Silverlight's Virtue #1: Dark Shadows

Chapter 19

  Silverpaw sped back to the camp, dodging branches and stumbling over vines. She ran blindly, letting her paws guide her towards where she knew the camp was. She was almost to the camp when she paused, struck by a sudden thought. Would the Clan believe her? And if they did, would that even be the best choice?

  Should she keep this news to herself?

  Silverpaw shook off the mutinous thought, disgusted with herself. How could she think that way? She continued the rest of the way to camp, and pushed her way through the bramble entrance.

  Once she entered the camp, she knew something was wrong.

  Cats milled about, angry yowls and worried hisses filling the air. The camp was nothing like what it had been when Silverpaw had left. She found Sparrowpaw and ran up to him. "Sparrowpaw! What's going on?"

  Sparrowpaw turned, and obvious relief came over his face. "Oh, there you are! I thought you'd been stolen too!" Silverpaw stared at him incredulously. "Stolen? What do you mean?"

  "You haven't heard? Moonkit and Hedgekit have been missing since dawn!"

  "Eh. You know kits. They probably went off somewhere to play."

  "No! Rosekit said that a tortoiseshell she-cat took them away! And all of our fresh-kill is missing, as well! And-" he lowered his voice, looking scared. "There's a weird, muddy scent everywhere."

  Silverpaw opened her mouth, ready to retort, and realized that she had nothing to say. "Well... did we launch a search party, then?" she mewed. Sparrowpaw nodded. "Yeah, but they haven't come back yet."

  Silverpaw's eyes flitted along the camp and came to rest on Tiger. He was lurking in a corner of the camp, keeping away from the noise and confusion. Silverpaw thought she saw something like guilt cross his face.

  She frowned, wondering why he would feel guilty about this incident. The only explanation would be if - "Hey, Sparrowpaw. Did Tiger leave the camp today?"

  Sparrowpaw frowned, looking like he was thinking hard. "No... I don't think so... only Shadowblaze left the camp today, and that was to go wash his paws off in the stream." Silverpaw nodded her thanks and settled down to think.

  Then she understood.

  It was so obvious that Silverpaw didn't know how she could have missed it. The night that she had caught Tiger, he'd been stealing prey from the fresh-kill pile! 

  Tiger was part of the Death Tribe.

  There was no other explanation for it. But if he was part of the Death Tribe... he was dangerous. He had to be chased out of the camp, or all of LeafClan would be in great danger.

  Silverpaw approached Tiger, keeping her claws out and at a respectable distance. Tiger looked up and noticed her, but didn't acknowledge her in any way. She snarled to catch his attention, then mewed, "I went to the Twoleg Territory today."

  Tiger's head snapped up, interest kindling in his eyes, but when he spoke, his voice sounded bored. "Why are you telling me about that?"

  Silverpaw looked deep into his green eyes, then mewed, "I had a run-in with the so-called Death Tribe. I heard their leader speaking to them and telling them to steal prey from our Clan. I'm not an idiot, you know. I know you're part of the Death Tribe."

  Silverpaw had expected Tiger to attack her or run away back to the Death Tribe, but she was totally unprepared to see Tiger slump down in surrender. "Okay. I knew it couldn't stay a secret for long. I am part of the Death Tribe, but that doesn't mean I agree with what they're doing. They sent me on a mission to steal prey from your camp and make it seem like the Fire Tribe took it, but along the way, I got caught. By you. I can't exactly say that I'm unhappy about that. I've always wanted to leave the Death Tribe, ever since they began kidnapping k- I mean, fresh-kill. But the penalty for leaving... is death."

  Silverpaw shrugged unsympathetically. "Well. I wonder how the Clan will react when I tell them."

  Tiger's eyes widened with horror. "No! Please, I don't want to go back to the Death Tribe. I- I want to stay here and live the life of a Clan cat again. I'm done with the Death Tribe."

  Silverpaw leaned back slightly, considering his words. Of course, he had been a Clan cat before, and what he was saying seemed to be genuine. She could feel that a cat like him would be better suited as a Clan cat, rather than a Death Tribe cat.

  She decided, in that instant, what she would do. "Come with me, Tiger. We're going to talk to Leaflight." Conflict appeared on Tiger's face, and he seemed unsure of what to do. "She's going to decide if you can stay in the Clan or not. I don't have the power to do so."

  They entered Leaflight's den, and she looked up, surprised. Silverpaw didn't know if she'd imagined it, but she looked exceedingly worried about something - maybe the kits. "Silverpaw! And what can I do for you?" She asked wearily. Silverpaw turned and ushered Tiger into the den. "We need to talk about Tiger - I have a few things to tell you."

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  " - and he tells me that he would rather be a Clan cat. What are you going to do about him?" Silverpaw finished, glancing at Leaflight inquisitively. Leaflight shifted thoughtfully, studying Tiger. "Well, I know Tiger from when he was just a kit. He was guileless, completely innocent and free. I can imagine how the Death Tribe, or so you call it, would not suit him. He also wouldn't lie about wanting to leave the Death Tribe. I think... that I will call a Clan meeting, and make him an apprentice. But... we still cannot trust him completely. The mentor I assign to him will also keep surveillance on him, to make sure he is not a spy or something of the sort."

  Tiger made a face. "Do you cats have to talk about me like I'm not here, when I'm right next to you?"

  Silverpaw looked at Leaflight. "Yes." They replied in unison.

  Yes, I know... it's a bit of a short chapter. But I hope it was interesting! And it's a cliff-hanger... not really... because you get to know Tiger's mentor next chapter, and figure out what happened to the kits. Don't forget to vote vote and vote if you haven't already! Okay whatever... bye... <3

The words are: Mistrust and Discovery