CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"What do you want, Larkwing?" I asked, my tail lashing as the WindClan cat creeped over the border in ShadowClan territory. I could smell a ThunderClan patrol. She would get caught. Slateleaf and Cometmoon went farther down to keep marking the border. I could handle her though.

The WindClan cat sat up from her alarmed crouch. "I just wanted to let you know," she mewed in a hushed voice, "we're coming to get you. And Beestripe. And all the other traitors." Her eyes flashed and a smile creeped across her face.

My pelt pricked in anger. "You better run before I claw that smile off your face," I growled and as soon as she took off running I pelted after her, ignoring the scent markers, stretching out my legs to keep up with her. WindClan cats really weren't that fast. To me at least.

We raced through ThunderClan territory and panic edged in me. ThunderClan would destroy us if they knew we were on their territory. I jumped up into the air and tackled the she-cat, bringing her down to the ground. I pinned her down.

"You didn't run fast enough," I growled into her ear and felt her struggle beneath me. I wasn't going to kill her but she needed to learn a lesson. "You think it's fun, torturing other cats?" My blood was flowing and my excitement was rising.

Larkwing let out a gasp and then her ears pricked and I heard a twig snap. My ears pricked too and I heard a growl just through the bushes.

Somehow, Larkwing had a mental agreement to check it out and I got off her, creeping through the bushes and hearing her follow after me.

In a small clearing, Squirrelflight was was laying on the ground, scratches and blood coated her pelt and standing over her was Stormcloud. The gray tabby was smiling and he dug his claws into her neck, leaning downwards on her neck.

The ThunderClan deputy parted her jaws and then let out an earsplitting yowl that echoed around us. Stormcloud didn't even flinch as he killed the deputy.

Larkwing and I looked at each other with wide eyes and instantly she pelted towards the WindClan border and I pelted towards the ShadowClan border, tears in my eyes and panic in my throat.

He heard you! He's coming! I thought, pushing myself to go faster, dodging the trees like back in the pine forest. I pretended I was there as I got closer to the ThunderClan border, seeing seven warriors lined up by it, Beestripe's familiar pelt catching my eye.

"Beestripe!" I panted as I barreled into her, clawing away from the ThunderClan border in fear. "Please, please, he's coming!" I pleaded, trying to get away but feeling Beestripe sink her teeth in my scruff and set me on my paws.

"Cloudsong!" she snapped and I froze, my eyes watering. I made out Thornclaw, Brackenfur, Ivypool, Slateleaf, Cometmoon, Flowerstem, and Sleekfeather. They were all staring at me. "What happened? Where's Larkwing? Are you okay?" she asked in her mother voice.

I took a few breaths, letting it run through my head again. It probably didn't happen that way. I imagined it. "N-nothing… I chased Larkwing out of ThunderClan territory. I'm okay." I gazed at Brackenfur who was gazing at me in suspicion. "I apologize heavily for intruding on your territory. It won't happen again." Somehow I turned around and I wanted to get far away from that border.

The other's trailed after me and I could already hear their questions: Why did you panic and freak out? Why are you so freaked out? What was that yowl? I didn't want to hear their questions. I was terrified of the kittypet who just murdered Squirrelflight. When someone found out, outsiders like me would be judged even more. RiverClan was probably right about us.

As camp approached I sped up, entering the camp. My eyes flickered to the warrior's den and I walked forward, my paws turning my to the empty apprentices den. I wanted to be alone.

"Cloudsong?" Slateleaf was in front of me now, his eyes wide. "You get to your nest, I'll bring you something to eat." He padded away and I slipped into the apprentice's den, laying in my old nest. My stomach growled.

Slateleaf slipped in a few heartbeats later, a lizard in his jaws and he set it down in front of me, laying down in the nest next to the one I was in.

I gulped down the lizard in two bites and curled up in the nest, getting comfortable and closing my eyes. I felt Slateleaf move but I was too tired to care. I drifted to sleep soundlessly.

His claws dug deeper in the ginger she-cat's neck. Blood oozed out and I could feel Larkwing tense up next to me. Fear welled up in my throat as did panic. We needed to run, now. Squirrelflight let out a cry of pain, her eyes watering as she gazed at us, pleading for help.

I whipped around, trying to run but feeling thorns holding me back. The WindClan cat sprinted away without a struggle, leaving me alone.

Stormcloud loomed over me, his eyes shining in excitement and his claws and mouth stained with blood. He smiled widely, his teeth coated in blood and he lashed a claw out at me, pain stung in my shoulder and I looked down to see blood.

"It's too late," he hissed and lunged at me. I felt his jaws clamp around my neck and darkness overcame me.

"Cloudsong!" I felt something shake me and my eyes peeled open. I sat up and looked at me surroundings, recognizing the apprentice's den and seeing the sleek gray tom in front of me. He looked confused and concerned. "Are you okay? You were rolling around and whining."

