The Looming Darkness (A WARRIOR CATS FANFICTION)

Chapter 13

Tawnypelt padded along the shady pine trees of ShadowClan. The sun peaked through the slits in the pine needles, and the sky was a brilliant blue.  The weather was warmer now, much to Tawnypelt's delight, and she could smell the scent of all kinds of prey filling the air, making her belly turn with hunger.

She lunged, trying to grasp the prey, but every time she did, she just missed. First, she almost pounced on a mouse, then she lost a vole. Tawnypelt began to have a strange, off feeling in the pit of her stomach.

 I usually don't have any problems catching prey, she grumbled inwardly. She decided to leave the area and hunt somewhere else.

Determined, Tawnypelt pushed through the thick pine trees. The first scent of green leaf was in the air; all the frost was gone. It tickled her nose and gave her fresh energy. 

As she passed tree upon tree, she finally reached an opening. In front of her, there was a wide stretch of river with calm, sparkling pools along the edges of the water drift. Thirsty from the unusual heat, Tawnypelt dipped her head forward to drink. 

Her reflection stared back at her in the water, while her tongue gently lapped the water. As her pelt grew blacker, she was oblivious to the change. 

Something hot panted behind her. It panted louder and louder as if it was calling her. Sensing someone near her, Tawnypelt lifted her head, meeting her reflection in the water. 

It had now turned into a black shadow staring at her with empty eyes. She turned her head quickly to see what was behind her, sensing the hot breath was no longer there. 

There was a shadow cat padding away from her. She moved forward towards it, not because she wanted to, but because she had to. She felt suddenly drawn to it.

The shadow cat hissed, turning its face upon her.

"Tigerstar!" Tawnypelt cried out. 

In the midst of the black shadow cat, there were two amber eyes staring at Tawnypelt- two eyes she could easily recognize and know as her father's. Suddenly, the shadows around Tigerstar's face melted away, and Tawnypelt found herself face to face with her father. His amber eyes were bursting with impatience as he moved towards her, rushed, calculating.

Tawnypelt stumbled back a few paw steps in shock. The blades of grass beneath her paws began to tremble, and the trees began to swirl and disappear.

The strange shadow cat that was now Tigerstar widened its eyes. "Wait!" 

Tawnypelt hesitated, moving forward, wanting suddenly to speak to her father.

But he was gone. She found herself in the abandoned fox den once more. The sun was setting, and dusk was rapidly creeping across the forest.

This was something important, Tawnypelt thought to herself. She felt tired as if she had hunted, but she stubbornly pushed aside her ache. She rose to her paws anyways, pacing the den, deep in thought. 

I saw the shadow come from inside me. Is the shadow Tigerstar? Does that mean that Tigerstar is inside me? Or are both inside of me? I know one thing for sure from this dream. Tigerstar is related to the shadow cat. Even if the shadow cat is inside of me, this means that Tigerstar knows more than I do. He could be the shadow cat, or maybe he was trying to tell me something. If I tell the Clans this dream, they will realize that I am not responsible for the shadow, Tigerstar is. Now I can go back to the Clans, and tell them this important information. Maybe some of them won't believe me, and I will have to fight, but I am prepared to do that if it means I can help the Clans in finding answers. Helping the Clans must come first before my fears.