Shadows in the Night

Chapter Nineteen

I thought I posted this a week ago, but somehow it didn't go through. :C 

So sorry for the wait, here's chapter nineteen! owo

Shadefur's ears pricked up as she felt the thrumming of paws on the forest floor. She looked up from her meal, swiping her tongue across her jaw. 

Suddenly, the makeshift bramble barrier rustled, and in burst Leaf, with Snake and Sidewindercliff close behind. Shadefur sighed. Why do I keep hoping- wishing- that someone will come here to help? She kicked her starling across the clearing. I should just give up. 

Shadefur stopped in her tracks as she heard a growling in her ear. Uh oh. She swivelled her head around to see Nightstar- Fang- snarling at her. 

"LeafClan can't support you if you waste our prey!" The gray-black tom hissed, his dark amber eyes glistening threateningly, rolling the starling under his front forepaw so it became coated in dust. Shadefur's green eyes stretched wide.

Suddenly, Fang paused, and tossed the piece of prey at Shadefur's paws. "Eat it. You'll die anyways, what difference will it take?" He smirked before padding to sit next to Queen, who flicked her long, snow white tail back and forth, giggling at Fang's every word.

Shadefur couldn't help but grin. What he doesn't know is that Queen has been with so many toms that even she's lost count! Leaf even got so tired of changing her status that Queen's permanently a.... Queen. That's all the kittypet is good for anyways! 

A few stray kittypets had joined the "clan" for shelter, but few were really accepted by the Killers. That's what LeafClan calls warriors. Queen was one of the few to fit in, immediately taking the liking of Leaf's kit, Blacktail.The only cat in the clan permitted to have a clan name, in the memory of his father.

A harsh growl jolted Shadefur out of her thoughts. She flattened her stomach to the ground, folding her ears back submissively. Blacktail trotted into the centre of the muddy camp, his shoulders burdened with the weight of a blue-gray she cat. The black and white tom stopped to have a word with his mother, before padding into the room concealed behind the warriors' den.

The captive didn't even seem to struggle, and Shadefur couldn't help feeling a twinge of sympathy for the she-cat. The dark gray she cat sat up and tried to scent the air to find out if the captive belonged to a clan, but all she could detect was dirt and fear. 

Suddenly, a wail echoed across the camp, and Blacktail emerged, glancing across the sea of faces for a particular she cat. His eyes brightened; then they narrowed angrily at the sight of Fang. 

Shadefur curled her tail in amusement. This should be interesting. 

"Queen!" Blacktail yowled, curling his tail protectively around the dainty white kittypet. "What are you doing with this monster?"

Queen stretched her blue eyes wide, faking a look of innocence. "It wasn't me! What was I supposed to do with Fang coming up to me and demanding that I chat with him?" She quickly pushed the half eaten mouse back to the fresh kill pile. 

Blacktail's eyes clouded in disbelief, and Shadefur giggled as the deputy squared his shoulders and bared his teeth towards Fang, who quickly tried to scrabble away. 

"You mess with her, you mess with me," he muttered between clenched teeth, placing a firm paw on Fang's shoulder. Queen quickly slipped away, picking up the mouse she had "discarded", and happily padded over to the nursery to check on her kits.

A yowl shook the camp, and Shadefur turned to see Leaf perched on the fallen tree with Blacktail, Snake and Sidewindercliff behind her. One by one, the cats padded out of their dens, and gathered to sit in front of their leader with wide eyes full of fear.

Shadefur saw Fang and Adder disappear, returning with a howling scrap of blue fur trying to struggle away from the warriors' grip. This must be the captive.

It seemed as if every pair of eyes was fixed on the furious she-cat's desperate struggles to escape. The whirlwind of terror was hauled onto the tree trunk, then pinned down by Snake and Sidewindercliff.

"As you know, LeafClan is growing stronger and stronger every day," Leaf began, striding forward. "But we train so that in battles we fight hard, and injuries are inevitable, even with the strongest cats in the forest." Shadefur tipped her head in confusion. Leaf never admits that we're weak, even if we're half starved and dying of exhaustion! What is she leading up to?

"Only a fool would think that we can go on forever without a cat to care for our injuries and sicknesses." Leaf nodded to Snake and Sidewindercliff, who slightly relaxed their grip on the limp and panting cat lying between them. 

"I took matters upon myself, and solved the problem myself." Leaf flexed her claws, the sharp tips glinting under the sunlight. Suddenly, the brown and white tabby held her head up hight, and she wrapped her tail around the captive's head, forcing the blue-gray she-cat to stand up."Cats of LeafClan, welcome your new medicine cat!"

Bluefur?

I hope you liked it! Please comment, vote, and have a nice day :3!!

~Allie