Dark Sky

Chapter 4

Shadow grinned. She was so happy that she had her sister in her claws. Now she could kill her, and nothing would stop her. Flickerpelt eyes were full of fear. "Thornpaw, what's gotten into you?"

Shadow sunk her claws into her sister, making her wince. "My name is Shadow." 

Flickerpelt's eyes widened. Images flashed in Shadow's mind. Shadow jumped off her sister, shaking in fear. But- I'm not scared... 

---

Snowstar watched her kits, Finchkit, Flamekit, and Flickerkit. All perfect, but she could see Firefur in all of them. She watched her clan, DarkClan mingle and come from hunting. She saw her deputy, Forest also her mate, loved her kits and had saved them from a dog. 

Snowstar sighed and jumped down from the highrock. Forest trotted up to her. "Hunting is good but there is a problem." Snowstar sighed. 

"What happened?"

"Well uh, this 'clan'  said we aren't a clan because we don't follow the rules." 

"What did you do?"

"Well, they attacked us so we killed one of their so-called warriors." 

"Good. Tomorrow we will kill their so-called leader." 

Forest nodded, his eyes shining. Snowstar grinned as he walked away into the healer's den. Snowstar snuck out of her camp and ran towards the edge of her territory.  

---

Stormpaw looked around. She saw Thornpaw run to her, tears in her eyes. He hugged her. "I'm sorry-" Stormpaw smiled. "Hey, it's okay."

Thornpaw's ears flattened. "No, it's not." Stormpaw waited for him to turn away. She waited for him to roll his eyes and mutter sure. But instead, he sighed and said, "Come on, let's see Amberstar about this." 

Stormpaw smiled and nodded as they walked up to Amberstar. "T-thornpaw?" Amberstar stuttered. 

Amberstar's fur fluffed up in fear, but then saw his eyes. Stormpaw spoke knowing already what to say. "Finchpaw is able to possess Thornpaw, and we should help him fight her-" Thornpaw rested his tail on her back. 

"No, sister, we have to kill me to break Finchpaw's connection with me." Stormpaw gasped.  

"Thornpaw, I'm not killing you!" Stormpaw yelled. 

"Then you don't have to do it." Thornpaw calmly looked at her, sadness showing in his eyes.

"..." 

Stormpaw turned away, tears sliding down her cheeks. She couldn't be there when they killed her only sibling and older brother. She bumped into her mother and blinked, tears running down her cheeks.  

"Hey, what's wrong?" Berrytail tilted her head.

"Thornpaw is going to die to save us." Stormpaw looked down. Berrytail ran over to where her son was and yelled at Amberstar. Stormpaw ran away from the camp, tears running down her eyes. I can't deal with this anymore. Stormpaw didn't look back. She- couldn't. 

Stormpaw climbed a tree and curled up there, her tears falling to the forest floor. She was about to climb down when she heard a voice. Surprised, she saw Slivertail talking to herself. "If Suneye was here she could tell me how..."

Silvertail kept walking, away from Stormpaw's hearing. Stormpaw frowned. Who was Suneye? Stormpaw jumped to another tree silently. Silvertail sat back on her haunches her eyes closed. Stormpaw sighed, knowing she had to show herself.  

"So what are you doing?" 

Silvertail jumped at the sound of Stormpaw's voice. "S-stormpaw? What are you doing?" 

Stormpaw calmly licked her paw. "Just watching you." Silvertail bristled. "..." Stormpaw yawned and walked back to camp, knowing that they weren't going to kill her brother. Hopefully.