Skypaw's Fury

Chapter 16

"No!" Skypaw dug her claws into the leaves as Gorsetail scolded her. "Like this!" Gorsetail demonstrated the exact same battle move Skypaw had just done. "You try," Gorsetail sat aside and flicked his tail irritably. Skypaw did the move perfectly and hissed under her breath when Gorsetail shook his head. "Why can't you ever learn anything?" He growled. Skypaw twitched her ears. "I'm doing it right." She mumbled. "No your not!" Gorsetail snarled, tossing a paw full of leaves at her. Skypaw dodged them. "What are you doing?" Skypaw mewed as Gorsetail crouched in the grass. Gorsetail hissed loudly at her. "Okay," He growled through clenched teeth. "I'm going to practice it on you." Skypaw tensed slightly. What will Gorsetail do to me? Would he sheath his claws? Skypaw's father narrowed his eyes. She flinched as she saw anger flash in his eyes. He wouldn't hurt me... Would he? Too late to think, Gorsetail lunged at Skypaw. She dodged out of the way, doing the move- a quick turn, and run to the side of the opponent, slashing claws at the cat's flank- and flashing a swift extra paw at his hind leg. Gorsetail whipped his head around. "That's not in the move!" He yowled as he leaped in the air. Horror bolted through Skypaw as she saw his extended claws glinting in the sun. "Claws sheathed!" She yelped as she hopped out of the way. Gorsetail landed hard in the dust. He got up and furiously shook dirt out of his messy pelt. He stalked toward his terrified daughter, spitting. "You don't respect me," He snarled as Skypaw backed away. "You think your a perfect kitty cat, but your not!" He swiped at her muzzle, catching her in the nose. Pain struck her face. "Ouch!" Skypaw whimpered as she slumped on the ground. She licked her nose, tasting the salty tang of blood. Gorsetail held up a paw, admiring his shiny black claws. He looked back at his daughter, squinting. "You'll never be a warrior," Gorsetail snorted. "Like your mother, you'll die a pitiful death." Skypaw widened her eyes in disbelief. "You loved her!" She shouted, suddenly forgetting the sting in her nose. Gorsetail rolled his eyes. "Your so dumb." He laughed. Skypaw growled loudly. "She loved you and you betrayed her, and now you have a mate and some dumb kits that I'm not going accept as relatives!" Gorsetail straitened up. "Don't talk like that about my kits!" He protested. "Don't talk like that about my mother!" Skypaw retorted. "She can't hear me, or you," Gorsetail sniffed. "Your wasting your time with StarClan!" Skypaw's tail dropped with a thud. "You don't believe in StarClan?" She breathed. Her father twitched his whiskers. "Of course not," He huffed. "It's just a ton of fox dung." Skypaw whipped her tail, stirring up the crispy leaf-fall leaves. She got ready to leap at her father but something stopped her. A sweet scent swirled throughout her nostrils. Skypaw glanced around her, also making sure Gorsetail didn't pounce. She felt fur brush her flank. Skypaw tried to jump away, but something told her not to. She slowly turned her head and saw a familiar cat with a tan pelt. She gasped as she realized who it was. "Mother!" Leafclaw was staring sweetly at her daughter. Skypaw glanced at Gorsetail. "Leafclaw...?" He choked. His eyes were wide with amazement. Leafclaw narrowed her eyes at her old mate. Her figure was lined with glittering stars. Skypaw leaped to her paws and nuzzled her mother. "I've missed you!" She cried. Leafclaw wrapped her tail around Skypaw. "I've missed you too, darling." She purred. Skypaw shut her eyes. "Don't go again," She whispered. Leafclaw sighed. "I will have to go soon, but there's something I must do." Skypaw's mother rose from the grass and strolled to Gorsetail. Their gaze locked for a few heartbeats, then Gorsetail looked away. "I missed you too." He mewed flatly. Leafclaw reached her tail over to the dark warrior. She whipped him in the flank with her tail and sat down. "No you haven't." She meowed. "I heard what you said." Gorsetail gasped. "That's impossible!" Leafclaw nodded and turned back to Skypaw, who was gazing fondly at her dead mother. "Skypaw, my precious, don't attack Gorsetail with teeth and claws." She sighed. She turned back to Gorsetail before Skypaw could reply. "And you," She hissed. "Stop attacking my daughter... Altogether." Gorsetail raised his chin. "She's my daughter, too." He puffed. Leafclaw clawed at the grass, tearing it. "Real fathers don't attack their kits." She growled. "And don't ignore Snowpaw." She added. Skypaw jumped at the name of her brother. "Snowpaw will want to see you!" Leafclaw turned to Skypaw as she scrambled to her paws. "Let me get him!" Leafclaw purred and raised a tail. "I'll visit him when he needs me," She trilled lovingly. "And don't tell him about this, or he'll think I don't love him." She approached Skypaw. "I love you." Leafclaw mewed. She licked Skypaw's head and turned to hiss at Gorsetail before fading into nothing.