Misty's Shadow

Allegiances and Prologue

   "You're lying!" Flamestar screeched, rounding on her again. Mistytail chose not to struggle, but Flamestar clearly as a sign of obedience for her 'trial'. "I'm sure you killed Swiftkit! You were the only cat who was outside when he was ambushed and murdered! And you're a kittypet! Kittypets are Twoleg-hearted and Twolegs are bad!"

"I didn't," Mistytail mewed firmly for the hundredth time of the day. "I saw Foxtail stealing my thrush, and Fennelspring wrestled some of my fur off when Frostfall hosted a fighting competition, so that's the reason of my fur beside Swiftkit!" Acornstar, the leader of FlameClan, had saw Foxtail's act, but he did not say a word about it.

Vixentail, the medicine cat, objected. "Poison killed Swiftkit, and you are – well, was – a kittypet, so Darkjaw would never let you in to the poison grounds, since she can definitely still scent your kittypet scent, which is permanent. Also, if Foxtail and his siblings are truly guilty for this murder, then I believe that Ferretwing, the last sibling, must have been the cat that killed Swiftkit."

"Let's just start the vote," Mistytail suggested hopefully. Surely sensible cats would listen to Vixentail?

"Cats who agree with me, to the left," Flamestar growled.

"Also, if you lose this vote, Misty," she added furiously, "you would be exiled from the Clan, and I would not take it easily if you just went to FlameClan or somewhere. You shall not be allowed in this forest!"

"I'm right, then," Mistytail announced. "Right means correct. Sensible cats must listen to Vixentail!"

"Sensible cats must not betray their leader!" Flamestar yowled.

All cats, muttering and glancing among each other, started to line up to vote.

Nightpaw and Aspenpaw, grabbing the first places, went up to Mistytail, agreeing with their mother. Mistytail patted them, grateful for the first support. Their father, Robinflight, was in a relationship with Flamestar, and Swiftkit was his son. Flamestar had passed Swiftkit and his siblings to Firewing since she wanted to become the leader after Hazelstar died, as she was the deputy then. Mistytail had hoped that the jet-black tom could be the bridge between Flamestar and her, but it seemed that he was acting as if everything wasn't his fault – well, it wasn't, but he was the deputy of the Clan! – and just let Flamestar be driven more and more with her rage and sorrow.

Ashpaw, her foster daughter, was behind Aspenpaw, who also went to the right and licked Mistytail. Lilacpath, Cloudfrost, and Mousepaw walked to Mistytail's side, too. Dewpaw, Windpaw, and Molepaw stepped towards Flamestar.

Kestreltail and Blizzardtail also stepped to the right. Swiftkit's brothers, Mosskit and Amberkit, who did not have the right to vote and did not know how to, stayed in the middle, jumping up and down. Swiftkit's oldest sister, Hazelfur, shooed them to the side and walked to Flamestar's side. Swiftkit's other siblings, Duskfall and Hollypelt followed Hazelfur, their eyes filled with fury and pain.

Robinflight, Breezesong, and Crystalblaze stayed in the middle. Robinflight's eyes darted between Flamestar and Mistytail while Breezesong and Crystalblaze glanced at each other.

Lionleap, Brackenflight, and Petalflame chose the middle, too. Foxtail, along with his siblings, Frostfall and Fennelspring, and his foster sisters, Whistletail and Rainfeather, went for the left. Mistytail's head sagged. Flamestar was winning a bit.

The next two, Silvershade and Twigclaw, chose to stay, too.

The two sides were almost equal. Mistytail and Flamestar glared at each other as Tigerstripe also picked the middle. Finally, Rowanflight headed for the right and Nectarbird headed for the left. Mistytail sighed. She knew that Nectarbird supported her, but she just had a huge argument with her mate, Rowanflight, so she picked the opposite side. That was a very unfortunate loss; anyways, Nectarbird shot her an apologic look.

Palepaw and his mentor, Snowtail, went for the right, much to Mistytail's relief; Applefall and Brindlepool chose left while Bluespring and Bristletail picked right. Flamestar looked nervous. This was getting more exciting.

Milkfeather left and Spottedpelt right – another example of an argument between mates. Whitepaw and Sparkpaw left. Firesnow right. Sandcreek left. Brokengorse and Larkflight right. Fernwhisker left and Stonefall right. Fawnpaw and Hollowpaw left. Daisypaw and Weaselpaw left, too. Timberpaw, Tawnypaw, and Redpaw right, much to Mistytail's relief. Runningcloud left and Strikebrook right.

This was getting even worse.

Streamstone, Pearpaw, Deertail, and Yarrowpaw left.

Mistytail watched in dismay as the rest, the elders and queens who walked more slowly, chose left. Only Squirreltail, the youngest queen, chose the right.

Flamestar won.

She grabbed Nightpaw, Aspenpaw, and Ashpaw, and fled.

"Hey!" Deertail, Ashpaw's mother, yowled after her, but Mistytail didn't care. She loved Ashpaw more than Deertail did, and Ashpaw loved her more than she loved Deertail.

Approaching the thorn barrier, she swiped Oreo and Cherrypelt, the guards, out of her way and sprinted across the Thunderpath at full speed, making sure that her kits were following her well and not trailing behind. Dodging a monster running across, she halted in front of Kingsley's door and knocked hard.