Rise

Chapter 19

A moon or two had passed since Novasong's encounter with Frost. She didn't keep track of time, and didn't know how long it had been.
She had been spending all her time with Flamestripe, she couldn't bring herself to talk to Wolfheart or Frost.
"Novasong! Bring me a shrew!" The orange tom demanded.
The gray warrior swiftly retrieved the prey from the pile and dropped it at his paws. She laid down next to him and draped her tail over her paws.
In front of them Hawk was practicing fighting with Dawn.
"Pesky reds." He meowed while he took a bite of his shrew. "If only they would leave and have their own tribe."
Novasong couldn't do anything but nod. She knew Flamestripe wasn't good for her, but she didn't know who else to turn to. Bluemist was getting old and was going to join the elders soon, much to the proud queen's dismay.
She watched as her brother emerged from the warriors den and she called out to him, though he looked focused and he moved swiftly through the camp. "Thunderflight!"
If the tom heard her, he didn't acknowledge it, and he padded out of the camp.
'Where is he going?'
She was startled when Snowpaw crashed into her side.
"Sorry!" The newly made apprentice squeaked.
Novasong stood up sharply, and a growl formed in the back of her throat. "Watch it, kit!" She hissed to the terrified tom.
Snowpaw scampered off to his adopted father, Sand, and Novasong watched as the red gave him a comforting lick while glaring at Novasong.
"Very good." Flamestripe purred. "We can't have a half red half silver in the tribe. Limestar should've killed the kit along with his mother."
Novasong flicked her ears in anger, "it's not the kit's fault."
"Perhaps, but it looks bad on the tribe. And everyone knows who the father is now since the kit is a silence. Grayflight really messed up, but I suppose nothing can be done about it since he's dead."
Flamestripe's remarks made her think of Doestep. Her belly was much more round and it was getting more obvious that she carrying kits.
The young cat had been in the healer's den so much lately that Novasong doubted any cat realized what had happened.
Stormstripe still visited the healer frequently, and Novasong wondered if Crowfur knew.
She was taken back when Wolfheart walked up to the two cats. "Novasong." He dipped his head. "Can I talk to you?"
She didn't reply. How could she? She had found out that both Frost and Wolfheart were in love with her, and she didn't know what to do about it.
"Leave her alone, mangy flea pelt. She doesn't want to talk to you." Flamestripe hissed to the tom.
Anger shone in Wolfheart's eyes and he ran out of camp.
The she-cat decided she should follow him and she raced after him, blocking out Flamestripe's calls of protest.
He padded through the forest at a quick speed and didn't seem to notice Novasong following him. As they passed the Tribe of Deadly Claws border, Novasong couldn't help but smell the familiar scent of her brother.
She just assumed he had been here on a patrol, and she brushed it off as she continued to follow Wolfheart.
Her paws ached and the acrid stench of the thunderpath filled her nose.
'Why is he going this way?' She wondered.
The large tom had no hesitation as he got closer and closer to the hard path. By this point he must have smelt Novasong, for he turned around and looked at her in the eyes.
"I wish it didn't have to be this way." He meowed sharply.
"What do you mean?" Novasong cried out to him, fearful of what might happen next.
The same look flashed in his eyes as she had seen before he confessed his feelings for her.
'He's looking into the future.'
Rumbling sounded in her ears and she broke her gaze away from Wolfheart and to the path.
Her heart sank as it got closer and closer and Wolfheart turned around to face the road.
With one last glance at Novasong, he darted onto the thunderpath right in front of the moving monster.