Shadowblaze glaced at Hawkclaw and quietly asked, "Will you help me carve this chunk of wood out of this tree?" Hawkclaw nodded and the two began to slowly carve the chunk of wood out of the now dead tree.
It took a very long time, but finally the wood came came loose and Shadowblaze grabbed it and began to carve a deep scratch mark in between Skystar's claw mark and the rests marks. Then she glanced at Hawkclaw and flipped the wood over and shoved it towards him. He glanced at her confusedly, so she explained, "Since I consider you part of my family now, you have to add your mark to the wood." Hawkclaw nodded and carved a long and deep scratch into the backside of the chunk of wood. When he finished Shadowblaze took the wood and added her own scratch, right next to Hawkcaw's.
Then she grabbed the wood and led Hawkclaw off the island and back to their friends. Lunastar looked up from where she was lying and tipped her head, silently asking why they were gone for so long. Shadowblaze just shook her head and mouthed, 'Family stuff' Lunastar nodded and laid her head back down on her paws and shut her eyes.
Shadowblaze walked over to a patch of grass and curled into a ball, the chunk of wood lying beside her. Hawkclaw settled beside her and she shut her eyes, following Thornhollow and Lunastar into the world of dreams.
The next morning Shadowblaze woke to small, wet drops of something dripping on her face and someone sniggering in the background. She opened her eyes to find Thornhollow standing over her, a small clump of moss clamped in his mouth dripping water on her face, and a look of confusion on his face, "Why isn't this working?" he muttered, "Shadowblaze made her's drench me, so why can't I make this one drench her?"
Shadowblaze sniggered and spoke up, "Maybe you should get a bigger clump of moss." she snorted, looking at the tiny piece of moss. In the background Lunastar let out a huge snort of laughter and shouted, "I told you so Thornhollow!" Thornhollow just grunted in annoyance, then his eyes lit up and he looked at Shadowblaze with an evil look in his eyes. She eyed him warily and started to back away.
Thornhollow took a step forward and Shadowblaze immediately broke into a run and darted away from Thornhollow, he chased after her and when he caught her he grabbed her scruff and carried her over to the stream. "Will you tell me how you got the moss to drench me?" he demanded, dangling her over the water, "You wouldn't dare." Shadowblaze stated, certain that if he did drop her in she was going to murder him in his sleep.
"Oh really?" Thornhollow innocently asked, loosening his grip a little. "I still won't tell you." Shadowblaze deadpanned, "Fine." Thornhollow said, then he opened his mouth and dropped Shadowblaze into the water.
"THORNHOLLOW! I WILL MURDER YOU! GET OVER HERE I WANT TO RIP YOUR HEAD OFF AND FEED IT TO FOXES!" Shadowblaze screeched as her pelt was soaked by the water in the stream. Thornhollow was standing on the shore, laughing his head off. Shadowblaze glared at him and made eye contact with Lunastar, trying to silently tell her what to do. Her eyes widened as she understood what Shadowblaze was trying to tell her to do. "Do it!" Shadowblaze mouthed.
Lunastar sighed and quietly walked over to Thornhollow, "Sorry!" she shouted as she shoved him into the stream. Thornhollow 's head popped out of the water and he glared balefully at Lunastar. She just slowly shook her head and pointed her paw at Shadowblaze. Shadowblaze glared at Lunastar and yelled, "Traitor!" then she waded over to the bank and pulled Lunastar into the stream with her and Thornhollow.
She yelped in surprise and then splashed at Shadowblaze with her paws. This then started a splash fight. They laughed as they drenched each other and tried to get to the shore before another one of them pulled them back into the stream.
Shadowblaze managed to claw her way out of the stream and left Thornhollow and Lunastar in there fighting each other to get out. Hawkclaw chose that moment to walk into their temporary camp and ask, "What did I miss?"
We're almost at the border!" Shadowblaze called as the group walked through an unclaimed part of the forest towards the Thunderclan border. "I can't wait to see my brother!" Shadowblaze exclaimed, "And Twigclaw!" Hawkclaw added, "Yeah." she agreed. She glanced back at Lunastar and Thornhollow who were falling behind, Lunastar seemed kinda nervous, then she appeared to blurt something out. Shadowblaze grinned, Lunastar had just told Thornhollow about her crush on him.
