Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Specklestar banished me." Crowshadow sounded as unaffected as if she didn't care in the slightest. Fluffing up her thick fur against the cold, she trotted to the front of the willow and dropped to the ground.
No one made a sound. They just stared at the black she-cat with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
Larkwing felt like she was sitting on an anthill. Awkwardly, she swayed back and forth. That must mean that Crowshadow became a rogue!, was the first thing that came to her mind. But not a normal rogue, who was clanless from birth, but an exile. Stars in the sky, that's the worst of all punishments!
The question of why Crowshadow had been banished was on Larkwing's tongue like a burr. But in the end, it was Redleaf who uttered the question that everyone wanted answered.
"Why?" That was all he said. He didn't need to say anything more, though.
Despite the stares that were continuously directed at her, Crowshadow didn't duck her head. Larkwing admired her for that. She herself was sure that she would be devastated if she were ever driven away. The former SnowClan warrior, on the other paw, continued to radiate fearlessness.
"That should be self-evident. Specklestar banished me in front of the entire Clan because I refused to sit idly by any longer while a deadly danger is waiting on the other side of the river, one that would finally break out any day and annihilate the remaining Clans." There was an almost feral glint in Crowshadows's greenish-golden eyes, an extreme contrast to her relaxed demeanour just now.
Hearing this made Larkwing feel nauseous. She had never liked the leader of SnowClan before, and now she had another reason to hate her. It was simply impossible that Specklestar didn't give a mousedung about the danger in their midst.
Lakepelt flattened his ears disapprovingly. "Specklestar has always had some serious problems," the dark grey and white tabby tom hissed so quietly that only Larkwing could hear him.
Nodding silently in agreement, she thought back to the one day when Reddapple had been badly injured during a border battle. Larkwing would never forget that fight. The sight of her blood-covered Clanmate was forever burned into her memory and still gave her restless nights from time to time. Reddapple was truly lucky that Fruittail and Bramblepaw had cared for her so devotedly back then.
"But how can Specklestar let it all go so cold?" Leafwind asked. "After all, Leapfoot was kidnapped by the Shadowless! Even if she tries to deny it," he added.
Crowshadow gave the younger tom a long look that was characterised by deep cluelessness. "I don't know," she sighed agonisedly. "But I'm not interested in what SnowClan does anymore. I'm no longer bound to them and can therefore do whatever I want." She stood up resolutely. "And I've decided not to be such a mouse-brain like Specklestar."
Perplexed, Larkwing's mouth stood open. She dared to do say this? I'd like to talk to her in private and pick up a few ideas on how to be so awesome and how to have this I-make-dirt-on-everyone-and-everything mindset.
