Chapter 5: Exile

LIONSTAR ~

"We have no other choice!" Lionstar snarled, his teeth bared as he lashed his tail in frustration. Eaglewing had grown quite close to the young cats in the last few days. He knew it would have been hard to convince her. "We do!" Eaglewing spat back at him, her eyes full of disgust. He wasn't surprised. He was disgusted at himself too. But the fact that this cat he was talking to, the one he had feelings for, was looking at him like that, it just made him want to yowl his pain and hurt to Starclan.

"Well, you're the smart one! Tell me then, what should we do? What can we do?" Lionstar growled. His eyes burned with fury. He was the clan leader. Eaglewing should listen to him! Eaglewing glared back at him with hate in her eyes. "We can let them stay! You can't just kick them out like that! Great Starclan, Lionstar, they're just kits! Kits! Especially Firepaw. He didn't even learn anything! Not even the hunter's crouch! How do you expect them to survive? Out there on their own? How could you be so cold hearted? So-"

"Enough!" Lionstar roared, leaping up from his previous position. He was already in a bad mood. He didn't need his favourite cat to tell him how heartless he was, how evil, how irresponsible. He growled, his head spinning, prowling around Eaglewing. He could smell fear rolling off her in waves. But he was too irritated, too tired to really care.

He had had enough. Enough of all those nightmares, of all those prophecies where someone would undoubtedly get hurt in the end. He had had enough of every single thing. And he was dying to pour his heart out to someone. Someone he cared for. He stopped pacing and couldn't resist the urge to pounce on Eaglewing, his mouth close to her ear.

Taking in deep breaths, he whispered hoarsely, "You don't understand the pain from being a clan leader, do you? You don't understand," Lionstar paused, his voice softening to a wistful murmur, "how hard, it is for me, to be a clan leader. You don't understand the pain I felt when I made the choice to send Thunderpaw and Firepaw away. You don't understand the extents I have to go through as clan leader to save the clan that I love. You don't understand that I had to give up my crush to avoid getting distracted in such a time. You don't understand how it is like to be a clan leader!"

Lionstar's voice cracked at the end as he shut his eyes and inhaled Eaglewing's calming scent. You don't understand that the cat I love is you. With that last thought, he gave Eaglewing a cold glance and got off her, immediately wishing he had not done so. He missed the warmth of her fur. Staring blankly ahead, he padded emotionlessly back to the camp. He lost it- in front of Eaglewing. Great Starclan! Now he had lost his chance. He will never be able to get Eaglewing back.

Eaglewing would hate him forever. Especially after what he was about to do.

EAGLEWING ~

Eaglewing couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe what just happened; couldn't believe that Lionstar was actually that heartless. It was like a repeat of Brokenstar's reign. She had heard the story, and it was so sick it was engrained in her mind forever. Eaglewing's breath hitched as she envisioned Lionstar on the high rock, bloodied and hostile. No. That wasn't going to happen. She knew she could not let Lionstar get away with sending the kits off.

Then she realized- that was exactly what he could be doing right now. "No!" She yowled in horror as she darted back to the camp. She could hear noises in the camp getting louder as she neared the entrance; yet she didn't slow down. No, no, no… she could see the outlines of two small kits standing in front of the high rock. Lionstar was addressing the clan. She sat down next to Featherflame just as he began.

"Thunderclan. There is something I have to tell you. It is not pleasant, but this is for your own good." Lionstar's eyes pierced into Eaglewing's horrified brown ones as he put on his best poker face. Eaglewing's eyes widened. This was it. This… was exactly what she had not hoped for. Thunderpaw and Firepaw, they were just kits! She exchanged an anxious glance with Amberleaf, knowing that Lionstar had told her about his decision too.

"Thunderpaw, Firepaw. I am sorry to tell you this, but from this moment on, you will be banished from this clan. If you ever set foot on-" Lionstar's speech was broken abruptly by Eaglewing. Murmurs of shock and horror greeted her. "With all due respect, Lionstar, I reject your suggestion-" Her clan leader cut her off. "It was not a suggestion, Eaglewing. It was an order. And I suggest that you listen to it." Eaglewing snarled, hackles rose in defiance. Thunderpaw and Firepaw knew what she was doing. "No, Eaglewing! Don't fight for us; we are not worth it," Thunderpaw pleaded, her eyes full of hurt and disbelief. This cat- Lionstar-, the one who introduced her to Thunderclan not long ago, was the exact same one who was banishing her now.

Firepaw was furious, his fur bristling until he looked twice his size. "You are pathetic, Lionstar. You are not fitted to be a clan leader. It was a bet wasn't it? You must have been working with Wolfpaw. He always wanted us banished. I don't know what he did to you. You were great, Lionstar. I once looked up to you. I thought- I thought you were the greatest cat ever. I guess I should banish that thought now, shouldn't I?" He didn't wait for a reply. He just stalked towards the entrance, not looking back.

Thunderpaw shot Wolfpaw one last glance; it was so full of hurt and hate that he cowered and couldn't even try to defend himself. "I hate you!" She cried. She let out a yowl, full of the pain she felt. It was the worst thing that Lionstar had to endure. He had done this. He had made her like that. "Great Starclan! What have I done to make you hate me so much? What have I done?"

No one replied, and she shot Eaglewing a face of panic and hatred. It was as if she didn't know who to trust anymore. Eaglewing snarled at Lionstar as Thunderpaw backed away to the entrance of the camp. She growled at the clan cats, and then fled the territory. "I warned you, Lionstar! I hate you!" She screeched furiously. Lionstar really was not who she thought he was. Appearances could be deceiving.

"I leave this clan officially. And you will have no say in this, Lionstar. Just like Thunderpaw and Firepaw had no say in their exile. You didn't even tell them the reason! How could you?" Eaglewing snarled bitterly. She exited the camp with a lash of her tail, chasing after the two kits. If they were hurt… she swore, she would kill Lionstar, clan leader or not.

She couldn't believe she once liked a cat so despicable.

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