Chapter 11

"Spiderwebs Untangled."

3/19/17

In the late week of June, Spiderpaw tries to ignore the heat beating down on his back as he rests near the heather. For a camp as exposed as WindClan, the sun is always an issue when Greenleaf approaches.

Spiderpaw begins to notice changes in his Clan.

Five rogues, three she cats and two toms, asked to join WindClan, and surprisingly, Creekstar allowed them to stay. The rogues were named individually. The she-cats were named Cloversong, Goldentail, who resides in the nursery as a queen, and Lilypool. The two toms were named Molefur and Rowanfoot.

Most of his Clanmates voiced their opinion of having non-Clanborn cats being invited in. Cheetahpaw even voiced her opinion.

"Outsiders should stay outside!"

Unfortunately for her, Hollyclaw was just passing by when she heard Cheetahpaw's outburst. Now the patched she-cat apprentice is helping Softpaw and Hazelheart with herbs.

Violetbloom passes Spiderpaw and takes a rabbit before she reluctantly enters the nursery. Spiderpaw heard from the older warriors who were there when Creekstar announced that Violetbloom is expecting Hawkflight's kits.

"Why am I not surprised? I told Violetbloom not to be reckless with toms."

"If anything it was her mother's fault for flirting with every tom outside the Clan instead of teaching her to respect herself."

Spiderpaw knew of Violetbloom's flirtatious behavior toward toms in the past and present, and now she's expecting her first litter of kits with Hawkflight. As far as he knows, Violetbloom and Hawkflight didn't seem to be mate material.

In fact, Hawkflight didn't even visit Violetbloom in the nursery since the announcement. Remembering his kithood, Spiderpaw and Softpaw would always ask Duskcloud for their father, and the black she-cat wouldn't reply with an answer, almost as if she was on guard.

Spiderpaw just stopped caring about his father after he realized that Duskcloud was never going to tell him. Now seeing Hawkflight behave this way made him annoyed with history being repeated.

Honestly, what kind of sense does that make?

"Creekstar! We've been trespassed!"

Spiderpaw snorts and woke up from his nap. Lizardtail and Sleetfrost rush toward Creekstar talking with Brackenfall near Tallrock. The WindClan leader narrows his eyes and looks at the two toms.

"Who was it?"

"ThunderClan!" Sleetfrost spat. "It was on our side of the stream!"

"It was a recent, fresh scent with one of ours." Lizardtail put in. "Someone must have slipped out between the change of night guards."

Spiderpaw almost panics until he remembers that he was nowhere near the stream when he first met the other five apprentices.

But then who met with the ThunderClan cat last night?

Creekstar is obviously displeased with the report. "Those kittypet loving…!"

He lashes his tail before turning to his cats. "I want Brackenfall, Duskcloud, Spiderpaw, Hollyclaw and Cheetahpaw to come with me - immediately!"

Spiderpaw perks with excitement as he follows Brackenfall out of camp.

Spiderpaw crosses the stream and proceeds to follow the patrol into the forest, in hopes of running into a patrol. He couldn't wait to fight for his Clan.

But if you run into Nightpaw or Snowpaw, would you back away?

Spiderpaw didn't want to think about the possibility, especially with Cheetahpaw here, ready to call him out on his loyalty. He can't risk it.

Creekstar stops and looks at his patrol. "Wait for my signal."

Spiderpaw unsheathes his claws with excitement, he tenses his muscles.

"Now, WindClan!"

Spiderpaw charges forward and sees Creekstar grappling a small black and white tom, Brackenfall was rolling in the dirt with a bright ginger tom, and Duskcloud and Hollyclaw chased off a dark brown tabby.

"You rabbit chasing cowards!" Spiderpaw glares at a grey and white tom charging at him. The tom scratches Spiderpaw's forehead, and pins him down.

Spiderpaw bites in his front paw and rolls over to trap the grey and white tom under his weight. Spiderpaw raises his paw to strike-

"Spiderpaw, stop!"

Duskcloud grabs his paw and drags him off of the ThunderClan tom. Spitting with frustration, the tom gets up to fight when Duskcloud blocks him with glaring green eyes.