"Hey lovebirds! Hurry up!" Shadowblaze shouted, they jumped apart in surprise and she smirked. Then Hawkclaw called from ahead, "I'm at the border, should we wait for a patrol or just walk in?" Shadowblaze shrugged, "We'll wait for a few moments, then we'll just go in. We are Thunderclan cats." Hawkclaw nodded and they sat down to wait.
A while later Shadowblaze announced, "I say we just go in, the patrol's not coming." "Yes!" Thornhollow yelled, "My paws fell asleep!" Lunastar snorted and hauled herself onto her feet. Shadowblaze took a step forward and immediately overwhelmed with the familiar but yet unfamiliar scent of the Thunderclan scent markers.
Behind her Hawkclaw crossed the border and muttered, "Yeesh, this smell is really strong." Shadowblaze would've laughed if her nose wasn't being assaulted by the scent too. She turned around and called, "Lunastar! Thornhollow! Come on!" they hesitantly came past the scent markers and walked to where Shadowblaze and Hawkclaw were, "What do we do now?" Lunastar asked, "Uh, I dunno, Hawkclaw?" Shadowblaze turned to Hawkclaw, searching for a plan, "Well I guess we could follow the border for a little to see if we can find a patrol, that way we won't get attacked when we reach the camp."
"Good plan." Shadowblaze said, nodding, "Let's go." she began to follow the scent markers while also trying to scent any other cats that might be at the border.
After plodding along for what felt like an eternity Thornhollow's head shot up and he called, "I small a bunch of cats." Shadowblaze lifted her head and sniffed the air, about six cats were headed their way. "Come on!" Shadowblaze called, running towards the cats.
Leaves crunched under their paws as they ran toward the cats. Soon the patrol came into sight. Three apprentices and their mentors. Surprise filled Shadowblaze's mind as she recognized the apprentices, "Sparkkit! Blazekit! Cliffkit!" she called. The apprentices froze and turned to look at Shadowblaze in surprise, then Sparkkit yowled, "Shadowblaze and Hawkclaw are back!" they ran up to Shadowblaze and began firing questions at her.
Oaktail, Yellowfur and Snakewhisker followed their apprentices and eyed Thornhollow and Lunastar warily, "Will they eat us?" Snakewhisker questioned, Hawkclaw and Shadowblaze snorted, "No they're our friends, this is Lunastar and that's Thornhollow." they nodded but wariness still lingered in their eyes.
"Can we go back to the camp?" Shadowblaze asked. Yellowfur nodded and began to lead them to camp.
As they walked into the camp all of the cats stopped and stared at them. Twigclaw's voice called, "Shadowblaze! Hawkclaw! Welcome home!" Shadowblaze spotted him as he squeezed out of the crowd of cats and stood in front of her and Hawkclaw. He smiled, "It's great to have you two back. Skystar's in the medicine cat's den."
Shadowblaze turned Lunastar and Thornhollow and said, "Guys, why don't you go with Sparkpaw, Blazepaw and Cliffpaw." they nodded and the apprentices excitedly dragged them off. She then turned back to Thornhollow and said, "Let's go." he turned and led Shadowblaze and Hawkclaw to the medicine cat's den.
Shadowblaze poked her head into the medicine cat's den and found Fernshine pulling a thorn out of Skystar's paw while Sandfire sat nearby, watching warily. As she watched a kit who looked about 5 moons old ran past her into the den and sat next to Sandfire and asked, "What's going on mom?" Shadowblaze guessed that the kit was Foxkit, Sandfire and Skystar's son.
Shadowblaze waited until the thorn was out and then stepped into the den, calling, "Hey Skystar." Skystar whipped his head around and blinked in surprise, "You're back." Sandfire stated, disgust filling her eyes, "I thought you died." Shadowblaze narrowed her eyes and hissed, "I don't see why this concerns you."
Sandfire narrowed her eyes too, "Well the last time I checked I was the leader's mate." "Just get out." Shadowblaze growled. Sandfire snarled but before she could even try to attack Shadowblaze Skystar cut in, "Yes, Sandfire could you please go, we have to discuss their quest." Sandfire humphed but grudgingly went out of the den.
"Well how did the quest go?" "Fine." Shadowblaze said curtly, "I came to talk to Birchpaw, do you know where he is?" Skystar hesitated and Twigclaw jumped in, "I'll tell her." he said. He stood and beckoned for Shadowblaze to come with him. She followed him to the outside of the medicine cat's den.
