Skypaw's Fury

Chapter 5

Skypaw padding into the clearing, dragging her paws. Lakeheart's scruff was in her jaws. Snowpaw was holding his tail. They set him in the center of the clearing. Cats were already rushing towards them, yowling in agony. Skypaw looked behind her. The patrol was struggling through the bramble barrier, heads down and tails dragging in the grass. Skypaw crouched next to Lakeheart's now cold body to grieve again. "Lakeheart no!" Leafpelt popped out of the nursery. She sprinted to her mate. "The kits!" She yowled. Some cats whispered to one another.

"Kits?"

"She's gong to have kits? Really?"

"That's so great! More kits!"

But some just nodded. They knew. Leafpelt plopped down next to Skypaw. Skypaw opened her eyes to look at the Queen. "I had just moved to nursery, just a heartbeat ago," She whispered. "Maybe this was fate," She went on, her voice shaking. Skypaw was the only one who could hear her. "I will wait for you forever." Leafpelt stroked Lakeheart's flank with her tail. Skypaw scooted a bit closer to Leafpelt. "I'm so sorry I wasn't fast enough," She choked. "This is all my fault, I'm sorry." Skypaw hated herself for being to slow. "Oh Skypaw," Leafpelt sighed. "None of this is your fault." Skypaw just shook her head. "ShadowClan!" Skypaw looked up. Twigstar was standing in the middle of camp, on a large rock, her old legs shaking. "If you have not heard, my son has been murdered by a large attack of Rouges." She choked. "Twigstar," A strangled voice came from the Elder's den. It was Twigstar's mate. "Yes, Thornleg?" She cooed. Skypaw watched Twigstar suddenly jump off the rock and rush over to her mate. The two old cat's heads were together. "What did you want to say?" Twigstar said after a moment. Thornleg looked up. "I was going to say," He paused. "That when I meet Lakeheart in StarClan, I'll tell him you love him." Twigstar purred. "You know, I might be there first," Twigstar reminded him. "Hey!" Another voice came from the the Elder's den. "Enough love, what are we going to do?" Petalfall croaked. "What can we do?" Longear called. There was a quick silence, but was soon broken by Gorsetail. "Well, Skypaw needs a new mentor," He called back. Skypaw closed her eyes as all of her Clan turned their gaze towards her. Why did her father have to say that? It was bad enough that her mentor, who was her good friend died, why did he have to add attention? Skypaw hated Gorsetail. Right when Leafclaw died, he went along and fell I love with Pineneedle. He didn't even sit full vigil! "Skypaw?" Twigstar broke I to her thoughts. Skypaw raised her head. "Yes?" She asked. Twigstar tilted her head. "Did you hear what I asked?" Skypaw shook her head, embarrassed. "I said, do you want a new mentor today?" Twigstar mewed understandingly. Skypaw thought a moment they raised her head again. "Yes." She mewed simply. A few surprised mews came from some cats. She said yes because she wanted to train for fighting. If I couldn't kill one of those Rouges, I need more practice. "Alright then," Twigstar stuttered, also surprised. Twigstar raced to High Ledge. "At Skypaw's request, she will have a new mentor," Twigstar glanced around, looking for a good choice. "I have made a decision," She stopped, looking at Skypaw. "Skypaw, your new mentor will be, Gorsetail." Skypaw's tail dropped to the forest floor. No, this can't be. Skypaw took a step forward. Gorsetail padded towards her. "This is great!" He mewed to Skypaw. She looked at his gray face. His eyes were glittering with happiness. She narrowed his eyes at her father. "Yeah, okay." Skypaw mumbled. Twigstar gazed at them. "Do you approve of my choice?" Twigstar mewed. Skypaw nodded. She didn't want to be blamed for hating her father. Twigstar nodded. Then fixed her gaze on the medicine cat, who was crouched beside Lakeheart. "Whiskertail," Twigstar called. Whiskertail quickly stood up. "Yes?" She asked quietly. "Will you prepare Lakeheart for his vigil?" Twigstar mewed. Whiskertail nodded. "Smalltail and Longear," Whiskertail chose. "Carry Lakeheart to my den," Then she added politely. "Carefully." Smalltail and Longear obeyed and grabbed Lakeheart by the scruff, then his tail and carried him slowly towards the medicine cat den. Skypaw glanced at Snowpaw, who was staring at Skypaw in sympathy. Then he rose to his paws and beckoned her with his tail. Skypaw looked around then got up and padded towards him. Snowpaw stopped at the stump and looked at me. He was silent for a moment, then spoke. "We have to do something," He growled. Skypaw tilted her bloodstained head. "About what?" She asked. "Gorsetail!" Snowpaw hissed. Skypaw stared at him in disbelief. "You mean... Kill him?" Skypaw mewed quietly, suddenly a bit afraid of her brother. Snowpaw looked at the ground. "Well, I thought it was a good idea..." He mumbled. Skypaw swatted him in the head with her tail. "We can't kill him!" She hissed. Snowpaw nodded understandingly. "I just..." He hesitated. "I hate his face!" He growled finally, still looking at the ground. Skypaw nodded firmly. "Let's go hunting, or something like that, to get our minds off of things." Skypaw got up to go ask her father. Snowpaw wasn't following her. "Snowpaw!" She hissed. "Come on!" Snowpaw looked around. "Are you Mousebrained?" Snowpaw hissed. "Tons of Rouges were just out there, and killed Lakeheart!" Skypaw looked at the ground, embarrassed. "No one will let us out today, nobody." Snowpaw finished.