Chapter Ten
Snowowl glanced at his sister as they trotted towards camp. Guilt gnawed at him like a hungry dog. He shouldn't have lied to her. How could he tell her the truth though? How would she ever forgive him?
How would she ever forgive you if she discovered your lie? A little voice nagged him.
Snowowl pushed the thought back as he pushed through the gorse tunnel. He sighed as he curled up in his nest, casting one last look at Talonclaw.
I'm sorry! He silently wailed. I'm so sorry...
Talonclaw let out an enormous yawn and stretched her stiff legs. The bright light of mid morning pierced the branches of the bush that served as the warriors den. The nests around her were empty. So Pinestar had let her, Snowowl and Thrushpelt sleep in that morning. The two toms were still asleep. Talonclaw was about to step out of the den, when she heard hushed meows coming from behind the warrior's den. Curiosity bubbled up inside of her. She carefully picked her way past Snowowl and Thrushpelt to the back of the den. She could just barely make out the gray pelt of Stormtail and the red brown fur of Pinestar through the leafy tendrils.
"I told you the matter was closed, Stormtail." Pinestar meowed gravely. "I had my reasons for waiting for their warrior ceremonies."
Talonclaw heard a clack as Stormtail swiped a pebble away from himself angrily. "I've waited for you to give us an explanation Pinestar! It wasn't right to make Talonclaw and the other two wait for so long! And I, as her former mentor, deserve an explanation. As do Larksong and Moonflower!"
The brown she-cat drew in a sharp breath. She had nearly forgotten how Larksong had blurted something about Pinestar's interference with their apprenticeship.
"Keep a civil tongue inside your head, Stormtail." Pinestar nearly snarled. "Show some respect. I expected more from a seasoned warrior."
Stormtail lashed his tail. "Just because you are leader, doesn't mean you can keep a cat from the most important day of her life, and offer no reason for it whatsoever!" He hissed.
"It wasn't that I didn't think Snowowl and Thrushpelt were ready! But how was I supposed to make the daughter of arogue a warrior before testing her thoroughly?"
"Talonclaw has proved her loyalty to ThunderClan over and over again! She doesn't even know she isn't ThunderClan born! How could you not trust her?" Stormtail spat contemptuously. He whirled around and stalked off to the nursery.
Talonclaw barely suppressed a wail. Her mind whirled. Not ThunderClan born? Daughter of a rogue? Her own leader didn't trust her? She backed away and turned, racing through the clearing and out of the gorse tunnel. She ran on and on, branches whipping her face and scratching her pelt. Her whole world seemed to crumble around her.
Great StarClan, what has happened?