Lightning's Storm

The First Steps

Our camp was deeply subdued in the sunrises following the death of Frecklewish. It was like a dark fog hung over the heads of my clan-mates, slowing their paw-steps and muffling their voices. Echosong was the one that her death hit hardest. The poor white and silver tabby padded around with her head down, going through the motions of her medicine cat duties without her usual enthusiasm. My heart twisted in pity for her, even if she had always been a bit distant with me.

I was grooming myself in the weak autumn sunlight next to Lionpaw when I heard Macgyver mention Frecklewish's name. My ears pricked up.

"...I heard Frecklewish's house-folk calling for her again today," he meowed to Ebonyclaw. "Those poor two-legs. They don't know what happened to her."

Ebonyclaw shook her head, heaving a sad sigh.

"Who cares what the two-legs think," Waspwhisker cut in. "We lost a medicine cat. All they lost was a kitty-pet."

Ebonyclaw's eyes blazed with sudden anger.

"Frecklewish was more than a kitty-pet!" Ebonyclaw hissed, leaping to her paws.

"Hey hold on—" Waspwhisker began.

"Frecklewish was just a much a part of this Clan as you are!" Ebonyclaw meowed.

Waspwhisker fluffed his fur out defensively.

"Of course I didn't mean it like that!" he meowed.

"After all we've done for you, you all still think that you're better than us daylight-warriors. You've always had," Ebonyclaw hissed, unsheathing her claws.

The cats around the clearing started to cast nervous glances at each other. Lionpaw tensed beside me. I noticed Shrewtooth curling his lip back, revealing long, gleaming fangs. The fur on Macgyver's and Harveymoon's backs were bristling as they sized up Waspwhisker from Ebonyclaw's side. Nettlesplash was growling softly, looking that he might come rushing to his father's, Waspwhisker's, defense.

"That's enough!" A stern voice cried out, and Sharpclaw came bounding between Ebonyclaw and Waspwhisker.

"Are you warriors or are you squabbling kits?" he rumbled.

He raked a stinging green gaze over the two cats, and they reluctantly sheathed their claws, casting their gazes down.

"What in StarClan's name is happening here?" Leafstar meowed, her voice icy as she appeared in the mouth of her den.

A tense hush fell over the Clan as she came bounding down the cliff with Brackenstorm at her tail. Her blue eyes fumed as she gazed about at my clan-mates, and I felt my own pelt prickle from the heat in her eyes. Then, turning, she bounded up Rockpile. Cats silently gathered around without her having to summon them. I padded closer, taking a seat between Sparrowpelt and Nightpaw, while Sharpclaw pointedly kept himself between Ebonyclaw and Waspwhisker.

Leafstar loudly cleared her throat.

"I know we are all still upset about Frecklewish's death," she meowed. "It was a terrible loss and an unexpected tragedy, but we all know the risks that come with Clan life."

Leafstar turned to look straight at Ebonyclaw.

"And, I understand that it hit you especially hard, Ebonyclaw, considering that you were Frecklewish's mentor when she was training to be a warrior," Leafstar meowed.

Ebonyclaw bowed her head, not meeting Leafstar's gaze.

"But, that is no excuse for this infighting," Leafstar continued, her voice lowering with anger. "How can we protect ourselves from the dangers outside of the Clan, when we are fighting among ourselves? We are supposed to be a team."