Chapter 34

His world was over…his love, his friend, his deputy. Shadowstar had nothing to live for anymore…nothing. The black pelted leader trudged hopelessly through the forest, not aiming for a certain place…just walking.

His heart burned in sorrow…his mind reeled with the memory of June's bloody body lying next to Airwhisker's. Shadowstar could feel Airwhisker's skin ripping beneath his claws, his spine burning with anger at the cruel acts of his father.

Shadowstar stopped moving and leaned against an oak tree, letting the rain hammer down on his pelt. The former leader cried out in sorrow and curled into a tight ball at the base of the tree, squeezing his eyes tight.

"Just kill me now!" Screeched Shadowstar to SkyClan

"Shadowstar…" A whisper in the bushes called. Shadowstar slowly looked over to where the noise came from and saw two amber eyes looking through the bushes. Shadowstar watched as Palepaw crawled his way over to the tom warily.

"You afraid I'll kill you too?" Shadowstar growled sarcastically. Palepaw frowned and forced himself to puff out his chest fur, his eyes still nervous.

"N-No…I wanted to come with you." The young cat squeaked in fear, his tail shaking.

"Go back home, kid…" Shadowstar dismissed him with his tail. Palepaw curled his nose and placed his paw down in defiance.

"No way, where you go, I go." Palepaw defied.

"As leader of SkyClan," Shadowstar snarled in the cats face. "You will go home because I told you so."

Palepaw narrowed his eyes and watched as Shadowstar began to pad away. The pale ginger tabby lashed his tail and ran at the side of Shadowstar.

"You aren't the leader of SkyClan anymore!" He testified. "Rainstorm is…you're just a loner."

Shadowstar growled and shoved his muzzle in the young tom's face. "Go home!"

Palepaw frowned and lowered his head; he turned around and slowly began to pad away, his tail dragging in the sand. Shadowstar felt a bit guilty but quickly dismissed it when he turned away and padded farther away from his former home. His mind was now blank…and so was his expression.

Shadowstar looked up at the sky and saw the outline of a cat in the stars. It had a midnight-black pelt and deep amber eyes…the face of a very familiar cat. Shadowstar felt a wave of hope surge in his heart, and the unmistakable voice of Mistyfern spoke in his mind.

You still have your daughter…