Skypaw's Fury

Chapter 2

Skypaw stomped angrily towards the Fresh-Kill. She grabbed a thrush, but then tossed it back. She was an apprentice, she had to feed her Clan first. She padded around the clearing, looking for Lakeheart, and avoiding Snowpaw. She spotted Twigstar, and padded towards her. "Twigstar?" She called. Twigstar turned and saw her.

"Yes, Skypaw?" She asked. Skypaw padded closer to her. "Have you seen Lakeheart?" She mewed. Twigstar nodded slowly. "I'm sorry Skypaw," she explained. "He went on Dawn patrol." Skypaw looked at her paws. "Okay..." She mumbled. Twigstar gave Skypaw a quick lick and Skypaw gave her one back before she left. She looked up when she was gone, only to see Snowpaw a mouse-length from her nose. "Snowpaw!" She choked as she jumped back. A satisfied look covered Snowpaw. "What do you want?" Skypaw hissed. Snowpaw padded towards her without saying a word. He sat next to her and wrapped his tail around her soft gray body. "Sorry," he mewed finally. Skypaw felt love sweep over her. "No, Snowpaw I was being a Mousebrain." She purred. Snowpaw sighed. "I just feel like, sense Leafclaw is dead, I have to protect you." He mewed quietly. "And if anything happened to you," he paused to lick Skypaw's ear. "I would have nothing else-" Skypaw stopped him by laying her tail against his mouth. "I understand," she purred. "You don't have to explain." They sat there in the clearing for what seemed like moons. Skypaw closed her eyes and relaxed. But her eyes snapped open at the rustle of the bramble barrier. Lakeheart popped out of it, followed by Longear, Smalltail, and Leafpelt. But then a large tom came in too. Who is that? She stopped dead. Smokeleaf. His broad shoulder flexed as he entered the camp. "What's he doing here?" Skypaw hissed at Snowpaw. "I don't know, but I want him out," Snowpaw hissed. Skypaw glanced at him, his leg muscles were bunched up, as if he was preparing to fight if he had to. "If he dares to even lay a claw on anyone of these cats, I'll shred him!" He growled. Skypaw just snorted with doubt and padded towards Lakeheart. "Why is that piece of Fox-Dung here?" She asked coldly. "We found him in our territory, and he told us he needed to speak with Twigstar," he sighed. "That's not likely." Skypaw nodded in agreement. She padded back to where her brother was crouching. "Apparently, Smokeleaf wants to," she paused. "Speak to Twigstar for some reason." She hissed out of ear shot of Smokeleaf. "I bet he's gonna apologize for murdering our mother," he snorted. "And that he wants to catch prey for us for a moon in repayment." Skypaw's tail curled up in amusement. She stifled a murrow of laughter. Together, they watched the patrol guide Smokeleaf towards the leaders den. Cats were poking there heads out of their dens, and hissing in disgust. The queens pulled their kits closer to them and glared at them. One of them-Flowertail- Hissed at him: "Hurry up, so you can leave!" Her kits cowered under her. Smokeleaf ignored them and walked with his head high without saying a word. "He seems too calm," Snowpaw whispered in Skypaw's ear. Skypaw nodded. She had notched that too. He's doing that on purpose. She thought. He's trying to trick us, something is wrong... "Yes, Smokeleaf?" Twigstar mewed as she emerged from her den. Smokeleaf narrowed his eyes at Twigstar. "You are just too kind, Twigstar," He snarled. "Talk to me like you wish to, hiss at me, growl!" Twigstar's amber eyes were blazing. "Okay," she snarled back. "What do you want?" Smokeleaf's eyes glittered. He's enjoying this. Skypaw thought. Skypaw rose to her paws. She gathered all her strength and spoke. "You can't talk to her like that!" Skypaw yowled at him. Smokeleaf turned his head to look at Skypaw. "Really little she-cat?" He hissed through clenched teeth. Skypaw looked around nervously. "Yeah!" She squeaked. Her ears got hot with embarrassment at her squeak. Smokeleaf padded towards her and put his face a mouse-length away from her nose. "What would your mother say to that?" He growled, his hot breath blew her whiskers back. He stayed where he was and watched Skypaw start to cry. Snowpaw stepped in front of her. "Stop, you Fox-heart!" He hissed in his face. Smokeleaf squinted at him, then padded back to Twigstar, who's mouth was hanging open in shock. "You have no right to talk to Skypaw like that!" She growled at him. "In fact, you have no right to be here at all!" Skypaw looked up from the ground to look at the two arguing cats. Tears still streamed down her face. Snowpaw sat next to her and licked her head. This time, Skypaw didn't mind him. Twigstar was on her paws, glaring at the large tabby. But Smokeleaf was larger, and was towering over the leader. Twigstar's neck fur was raised and her claws unsheathed. "So," Twigstar hissed. "What was it you wanted to tell me?" Smokeleaf sat down. "Could we talk in your den?" He asked cooly, still bristling. "Fine." Twigstar growled. The two cats padded into Twigstar's den. Skypaw crouched down and stayed there, ignoring the comforting mews coming from her Clanmates. Snowpaw never left his watch next to her. The only time Skypaw looked up was when Smokeleaf and Twigstar came out of the leader's den.