Skypaw's Fury

Chapter 17

Skypaw stumbled back to camp, in a daze. Gorsetail had ran ahead. Skypaw's mind whirled. Had her troubles with Gorsetail just been diminished? Or had they just been made worse? Questions one by one entered her mind, none being answered. When she trudged into camp, all eyes turned towards her. Snowpaw rushed forward. "Gorsetail looked pretty frightened," His blue gaze flicked around nervously as he whispered. "Did you attack him?" The fur along Skypaw's back rose. "Of course not!" She gasped quietly. She felt the many eyes of her Clanmates burning into her pelt. Grasspaw hurried towards her. "What happened?" He mewed. Skypaw was about to say what had happened with Leafclaw, but she bit her tongue. Don't tell Snowpaw about this. Skypaw remembered what Leafclaw had said. She shook her head. "Nothing." When she saw their confused expressions, she suppressed a fake laugh. "You know how crazy Gorsetail is!" Skypaw mewed. "He probably saw a mouse and it spooked him!" Grasspaw laughed, but Snowpaw didn't look convinced. "Are you sure?" He pressed. Skypaw looked away. "Yes." Skypaw looked back. Grasspaw nodded, still giggling, and padded away. Snowpaw stayed. "How did the training go?" He asked casually. Skypaw sighed. "Not very good," Snowpaw looked at her with concerned eyes. "Look." Skypaw tipped her nose towards her brother, showing him the scratch, blood was crusted around it. Snowpaw gasped. "How could he?" He growled, once the crowd of cats had wandered off. Skypaw flicked her tail. "He scratched me because he thought I was doing a move wrong, but look!" Skypaw demonstrated the perfect move. Snowpaw looked impressed. Pride burst through her heart. "So I was doing it write but he's too annoying and distracted by his stupid kits!" Skypaw whispered. "Skypaw!" Tiny squeaks were heading her way. "Speaking of," Snowpaw grinned at Spottedkit and Cardinalkit scampering towards her. Their fur was fluffed up against the chill of the leaf-fall evening. Once they reached the two apprentices, they were panting. "Guess what?" Cardinalkit peeped. Skypaw smiled. "What?" She asked. Spottedkit jumped over her sister. "Hey!" She hissed. "You said I could tell her!" Cardinalkit growled at her sister. "I'll tell you, Skypaw!" Spottedkit mewed. "Pineneedle moved into the nursery, and well have new friends soon!" Skypaw nodded enthusiastically. "That's great!" Skypaw wished she could be excited. But frankly, she didn't care for her father's new mate. Cardinalkit pushed Spottedkit aside. "There's more!" She meowed. Skypaw tipped her head to the side. "Pineneedle told is that you attacked Gorsetail like a brutal..." Cardinalkit thought hard, but Spottedkit whispered into her ear. "Oh!" Cardinalkit blinked. "Thanks Spottedkit!" Cardinalkit straightened up. "Like a brutal coward!" She finished proudly. Skypaw's jaws hung open with disbelief, as was Snowpaw's. The two kits dug their tiny claws into the crispy leaves. "That's so mean isn't it?" Spottedkit hissed. Cardinalkit nodded in agreement. Skypaw nodded, too. "And I don't want either of you to ever call anyone that, ever!" She meowed. The two kits nodded respectfully. "Now head back to the nursery, Oakclaw must be worried sick!" The sisters scampered off to the nursery. When they slipped inside, Skypaw growled. "Pineneedle has no right to say that if she has no evidence that I attacked her precious mate!" She snarled. "And especially around kits! She added. Snowpaw hissed. "Your right!" He muttered. "We must tell Twigstar about your scratch, though!" Skypaw's brother lashed his tail. "It's against the warrior code to attack another Clanmate... Especially when there's no reason, too!" Skypaw mewed in agreement. "But what will Twigstar do with Gorsetail?" She wondered. Snowpaw snorted. "Why do you care?" He asked. "He's the one who hurt you." Skypaw nodded. "True."

Snowpaw led Skypaw to Twigsttar's den, his head held high. When they reached the trailing tendrils that protect the leader's den, Snowpaw meowed loudly. "Snowpaw?" Twigstar meowed from inside. "And Skypaw." Skypaw added. "Come in, you two." Twigstar mewed. When they came through the protection, Twigstar was waiting in her nest, gazing at them warmly. "What's on your mind?" She meowed happily. Snowpaw sat down in front of his leader and dipped his head respectfully, and Skypaw copied him. "Twigstar," Snowpaw began. "Look what Gorsetail has done to my sister." He flicked his tail at Skypaw, who had tipped her nose forward for Twigstar to see her scratch, without speaking. Twigstar gasped. "Gorsetail did that?" She breathed. Skypaw looked at her leader, who's eyes were drenched in fury. "He has been assaulting one of my apprentices physically and emotionally for too long!" Twigstar announced loudly. Skypaw cringed when she thought the cats outside could hear. Her leader stood up. "This shouldn't be our problem anymore!" She growled. Shock fell upon Skypaw like a boulder when she realized what Twigstar was saying. Gorsetail would be exiled!