Warriors: Finding Myself: Storm Rising (Book One)

Chapter Thirteen: The Night Takes Over

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"What do you want, Larkwing?" I asked, my tail lashing as the WindClan cat creeped over the border in ShadowClan territory. I could smell a ThunderClan patrol. She would get caught. Slateleaf and Cometmoon went farther down to keep marking the border. I could handle her, though.

The WindClan cat sat up from her alarmed crouch. "I just wanted to let you know," she mewed in a hushed voice, "we're coming to get you. And Beestripe. And all the other traitors." Her eyes flashed and a smile crept across her face.

My pelt pricked in anger. "You better run before I claw that smile off your face," I growled and as soon as she took off running I pelted after her, ignoring the scent markers, stretching out my legs to keep up with her. WindClan cats really weren't that fast. To me at least.

We raced through ThunderClan territory and panic edged in me. ThunderClan would destroy us if they knew we were on their territory. I jumped up into the air and tackled the she-cat, bringing her down to the ground. I pinned her down.

"You didn't run fast enough," I growled into her ear and felt her struggle beneath me. I wasn't going to kill her, but she needed to learn a lesson. "You think it's fun, torturing other cats?" My blood was flowing and my excitement was rising.

Larkwing let out a gasp and then her ears pricked and I heard a twig snap. My ears pricked too and I heard a growl just through the bushes.

Somehow, Larkwing had an agreement with me to check it out and I got off her, creeping through the bushes and hearing her follow after me.

In a small clearing, Squirrelflight was was laying on the ground, scratches and blood coated her pelt and standing over her was Stormcloud. The gray tabby was smiling and he dug his claws into her neck, leaning downwards on her neck.

The ThunderClan deputy parted her jaws and then let out an earsplitting yowl that echoed around us. Stormcloud didn't even flinch as he killed the deputy.

Larkwing and I looked at each other with wide eyes and instantly she pelted towards the WindClan border and I pelted towards the ShadowClan border, tears in my eyes and panic in my throat.

He heard you! He's coming! I thought, pushing myself to go faster, dodging the trees like back in the pine forest. I pretended I was there as I got closer to the ThunderClan border, seeing seven warriors lined up by it, Beestripe's familiar pelt catching my eye.

"Beestripe!" I panted as I barreled into her, clawing away from the ThunderClan border in fear. "Please, please, he's coming!" I pleaded, trying to get away, but feeling Beestripe sink her teeth in my scruff and set me on my paws.

"Cloudsong!" she snapped and I froze, my eyes watering. I made out Thornclaw, Brackenfur, Ivypool, Slateleaf, Cometmoon, Flowerstem, and Sleekfeather. They were all staring at me. "What happened? Where's Larkwing? Are you okay?" she asked in her mother voice. She hadn't used that voice on me in a long time.

I took a few breaths, letting it run through my head again. It probably didn't happen that way. I imagined it. "N-nothing... I chased Larkwing out of ThunderClan territory. I'm okay." I gazed at Brackenfur who was gazing at me in suspicion. "I apologize heavily for intruding on your territory. It won't happen again." Somehow I turned around. I wanted to get far away from that border.

The other's trailed after me and I could already hear their questions: Why did you panic and freak out? Why are you so freaked out? What was that yowl? I didn't want to hear their questions. I was terrified of the kittypet who just murdered Squirrelflight. When someone found out, outsiders like me would be judged even more. RiverClan was probably right about us.