Chapter 14

Yakon surveyed the Demon Fields with a satisfied grin. Everything was finally going as he wished. Tigerstar stood by his side, tail flickering back and forth. Boredom showed on every inch of his face. He didn't look as excited as Yakon thought he would be. Uneasy, fear weaving an icy tentacle around his heart, the white tom turned to face the smaller cat.

"You look bored."

A snort. "I am."

"Why? Isn't this everything you ever wanted?"

"No. Not everything. The female is mine. Tigerstar stole her. I was the one who freed her. Why didn't she follow me instead?" Hate dripped from each and every word.

"The female will only serve as a distraction. Didn't you say that?"

"I lied. I wanted her for myself. I thought I could live without her but I thought wrong. I have to get her back."

Yakon hissed, his neck fur bristling. "You're going to back out now? After all we've done?"

"I only joined you because I thought we could kill Tigerstar so that I could live. I will do anything to make sure I survive, and this shit you're doing right now isn't letting me live. The female will."

"What are you saying, feline?"

"I'm saying, Yakon, that I'd rather choose a female than you, my own brother. Goodbye, flea-pelt."

Tigerstar chuckled boomingly, his eyes flashing with menace. Then he disappeared in a puff of dark, violet smoke.

Yakon roared in fury. "No!" He bared his teeth in rage; sneered at the empty space. His eyes were blazing blue fire. Tigerstar had tricked him. He'd only ever wanted the female. He'd used him, his own brother. Yakon let out a screech. Revenge would be served. Stalking away, mind whirring, Yakon hatched a plot to defeat Tigerstar.

He was going to use him, just like he did.

Thunderpaw

Thunderpaw's eyes widened. Crap, did she just say that? Out loud? Crap, crap, double crap. Nervous, she stood stiffly, muscles tense as she waited for- what? What was she waiting for? For Eaglewing to turn away, disgust in her eyes? For Eaglewing to yell at her for calling her 'Mom'?

"T-Thunderpaw, I-I-" Eaglewing's words emerged as a confused stutter.

Thunderpaw's heart fell. She didn't know what she was waiting for Eaglewing to say, but 'Thunderpaw' wasn't what she wanted to hear. Crestfallen, her head lowered, tail thumping unhappily on the ground. "Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Thunderpaw, my child," Her name was muttered as a sob.

Eaglewing leapt onto the younger cat and licked her all over. "Great Starclan, Thunderpaw. Where have you been? I tried so hard to find you! Are you hurt? Did-" Thunderpaw laughed in surprise and wonder. Her heart filled with so much happiness she thought it would burst. Yes, this was what she had been waiting for.

For Eaglewing to finally acknowledge her as her daughter.

Thunderpaw was dizzy with merriment. However, her heart felt empty on one side. As if she was missing something. Someone. Her happiness died as quickly as it came. Eaglewing must have sensed the change, because she frowned and stared at her. "My heart," Thunderpaw muttered. "It hurts."

Her eyes widened, her mouth agape as bolts after bolts of pain shot her heart. Her knees buckled and she crashed onto the snowy ground. Whimpering, Thunderpaw breathed in shallow breaths, her body trembling violently. Her heart continued to pound, and with each beat, sharp pain lanced through her body.

Eaglewing stared at the she-cat worriedly. What was going on? Was she sick?

Thunderpaw writhed on the ground, her face contorted in pain. Her eyes were rolled back in her head. "Thunder!" A cry from behind jolted Eaglewing back into reality. "What's going on? What did you do?" The female, Frost, raced toward Thunderpaw like lightning, Boomer at her side.

"Thunder, look at me. Focus, female." Thunderpaw didn't give any indication that she'd heard the she-cat. "Thunderpaw! Listen, you've got to look at me. C'mon, you can do better than that. Focus on my voice. Yes, that's it. Fight the pain. Focus, Thunder."

Soon, Thunderpaw stopped moaning, and she curled into a ball instead, sniffling. She refused to look at anyone. She buried her head in the snow, her body trembling. Boomer stared at her sympathetically and whispered something to Frost. Her expression softened, and she nodded, padding away. Boomer cocked his head towards Thunderpaw, and then padded away too.

Eaglewing approached the young cat slowly. "What's wrong, Thunderpaw?" Her voice was soft, comforting. Thunderpaw answered with a sniffle and a shake of her head. "It's okay, Thunderpaw. You can tell me." Thunderpaw's tail thumped onto the snow dejectedly. When she turned to face Eaglewing, Eaglewing was struck by the sorrow on her face.

Devastation swirled in her bleak blue eyes.

"It's Wolfpaw. He's hurting."

Tigerstar

Firepaw glared at Tigerstar furiously. "Why did you do that?"

Kougar glared at him too, her eyes shooting bolts of fire. "You could have hurt him," her voice was soft.

Immediately, guilt speared the dark pelted male. Damned Kougar and her honey-sweet voice. "I'm sorry," He blurted out. He was helpless against Kougar; he needed to please her in every way. He didn't mean his apology, however, and added, "It's his fault. He shouldn't have smiled at you."

Kougar's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Excuse me?"

Tigerstar shot a frigid glare at the other tom, ignoring her.

"She's mine. Don't touch her."

Lionstar

Lionstar couldn't take this anymore. The glares were becoming more than just displeased; no, they were cold, frigid stares. He whimpered, burying his head deeper in his paws. He wanted to run away; to Eaglewing. She would have comforted him, would have helped him clear up the mess he'd made.

Frustrated, his pelt crawling, Lionstar growled. Eaglewing was the only cat he ever wanted. Why couldn't he have her? Fate was cruel, he cursed.

You did this, his inner voice chided coldly.

Fix it, his heart cried.

Protect your clan, his mind intoned.

Lionstar roared.

Snarling, he stalked out the clan, eyes red with fury. Eaglewing had started this. This turmoil of emotions. Now, she was going to end it. Lionstar smiled grimly. Oh, he was going to get his revenge.

"I'll find you."

Lionstar

Lionstar didn't know where he was heading. His heart was his compass, pointing the ways to his other half. Eyes burning, stomach rumbling, Lionstar groaned and collapsed onto the icy ground. His body barely registered the cold, starved as he was. Shivering, Lionstar wrapped his tail around his body, trying unsuccessfully to keep himself warm. "Eaglewing," He mumbled sorrowfully. "Help me," He pleaded.

"Lionstar!" The voice sounded far, so far away. Lionstar's focus blurred. His ears perked at the sound of the familiar male voice. Wolfstrike. A patter of footsteps; a low murmur of voices. What was going on? Confused, his blood thick was lethargy, Lionstar's mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out.

"Relax, Lionstar," Wolfstrike spoke, his voice low. The clan leader smiled, glad that someone had found him. "Eat," He urged, pushing something white towards him. He could barely keep his eyes open. However, he trusted the young cat completely, and ate it silently, devouring it within seconds.

Guilt washed over him like a tidal wave. Lionstar felt shame heat up his pelt. He'd had to depend on his clan mate to catch prey for him, a clan leader. His guilt didn't last long, however, when the murmur of voices came back.

"Lionstar!"

That voice was so familiar. Lionstar struggled to stay awake.

"Lionstar, please."

He whimpered. He knew that voice. He missed that voice.

"Open your eyes, look at me. I'm sorry for running away, but I couldn't have left them alone. I'm so sorry, Lionstar; so sorry." A sniffle.

Lionstar whimpered, softer now. The darkness washed over his mind, but he had figured out who the speaker was.

Eaglewing. I have found you.