Super Edition - Lightstar's Wrath

Chapter 19

Things were normal for the past moon and a half. Despite Snowfeather's protests to keep going on patrols and hunting, Duststar eventually persuaded her to move into the nursery. The kits were due any day now. Owlpaw was ecstatic to get the opportunity to help deliver kits. Though, Lightclaw doubted he would do much since he still wasn't the best with herbs.

Lightclaw wanted to stay in the nursery with Snowfeather in case they came, but Lakebranch wouldn't allow him and put him on the falling-sun patrol. Greenleaf had just begun, with prey rich and fat. Lightclaw trotted beside Rainpaw and Adderpelt, with Creekfoot leading. The hunting patrols have reported twoleg scents near the forest border. 

As the patrol approached the forest border, an odd twoleg den came into view. It was rather small and flimsy as if it were only a makeshift den. Creekfoot raised her tail to halt the patrol. "There are twolegs nearby, I can smell them," The warrior snorted. Peering around her, Lightclaw spotted a family of twolegs. There was a pile of logs surrounded by stone. The twolegs unfolded and sat in mesh structures. They held sticks, seemingly comparing sizes and inspecting them.

"Think they're planning on making a den?" Rainpaw asked, her head tilted at the odd sight.

"No, they make their dens out of twoleg wood, not sticks," Creekfoot answered. 

"I don't care what they're doing, I just don't like how they're so close to our territory," Adderpelt added. "We might as well just chase them out now before they get any closer," The young tom flicked his ear as he inserted his input. 

"They might leave on their own, so there's no point in starting a fight we can avoid," Creekfoot advised. "We should let Duststar know," The silver molly nodded to her patrol before turning around, the rest of the cats soon to follow.

Lightclaw gazed up at the setting sun. The gathering would be tomorrow. Lightclaw didn't feel strongly about the gathering, it wasn't too special to him. Most of the time, he volunteered for guard duty. Especially with Snowfeather pregnant, he wouldn't dare leave his mate for almost the entire night. He was sure Rainpaw and Owlpaw would eagerly fill him in, as this would only be their second. 

As the patrol ducked back into camp, Lakebranch padded over to greet them. "How did it go?" The deputy mewed.

"We found a family of twolegs near the forest border. They seemed to be building some sort of makeshift camp," Creekfoot began to explain the encounter. With a flick of her tail-tip, the patrol was dismissed. Lightclaw immediately trotted toward the nursery, only to be greeted by the sound of soft snores. The tabby tom peeked his head inside to see his mate fast asleep. A warm smile spread on his muzzle as he quietly left the den. 

His gaze traveled to Crowsong and Onetail leaving the warrior's den, concern shining in their eyes. Did something happen to Thistlesong? He wondered. Without a second thought, Lightclaw's paws guided him to the warrior's den. Unsurprisingly, Thistlesong was curled in his nest. But instead of quiet sobs and drowning sorrow, there was a different aura surrounding him. His fur bristled at the spine, his claws flexed outward. The corners of his nest were ripped. It seemed like this was the aftermath of a heated argument. 

"Hey, Thistlesong," Lightclaw softly said. Thistlesong merely snorted in acknowledgment. Trying to relax the ambiance, Lightclaw returned the snort with a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"How do you think, rabbit-brain?" The older warrior grumbled. Lightclaw was frankly taken aback. When did his mentor become so hostile?

After the silence stretched, Lightclaw broke it again. "So, do you want to go to the gathering?" The sentence barely left Lightclaw's mouth when his former mentor sprang up, more heated than before.

"I don't care about some damn gathering! Stars, you're pushy," The grey patched tom hissed before sinking back into his torn nest.

"Why are you mad at me? I'm not the one who used you as a cover-up!" Lightclaw retorted, finally fed up with the nonsense.

"You're the one who started it!" Thistlesong lifted his head from his paws. "If you would've kept your mouth shut, I would still be Squirreldust's mate and the father to her kits!"

"But you never were! Maybe you should've opened your eyes and realized that! Why do you think she made you raise the kits? Because she wanted to spend time with her real mate!" The tabby retorted. "And maybe if you didn't mope around like a wet badger, then you'd still have a good relationship with the kits you raised! The only cat you have to blame is yourself!" Lightclaw didn't even realize what he said until he said it.

Thistlesong was clearly stunned, his jaws gaping open. His eyes scanned the ground, dumbfounded. All that left his muzzle was a faint sigh. He looked as if he were thinking deeply. After what felt like seasons, he placed his head on his paws, his gloomy demeanor returning. Lightclaw couldn't help but feel immense regret. It really wasn't his fault. But maybe this will help him come to his senses, The younger warrior mewed in his head. Feeling rather drowsy, he headed to his own nest, where he would curl up for the night.