Shadowstripe's Treachery

Chapter 9

((Cat above is Juniperheart))

Three moons had passed and leafbare had melted away. Newleaf was in full swing. The snow had melted and the temperature was much warmer, bringing the prey out of their burrows. Whispermoon had given birth to four healthy kits. Everything had changed in IceClan for the better.

Though moons had passed since the death of the little warrior, as Littlestep was called in Whispermoon's nursery tales, Shadowpaw had never changed how he felt about StarClan or the cats around him. He felt the coldness in his heart grow bigger every passing day, and there was always a sense of emptiness with him everywhere he went. He had given up on trying to avoid Snowpaw, who was now Snowfall, and so she had taken full advantage of his 'change in heart' towards her.

Even though he felt pain and anger stabbing at him every day, he did his best to hide it and continue with his plan to become the raging fire, despite what Larkpaw had constantly told him. He wasn't about to give up on the only thing that kept him going! He had made an effort to do his best in any training that Badgerclaw had given him, and he even did Larkpaw's chores sometimes, which made her angrier than ever.

He had grown into a slender yet muscular young tom, but he was still slightly shorter then his sister. He tried to stay away from Larkpaw at all times so that no one would notice their height difference.

He stretched out his paws and basked in the warm, newleaf sun. The hunting patrol had come back, their jaws stuffed with prey. He watched as Snowfall, Oakleaf, and Cinderstorm placed their catches in the fresh kill pile that was already stacked tall.

Oakleaf laid down in the middle of the clearing, enjoying the sunlight. Cinderstorm tried to go into the warriors den, but Larkpaw got to him first and started chatting with him. Shadowpaw smirked. He waited with a sneer to see the misery in Cinderstorm's eyes that usually showed when Larkpaw came up to him, but this time it wasn't there. The ash colored warrior was actually smiling for a change. Shadowpaw narrowed his eyes in confusion; Cinderstorm was definitely acting differently today.

He observed in surprise as the two walked together out of camp. He felt something brush up against him and he jumped. He looked and sighed with relief when he saw it was just Snowfall. "Hey." He mewed in a flat tone.

"Hey Shadowpaw!" she purred happily. "Cinderstorm and Larkpaw are really hitting it off, huh?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked crossly, "I thought that he hated her."

"Apparently not," she gushed, "I think they're a perfect couple."

"And why so?" He rolled his eyes.

"She completes him." She explained, sitting next to Shadowpaw.

"What do you mean by that?" He hissed. He didn't see any good qualities that would "complete" any tom cat in his sister.

"Cinderstorm is dull and boring and Larkpaw is tons of fun! Like I said: she completes him."

"Larkpaw? Fun? Ha!" Shadowpaw scoffed.

Snowfall rolled her eyes and smiled, shoving him playfully. Shadowpaw let out a fake laugh, but he wasn't having a good time at all. He could tell that Snowfall was trying to become friends with him, or maybe even more than friends, but he didn't feel the same way towards her. And besides, the last time he had made a friend, it ended in a tragic disaster. If I don't have any friends, I won't ever have to be hurt again. He thought, but I still have to be nice to Snowfall so she doesn't take Larkpaw's side.

When Shadowpaw didn't shove her back, she let out a small sigh and sat down awkwardly beside him. Shadowpaw stared on ahead, and saw his mentor coming towards him. Oh great..