I parted my jaws to come up with an excuse but my mind went blank. Stormcloud killed Squirrelflight. I saw it happened. I needed to tell someone. "I need to speak with Beestripe!" I blurted and exited the den, seeing dawn was approaching and my old mentor was in the middle of the clearing, waiting.

"Cloudsong," she purred, "good to see you." Her eyes shone in happiness. "Are you okay?"

My head shook and I hissed to her, "Stormcloud killed Squirrelflight, Beestripe. I saw it, in ThunderClan territory."

She was staring at me, her thoughts racing I could tell. I couldn't tell if she believed me. She looked overwhelmed and confused. "Squirrelflight is dead?" she whispered.

"Yes! Larkwing was there too!" I growled, eager to do something. "We have to warn ThunderClan!" I told her and began to pad towards the entrance.

Beestripe was nodding in agreement and then followed me out of the camp, beginning to run. "Fast, Cloudsong. We need to move fast!" she ordered and sped up, stretching her long legs as far as they could reach and I copied, speeding through ShadowClan territory, trying to keep up with the deputy and her long legs.

I was panting by the time we reached the ThunderClan border. Beestripe stopped at the edge, looking over it with wide eyes.

"We should just go over right?" I asked her.

The deputy stared across the border. "No, there's a patrol coming." Her eyes narrowed and I could see she was scared, just like me.

"Beestripe?" Cloudtail emerged from the darkness, Ambermoon and Larkpaw trailing after. "How may we help you?" His eyes flickered to me with uncertainty. And then Stormcloud slid through the bushes, his eyes narrowed and resting on the deputy.

She hesitated. "Oh, nothing. Just marking the border.," she purred innocently, not taking her eyes off Stormcloud. "How're you doing?"

Cloudtail frowned. "Squirrelflight died yesterday, not sure how yet." His tail flicked. "We'll find out soon enough though." He smiled at Beestripe. "Carry on." Then led the group down the border, Stormcloud flashing a smirk to me.

I felt fear flash through me. "Beestripe what're you doing?" I growled when they were out of earshot. "We have to go see Bramblestar!"

"No, we follow him. I'm worried he'll try something else…" She crouched down low and jumped on their scent markers, rolling around in it. I caught on easily and copied her and then padded over the border, following the ThunderClan cats through the forest, just close enough to hear what they were saying but not too close.

"Is it odd that Beestripe was so close to the border?" Stormcloud asked and my pelt prickled. He wouldn't be able to kill any of these warriors. They'd gang up on him too fast, it would be mouse-brained.

Cloudtail's eyes flickered over to him. "No, Beestripe is very concerned with ThunderClan's side. She is not a threat. The faster she becomes the next leader, the better. Rowanstar has never truly liked ThunderClan."

Larkpaw's eyes lit up. "Why has he never liked us? We've helped his Clan in battle!"

Ambermoon hushed her apprentice but Cloudtail explained anyways, "Because of Tigerstar." And that was it, that was his explanation.

They walked in silence, occasionally stopping to mark the border and then kept walking. Cloudtail changed course and began to walk back to camp when Stormcloud mewed, "Hey I'll be back in camp in a bit. I want to go for a walk."

The fluffy white warrior paused, looking like he was going to decline him but he nodded. "Alright, make sure to bring back some prey." Then he led the other two away.

Stormcloud watched them leave and then his eyes flickered to the bushes Beestripe and I were hiding in. "Why are you following me?"

Beestripe tensed up beside me and I could feel her claws slide out, fear reeking from her pelt but before she could exit the bushes, another voice spoke up, "I wasn't following you, Stormcloud."

It was Nightfur. He had came into view and was standing in front of our bush. "I know what you did Stormcloud."

Now, Beestripe slid out of the bushes, pushing past her former mate. "You killed Squirrelflight!" she challenged, eyes narrowed.

The ThunderClan warrior smirked as I stood behind Beestripe. "Oh no, you caught me." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Do something about it." Before I could react he had slid his claws out and tackled Nightfur, easily bringing him down to the ground, digging his claws into his stomach.

Panic rose in my throat. Would he kill again? So close to his camp?

"This is your mate, right Beestripe?" he chuckled and dug his claws further in him. "It will be a shame for the kits to lose their father." Stormcloud dug his claws in deeper.

My eyes widened and fear struck me. My dream flashed back to me and panic rose in my throat. Would he kill all of us? I looked at Beestripe but she was too focused on Nightfur who was bleeding heavily now.

Suddenly, darkness washed over us, everything was completely dark. The sun had disappeared and I heard whimpers of pain and then silence.

