Cloverpaw's Shadow

Chapter 13

Finchstar jumped down from the branch, shocked. Who would dare attack the clans on a gathering? Surely Starclan would be angry!

But soon a battle was raging, and the moon still shone as bright as ever. Finchstar took a step forward, and was bowled back by a dark ginger tom. He slashed his claws over the toms face, and sent him howling into the bushes.

Looking around, he tried to spot a friendly face. His heart froze though, when he saw Cloverpaw in the midst. She was fighting with Frostpetal, and while Frostpetal was a strong cat, she was quickly overtaken by the pretty white she-cat. Before Finchstar knew what was happening, Cloverpaw had reached him and shoved him behind a boulder.

"I finally get to finish this." She hissed. Finchstar struggled, but he couldn't break free. At first he was impressed with her strength, but then he realized the situation. He could hear hisses and screeches, but everything was strangely silent in the grove they had tumbled into.

"Cloverpaw," Finchstar said with a strained voice. "Please. You don't want to do this."

She leaned in closer. "You don't know what I want." She lifted her head and gazed at the stretch of water. 

Darkness is coming.

Finchstar heaved Cloverpaw off of him and backed away. She snarled and whipped to him. "What? Scared to fight a puny little apprentice?"

Finchstar raised his hackles. "I can't fight you." He said.

Cloverpaw advanced. "And why not?" She sneered at him.

He looked away, tears filling his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was barely audible.

"Because you're my daughter."

***

Cloverpaw wasn't sure what she felt. Confusion. Anger. Hope. Guilt.

And rage. So. Much. Rage.

"No," she hissed. "Tallsky is my father. And Birdflower is my mother. Not... not you."

Finchstar took a deep breath. "It's true. I'm not lying."

"No," she whispered.

Just then, a black tabby came into view. Twistedbrook. 

"Cloverpaw!" He snarled. "Why are you sitting there chatting like a bunch of elders? Attack him!"

Giving Finchstar a wide-eyed look she said, "I can't!"

Twistedbrook hissed. "Fine. I'll do it."

He leaped at the ginger-pelted leader. "No!" Cloverpaw cried. Without thinking, she sprang up and shoved Twistedbrook back. He crashed into a tree and she landed on top of him. In one quick movement she had him twisted around with her paws on his neck.

Twistedbrook gave a laugh that started Cloverpaw so much she lost her grip and fell to the ground. He was on her in an instant.

"You think," He said, lowering his head to hers. "That you can best me? You're mistaken."

 Cloverpaw struggled, twisting and turning but unable to slip free.

"All I've ever done is try to help you," Twistedbrook continued. "And yet, here you are, betraying my orders to kill this wretched cat. But I'll give you one more chance." He let her up and flicked his ears to Finchstar. "Kill him now."

***

Finchstar's eyes flicked back and forth between the tabby and Cloverpaw. She advanced towards him and he shrank back, flattening his ears against his head.

She gave him a look of determination. Then she leaped.

Finchstar shut his eyes and waited for her weight to bowl him over. But nothing happened and after a moment he opened his eyes.

Cloverpaw had the tabby pinned to the ground. Finchstar tensed, sure the little white she-cat was about to get crushed. But no matter how hard the tabby struggled, Cloverpaw had a good grip on him.

"I will not let you kill my father," she hissed at him. "The only one who deserves to die is you."

The tabby laughed, but Finchstar could see fear in his eyes. "Have you forgotten I'm already dead?" he reminded her. "Not much use killing a dead cat."

Cloverpaw dug her claws in harder. "You're not dead."

The tabby flicked his eyes to Finchstar. "Do you remember me?" He asked. Finchstar shook his head with confusion.

The tabby sighed. "My daughter would be so disappointed. Surely you haven't forgotten about your love?"

Finchstar froze. "You killed her?" He whispered. "But... but why?"

The tabby studied him. "Why do you turn away your only kin left? Give her to another she-cat and never show any love to her? Finally revealing the truth just so you won't lose another precious life." He shook his head. "Have you even told her the full truth? About how you left her to die? Didn't wait until she came to? Or what about the time when she made that promise? Have you forgotten about that?"

Finchstar was shaking now. "I loved her," he said. "And you tore that away because of your selfish greed. She's your kin too!"

The tabby stared up at the trees. "I know. And believe me, if I could go back, I would."

Finchstar hissed. But before he could say anything, Cloverpaw interrupted them.

"Who are we talking about?" She said with visible puzzlement.

Before Finchstar could stop him, the tabby responded.

"Junipercloud. You mother."

***

Poolpaw hissed at the nearest cat, a dark tabby tom. He leaped on her and she struggled under his grip. She hadn't been trained to fight properly!

Suddenly a voice yowled, "Retreat!" and the tabby tom's weight vanished. Poolpaw struggled up and glanced around the clearing. Cats were vanishing through the trees, slipping into the darkness.

The next moments were a blur. All Poolpaw remembered seeing was her best friend staggering out of the clearing, coated in blood.