Fire and Ice

Chapter 20

Tigerclaw turned to his warriors, fur bristling and eyes gleaming with frustration. "We'll have to wait," he growled.

The patrol turned and trudged home. Willowpelt gave Skyfall a questioning look as she lifted her chin in a silent prayer. Skyfall shook her head. Now she wouldn't have to wonder if she'd go through with the raid. It wasn't just Graystripe she didn't trust; she didn't even know if she could trust herself.

Skyfall kept her head down the entire way back to camp. Occasionally she caught Tigerclaw looking back at her over his massive shoulder. Sometimes Willowpelt or Longtail would glance back as well. It was a slow journey home. The warmth and light of the short leaf-bare day was already fading by the time they reached the ravine. Skyfall stayed at the back of the group down the ravine. By the time she made it through the gorse tunnel close behind Longtail, Tigerclaw was already explaining to the disappointed Clan that the river had thawed.

Skyfall broke away from the patrol and skirted the edge of the clearing in search of Graystripe. She needed to know if her friend had slipped out of camp again. Instinctively her paws brought her to the nursery. As she approached the tangled mass, she heard a familiar hiss. "Skyfall!"

Skyfall's chest warmed with hope. Graystripe had stayed in camp! She followed her friend's voice to the shadows behind the nursery.

Skyfall called quietly into the gloom, but couldn't see Graystripe anywhere. Suddenly, a heavy weight crashed into her side, sending her skidding across the grass. Skyfall spun around, fur bristling. Graystripe was across from her with his hackles raised, nothing but a silhouette in the dimness.

Graystripe lunged again. Skyfall barely had enough time to duck as Graystripe swung a wide gray paw over her head.

"What are you doing?" Skyfall spluttered.

Graystripe flattened his ears and hissed, "You didn't trust me! You thought I would betray ThunderClan!" He aimed another swipe. This one ripped a chunk out of Skyfall's ear.

Pain and fury shot through her. "I just wanted to save you from having to make a choice!" she spat. "And you know why I'm not sure where your loyalties lie."

Graystripe flew at her and bowled her over. The two cats tussled, claws unsheathed. "I make my own choices," Graystripe snarled.

Skyfall struggled free of his tight grip, chunks of fur being ripped from her. She leaped onto Graystripe's back and sunk her claws deep into his shoulders. "I was trying to protect you!"

"I don't need protecting!"

Blinded by anger, Skyfall bit down hard on Graystripe's ear, tearing a small chunk out as he did to her. Graystripe flipped them over and they went rolling out from behind the nursery.

Cats sprang out of the way as the two cats rolled toward them. Skyfall yowled in rage as Gray- stripe bit down on her foreleg. She thrust her free paw out and caught Graystripe just over his eye. The gray warrior retaliated by biting down harder, blood beginning to pool around his teeth.

"Stop this at once!" Bluestar's stern yowl made Skyfall and Graystripe freeze. Skyfall released her hold on Graystripe and limped back. Graystripe backed away, fur bristling. Out of the corner of her eye, Skyfall saw Tigerclaw barely hiding a sneer of delight, his lip curled back to reveal his teeth.

"Skyfall, I want to see you in my den—now!" Bluestar growled, her blue eyes burning. "Graystripe, go to your nest and stay there!"

The rest of the Clan melted into the shadows, watching the young warriors with wide, curious stares. Skyfall limped after Bluestar. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground, still feeling waves of anger wash over her.