"Shadowblaze," he began, "Birchpaw died." he stated bluntly, "What?" Shadowblaze asked, "He died, Shadowblaze, I'm sorry. Sandfire asked him to get some feverfew for Foxkit and he agreed, he went out to get the herbs and never came back." "No." Shadowblaze insisted, even though she knew that it was true, "He can't be dead." her head whirled with thoughts and she raced into the forest.
Hawkclaw found her curled in a ball at the foot of a tree, wrapped around her precious piece of bark. "Shadowblaze." Shadowblaze looked up, "What?" she questioned, "Are you ok?" he asked, "Yeah, I'm fine." he eyed her and she did her best to reassure him that she was fine.
They returned to the camp and Twigclaw immediately came up to Shadowblaze and opened his mouth, about to say something, but before he could Shadowblaze cut in, "I'm fine." he nodded and left. Shadowblaze spotted a hunting patrol about to go out and called, "Guys, can I come with you?" the cats on the patrol looked at her then nodded. She turned to Hawkclaw, touched her nose to his ear and told him ,"See you soon." then she ran off to join the patrol.
"Ok, Cometfire go hunt near the Windclan border, Deerstreak go hunt at the Riverclan border, Shadowblaze you go to the Shadowclan border, I'll go to the other border." the patrol nodded and raced off to hunt. Shadowblaze got to the border and began to hunt. She quickly found a few mice and shrews. She also found a rabbit that made her chase it all over the area where she was hunting. When she finally caught it she satisfiedly placed it on the pile of fresh kill she'd caught. Then she returned to hunting.
"Shadowblaze!" the mouse she'd been stalking darted away into the undergrowth, "Mousedung!" she growled, standing to see who had disrupted her hunt. "What do you want Cliffpaw?" she snapped, more than a little annoyed. "Skystar told me to get you! Rabbit bones were found on our territory! Reeking of Shadowclan scent. Skystar wants to attack them to show them that we're stronger than they are." Shadowblaze nodded, "Well let's go back to the camp." Cliffpaw nodded and Shadowblaze grabbed her kills then they raced through the forest, heading towards camp.
They burst into the camp and after she dropped off the fresh kill, Shadowblaze went up to Hawkclaw, "What's Skystar gonna do?" Hawkclaw shook his head, "I dunno." she groaned, "Then I'll go ask Twigclaw." she walked over to Twigclaw and he told her that Skystar was planning the attack right now.
Just as she finished talking to Twigclaw Skystar appeared from his den and leapt onto the Leader's Rock, "We will attack now. Twigclaw will lead a patrol straight to the Shadowclan camp and attack from the front. I will lead a patrol to the left side of their camp. Sandfire, take another patrol to the right side and attack from there. Snakewhisker, take a small patrol into their cap and flush out the elders, queens and kits. Once, they're out we'll attack the warriors."
Most of the cats just sat in complete silence, in complete shock about what had just come out of their leader's mouth. Then a cat hesitantly called out, "We won't kill anyone, will we?" Skystar stare at the cat who had spoken out with a deadly gaze and replied, "That depends."
Shadowblaze crouched next to Skystar in the undergrowth near the Shadowclan camp, the quiet sounds of breathing surrounded her as her clanmate waited for Snakewhisker's signal that they'd gotten the queens and kits and elders out. A branch snapped five times in the distance and a voice called, "Branches snapped!"
Skystar stood and flicked his tail, the two other patrol slipped into the surrounding forest and disappeared. Then he signaled for his patrol to get into position. They slunk through the gloomy forest, past dark trees until they reached a clump of brambles that protected the Shadowclan camp. Skystar paused and then yowled, "ATTACK!" he then jumped through the bushes and the battle began.
Shadowblaze raced into the camp, trying to ignore the little voice that kept telling her that this was wrong. She tripped on a root and was sent sprawling, the voice she had pushed aside surged into a wave of guilt and she finally gave into it.
"Don't stop till they're all dead!" Skystar screamed, Shadowblaze wove across the battlefield until she reached Skystar, she leapt onto his back and clamped her paws onto his ears, then she raised her voice above the cries of the battle and screamed, "STOP! WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS WRONG! WE HAVE TO GET RID OF SKYSTAR, HE WAS A GREAT LEADER BUT HIS ORDERS ARE AGAINST THE WARRIOR CODE AND WRONG. WHO'S WITH ME?" for a moment there was silence then as one the Thunderclan and Shadowclan cats yowled, "We all are!" Shadowblaze grinned.
