(A/N: Hey, I know it's been over a year since I last updated and I'm really sorry. I thought I could add more to my stories over the summer, but my personal life is a horrible wreck right now and I don't really have anyone I can talk to about it so I've been trying to sort through it on my own which is...stressful to say the least. I'll try and add some more chapters in the coming weeks though)
Chapter 8:
Featherbreeze followed Spottedmoon and Wasppaw into camp with a rabbit clutched in her jaws.
She dropped it upon seeing the Shadowclan tom from the battle.
"What is Shadowclan doing here?" She hissed.
"We're allies now, remember?" Breezeflight picked up the rabbit.
"Right," Featherbreeze ducked behind her sister as the tom glanced over his shoulder.
She saw a flash of recognition on his face.
"What is it?" Breezeflight looked concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Featherbreeze shook her head, slipping past the black she-cat since hiding was now futile.
"It's you," The tom blurted out, turning away from his clanmates.
"Who?" Featherbreeze recognized the white she-cat on his other side as Frostwing.
"I-I-I fought her at the battle with Riverclan," He stammered.
"Your name's Crowflight, right?" Featherbreeze asked, remembering his ginger clanmate.
He nodded. "I never got yours."
"It's Featherbreeze," She replied.
"And I'm Frostwing," The white she-cat stepped firmly between the two, glaring at Crowflight as she did so.
Featherbreeze ruffled her pelt in embarrassment. "Nice seeing you when you aren't trying to rip my fur off," She murmured to Crowflight.
"Why were you talking to him?" Rabbitflight asked suspiciously when they were out of earshot.
"We're allies," Featherbreeze shrugged.
"And how long do you think that's going to last?" Rabbitflight sniffed.
Featherbreeze shrugged. "Long enough for me to at least try to be friendly?"
"I just want you to be careful," Rabbitflight gave her a long look.
"I'm not a kit, I can take care of myself," Featherbreeze answered coolly.
"I care about you a lot, Featherbreeze," Rabbitflight suddenly dropped his voice to a whisper.
The silver she-cat tensed. "I can't talk about this right now."
Rabbitflight studied his paws. "I love you."
"Rabbitflight, come join our patrol!" Featherbreeze silently thanked Starclan for Buzzardclaw's extraordinarily well-timed yowl and refused to look up at Rabbitflight as he complied with the older tom's order.
She waited until he was out of the clearing before turning her attention back to the Shadowclan cats. Silverfern and Emberstar had disappeared, presumably into Stormstar's den while the three warriors waited nearby.
Her clanmates had generally gone back to business as usual, with the exception of the queens who exchanged nervous glances outside the nursery and the kits, who seemed to be daring each other to get closer to the outsiders.
Featherbreeze made sure no one else was watching before approaching the Shadowclan cats again. Crowflight was sitting a few mouselengths away from his clanmates who were talking quietly to each other.
"You again," He sounded pleased.
"Yes, me," Featherbreeze searched desperately for words.
Frostwing turned her head to give Crowflight another harsh look. The black tom ignored her.
"So why are you here?" She asked him finally.
"Emberstar wanted to discuss tactics with Stormstar," Crowflight explained.
"Well why you specifically?" Featherbreeze prompted.
"I'm not sure," Crowflight admitted. "My brother," he flicked his tail at the tabby and white tom beside Frostwing "is deputy now and he invited me."
"Your brother is deputy?" Featherbreeze's eyes widened in surprise.
"Redwing resigned his position," Crowflight flicked his ears dismissively. "It's not as though the clan could trust him anymore."
"I suppose that's true," Featherbreeze conceded, thinking of how the clan now treated Cedarfrost. "Shadowclan would probably be the most unforgiving of what he did."
"Yes," Crowflight agreed. "But can you argue that it's not good reasoning?"
"Sometimes good cats make bad mistakes," Featherbreeze replied. "I guess that being deputy makes it worse though."
As she was speaking, Stormstar and Emberstar emerged into the clearing. Both toms looked satisfied.
Emberstar beckoned to his warriors with his tail.
"So?" Frostwing prompted as she joined him, Crowflight's brother following shortly behind her.
"I'll explain to you back at camp," Emberstar promised.
"Would you like some of our warriors to accompany you to the border?" Stormstar offered.
"That won't be necessary," Emberstar dismissed the offer.
Stormstar looked as though he were going to argue, but merely nodded. "Very well."
Crowflight sighed and glanced back at Featherbreeze. "I'll see you at the next Gathering?"
"I'll be there," She promised.
Crowflight dipped his head to her and followed his clanmates out of the Windclan camp. Featherbreeze didn't turn away until he had disappeared from sight.
What is happening to me?