The Story of JetraClan

Chapter 14

Then I decide to come back.

I'm tired, which is weird, because nobody spawns tired. I guess it doesn't matter.

I make my way towards camp.

I'm only partly enthusiastic.

Then I enter camp. All eyes turn to me immediately.

Silence.

Then...

"Reeeeeeeeddssssttttaaaarrrrr!"

Dawnfire barrels into me, bowling me over. She's purring.

She lets eat get up, eyes shining. I guess it's been a longer time here.

Foxdapple also comes over.

"Welcome back, leader." She greets me.

I give them a small smile, "thank y-"

Then Foxdapple hits me on the shoulder with her paw. Hard.

"That's for leaving us for such a long time, you bastard!" She scowls, "though I am happy to see you."

Sunheart and Ashbreeze come over next, a little quieter, but they're still happy. 

Out of everyone in camp, there's only one person who's not happy.

Shadowmist.

Snaketalon and Treepelt seem closer than usual. To eachother. I noticed that their tails are intertwined for a moment.

"Where were you?" Ashbreeze asks.

"I just...wasn't ready." I meow slowly.

I expect her to be disappointed in me, but instead she nods her head slowly. That's the understanding Ashbreeze I know.

Even Hazelspark seems glad to see me. Rythmheart is happy yet concerned, her white-streaked brown fur bristling the tiniest bit.

Shadowmist makes his way towards me. Foxdapple takes a protective step in front of me.

"Now's not the time, Shadowmist." She meows sternly.

I shift my weight, uncomfortable. There's something with him that I don't know about.

"No, it's the perfect time," he stands in front of me, eyes staring into my soul, whiskers almost touching mine, "Redstar, you set Sweetstar up to fail her Warriors assessment. You left us for ages. You've become more distant and angry with grief. These are not the qualities of the leader you used to be."

"I'm not- wait, did you say Sweetstar?" Sweetheart, a leader? The idea is hard to grasp, and since when is Sweetheart a leader?

Shadowmist ignored my question, "and that's why I'm challenging you for your leadership."

The sentence freezes my bones and numbs my nerves. But I've been the leader for...for ages!

Since JetraClan started!

"Are those reasons fair?"

I hardly hear them.

"Redstar, are those reasons fair?" Shadowmist asks again.

I nod. Slowly. I have to be fair with this.

"Vote, fight, or quiz?"

"Vote." 

I don't want a fight or a quiz.

In a vote, we will notify the other Clans, then their leaders and a few representatives will come and vote. 

The one who challenged the leader gets a small 'punishment', and a bigger one if they lose so they can't just keep challenging the leader.

If the leader loses, then they get a 'punishment'.

"Punishment?" Shadowmist asks.

"Life as a loner for one week for you." I say.

"Better make it two weeks," Shadowmist says, "and if I lose I live life as a loner for four weeks."

"Okay, what's my punishment?"

"Work for he new Clan for a month."

"New Clan?"

"You'll see."

It leaves me puzzled, that sentence. I send a few cats out and then Shadowmist and I wait.

The cats come back.

Time to go.