Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Chapter 42

"Really?" Smokeskull looked at him like he had just revealed a tragic secret which he did.
Thornclaw nodded with drooping eyes. "Before my mate died and I sent him away..." He trailed off and loosened his grip on the wood. "I looked after him even when I was in the Dark Forest and he couldn't see me...but I was there, beside him, through everything."
Smokeskull was reminded of her earlier plan. She used to be so uptight and scared. So tense and angry. She knew now that the plans were lost and abandoned back in time. Since she met Thornclaw, her attention focused on her determination to become the leader of the Dark Forest and not on her plans to destroy CloudClan. Her revenge was slowly sinking into extinction.
Angry at herself, Smokeskull looked up. "And it's worth it now that you can be here again with him, isn't it?"
"Yes," Thornclaw replied right away. "He's my son, what can I say?"
"I wish I could look over my real kits," Smokeskull grumbled, "From anywhere. But they're dead." She retorted negatively.
Sighing, Thornclaw sat down and relaxed. "I'm sorry you won't be able to see them again..." He looked at Smokeskull in the eyes. "But you have Poppykit. I gave him to you by temptation. You should at least be grateful he can be with you at all times."
Smokeskull growled. "At least I'll be there for him, and he'll know I am there!" She lashed her tail and jumped down from the tree. "If you're here to suck up to me, Thornclaw...maybe you shouldn't be here at all." Smokeskull darted towards the kits and sat beside Timber.
The kittypet was clearly startled. "What's the matter?" Timber asked, wrapping his tail around his paws.
"Thornclaw is being a sapface." She hissed.
Timber rolled his eyes and looked at their kits. Auburn was being nice and gentle with Poppykit, unlike Maplekit who used to tackle him every time he play fought with her. "Forget him. He's always like that." The brown Tom purred.
"You're not like him at all, you know." Smokeskull growled under her breath. She wanted to run away. Run back to her old Clan and tear all of them to shreds. She wanted to rip apart all that was left of her first and last Clan. She once made a vow and refused to keep it, now she made a vow and vows to keep it!
The kittypet turned at her. "How would we be alike? I hardly know him." Timber huffed and looked back at Auburn. "I met him when I was just a newborn and he left when I was Poppykit's age. He's just coming up to me now like I'm some kind of miracle." The Tom rolled his eyes and lashed his tail in frustration.
Taken aback, Smokeskull sighed. "I know things that would blow your mind, Timber. But only some cat that treats your like you're the most amazing cat in the world would tell you such a thing."
Her eyes widened and a whirl of green flames flew in a circular motion before her shoulders settled and she sat properly. Smokeskull was confused, she didn't understand what had just happened, but it seemed that Timber was pretty confused too.
"Are you okay?" He meowed in uncertainty.
Slowly, Smokeskull nodded. "Yeah, just a little flare of excitement. I have an idea."
Timber narrowed his eyes at her. "Can I help? I'd like to see what you forest cats do in there." He purred.
"It's not all fun and games, kittypet." Smokeskull warned, but lightened up at the fact that she would have her own apprentice again. It had been so long since her last. "I'll teach you some of my best moves, I guess." She purred.

The sun came up in a flash and Smokeskull awoke with Poppykit snuggled up in her paws. "Come on, my little warrior. It's your first training day."
She touched her nose to his head, but Poppykit bounced up happily. "You mean it? I'll be able to train with you and Thornclaw?" His eyes met hers brightly.
"Yes you will, but be careful out there." Smokeskull nuzzled him and stopped his bouncing. "I don't want you hurting anyone. I know how powerful you can be sometimes." She nudged him away and looked over Timber's fence.
The kittypet had taken Auburn inside after moonhigh and left her there, but he stayed inside as well. Smokeskull expected him to be out soon.
Thornclaw had stayed in the tree to sleep. He didn't speak to her the rest of the night, but he slept pretty loudly. There was no doubt the magpies would be out soon.
"Good morning, Thornclaw!" meowed Timber from the fence. Smokeskull hardly noticed he'd been there. "Fine day it is."
The grey she-cat's stomach grumbled. "I'm so hungry I could eat a badger." Smokeskull whimpered at Timber like he had a feast inside for himself.
Timber rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll find something inside for you. My twolegs have gone anyways. I'll check the fridge." He turned and disappeared into his mate's twoleg den.
What's a fridge? Smokeskull crookedly crossed her eyes, then blinked it off. She sighed and moved on. "Poppykit!"
The patched kit pranced over to her. "Where's Auburn?" He mewed, looking around.
"You haven't asked for food in three sunhighs," Smokeskull fixed her eyes on her kit. "Is there something wrong?"
Poppykit looked at her. "Nothing's wrong, mama." He answered politely, licking his chest. "Where's Auburn?" He repeated.
"I don't know, go ask Timber." Smokeskull turned to the bridge where Thornclaw was standing on his hind legs looking down into the water. His front paws hung onto the low fence that was between him and the river. She didn't want to talk to him, but small talk had to be forced.
Walking up to him, Smokeskull sensed his fear scent. It was high. Maybe he's afraid of falling in, she compromised. She was barely half way across the bridge when the loud song of rushing water flowed into her ears.
"Greetings, Smokeskull." Thornclaw seemed emotionless. He jumped up to the side of the bridge fence and didn't look back down at her.
Smokeskull blinked in surprise. She didn't even know he knew she was there or even coming closer. "I was thinking," Smokeskull leapt up beside him and balanced crookedly on the boards. "Why don't we attack CloudClan?"
The black Tom turned his head instantly. He look her directly in the eye. "Are you serious?"
"Yes!" Smokeskull snapped, "We attack at moonhigh." She smirked.

