Book 1 - Warriors: The Shadow Outcast

Chapter Eighteen

Rainfur and Sweetpaw were quiet as they walked toward the fallen tree, hoping not to alert the cats in the island. It was sunhigh, and as burnt ground flaked beneath their paws, Rainfur hoped that his welcoming would not be death. He hoped they would just see him as, well, a loner, which was what he was now.

Sweetpaw seemed worried as well. She'd told him of how she'd said goodbye to her family, and now she was going to have to see them one last time. It was hard for a cat her age, Rainfur knew.

They both stopped at the edge of the fallen tree, hoping the other would go first. Rainfur then nodded to Sweetpaw before jumping onto the log and swiftly walking across, aware of the unwelcome glares and hostile hisses he was going to get.

When Rainfur jumped off of the log and onto the island floor, he heard gasps of all sorts. Hope, fear, and curiosity of the voices he heard, but mostly it was anger.

"He's back!" one cat gasped.

"Is he going to hurt us?" asked one cat aloud.

"Mama! Help me!" Rainfur looked at the cat who'd said that, and he wasn't surprised to see Duskkit backing away toward Reedfeather, who glared at Rainfur.

"Sweetpaw!" called another cat, making Rainfur aware of the she-cat behind him. "You've come back!" Rainfur looked to Softstreak, Sweetpaw's mother.

"Have not!" Sweetpaw hissed, her eyes narrowed. "I'm only coming back because of Rainfur. I will not return to a bunch of scaredy-cats!" Rainfur chuckled a bit, but then noticed the four leaders standing before him, all looking quite confused, and angry.

"We have exiled you, Rainfur, did you not understand?" asked Sharpstar icily. "You shouldn't have come back."

"I did not come back," Rainfur growled, his tail twitching as he narrowed his eyes. "Consider it a visit, the last you shall see of me." Sharpstar then glanced to Sweetpaw, who was behind Rainfur, hiding.

"I see you've forced Sweetpaw to follow you," Sharpstar hissed, his eyes also narrowed.

"I have not," Rainfur growled. "She is the other reason I've come. Right now, if she wants to, she may stay. If not, then that is her decision."

"None of this matters," Rosestar hissed, ears pinned back toward her head. "You were exiled! You should be killed for returning!" Rainfur looked to the young leader, his eyes cold and emotionless. He was hiding it, hoping not to show the billions of feelings he was trying to keep inside.

"I should be killed for telling you some good news?" asked Rainfur. "I hardly think that's a reward for watching out for the Clans, even though you've exiled me unfairly." Rosestar hissed angrily, her eyes narrowed.

"What news?" asked Bravestar, his eyes filled with sorrow and curiosity.

"ThunderClan's territory is the only one that is still in flames," Rainfur explained. "According to the Twolegs, that land shall be fire-free by tonight, and then tomorrow is when the Twolegs will be gone. WindClan territory is safe from them, as is RiverClan's. Those two Clans are free to go home, but ShadowClan might want to watch out.

"Prey is also another issue," Rainfur continued. "On my way there, I saw nothing. I'm afraid you won't see prey for quite some time, though some underground prey might show up. That is all." Rainfur then dipped his head respectively, hoping to show them all that he wasn't deceiving them.

"How do we know we can trust you?" asked Sharpstar angrily. Rainfur flicked his tail toward his scar.

"Ask StarClan," he growled. "They should know. They should know everything about me, actually, since they're the reason I've been sent here, given this scar, and exiled. I would say it was all their fault, but I have to remember, we all make our mistakes." Rainfur then stood up before walking to Robinwing, hoping not to get killed in the process. Most cats stayed quiet as he walked up to his mate, though some whispered.