Warriors: The Darkest Shadow [Book 1]

Chapter 19

(Smokepelt)

     Shadepaw pushed away from her mother's protective hold, Bluesky tensing up the second they broke contact, "Who are you?" Asked Shadepaw, the grey toms ice blue eyes suddenly glaring at her.

     "Your dear mother didn't tell you about me? How predictable." He meowed, glaring intently at Bluesky. "How do you know Featherstep and Bluesky?" Shadepaw asked, worried at what she might hear.

     The grey tom glared back at Shadepaw, his eyes seemed to be flaring with anger, and his tail lashed with irritation, "Well, I am their brother, you must be Snowkit, though you don't look much like snow, and your much bigger than a kit." He said, his eyes hinting teasing.

      "No, I'm Shadepaw, who are you?" Shadepaw said, getting irritated at his secrecy. "I'm Smokepelt, your uncle, and the brother of Featherstep and Bluesky." Smokepelt said, doing a bow-like motion towards her.

     "Smokepelt. Why have you entered our territory, after leaving so long ago?" Asked Dustwing, snapping Smokepelt's attention towards her, "If it isn't Dustpaw, my my how you've grown." He said, purring jokingly.

     "Its Dustwing now, and I'm deputy." She snapped at him, their muzzles only inches apart, her fangs bared. "Sorry Dustwing, anyway, why I'm here? I would like to talk to Smallstar, assuming Tigerblaze hasn't taken over as Tigerstar." Smokepelt said, an unreadable smile on his face.

     "Still Smallstar, Tigerblaze is an elder now. Follow us." The deputy hissed in annoyance at him, Bluesky running up behind the ThunderClan deputy.

     "So, if your Bluesky and Featherstep's brother, why are you living as a rogue?" Asked Shadepaw, question clouding her mind, "Well you see, one day when me and Bluesky were still apprentices, I caught her meeting up with Scorchfang, she had begged me not to tell." He started, staring intently at Bluesky.

     "Of course I had said I wouldn't. Well about two moons after our warrior ceremony, Featherstep told me she was expecting his kits, I had been furious, not only had she broken the warrior code, she hadn't even told me. So I ran away from the clan, angered." Smokepelt said, his pelt bristling slightly.

     "Why did you come back?" She asked, her mind a little more clear. "I don't know, I've been living on the edge of SkyClan territory, so I could have came back at any time, I guess I was just scared." He admitted, flicking his tail towards Bluesky.

     Shadepaw stared ahead, they were just about into camp when the scent of Glorystem hit her nose.

     When the grey she-cat neared the patrol, she froze solid, as if the ice took hold of her, holding her in place. "S-Sm-Smokepelt!" Glorystem yelled, she turned and bolted back in to camp.

     "What's Glorypaw's problem?" Asked Smokepelt, twitching a whisker. "Its Glorystem now, not Glorypaw, and she's probably shocked to see you." Shadepaw meowed, a soft purr escaped her throat as Smokepelt scoffed.

     They entered camp to find Iceheart playing with Gingerleaf's kits, the other warriors and apprentices that were still in camp were eating and sleeping.

     Iceheart snapped her head up, and instantly glared at Smokepelt, Shadepaw saw her uncle's muscles tense, realization hit her. Does he like Iceheart? She asked herself, curiosity pricking at her pelt. 

     "Smokepelt!" She exclaimed happily, running up and placing her nose on his shoulder, a giant purr escaping her throat.

    Shadepaw giggled as the usually confident tom sat there with a red face.

     But the moment didn't last long, "Smokepelt, what a pleasant surprise for you to finally return to us, after so long." Smallstar rasped, walking up to him.

     "Smallstar! How are you, where's Tigerblaze? I heard he retired." Smokepelt said, a hint of anxiety escaping his voice. "Were not talking about Tigerblaze, why are you here? Have you come to harm us? Come to spy!" He hissed, raking his claws across Smokepelt's muzzle.

     "Smallstar!" Iceheart snapped, Smokepelt hissed in agony, blood welling up on his nose, a few drops fell onto the snow, staining it crimson.

     Iceheart turned and began licking his muzzle, trying to make it stop bleeding. "Why would you do that?" Shadepaw hissed at him. The leader's amber eyes looked clouded with grief, "You do not deserve to stay in ThunderClan, traitor. But I will allow you to stay." He meowed, sheathing his claws.

     Shadepaw stared in confusion as the usually clear-minded leader padded back to his den, his tail lashing in anger.

     She entered the warrior den at sundown, carrying a fresh mouse she had caught earlier. Shadepaw saw Iceheart sitting beside Smokepelt, still licking at the wound on his muzzle. "Hey Iceheart, Smokepelt, I brought some fresh-kill for you guys." Shadepaw purred, laying the mouse in front of them.

     "Well that's kind, but I think the elders could use your help, I heard Tigerblaze complaining about some fleas, but I think he's just hungry." Iceheart said, pushing the mouse back towards Shadepaw, "Okay, thanks." She said, picking up the mouse and padding back outside.

     He's my uncle! Not hers! I deserve to spend time with him! She thought, anger nagging at her brain as she padded into the elders den. "Shadepaw! What a nice surprise! Have you brought some mouse-bile perhaps?" Tigerblaze asked, his amber eyes suddenly on the mouse in her jaws.

    "Regular mouse works to." Tigerblaze joked, Frostpool sent a playful cuff over his ear. "Tigerblaze stop messing with her." She ordered, her blind eyes staring at her son. "No, its fine Frostpool, I brought the mouse for you two." Shadepaw said as she layed the mouse between them. 

     "Anything else you need?" She asked, Frostpool twitched her tail thoughtfully, "No dear, you go do apprentice things okay? Me and Tigerblaze are fine here." She said as she began eating, Tigerblaze raked his tongue over his whiskers and jaws.

     "Shadepaw! Isn't this great? Smokepelt is here, more warriors for us!" The voice of Larkpaw rang from behind her, "Yep, sure is." Shadepaw replied with an irritated sigh, but her friend still padded up to her, "You okay?" He asked, resting his tail on her shoulders.

     When the Robin sings, when the frost is Shaded, and the Lark has rested in the Shade, the Smoke will find the Lynx, the cloud of the Storm will bring the fury. only then will you stop the sharpest claw.

     A shock hit her brain, a surge of rage. "I'm fine!" She snapped, shaking off his tail and trotting away to the apprentices den.

     Larkpaw padded inside, Shadepaw heard him sniff the air. He then continued to lay down, "Larkpaw?" She whispered, but he ignored her, not even letting his ear twitch.

     I deserve this. She thought as a drop of water fell from her cheek.