Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Chapter 35

She still wondered the day after how Sorrelstar could have been so evil towards her. How could a cat hate so much? Smokefur had rushed back to camp and told Firebreeze right away. He was the deputy after all-he had to be the only cat who knew until the time where she was now.
Looking around the clearing was hard. The unfamiliar scents still shook her and the cats still did not enjoy her company. Otherwise, Briarpaw and Icepaw still gave her a chance now and then. They didn't seem to want to give up their friendship towards her.
Smokefur sighed. Sorrelstar's death affected almost every cat in the Clan. Thundercloud insisted she had robbed Sorrelstar of her last life, but Firestone would not believe it. The deputy had sat vigil with the monstrous leader all night. Smokefur sat vigil with Tigerfrost. He was the cat to help her the most in MapleClan.
No matter how much they hated each other, Smokefur couldn't help but feel bad for his parting with life. She felt like it was her fault since his last words. How was she strong? She was nothing but a sack of flesh and bones. No cat needed her here. Maybe she'd go to PondClan. Would that be where Thornclaw had actually told her where to go? Had she taken the wrong path?
The Dark Forest warrior hadn't visited her since Sorrelstar and her had a conversation and she told her about the prophecy. Was Thornclaw upset with her? Did the Dark Forest change their minds? So many questions, but none would be answered until Thornclaw returned, or Smokefur had a dream and went back to them. But the dreams couldn't be forced, she knew. It haunted her that Smokeskull was right around the corner and could attack at any time.
That night, Smokefur laid herself in her nest and looked up at the stars. She wondered if StarClan had really abandoned her, and if she made the right choice in following the Dark Forest...would they ever forgive her if she hadn't?
"They aren't the right path for you."
Smokefur looked up at Thornclaw. "It's about time you showed up!" She growled and batted his ears.
"It's not time for that, Smokefur." Thornclaw meowed and ducked away from her swiping paws. He lashed his tail as if he were angry with her. "Smokeskull has gone! She disappeared-"
"So?" Smokefur interrupted abruptly, "Surely there is an explanation for her disappearance?"
The Dark Forest Tom pushed her over to gain control. "Smokeskull has gone, and it's time for you to leave." He hissed.
Smokefur turned at him and shook out her pelt. "Leave? I've hardly moved in!" She argued, but Thornclaw flagged his tail for her to stop. He didn't say anything but bowed his head.
"The Dark Forest is going to make you, so you don't have to worry. The world will turn under your paws and you'll leave somehow." He meowed and looked her in the eye.
She bit back her tongue and dipped her head. Somehow she was told in the back of her head not to argue with him anymore. There was no point in trying to reason with a Dark Forest cat; they always won and Smokefur knew it.
The next day, Thundercloud stood in the clearing, speaking to Icefang and Ivythorn. The two white warriors gazed up at the bulky ArrowClan cat. They nodded in agreement with something he said.
Smokefur huffed. She knew the next moonhigh would be the Gathering, and some feeling told her she wouldn't be going, even if she still hadn't gone since she was an apprentice. None of her home-Clans let her go yet.
"All cats of ArrowClan, gather beneath the Highrock to hear my words." Firestone meowed from the Highrock. He stood proudly, and it was mildly noticeable to Smokefur. It was his first time to call upon the Clan from the Highrock with the post of leader.
Thundercloud turned, Icefang and Ivythorn copying him. Morningheart followed Briarpaw and Icepaw from the entrance. Smokefur guessed they had finished burying Sorrelstar, the apprentices' mother, because Icepaw was still sobbing. Briarpaw's eyes were clouded with sadness as he comforted his sister.
Firestone continued, "As you all know, I visited the Moonstone last night and I received my nine lives from StarClan." His eyes gleamed with pride. "All of you may call me Firestar now, since I am your new leader. Sorrelstar will be deeply missed by all of us."
"Firestar! Firestar! Firestar!" The ArrowClan cats cheered.
Smokefur glared and said nothing. She was anxiously wondering what he would do to her if he actually believed the truth rumour that Thundercloud was spreading. She killed the leader in fear of all of her cats' deaths; was that not the right thing to do?
The new leader hopped down from the Highrock and touched noses with his Clanmates. All except Smokefur. She headed for the warriors' den and didn't bother to give congratulations to the new leader.
When the cats cleared, Smokefur sat outside her nest. She had previously moved it to the entrance of the den so she could watch for Thornclaw at night. Although no other cats could see him but her, it'd be easier for him to deliver messages if she was outside.
The night came over the sky in a flash. After resting in the sunny clearing all day, Smokefur felt like she was ready to go already. She had a told herself no cat wanted her there for a few sunhighs now and it finally paid off. She wanted to go.
Then, Firestar prowled quietly into the clearing from his den. "Smokefur?" He meowed to her.
"Yes, Firestar?" Smokefur whispered, "You know you should be asleep now. You've got a big day tomorrow-"
"You told Sorrelstar you had a dream from StarClan before she died," Firestar lowered his voice and laid himself down beside her. "What really happened to her?"
Could she actually tell him the real story? Maybe this is Thornclaw trying to get me out, Smokefur wondered.
Quickly, she replied, "She...uh...Sorrelstar tried to kill me, Firestar..." She tried to hide her hate for the dead leader. How else was she suppose to explain the death of Sorrelstar to a cat that trusted easily? Would he ever forgive her? Maybe he'd banish her! Was that what Thornclaw wanted? If so, how could-
"Tried to kill you?" Firestar interrupted her thoughts, "Smokefur, the only a new warrior. Why would she want to do such a thing?"
This was her prophecy, no cat would take that away. "It happened in my dream," She dazed off into the distance to see Thornclaw mouthing everything she said as if he was making her speak the very words she spoke then. "And I killed her because that's what StarClan told me to do."
The new leader jerked his head back in disbelief. "StarClan would never send a prophecy in which cats must die! Unless it were for the whole Clan-"
"StarClan hath spoken!" Thornclaw yowled in Smokefur's voice and took her place before the leader. The grey she-cat's eyes clouded with green fire as the Dark Forest cat took on her conversation. "You must let thy precious StarClan's will live!"
Then, Thornclaw left her and Smokefur fell to her haunches. She felt Firestar's glaring eyes glue onto her pelt. "Rise," He ordered, and Smokefur got to her paws obediently. The leader said nothing, but made the grey warrior follow as he jumped to the Highrock. She sat beneath him and frowned. "Smokefur, you have killed an honorary leader such as Sorrelstar without her will to die." Firestar roared so all of his cats could hear, "You are now, from here forth, exiled from ArrowClan territory, and you must never return." ArrowClan cats slunk out into the clearing as Firestar went on, "If any of my Clan's cats catch you disobeying this rule, they are to shred you!"
Smokefur glared at Firestar for a long moment. She could not believe her eyes. Had she really been exiled? Could it be a dream? A hard slash of claws on her flank made her spin around to Thundercloud.
"It's about time I was recognized for my truths! This cat is nothing but a useless pelt of lies." The large Tom looked over his shoulder at the nodding cats behind him. They began to cry out in moans of loss for their beloved Sorrelstar and cry out in luck for Smokefur's execution.
"Enough!" Firestar yowled and all cats hushed. "From this moment on, this rogue will be known as Smokeskull."