Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Twenty-Two

Owlflight felt her fur lift along her spine. The purple gaze of the broad black tom unnerved her. 'He was banished from the lake for killing his sister.. So why do these cats follow him?' Owlflight flicked her gaze to the gathering cats. There were a lot cats here in this ravine, and all seemed fit and wary. Owlflight and her small circle of cats needed to tread carefully.

Duskstar leapt from his post on a ridge and sauntered towards the cats. "WindClan, you say?" He asked Icepool. The medicine cat's eyes flashed.

"Yes, WindClan," she snapped irritably, "Did I stutter before?" Her voice was sharp and Owlflight folded her ears, wondering how the medicine cat's leader would react to such public disrespect. But Duskstar only chuckled.

"You spoke loud and clear, my friend, and I thank you for bringing me them," he turned his glittering purple gaze to meet Owlflight's, "So, what has my old Clan said about me that makes you glare with so much distaste?" He asked calmly. Beside him, a dark tortoiseshell she cat with startling amber eyes and thick fur stepped forward, her eyes glaring haughtily.

"Duskstar, who cares what those Clans think?" She cast a scathing glance at Owlflight's group before returning her glance to her leader, her eyes softening, "You don't have to prove yourself.." Owlflight was instantly aware that this she cat was his mate. Duskstar gave her a kind look.

"I know , Amberpelt," he said softly, "Let's just hear what brought these cats to us. So, please do tell me what brought you here?" He eyed them thoughtfully. Owlflight stepped forward, her eyes wary.

"That's our business and ours alone," she said with a soft, protective growl. Duskstar's eyes flashed purple.

"Actually, this is my territory. Anything within my borders is my business." His voice was full of authority. Owlflight was about to reply when Buzzardwing bound forward, her pelt bristling and her eyes blue fire.

"We have no reason to speak with fox-hearts like you! You can't honestly expect us to believe StarClan would grant nine lives to a murder! A murder who leads nothing but a band of rouges!" Owlflight stepped in front of her friend as the warriors let out outraged cries and snarls.

"Buzzardwing, be quiet!" Owlflight hissed, her green eyes flashing towards Duskstar. "We don't want trouble, but you don't have the best reputation and that makes us cautious. Let us be on our way, and we will stay out of your fur." She reasoned. Duskstar flicked his tail, and two broad-shouldered toms blocked the entrance to the camp, and Owlflight looked led at their leader.

"I'll let you leave," Duskstar said coolly, "After you've told me your reason for being near my land. After all, this is an awfully far way from WindClan, isn't it?" His mew was edged and his eyes flashed protectively. Owlflight felt dread fill her belly as his Clanmates closed in. They were four to many, and vastly outnumbered. Oakcharge glared at their captors, his golden gaze flashing with fury, fury that matched Owlflight's own. How dare they keep us here!

"We are not telling a whisper of our purpose to a murderer," Owlflight said firmly, her eyes burning with a swell of protectiveness towards her littermates. Amberpelt snarled.

"You have no clue what you're accusing him of!" She yowled furiously in defense of her mate, "Duskstar wouldn't have killed Nightsnap if she—" Duskstar's tail slapped over her muzzle quickly, his eyes flashing.

"Amberpelt, the past is the past, and these cats shouldn't—" Amberpelt leapt away.

"Shouldn't what?" She asked furiously, "Shouldn't know about the promise we made to Blackstar? Shouldn't know how Rowanstar betrayed us? How the whole of ShadowClan betrayed us?" Her whiskers quivered with fury. Icepool stepped forward.

"Amberpelt is right," the medicine cat growled, looking displeased, "We cannot expect the truth from these cats if we keep our secrets shadowed. Besides, what can they do? It's not as if ShadowClan is a border away!" Duskstar growled, and the rest of the Clan, save a slight few, looked equally confused as Owlflight's group. The young mottled tabbies attention was caught once more as the broad leader stood.

"Very well," he snapped, "But we can speak more privately in my den." He waved his tail towards something Owlflight hadn't noticed before. In the rocky wall of the gorge, airy tunnels weaved clear stone spaces, the roof supported but weathered columns of hardened dirt and rock. They formed a small, open cave shelter mostly by the spiny bushes that seemed to thrive in the dry territory of EchoClan.

The open cave seemed to have three dens, and a tall ledge in the very back. The dens were made of loose tumbleweeds and sturdy stones, and in the very back, beneath the High Ledge, was a small gap. Owlflight watched as Amberpelt and Icepool squeezed into the gap, and Duskstar paused outside of it.

"Frogskip! Alert me when the noon patrol is back. Otherwise, no cat is to bother me while I speak to my guests in my den," his unsettling purple gaze landed on Owlflight challengingly. "Unless, that is, they are too afraid to enter it." His voice held the same challenge as his eyes, and Owlflight didn't even have to glance at her siblings to know what to do next. She stepped forward.

"We will listen," her gaze was determined, "Lead on." Duskstar nodded in approval and led the four lost warriors into his den. Owlflight hesitated outside, gathering her wits as her friends entered ahead of her. With a deep breath, she entered.