Warriors: In The Cold of Night [1]

Chapter 7

The group of ThunderClan cats walked back to camp from the Gathering. Redstar was at the lead with a happy looking Sharpleaf behind her. Redstar was the opposite of Sharpleaf. Redstar had bristling fur, unsheathed claws, and a short temper.

Lightfoot padded up to Redstar, but she hissed at him. Lightfoot backed away from the upset and angry leader. Dustflight padded up to Redstar as she appeared from the gorse tunnel. The brown and white tabby asked, "What's wrong? What happened at the Gathering?"

Redstar gave Dustflight a cold, hatred filled stare. "Don't you THINK I'm going to explain??" She snarled. "Let me get to the Highrock first." Redstar shoved Dustflight away. Sharpleaf padded up to Redstar. Sharpleaf licked Redstar's ear for comfort, but it made it worse.

"STOP IT! Just leave me alone." Redstar snapped. Sharpleaf flinched and hurried over to the Highrock. Redstar trudged wearily to the top of the Highrock. Sharpleaf had his tail sitting on his paws. Featherheart sat down below the Highrock and Sandydusk sat next to her. Shadowstalk sat beside Featherheart as well. Featherheart was worried about Redstar's sanity.

Shadowstalk saw how worried Featherheart was, so he licked Featherheart's ear continuously until she calmed down. Featherheart was calmed by the warmth of Shadowstalk's pelt too. Shadowstalk was slightly taller than Featherheart. Featherheart slid over to Shadowstalk to the point that their pelts were brushing. Featherheart felt her fur heat up as she felt Shadowstalk's sleek pelt.

Featherheart felt Shadowstalk's warm breath flow onto her ear. Featherheart didn't think Shadowstalk would ever let her be this close to him. Featherheart touched her nose to Shadowstalk's.

"Thank you." She mewed softly. Shadowstalk nodded. Featherheart wanted to rest her head on Shadowstalk, but she decided to just listen to what Redstar had to say.

Redstar didn't even call the cats to the meeting. Featherheart guessed that Redstar was tired.

"Cats of ThunderClan, at the Gathering, Crowstar threatened to kill us if she didn't get any of our territory. A few moons ago, WindClan took the Owl Tree from us, so then we took the edge of RiverClan's river from them. We still need our territory, so we will attack the Owl Tree and claim it back at ThunderClan territory." Redstar meowed.

The ThunderClan cats yowled in agreement, Redstar nodded her head. "We shall leave at sunhigh to get our rightful territory back." Redstar meowed. Redstar leaped down from the rock and padded into her den. Sharpleaf stared at her, then he padded over to the warrior's den. Soon, the rest of the cats returned to their dens.

Featherheart sat up and padded over to the warrior's den. Featherheart looked around at all of the sleeping cats in their mossy nests. She curled up in her mossy nest and began to ponder. Am I falling in love? Featherheart thought. Featherheart saw Thorntail and Snowfoot sleeping close to each other. Featherheart sighed.

Shadowstalk was still in the twilit clearing. Light was just barely starting to appear. Shadowstalk stared at the sky. He then turned and headed to the warrior's den. Featherheart lifted her head and saw Shadowstalk pad into the den. Featherheart curled up and closed her eyes to sleep as soon as she saw the lithe figure walk into the den. Shadowstalk walked by, but casted a glance back to Featherheart. Shadowstalk saw the brown Maine-coon tabby sleeping soundly and calmly.

Shadowstalk brushed his tail on Featherheart's back. He then went to his moss nest, curled up, and went to sleep. As Featherheart felt Shadowstalk's tail, she purred softly. Featherheart then fell asleep soundly.