Cloverpaw's Shadow

Chapter 16

Firefang thought his heart would fall right out of his chest.

"Poolfrost," he snarled. She was trembling under his claws. He felt a pang of guilt but he shoved it away.

And now he realized. She knew.

Lowering his head to her ear, he whispered, "Tell anyone about this and you're dead." he let her up, giving her a bite to the ear.

Poolfrost stumbled out of the clearing. Firefang watched her go.

A grunt behind him and then Cypressleg and Spiderfeather were gone. He was alone in the clearing.

It was in a clearing much like this one that the badger had attacked. The scene replayed before his eyes. Except instead of Minnowdrop, it was Poolfrost.

"No," he growled. Blinking his eyes open, he awoke to sunlight streaming in through the leaves woven into the warriors den.

He had to remind himself that he was a loyal Thunderclan cat.

Then why are you training in the dark forest? A voice whispered in his ear. He shook his head.

"No." he said again, slipping out of the den into the early morning.

***

Poolfrost blinked open her eyes and sighed. Shaking her head, she felt blood trickling off her ear. She hissed.

Trotting out into the clearing, she nearly collided with Firefang, who let out a snarl of surprise. She could feel guilt radiating off of him and his gaze was trained on her shredded ear.

Giving him a glare, she slipped past him on her way to the entrance.

"Poolfrost!" he called. "Wait."

She paused and turned around. "What?"

He deserved harsh. Thats what she told herself. Still, she couldn't help herself from saying, "Sorry."

His expression flickered. "No. I'm sorry." Without another word, he pushed past her.

But Poolfrost didn't miss the bristled fur and lack of emotion in his voice. Poolfrost blinked and ducked her head.

Someday, she thought, slipping into the forest.