"To us, the unstoppable cats!" yowled Timber after a long day of training.
Thornclaw and Smokeskull took turns on training, but she trained Poppykit more than the black Tom. Thornclaw taught Timber how to hunt, and their training paid off because now they could feast on everything they caught.
Otherwise, Poppykit learned how to use his size for strength. She taught him the basics and how to claw down the arms if ever getting pinned down. They all enjoyed the bonding experience.
Now, all five of them gathered around the fresh pile of prey in front of them. All of their eyes glowed in amazement.
"We thank the Dark Forest for this meal tonight," prayed Thornclaw, "For all of these prey's lives in which we are about to feast upon." He opened his eyes. "Let's eat!"
Poppykit launched forward and stole a plump mouse from the bottom of the pile, then slipped away. Auburn stayed back, but Timber plunged after a fat fish and tore it away from Thornclaw. The black Tom growled and pulled it away, running off to his place under the tree. Smokeskull waited until they were all gone to take hers, but mostly all was gone.
Sighing, she took the first magpie Poppykit had ever caught. She was quite proud to be able to watch him do it. The patched kit had done an amazing job on his crouch. The bird never saw it coming.
But of course, pride comes before pain. Smokeskull was proud of his elegance, yet was not very proud of the way he had done it. Poppykit flopped through the air and caught the magpie in his teeth, dragging it to the ground with his weight.
By the time she sat down, Smokeskull looked at the sky in realization that it was almost moonhigh. They'd have to attack soon or nothing will go their way.
"I'm ready when you are," meowed Timber from behind her. He padded over and sat down beside her. "Or are we still going at all?"
Smokeskull didn't reply until she was half-finished her magpie. She looked up at the kittypet. "You said you wanted to know what forest cat life is like? Well, Timber, here's your chance." She stood up and all of the cats looked at her. Even little Auburn's eyes turned to her. "Tonight at moonhigh, we attack CloudClan!" Smokeskull yowled proudly.
Poppykit bounced up to excitedly.
Smokeskull looked at Timber and he nodded as if acknowledging what she meant even if he didn't know what she was saying. "The kits will stay with Timber's mate in her den." She announced and watched as Poppykit's pride-filled eyes faded.
"Thornclaw and Timber, I want you at my sides until we get there." Smokeskull paused, then added quietly, "We never know what's lurking in the shadows."
The brown tabby slunk closer towards her. "Don't you think they'll be suspicious if one of us needs help and call out a kittypet name?" He whispered.
Smokeskull nodded in agreement. "You're right. You're forest cat name will be Timberfall." She told him.
"Timberfall!" The brown tabby echoed happily, "I have my own warrior cat name! Yay!" The Tom stalked over to his kit and nuzzled her. "Daddy's got himself a new name, Auby!"
Auburn turned in disgust like a piece of fresh dung was just laid in front of her. "I don't care! Poppykit's name is way cooler." The brown kit turned to Poppykit and blushed.
Smokeskull rolled her eyes. "If my main warriors are ready, we can leave early. Thornclaw?" She looked around for the Dark Forest cat but he was no where to be seen. "Oh, where is he...Thornclaw!!" Smokeskull yowled out loud.
Suddenly, something pulled on her tail and Smokeskull instantly whirled around and scratched him across the face. Thornclaw lifted his head and growled in pain. "I was just fooling around! No need to get hissy on me." He blinked his left eye to see if it would work.
Huffing, Smokeskull barged past him. "It's moonhigh. Let's go." She puffed out her chest and led over to the bridge.
"Auburn, take Poppykit into the den and introduce him to your mother!" Timberfall ordered over his shoulder.
His kit stood up at the sound of his voice and urged Poppykit inside. The patched kit was clearly down, but he followed Auburn into the den through a small window.
Smokeskull led through the trees. She knew they'd have to cross the ash somehow sometime soon.
The forest was very dark. There were very few trees, and Silverpelt still refused to shine over Smokeskull and Thornclaw's heads as they padded along the forest roots.
The ground began to stick with ash and Smokeskull realized they would be entering PondClan territory any time. She couldn't be seen around there. Appledawn would be just itching for a way to get Poppykit back.
But more trees started to appear before their eyes and Smokeskull had never been so happy to see the tall not-burnt oaks. But a voice behind her made her head spin.
"So we meet again," meowed Willowstorm.