before." She stared more closely at Goldenlily. "Well... no one's ever told me that, before. So... well, thanks, I guess." Goldenlily just purred, slightly, her tail flicking to rest on her shoulder.
"I don't see why anyone should judge you by your scars before they've met you."
Brightshadow purred, a real purr this time. "Thanks, Goldenlily." She flicked her tail to the Great Oak, where a yowl rang. "The leaders are speaking."
Oakstar of WindClan lifted his head, first, to flick his white-tipped tail and shake out his tawny-colored fur. "WindClan has been doing very well, this season. Hunting is fine, and I'm pleased to announce that Sedgepaw and Willowpaw have been made apprentices this moon."
Brightshadow joined in with the rest of the cats, yowling support for the new apprentices.
"Good hunting doesn't stop them from looking scrawny," Goldenlily muttered, and Brightshadow purred, amused.
Snowstar spoke next, and Brightshadow pricked her ears.
"That's your leader, right?" Goldenlily mewed, and Brightshadow nodded, ears straining to listen.
"I regret to report that there was a vicious badger attack - three of them - that left four of our cats dead," Snowstar mewed, and Brightshadow rolled her blue eyes. She's used that excuse before, I think, she thought, and from the front, Redfire turned back to look at her, and she knew he was thinking the same thing. "Mosscloud, Nightstreak, Adderclaw, and Petalshade, all hunt with StarClan, now."
Brightshadow heard murmurs of sadness coming from all the clans, and she thought - for a moment - that Snowstar genuinely seemed upset. Fox-dung.
"Despite that, we have recovered fast. ShadowClan is well, and we are ready to ward off any threats that come again." Snowstar dipped her head and stepped back, but as she did, her gaze locked with Brightshadow's, challenging her to step forward and deny everything that she had said.
Though she didn't step forward, Brightshadow shot her a glare that spoke for itself.
Liar.
Woohoo! I'm done with the fourth chapter! Not much to say, really. (I can't believe I've already gotten 23 reviews, before the fourth chapter has come out. Wow. Thanks, everyone :D)
Remember to leave a review, as you go! I think I'll mention the name of the 25th reviewer at the start of the next chapter.
Later, friends!
~ Stormy