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Chapter 31: The Change

Colddusk and Shatterbreeze helped the two injured toms to Lunaclaw's den. Even though Dusktiger continued coughing up blood, Darkshard talked to them for a while, Chill and Ripple by her side, until Lunaclaw shooed them out so they could rest. Darkshard spoke with her deputy and mate in her den, and then she called a meeting.

"Let all cats who can kill dogs gather under Bloodrock." She cried out. Soon, the congregation settled down, and she began.

"I've gathered you for two reasons. First, I have received news from Dusktiger and Duskowl that Bloodclan is coming." Gasps and whispers started to rise up, but Darkshard snarled for silence. "My father has agreed to help us out, so meeting them won't turn into a battle."

The cats seemed to agree, feeling a little calmer the Dark Forest was on their side.

"Now for Eclipse's ceremony. Eclipse, you have gained Elite-warrior-ship within our clan. We will miss your knowledge and patience greatly, and we thank you for your time here. You have helped raise Shatterbreeze, as well as the rest of the apprentices, and we believe you have fulfilled a great responsibility. With that, from your duties, your are exempt."

Cats cheered while Eclipse gave a little smile, but something was off to Shatterbreeze.

"After you have said your goodbyes, the Elites will escort you to the Clearing, a nice grassy meadow, plentiful with prey, for you to live out the rest of your days." Eclipse nodded, and Darkshard leapt down from the Bloodrock.

Shatterbreeze waited as cat after cat swarmed Eclipse, saying words of congratulations or goodbyes. Even Star and Lunaclaw came from the den, wishing her well, yet…Eclipse seemed depressed. Finally, it was her turn.

"Congratu-…what's wrong?"

"Remember what I told you."

"Your friend was wrong. They're taking you to a meadow! That's not bad. You'll have lots of prey and a nice place to sleep and-"

Eclipse just shook her head, and was about to say something when Chill cleared his throat from behind the old she. Eclipse's eyes flashed a whisker-length of fear, but returned to a cloudy haze.

"Are you ready?" Chill asked in a rough voice. Ripple, Cinder, Bracken, and Sand shifted quietly as they waited for orders.

Eclipse sighed, turning toward the leader. "As I'll ever be."

Chill nodded, and with a flick of her tail, he and the other Elites led Eclipse out of the camp. Shatterbreeze watched as the old she stumbled along and up the rock, looking back one last time, like Barley did what felt like so many moons ago, before disappearing.

Stoneclaw slowly padded up to her. "We need to talk." He spoke softly. "Meet me at the tree." He looked toward the medicine cat den, getting a little scowl on his face, before bounding out of camp. Shatterbreeze sighed, sneaking behind the den and taking her tunnel.

She waited silently under the roots and uplifted trunk. Her nerves were getting the best of her, and her head started to throb with memories of Shadowclan visions. When Colddusk had snapped at her, she saw the monster at Shadowclan. Her head swam again, and she gritted her teeth against the pain. Soon, Stoneclaw appeared, carrying a mouse. He set it in front of her. "Here. I already had one."

Her stomach had started tossing and turning with nervousness and confusion from both Eclipse's distress and the Stoneclaw-at-Shadowclan situation. Seeing the mouse didn't help; it just made him look like the hunter he was at Shadowclan. Trying not to be sick, she shook her head, pushing the mouse toward him. He nodded and sighed. "So…when you came back, you had something to tell me?"

She felt as if Bloodrock had been thrust upon her shoulders. "Oh…yes…about…after we become warriors…right, well, I…I can't be your mate anymore."

"What? But…Shatterbreeze, I thought…you loved me." The hurt in his voice slammed into her heart, shattering it into pieces.

"Yes, but…something happened and…" Why does this have to be so hard? "I don't think I can be. I mean, you're sweet and everything but-"

"It's him, isn't it? Star. He put you up to this." His voice had turned into the Shadowclan version of him; every word dripped with hate and rage. "What did he do to you?!"

"What? Nothing! Star has no part of this! It's you!"

"ME?! I did nothing! It's him! He told me so!"

"Fine. You want to know the real reason? Remember that time, here, where you asked about…future kits?" She stopped herself from saying 'our future kits'. "How am I supposed to believe that you'll be a good father to kits one day if you murder someone else's? Huh? Tell me."

"What? Shatterbreeze, you're crazy! I would never-"

That set her over the edge. She flew into a rage, yelling right in his face. "I am NOT crazy! I know what I saw! Star understands, and if you don't, maybe it would be better if I do pick Star!"

Stoneclaw started trembling with anger. "Right, then go back to Mr. Perfect, but when he hurts you, remember who it was that was there for you, who protected you-"

"You clawed open my stomach! Some mouse-brained, piece of fox-dung protector you are!"

The line had been crossed for the tom. He couldn't stop himself. His brain was in fits, and his claws listened and obeyed. He didn't know what had happened, what he did, until it was done. Shatterbreeze lay there, covered in red lines. Tears streamed out of a clawed eye. Drops of blood fell onto the soft soil, where small clumps of fur rested beneath her as she trembled. She got up, looking at Stoneclaw with hurt expressions; not just a physical hurt, but an emotional one.

"Oh my…Shatterbreeze, I'm-"

Shatterbreeze turned away. "I told you. Goodbye, Stoneclaw." Shatterbreeze limped away, into the roots and down the tunnel. Stoneclaw looked shocked for a moment longer, before turning his anger on the tree. Shredding the roots around him until he broke two claws, he collapsed into a sobbing pile of fur on the wood shavings and chips.

Shatterbreeze made it back to camp. Star came out of the den, heading for the fresh-kill pile, when she caught his eye. "Shatterbreeze! What happened?" His voice and body expressed genuine concern.

"Stoneclaw and I…" she trailed off.

"Come on. Let's get those wounds fixed up. Luna just went to bed after Dusktiger and Duskowl took their poppy seeds." He led the numb Shatterbreeze to the den, settling her in a nest . She didn't feel the burn of the herbs as her minor wounds were patched up quickly. He then looked at her eye, putting a little

celandine juice on it and wrapping it with thick cobwebs.

"Good news is, your fur will grow back soon, and you won't be blind. He missed your cornea and…" His smile faded upon seeing Shatterbreeze in no better mood.

"I'm not even going to ask if everything's ok, because it's not, but if you want, I'm here to listen and-" Shatterbreeze had collapsed against his chest, sobbing hard. Star stiffened for a second, but soon wrapped his tail around the she-cat. He said the cliché "There, there. It's alright." He saw Stoneclaw pad into camp. Stoneclaw looked at the medicine cat den, right at Star, and jealousy burned in his eyes, but when Stoneclaw looked at the broken, upset she, he closed his eyes and padded to the warrior den with his tail dragging. Star shook his head as he continued to comfort Shatterbreeze.

After a while, she pulled herself together, sitting up. She sniffed, and he smiled. "I'll get you some poppy seeds too. You can stay here for tonight."

"Thanks." He fed her some poppy seeds, and soon, the she fell into a deep sleep.