Shadowstripe's Treachery

Chapter 14

((Cat above is Snowfall))

For the next two days, the grief stricken IceClan cats had done nothing but mourn for their losses, which made Shadowstripe very uncomfortable. It was as if the sudden deaths of both elders had put a spell on all of the cats, and the camp had been strangely quiet ever since then. Even his father Duskheart, who seemed to hate the old she cat, was in a state of despair.

Birchstar was sure that the mysterious deaths of both of the elders was the work of the "evil" and "heartless" MountainClan cats.

"I don't know how they did it," he had stated, "but they are obviously out to get us. We will not wait for them to battle with us, but we will attack them first! I hate to start a fight with anyone, but those fox-hearts deserve it."

Shadowstripe couldn't believe how stupid Birchstar was being, but he wasn't about to object and have the blame be placed on him. It looks like I got away with it after all, huh Juniperheart? He snickered to himself. He honestly couldn't wait for a battle, since he had never participated in one because of Birchstar's dumb desire for peace within the clans.

Snowfall was sitting in the warriors den, and he came in and sat down beside his mate. Snowfall looked up happily, "Hello Shadowstripe!" She purred, licking his forehead.

He smiled half heartedly and sighed, "Hey." He mewed, "So are you excited about the battle?" He started to perk up again.

Her ears went back, "No! Of course not! Why would I be excited when there's a possibility of cats getting killed?"

He shrugged, "Well, we are warriors after all. Aren't we supposed to fight at some point in our lives?"

She narrowed her eyes, "I guess so, but that doesn't mean I should be excited about it."

He rolled his eyes, "Come on, Snowfall, lighten up! This will be the first battle we've ever had, and there are no dumb elders to try and stop Birchstar from the stupid decision he's making-" he stopped himself when he saw the completely horrified look on Snowfall's face, "I...I mean... uh, I miss the elders too and... um... never mind." He shut his mouth before he could say anything else.

Other warriors had turned and gave him shocked stares. He laughed nervously, "I didn't mean it like that! I'm sure the elders were very... hepful... to our clan in some way."

He could feel the heated anger emanating off of the cats around him, and he started to back up when Thrushpelt bared her teeth. "Juniperheart was my mother, and she was your grandmother! And Scarface was an honorable warrior as well. You should be more reverent and have respect." She lectured, "I thought I tought you better than that."

Badgerclaw, Cinderstorm, and Oakleaf were snickering in the back, watching Shadowstripe's mother scold him. Once his mother stomped off, he licked his chest fur in embarrassment and tried to pretend it never happened.

"Yeah, Shadowstripe! You better listen to your mommy and have respect or she'll really get you next time!" Oakleaf sneered, and Cinderstorm laughed in the background.

Shadowstripe snarled, "You'd better shut your mouth or I'll-"

Badgerclaw cuffed Oakleaf's ears and growled sternly, "Leave him alone, Oakleaf. He has his own opinions and we have ours."

Oakleaf rolled his eyes, "Fine... come on, Cinderstorm."

Snowfall gave him a sympathetic glance, "Sorry about him, he's probably just upset about the elders."

"No, he's always been a stupid piece of dung." Shadowstripe growled, not caring that Oakleaf and Snowfall were siblings.

Snowfall rolled her eyes, "And you've always been a grump." She joked.