Warriors The Next Chapter: Still Darkness - Book One (Completed)

Chapter Twenty Two

Shadowheart padded into the clearing as the RiverClan warriors returned from the Gathering. They seemed on edge and were gossiping amongst themselves. He tried to listen, but there too many side conversations to comprehend just one. Leopardstar heaved himself up onto the highledge. "Let all those old enough o swim gather here to hear my words." She called out.

Shadowheart sat down and wrapped his tail over his front paws, waiting for the others to settle as well. Almost every cat peeked their heads out and headed into the clearing, just as curious as Shadowheart was. Did the Gathering end badly? They did come back rather early. 

"I assume you all would like to know what happened at the Gathering." She rasped. "Tigerstar, I believe is planning an attack on ThunderClan and WindClan." She continued, her nose twitching with anticipation. "I don't know when, but we must prepare to fight with him."

Shadowheart gasped as silently as he could. Was Leopardstar being serious? He wanted to say something, but knew it would only lead him to being a prisoner again. Though he still felt as one, he did not want to go back. Perhaps I can see Waterlily tonight. He quickly thought to himself. 

Leopardstar's gaze swept over the assembly, her eyes sharp and determined. "We will strengthen our patrols and be vigilant for any signs of trouble," she declared, her voice steady despite the urgency of her words. "Mistyfoot, you may lead the night patrol tomorrow. And Stonefur, you will lead the morning patrols. Shadepelt, you will lead the mid-day one." She finished.

Later that night, Shadowheart stealthily made his way toward the warriors' den. He gently nudged Willowbreeze with his nose, careful not to startle her from sleep. "Willowbreeze," he whispered urgently, "I need your help. There's something I must do, but I can't go alone."

Willowbreeze stirred from her slumber, blinking sleepily as she regarded Shadowheart with curiosity. "What is it?" she murmured sleepliy, her voice tinged with concern. 

"Shh..." He whispered, covering her mouth with his tail. "Follow me." He quickly stepped over the still sleeping warriors and padded to the clearing, hoping no one would see or hear them. 

Willowbreeze padded up behind him and looked back at the warriors' den, then back at him with wide and concerned eyes. "What in the name of StarClan! What is so important that you had to drag me out here?" She hissed in hushed voice. 

"Sorry, I just need to speak with Waterlily. I can't do this alone." He mewed, keeping her gaze. 

"Leopardstar will not like you being disloyal to our Clan." She reminded him. 

"At this point, I don't care what she thinks. I must at least tell her that Leopardstar and Tigerstar are working together to attack them." He paused for a moment. "I can't just sit here in silence, Willowbreeze. Please, just help me." He pleaded.

Willowbreeze nodded her head silently, though Shadowheart could sense her urge to say no. He dipped his head in return thankful that she did agree to help. He flicked his tail and led the way back to ThunderClan territory. Willowbreeze followed in silence. Probably not wanting to know what he was up to. Shadowheart guessed. He neared Sunningrocks and heaved himself onto the first big rock that lay just before the river. "I guess that I should wait here." He meowed, then jumped back down. "I'll be hiding just here." He wiggled himself backwards to get behind the rock.

Willowbreeze rolled her eyes then jumped into the river. Her body swam like a fish and she was on ThunderClan territory in just minutes. I would drown if I tried that. He murmured to himself. It seemed like almost an eternity when finally he scented Willowbreeze. Except she didn't have Waterlily with her. At least he couldn't smell her. "Is Waterlily with you?" He meowed, peering his out from behind the rock. His eyes saddened a bit when he saw that Willowbreeze was alone. 

"No, she refuses to come. She didn't say why."  She meowed rather harshly as if something had happened that she didn't want to talk about. She kept walking back toward RiverClan territory. 

"Oh, okay." He meowed, confused on why she thought he was going to give up. "I'll see you back later." He mewed almost under his breath, though he hoped that she had heard him. He didn't dare look back to check. He raced over to the bridge that connected the river to the two territories, then made his way into the trees leading to ThunderClan camp. If Waterlily didn't want to speak to him, he would go to her himself. He felt furious, and thought it would be easiest to just march in there like he owned the place, but he knew better. He had to sneak in without getting detected. 

Finally, he reached the edge of ThunderClan camp, the familiar scents of his former Clanmates filling his nostrils. He crouched low to the ground, his fur bristling with tension as he scanned the area for any signs of patrols or sentries. Finding a momentary opening in ThunderClan's defenses, Shadowheart darted forward like just a shadow creeping with stealth across the lands. The medicine den was just a whisker away when he something scurry behind him. He froze, then slowly looked behind him. He saw only darkness. Was it just his imagination? He shook his head to clear then quickly padded inside the den. "Waterlily, how dare you not to want to talk to me!" He hissed.

Waterlily jumped, clearly startled and her fur bristled almost all over her body. "Shadowheart." She finally breathed, catching her breath. "What are you talking about?"

"Willowbreeze came here and asked for you to come to edge of the ThunderClan territory near Sunningrocks." He quickly defended himself. 

"No." Waterlily shook her head. "She did not come here." 

Shadowheart widened his eyes. Would she really do that? He shook his head to clear it and looked at Waterlily with a confused look on his face. 

"Sorry." She mewed, sounding sympathetic. "You coming here must be pretty important. What is it? Why have you come?" She meowed, now more urgently.

Shadowheart sat down then drooped himself into a laying position. "Tigerstar and Leopardstar are planning an attack soon. They're working together as TigerClan. I couldn't let you not know." He finished, frantically. 

"Firestar is working with Tallstar and they're calling themselves LionClan." She confessed quietly. "I believe it's the prophecy that Firestar saw." She added.

Shadowheart tilted his head and looked at her with curious eyes. It has been a while since he could be himself and talk with Waterlily. 

"Four will become two, Lion and Tiger will meet in battle, and blood will rule the forest." She meowed softly, looking into the distance.

Shadowheart widened his eyes. "I know someone who can kill him." He confessed, looking down at his paws. "Scourge, my father. He could kill Tigerstar in one blow."