Overshadowed

Four to Nine

Chapter 5

Graypaw shivered, watching the snow fall heavily. Leaf-bare had taken its toll on the forest, withering many plants that Darkflower needed. Some of the clan had gotten green-cough, and the cats who were healthy went to the gathering. Darkflower had been correct, and her wounds had healed enough for her to attend the gathering. Robinstar nodded once all of the cats had gathered, and trudged up to the camp entrance. She saw Firestorm giving her a nasty glare from the warriors' den. She returned it until she left the camp. The snow numbed the pain from her paw, which she thanked. The thick-pelted cats were struggling through the snow behind in the group, and Graypaw sighed when they had to stop for them to catch up. They passed a bubbling stream, which Frostheart had told her before would always refuse to freeze during leaf-bare. She felt a stab of grief, but pushed it away. The cats reached the hollow, diving into it at Robinstar's command. She almost snorted in laughter when Stormbird started slipping on the ice.

She couldn't keep it in once the blue-gray tom fell face-first into the snow below, and giggled. Stormbird glared at her sharply. She padded down into the hollow, bushing out her fur against the chill. She bounded across the snow, looking for her tree. She sprang into the branches once she found the twisted old oak tree. She found the thick branch with the fork in it, where she always stood. She raised her ears, catching conversations from the gathering. Brokenshadow, the TreeClan tom, showing off moves, two apprentices play fighting, elders gossiping.

She leaned forward when she caught Stormbird's voice, talking to a skinny black MarshClan tom, "You know Firestorm right?"

The other tom nodded, "He's a very strong fighter, and no cat has ever beaten him before. All his battles are over right when they start."

Stormbird meowed, "Well, one of our apprentices, Graypaw. I've told you about her before. She almost beat him, and she's only a ten moon old apprentice!"

The MarshClan cat twitched his ears, "She must be a great fighter then. Were they in a sparring match?"

Graypaw shuffled to the tips of the branch, which started swaying under her paws. Stormbird started up again, "No, Firestorm attacked our Medicine Cat, so Graypaw stepped in. She did most of the fight with just her teeth. I don't think any cat would want to fight her with those claws unsheathed!"

The black tom whispered, "Is she here? I want to see for myself what she looks like!"

Stormbird nodded, "She is kinda hurt. But with that fight, I wish she was my apprentice!" Then he called out, "Graypaw!"

She sprang down from the tree, leaning on her good paw, then she bounded over, "Yes, oh mighty Stormbird?" She said, with sarcasm laced into her voice. She expected Stormbird to lash out at her, but he just snorted in amusement.

He growled, "Shadowblaze wants to see what your claws look like." She twitched her ears, turning her gaze onto the black warrior. He visibly flinched when he saw her empty eye socket, and her gaze hardened.

She flicked her tail, "I only unsheathe my claws when I'm in real trouble." She saw Stormbird unsheathe his own claws, and then she muttered, "Fine, fine." She raised her paw from the snow, unsheathed her claws, long, black and hooked, sharper than the sharpest thorn. The tom's eyes widened and he raised his own paw, unsheathed claws. They were a pale gray and standard size. Graypaw twitched her ears, wanting to get back to the oak or to find Emberpaw. She started on her way back to the tree once Stormbird left, but Shadowblaze called her back. She meowed warily, "What do you want?"

He hissed quietly, "Meet me at forested area of the hollow." She felt puzzled, but set on her way to it, wincing as she realized she had to scale the whole clearing. Keeping her head low, she tried to ignore the stares. But after the umpteenth time of some cat calling her a half-face she whipped around, snarling. It was two apprentices, and by their scent, they were MarshClan. She gave a warning growl, causing them to jump.