"Beestripe?" I whispered, turning my head to where Nightfur and Stormcloud where but I couldn't see that far, I couldn't even see Beestripe but I wanted her to respond. I needed to know I wasn't alone, my panic was rising. What had happened to the sun? It was probably about to be sunhigh and it was just gone.

I felt her pelt brush mine. A few heartbeats passed but she said nothing, and then... The sun was back and it took my eyes a few moments to adjust but when they did, all I could see was Nightfur's limp cold, dead body on the ground and Stormcloud racing through the bushes.

"Cloudsong," Beestripe mewed urgently, "I need you to get to ThunderClan camp fast, inform them of this. I'll get Nightfur back to RiverClan. Quickly." She grabbed her dead mate's scruff and I could see her struggle not to cry as she dragged him away.

But I quickly put my mind together and sprinted towards the ThunderClan camp, focusing everything on what I was going to say. I pushed the sun, the dream, my fear, and even the prophecy I was given so many moons ago out of my mind.

"Cloudsong!" a startled yowl made my mind flicker back to the present just as I tackled Ivypool and we rolled down into ThunderClan camp.

I quickly got off her. "I am so sorry, Ivypool! I must speak to Bramblestar!" I looked around urgently, seeing the leader already padding over to me.

The leader was very large up close. "What do you need?"

My throat went dry but somehow I managed to get the words out, "Stormcloud murdered Squirrelflight yesterday! Larkwing and I witnessed it. Just moments before the sun went out, he murdered Nightfur, a RiverClan warrior who followed Beestripe and I to confront him about it. I hope you believe me and take this under consideration and exile him from ThunderClan." I dipped my head respectfully and Ivypool stood beside Bramblestar with wide eyes.

"Very well. Thank you, Cloudsong." Bramblestar dipped his head to me back and then muttered something to Ivypool. "Spiderleg, Rosepetal, and Bumblestripe, please escort Cloudsong back to ShadowClan territory." Then he turned away, mumbled to Ivypool quietly as they padded to his den.

Maybe Ivypool was his new deputy.

I let the ThunderClan leaders led me back to camp, hoping Beestripe would already be there to explain what happened and not leave me alone.

Just as I'd hoped, Beestripe was in the clearing speaking with Rowanstar who was nodding slowly, his eyes half closed. He looked worse than before. Everyone had gathered around to listen to Beestripe explain. Rowanstar's pelt looked like it had lost color and he barely seemed to be listening.

I slipped in, now standing beside Beestripe. She was explaining about Nightfur now and I could hear in her pauses that she was trying not to cry. She must've cried when she was alone. Poor Beestripe.

After she finished Rowanstar looked at her with tiredness. "Beestripe," he grumbled in a low voice, "I trust you all the way." He dipped his head and struggled to his paws. "Today, I wish to do a ceremony." His eyes flickered to the kits inching out of the nursery, whispering to each other silently.

"Lightkit and Shadowkit, step forward!"

Beestripe's face lit up with surprise but he two kits raced over to stand in front of Rowanstar.

Rowanstar's eyes shone. "Lightkit and Shadowkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you both to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Lightpaw. Your mentor will be Whiteeyes. I hope Whiteeyes will pass down all he knows on to you. Until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Shadowpaw. Your mentor will be Cloudsong. I hope Cloudsong will pass down all she knows on to you." He dipped his head.

Excitement exploded in my chest. I get to mentor Shadowpaw! I knew he held promise in his paws. I was for sure that he would be an outgoer, though. But I guess things change.

I touch my nose to Shadowpaw's nose and he purrs with delight, "I knew you'd be my mentor." He and I were a good team.

Rowanstar clears his throat and all eyes flick back to him. "I hate to break up the happiness but I am far too old to be leader of ShadowClan anymore." His eyes landed on Beestripe who was frozen, staring at the leader. "I am retiring as leader and will join Kinkfur in the elder's den while Beestripe goes to get her name and nine lives tonight with Puddleheart." He dipped his head and padded to Kinkfur who began talking excitedly.

"I will proudly lead ShadowClan with fairness, honesty, and trust. However, I will do what I think is right for the Clan." She dipped her head respectfully and turned to Puddleheart who nodded at her. "I say this before StarClan that they approve my choice, Tawnypelt is ShadowClan's new deputy."

Tawnypelt's head rose up and she gazed at Beestripe and then nodded her head, agreeing.

"I will go with Puddleheart to get my new name and lives tonight!" she mewed loudly.

Yowls of approvement echoed through the clearing and Puddleheart led Beestripe out of camp, whispering something to her.

My eyes flickered to my new apprentice. "Go pick out your nest, we'll start training in the morning," I told him and watched Lightpaw bounced to her brother and they slipped into the apprentice's den.

I glanced over to the entrance where Beestripe disappeared, my heart breaking for her. She'd lost so much and yet she's so strong. Keep her safe, StarClan.