"NO!" a shrill voice shrieked and a bundle of ginger fur launched herself into Shadowblaze, Shadowblaze immediately reacted by leaping off Skystar and letting Sandfire crash into Skystar's side. Then she began to circle the two cats in front of her, Sandfire let out a guttural scream and launched herself at Shadowblaze, her attack caught Shadowblaze by surprise and Sandfire began to furiously scratch at Shadowblaze's face and pelt.
Shadowblaze fell but began fighting back. Blood dripped onto her pelt as she dug her claws into Sandfire's underbelly and thrust her off. She pulled herself to her feet and shook her head to shake the blood out of her eyes. Sandfire was curled into a ball at the edge of the clearing, nursing the few wounds she had received. The Shadowclan leader, Owlstar stepped forward and called, "Who's the deputy?" Twigclaw stepped forward and dipped his head. Owlstar nodded in return and said, "I hope we can have peace in the future." Twigclaw nodded in agreement and Skystar yowled, "Why are you discussing clan matter with him? I'm the leader!"
Everycat in the clearing just looked at him and then Twigclaw stepped forward and said, "I, Twigclaw, soon to be leader of Thunderclan, hereby banish Skystar the former leader of Thunderclan." Skystar looked enraged, "No! I AM LEADER." he turned and ran into the forest. The crowd of cats ran after him, SHadowblaze spotted Skystar weaving in between trees, heading towards the Thunderclan border. "Skystar! Stop! There's-" "YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ME!" Skystar screamed and kept running. Some cats raced through the forest and intercepted him before he could reach the Thunderclan border. He dodged the cats and began running towards the canyon.
Everycat watched in horror as the former leader reached the edge, tried to stop and plunged over the side. Shadowblaze unfroze and darted to the edge where she crouched and watched in horrified fascination as Skystar fell towards the thunderpath that occupied the bottom of the canyon.
In a precise order, as if Starclan themself planned it, a monster passed through the canyon right as Skystar reached the thunderpath, the monster which had a round body that had some strange twoleg markings that looked like, "GASOLINE" written on the side. It hit Skystar and then swerved madly before hitting the canyon wall. A few heartbeats later the canyon exploded.
Searing heat and flames singed the clouds and blocked the sun, and in that time a new star appeared in the heavens.
Then a gentle rain fell and doused the flames, an angry twoleg stomped out of the monster and started screaming. A light fell upon the gathering of cats and nine stars sailed down from above and surrounded Twigclaw. Each stepped forward and touched their nose to his head after saying something that no one but Twigclaw could hear.
After the ninth cat went they vanished into thin air and the cats around her began to cry, "TWIGSTAR! TWIGSTAR! TWIGSTAR!" Shadowblaze cheered along with them.
When the cheering ceased she ran up to her old mentor and jumped on his shoulders and yelled, "You did it!" Hawkclaw appeared at his side too, a large grin on his face.
Twigstar basked in the praise for another moment before lifting his voice and calling, "Thunderclan! Let's go home!" a cheer arose and as one the Thunderclan cats followed their new leader home.
When they returned to their rightful place Twigstar jumped on the Leader's rock and called, "It is now time for me to pick a deputy. Today I have seen this cat demonstrate great leadership skills and there is no other cat that I would like to lead this clan after I'm dead." he paused and Shadowblaze wondered who he would pick, "Shadowblaze." WHAT? Whatever she had expected, this wasn't it, "Do you accept the position of deputy?" Shadowblaze looked at him in surprise, then she quickly made up her mind, "Y-" "WAIT! She hasn't mentored and apprentice yet!" the others began to murmur amongst themselves after Wrenwing yelled that.
Twigstar ended that debate quickly by yelling, "She will mentor Foxkit when he is old enough." most of the cats silenced after that, but some were still uneasy and mutter to themselves. The majority of the cats lifted their voices together and called, "Shadowblaze! Shadowblaze! Shadowblaze!"
Shadowblaze lifted her head proudly, here she was still standing tall after everything that had happened. "I hope you're watching me." she thought towards the heavens, aiming it at her mother, sister, brother, Thorn and Shadow who had died for might've been her imagination, but Shadowblaze thought that she heard voices saying, "We are so proud of you Shadowblaze." and Thorn's voice called through their mind connection, "Yay!"
A/N ok guys, this is the last chapter I have prewritten, I will no longer be able to update everyday. Chapter 18 will be out in about 5 or 6 days.