Through the Dark

Chapter Six

While her son was drowning, Silverlight was confronting her own problems.

Reluctantly, she followed Darkstar out of camp. A few foxlengths from it lay a sandy area surrounded by bushes. This was the place where all the apprentices trained with their mentors, the place where she and her mate had met every single night before they ran away together. Before he died.

"This place reminds you harshly of your bad doings, doesn't it?" Darkstar snarled.

Silverlight frowned. "I don't exactly regret what I did."

"After this talk, you will," Darkstar assured her. "See, a horrible mistake never comes without a severe punishment. If you think you can get away with having kits when you were never allowed to, you are wrong. You will probably never see them ever again...because I am forcing you to leave this Clan now."

Silence. Then...

"WHAT?!?! But they need me!" Silverlight protested.

"They have grown into apprentices. They have wonderful mentors. They surely don't need a cat who just can't help but break the warrior code taking care of them."

"But Foxclaw was just so...irresistible!!!"

"Was he really worth all that trouble though?" Darkstar challenged.

"Yes," Silverlight murmured, her voice suddenly growing quiet. "He was."

Darkstar snorted. "Right," he said sarcastically. "A tom who would soon die after running away with you. Yeah, sooo worth it."

Too far. Way too far, Silverlight thought, fury slowly building up inside her. And she let it all out - her grief she felt of Foxclaw dying, her anger she felt when her once-closest friends shunned her, her longing to be able to fit back into the Clan, and, most importantly, her irritation with her old rival, her leader - in one long, piercing screech.

"Okay, you know what? You got what you want - once again. I'll leave this Clan if it will save me from all your stupid...annoying..." Silverlight started to sputter. The hair on the back of her neck was sticking up with tension.

She whirled around, her fur burning hot with fury. She could feel Darkstar's gaze scorching her pelt as she padded away, every step letting her slip farther and farther away from him and closer to a new life.