Warrior Cats #1: The Battle of Thorns

Chapter Eighteen

     Birdclaw shifted uncomfortably on the stone floor, his gaze set firmly on the entrance. They'll come back. I know they'll come back! He cocked his ears at every slight sound, his claws scraping across the stone floor each time his hopes got the better of him. Silvershadow frowned. His condition was getting worse everyday. He wouldn't eat, and small bits of foam had gathered around his black lips. His eyes were dull with tents of red around them.

     "Birdclaw, maybe we should go look for them." She meowed, her voice soft and gentle. The thin tom shook his head. "No, they'll come back! I know it! I don't want them to think we left." He voice rose with contempt as his thoughts were clouded with memories of his wonderful children. My kits, my family. It's all leaving me!

     Silvershadow licked down some of his ruffled fur with concern, nuzzling him gently under his chin. "We'll find them. I promise." She meowed. "But to find something, you have to look for it. And every journey starts somewhere. I know that Starclan wants the best for all cats, so please trust me on this." Her gaze matched his and for the first time in a while, his dull grey eyes showed hints of real hope. "Silvershadow, don't ever give up on me." He meowed, his voice weak and uncontrolled. The she-cat smiled. "I'll always love you. And love is like a chain, it can connect all things together."

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    Lionpaw glanced around him uncertainly. Not one meow was heard, and not one muscle was moved. He shifted his gaze towards Leafpaw, but she returned a gaze just as questioning. Stonestar's voice rose above the silence with great ferocity. "Bane!" His howl was full of deep frustration. "Why are you here?" Lionpaw looked around to face a large, muscular tom padding calmly into camp. He twitched his whiskers dismissively. "I have every right to come here, StoneFire."

     Lionpaw tilted his head. The pelts of other cats began to form behind him, each getting into untidy rows of threes or fours. Their tails swayed as one, each large masses of different cats. Lionpaw growled. Suddenly, though, he heard a yowl from Sunleg. "Your brother's not here!" His voice was full of deep contempt. Bane growled. "I didn't come for my brother, Sunkit! I came for my son, Lionpaw."

     A gasp filled the air, followed by excited murmurs and suspicious gazes. Lionpaw, frozen in shock, realized just exactly who this cat was. His father had left to fight a cat named Shadowfur, when his clan was breaking up. So when the clan did break up, Shadowfur must have changed his name to... Bane.

     The muscular tom grinned and looked over at Lionpaw maliciously. "Welcome, Lionpaw, to your real father." He meowed. Lionpaw backed up and shook his head. "No, it's Birdclaw! You've got the wrong cat!" He struggled to contain his fears. Bane laughed. "Birdclaw's my brother, and your uncle. Don't try to hide this, Lionpaw."

     Leafpaw had been watching with quiet contempt. She was frozen in realization. Bane did have a lot of similar features to Lionpaw. They had dark brown fur and black stripes, and black ears as well. Even their voices were almost the same. If this is Lionpaw's father, then who is his mother? She wondered. And why is Bane coming now?