Shadowstripe's Treachery

Chapter 18

((Cat above is Leaf))

Two long moons had passed, and Leaffall was quickly fading into Leafbare. Everything seemed to be a lot colder, and Shadowstripe had assumed that it was because they had gotten used to the extremely warm weather that they had last Greenleaf. Everything seemed different after Larkflight became deputy. Shadowstripe had been extra nice to his sister, though he hated every moment of it, so that she might choose him for deputy one day.

Even though he was nicer to her, Larkflight didn't hesitate to rub it in his face that she was the deputy. He had tried to mostly focus on training his apprentice to distract himself from the constant urge to unsheath his claws and slit her throat every time she made fun of him.

Now he was attempting to teach Toadpaw more combat moves, though it was exceedingly more difficult this time.

"Toadpaw! Earth to Toadpaw! Toadpaw, listen to me!" Shadowstripe called continuously to his apprentice.

Toadpaw was not paying attention to anything Shadowstripe tried to tell him. Instead, he had his eyes glued to the particularly beautiful new apprentice, Leafpaw. Clover's kits had been given their apprentice names one moon ago, when they had officially been welcomed to the clan by Birchstar.

"Hey Mousebrain! Over here!" Greypaw padded up next to Shadowstripe, attempting to help him free Toadpaw from his trance.

Toadpaw didn't turn around at his brother's call, and just kept staring. Rosepaw and Darkpaw stopped training and watched their brother. "What's gotten into him these days?" Rosepaw whined.

Darkpaw gave Rosepaw a dry look, "It's pretty obvious, frogbrain. He definitely likes a certain she cat over there." She mewed, pointing with her tail.

Shadowstripe rolled his eyes. He never had a crush on anyone when he was an apprentice, but he could see why Toadpaw would fall for her. She was a beautiful fluffy, dark tabby she cat with a white underbelly. Her bright yellow eyes gleamed as bright as the sun and she was very graceful in whatever she did. She spoke softly and had a soothing voice, and Shadowstripe didn't know one tom cat that didn't like her.

"Toadpaw!" He growled, cuffing his ears. The little apprentice turned around, looking innocent and slightly dazed.

"Huh?" He mewed, his eyes glazed over.

Shadowstripe bent down to whisper in his ear, "Don't you think she'll be impressed if you show her your battle moves?"

He looked startled, "Wait... how did you know?!"

Shadowstripe rolled his eyes, "I would have to be blind, deaf, and pretty much dead not to notice."

His ears flew back and he licked his ruffled chest in embarrassment, "S-sorry..."

Shadowstripe chuckled, "Come on, Toadpaw. Let's practice."

After a while of training and constantly having to bring Toadpaw back to attention, Shadowstripe was finally satisfied. Leafpaw had left with her mentor, Cinderstorm, and Toadpaw was getting anxious to leave as well.

"Okay Toadpaw," Shadowstripe mewed, "before we go, show me one of the moves that I tought you today."

Toadpaw thought for a second, looking at Rosepaw who was training with Larkflight. "Can I try what she just did?" He asked.

Shadowstripe looked over to see what move they were doing, and he cringed. His sister was teaching Rosepaw the very move that he used to kill Badgerclaw. "Uh... sure..." he gulped.

Toadpaw dragged a good sized stick over to Shadowstripe, and he narrowed his eyes, "Toadpaw, are you sure you want to try your first move on such a big stick?"