"Don't do it, Pricklefrost! He's your son!"

Spiderpaw slowly frowns as he looks at his mother. "What…?"

Pricklefrost looks at Duskcloud, then Spiderpaw. "You're...mine?"

Spiderpaw bristles his fur. "No I'm not!"

"Yes, he is." Duskcloud said softly, even when the battle is still raging on beside the three cats. "Pricklefrost, Spiderpaw is the one I told you about last night."

Spiderpaw feels his confusion mix with anger. Pricklefrost scans him and slowly swelling with pride.

I don't want your pride!

Spiderpaw backs away from Pricklefrost and glares at Duskcloud silently.

"Pricklefrost! Let's go!" The black and white tom shouts. Pricklefrost gives Spiderpaw one last glance before running back. The black and white tom glares at Creekstar.

"You're out of line, Creekstar! Darkstar will hear about this!"

"You tell him, Littlefalcon! WindClan isn't afraid of a bunch of kittypet descendants!"

Spiderpaw pads to camp with a dark cloud over his head. He refuses to look at Duskcloud and goes back to his spot near the heather. He sees Hollyclaw talking to Creekstar with Cheetahpaw near her.

Cheetahpaw gives Spiderpaw a smug, sly grin of triumph.

"WindClan, I have received an upsetting report regarding the ThunderClan scent last night. Duskcloud, step forward."

The black she-cat pads forward with her tail trembling.

"Is it true that you were seeing a ThunderClan cat by the stream?"

"... Yes." She admits. "H-His name is Pricklefrost."

The WindClan cats hiss with disgust. Spiderpaw feels his ears heat up with every heartbeat.

"I assume that he is the father of your kits? And the reason you never disclosed their parentage?"

"Yes."

Creekstar narrows his eyes on her. "We have started a fight because of your choice. And now we are even more in trouble with ThunderClan than before because of your foolishness."

Duskcloud bows her head. "I understand."

"We'll see about that. From now on you're not allowed to leave camp without an escort, and you're forbidden from attending the next Gathering until we can trust you."

Duskcloud quietly accepts her punishment. Cheetahpaw is quick on her paws to stop in front of Spiderpaw. "I knew there was something wrong with you! I knew it!"

Spiderpaw gets up and pads to the medicine cat den, but Cheetahpaw stuck to his side like a burr.

"What kind of cat takes a mate from another Clan? I wonder if you'll stab us in the back, too, I wouldn't put past you! Like father like son!"

Spiderpaw whirls around to glare into Cheetahpaw's smug eyes when Creekstar calls his name over his shoulder.

"Don't attack your Clanmates." He warns him. "Back down and walk away."

Spiderpaw growls and slowly turns around as Creekstar pads away.

"You see that? Not even our leader trusts you! Why don't you do us all a favor and leave!"

Spiderpaw begins to see red as Softpaw touches his head with her paw.

"I'm here, brother."

Duskcloud approaches her kits with regret in her eyes. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I truly am."

Spiderpaw snarls. "You're only sorry that you got caught!"

"I wanted to tell you when you became a warrior, and Softpaw became a medicine cat."

"You know full well how long it will be before Softpaw gets her name!" Spiderpaw spat, his fur rising on his spine.

"You didn't have to tell me - I was fine without knowing that a ThunderClan cat is my father! Now I have to put up with Cheetahpaw gloating at every chance she gets!"

Duskcloud falters, but she looks at Spiderpaw with big, pleading eyes.

"It hurt me to see Cheetahpaw treat you this way. Please, forgive me."

"No."

"Spiderpaw-."

"Get lost!" Spiderpaw spat. "Just leave me alone and don't even speak to me!"

Softpaw blinks. "Just give us space, Mom."

Duskcloud pads away from her kits, her tail dragging in the dirt.

"Ooh Half-Clan! It's time to go hunting!"

Spiderpaw looks at Cheetahpaw waiting over the hills with Hollyclaw and Brackenfall, as smug as ever.

"I'll be sure to stop by ThunderClan to get a squirrel for you!"

Spiderpaw feels his world crumble as he stalks up the hill and burns with resentment.

You ruined my life, Duskcloud. I'll never forgive you for it.