Blood Moon

Chapter Nine

Moonpaw sat in the centre of camp, nodding along half-heartedly with her friends' suggestions. Their group had become considerably larger, and Moonpaw couldn't help but feel like she shouldn't be here. She knew her sister needed her, but she didn't want to become as unpopular as Sunpaw was.

'I can't believe she got to go to the Moonpool,' said Mapleshine, snottily. 'If filth like Sunpaw gets to go, then shouldn't we?'

Iceleap began to speak, but trailed off as she noticed Sparrowcrest walk past them without a word.

'Come here, Sparrowcrest,' Frostshine demanded. Sparrowcrest ignored her and continued walking.

'Sparrowcrest!' Mapleshine hissed. The she-cat stopped, and turned to face the group.

'What do you want?' Sparrowcrest rolled her eyes.

'We want to know why you've been ignoring us,' Frostshine told her.

'Isn't it obvious?' Sparrowcrest sighed, disdainfully. 'I don't believe in the same things as you do.'

'Hardly anyone doesn't,' Iceleap pointed out. 'The whole Clan thinks the same way as us.'

'Just you wait,' warned Sparrowcrest. 'One day Sunpaw will prove she's absolutely right about Shadeclaw, and then you'll all come crashing down.'

'What makes you think that?' Mapleshine snorted. 'Since her apprenticeship began, Sunpaw has constantly proved that she's just a piece of fox-dung. In fact-'

However, Mapleshine was interrupted as Sunpaw and Wrenfeather entered the camp.

'Ivystar!' Wrenfeather yowled. 'Come quick! Sunpaw has something to tell us.'

'Is it that she attacked another member of authority?' Frostshine muttered to the cats sitting around them. Many cats sniggered loudly, causing Wrenfeather to glare at them.

'What is it?' Ivystar asked.

'It's about a prophecy,' Wrenfeather explained. Ivystar's eyes widened.

'Come to my den,' she ordered. Wrenfeather and Sunpaw obeyed, and chatter resumed.

'A prophecy?' Frostshine looked disbelieving.

'Maybe she really got one,' Mapleshine smiled. She began to speak in a mock mystical voice. 'Whoever receives this prophecy is a traitorous fox-heart!'

The group spluttered with unkind laughter, but Moonpaw didn't feel like joining in. A sick feeling rose in her throat, and she fought the urge to run away.

'Maybe she's making one up for attention,' jeered Thistleflight. Cats began to nod their heads, and for the first time, Moonpaw noticed how divided the Clan was.

Sparrowcrest, Thrushpaw, and the other members of that morning's patrol were sitting in a huddle near the apprentices' den. The rest of the Clan were seated around Frostshine, Iceleap and Mapleshine. None of them were talking to each other. In fact, many cats were hissing and snarling at the other group.

Just then, Ivystar stepped onto the Highledge.

'Could all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highledge for a Clan meeting!' she called.

The Clan began to assemble beneath her, and Frostshine muttered to Moonpaw; 'Isn't it strange that this whole division is just about Sunpaw?'

For Moonpaw, it wasn't. It was about so much more than that. It was about Shadeclaw and disloyalty and lies. So many lies.

'Wrenfeather has told me about a prophecy,' Ivystar began. 'We all agree that the prophecy means ShadowClan is planning an attack.'

The Clan dissolved into uproar, and it took a while for Ivystar to calm them down again.