The Lost Prophecy: Book 2: Broken Destinies

Chapter 5

When they returned to camp, Ravenpaw's heart dropped. His Clanmates had grown silent when they saw the claw marks on the patrolling cats, and their curious gazes made him want to turn around and run back into the forest.

"What's going on?" Goldenflower meowed, padding up. The rest of the queens followed her, looking concerned.

"Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw were hunting..." Ravenpaw was too in shock to hear Whitestorm's full answer. He was still expecting Darkstripe to pounce at him at any moment even though in the logical part of his brain he knew he was safe.

Tigerclaw jerked his head toward Bluestar's den. Vaguely aware of a sympathetic blink from Sandpaw, Ravenpaw reluctantly followed his mentor, his heart dropping even more than it already had.

"Tigerclaw." Bluestar dipped her head in greeting as they slipped into the den. "What happened?" She raised her head, her expression clouding.

Tigerclaw sat down, and Ravenpaw took a spot as far away from his mentor as he could while still being inside the cramped den. "Darkstripe was trespassing within our borders," Tigerclaw meowed. He narrowed his eyes. "This cat-" he flicked his tail at Ravenpaw in disgust- "ran off to catch a squirrel, alone, in blatant disregard to my orders, and Darkstripe used the chance to corner him."

Bluestar sat bolt upright. "Are you hurt?"

Tigerclaw answered for him. "He's fine."

"Yes, I'm alright," Ravenpaw put in when Bluestar kept watching him.

"So what happened exactly?" Bluestar asked.

Lashing his tail, Tigerclaw shifted his paws. "As I told you, it was not a simple ambush." Ravenpaw barely heard what his mentor was saying as he sat there, his tail flicking anxiously. "We were hunting near Tallpines. I was trying to teach him some basic tracking techniques, but he bolted off before I finished my instructions." Ravenpaw bristled. Tigerclaw certainly had finished his instructions, and they had consisted of two words: catch it- which Ravenpaw had attempted to follow. "Darkstripe found him before I could get to him. He must have been biding his time before he decided to attack."

Bluestar sat quietly in her nest, watching Ravenpaw closely as Tigerclaw finished his report.

"It was a good thing Whitestorm's patrol had been in the area, or he would have died," meowed Tigerclaw. "I believe that taking on sole elders' duties for the next moon will be sufficient punishment."

"I agree that there should be consequences," Bluestar mewed after a long moment, turning away from her deputy. "Although a moon may be a bit excessive." She sighed, closing her eyes. "Tigerclaw, you may go."

The dark brown tabby tom opened his mouth to protest before seeming to think better of it. He dipped his head and exited the den, leaving Ravenpaw alone with Bluestar.

Bluestar gave Ravenpaw a long, thoughtful look that made him want to shrink away. "Ravenpaw, do you know why Darkstripe is targeting you like this?"

For the second time in less than a moon, Ravenpaw found himself contemplating telling Bluestar about Tigerclaw's treachery: about how he had murdered Redtail and sent Darkstripe to kill Ravenpaw, and how he appeared to still be plotting Ravenpaw's demise.

But he gave a tiny shake of his head out of instinct, and Bluestar spoke before he could form any words from his thoughts. "I expected better of you, Ravenpaw," she meowed. "I'm surprised; I thought Darkstripe nearly killing you once would be enough to make you aware of the danger you were in. I know you didn't disobey orders out of spite. That being said, it was irresponsible of you to run off alone, especially near the place where Darkstripe was scented a few days ago. It put not just you, but all the cats who fought him in danger." She shook her head, her expression worried. "Thank StarClan you're alright..."