Warriors: In The Cold of Night [1]

Chapter 4

Featherheart had another patrol to go to. Her second patrol was at sunhigh, which was shortly after Featherheart returned from her patrol. Sharpleaf was cleaning himself near the warrior's den. The sky was still gray, but the clouds were starting to clear. Featherheart sighed and got ready to go back on patrol.

Her second patrol consisted of Shadowstalk, and Thorntail. Featherheart padded over to the entrance of ThunderClan. Featherheart saw Shadowstalk waiting there. Shadowstalk wove his tail in a "Hello". Featherheart greeted Shadowstalk. Thorntail was just now walking up to the two cats.

Thorntail looked happier than normal. He had just walked away from Snowfoot, who seemed happier than him. Featherheart had never seen Snowfoot that happy before. Thorntail came up to the patrol and looked like he was going to say something important.

"Snowfoot and I are mates now!" Thorntail meowed in an excited but calm tone. Sandydusk was in awe, so was the rest of the patrol. "Congratulations." Shadowstalk mewed calmly. Thorntail dipped his head in thanks.

Featherheart touched her nose to Thorntail's cheek. "I'm happy for you!" Featherheart meowed. Thorntail dipped his head and smiled. Across the clearing, Sharpleaf was sitting on a rock next to the Highrock, staring at the cold and hard dirt. Sharpleaf glanced at the patrol. Sharpleaf sighed when he saw Snowfoot nuzzle Thorntail.

Featherheart guessed Sharpleaf envied Thorntail having a mate. Sharpleaf saw Featherheart staring at him, but Sharpleaf flicked his tail, signaling for the patrol to head out. Featherheart sighed and began to head through the gorse tunnel.

When Featherheart padded into the tunnel, the rest of the patrol followed. Featherheart bounded out of the ravine at the head of the patrol. The rest of the patrol followed Featherheart up and out of the ravine.

Featherheart paused near RiverClan's river. She caught a fresh scent of fox. "Be careful, there is a very fresh scent of fox around here." Featherheart warned. Shadowstalk looked around cautiously. Thorntail nodded and unsheathed his claws. The rest of the patrol unsheathed their paws as well.

Featherheart also caught the scent of ShadowClan, but it smelled as if it was fading away. The ShadowClan scent was fresh, but mixed with the scent of a rogue. Featherheart heard rustling from the bushed behind her. She turned around and saw two foxes, except one of the foxes was smaller than the other. Featherheart suddenly realized that the second fox wasn't actually a fox, but it was Foxpelt from ShadowClan.

"Foxpelt?" Featherheart meowed. Foxpelt was Featherheart's friend at gatherings. They first met each other at their first gatherings as apprentices. They both went to their first gathering at the same time.

Foxpelt lifted her head, she looked like she was remembering the times when they were friends at each gathering. Foxpelt hissed. "Don't talk to me, I'm not in the mood." Foxpelt snarled and turned to walk away. The real fox stared at Foxpelt, confused. The real fox snarled and leaped at Featherheart.

Featherheart didn't have enough time to dodge the pounce and was pinned by the fox. The bloodthirsty fox widened it's jaws to land a death blow onto Featherheart. Featherheart scratched helplessly at the fox, but it didn't move.

Suddenly, as soon as the fox attempted to shut its sharp teeth into Featherheart's neck, Shadowstalk leaped onto the fox and sank his teeth into the back of its neck. Featherheart quickly got up and saw that Foxpelt came back and was attacking Thorntail.

"Thank you, Shadowstalk." Featherheart mewed. Shadowstalk meowed a "You're welcome" as he wrestled the fox. Featherheart leaped onto Foxpelt and sank her teeth into Foxpelt's leg. Foxpelt yowled and let go of Thorntail. Blood dripped down Thorntail's side.

Foxpelt must be very angry, but why is she so mad? Featherheart thought. Foxpelt pounced Featherheart, knocking the air out of her lungs. Featherheart took a moment to regain her breath, but when she did, Foxpelt held her head to the ground and stood on Featherheart's body, pinning her. 

"Why are you so mad?" Featherheart tried to say but it came out in mumbles because her jaw was forced into the dirt. Foxpelt slashed at Featherheart's ear. "SHUT UP." Foxpelt snarled loudly. The fox that Shadowstalk was fighting let go of her and fled. Featherheart guessed something bad was going to happen since foxes are strong.

Shadowstalk was injured badly. He limped rapidly over to Featherheart, but stumbled and fell. Shadowstalk fainted when he fell. Featherheart stared at Shadowstalk in horror, but Featherheart saw Shadowstalk's belly rise and fall. Featherheart was glad that Sandydusk was alive.

Foxpelt sank her claws into Featherheart's scruff. Featherheart couldn't bear the pain. Thorntail bounded towards Foxpelt, but Foxpelt turned towards Thorntail and said: "Another step forward, and Featherheart dies." Foxpelt hissed, keeping her grip on Featherheart. Thorntail backed up slowly, then ran.

Featherheart was bleeding from her scruff, ear, and nose. Blood boiled in Featherheart's ears. Why did Thorntail just ditch me? Featherheart hissed in her mind. "Why are you doing this? I thought you were my friend." Featherheart meowed desperately. Foxpelt loosened her grip. Foxpelt let go of Featherheart and sat down facing the other way. "It's all my fault. If I would have came back to camp earlier, none of this would have happened." Foxpelt sighed.

"Kill me. I deserve it." Foxpelt ordered. Featherheart was taken aback. "B-but you're my friend, I would never kill you." Featherheart meowed in a soft and comforting tone. Foxpelt sighed. Featherheart licked Foxpelt's ear. "Don't blame yourself. Blame the ones who did it to you." Featherheart mewed.

Foxpelt buried her muzzle into Featherheart's fur and started crying. "It's all my fault that this happened. I'm leaving the territories forever. Goodbye." Foxpelt cried as she pelted off into RiverClan territory. Featherheart guessed that she was going beyond the Highstones.

Featherheart sighed and laid down next to Shadowstalk. Shadowstalk risked his life for me. To save ME. Featherheart sighed. Thorntail is just a fox-hearted fool, leaving the both of us to die. Suddenly, ThunderClan's medicine cat, Mosstooth, and her apprentice, Lilypaw came out of the undergrowth of ThunderClan with Thorntail following behind.