Omen of the Sun Book One: Secrets in Shadows ✅

Chapter Seventeen

It was midday the next day. Sunpaw was sitting in camp, on a large flat stone with Lightningfeather and Cinderpaw. She glanced over to where Goldleaf was sitting with Applefoot. Applefoot turned and whispered something in Goldleaf's ear. Goldleaf smiled and licked her ear. Sunpaw sighedm feeling unexpectedly unhappy, and looked back at Lightningfeather and Cinderpaw.

It was obvious that the gray she cat had feelings for Lightningfeather, and it was also obvious that the ginger-spotted black tom liked her too. They were sitting close together, pelts brushing, with their tails intertwined. Thankfully, they were chatting with Sunpaw.

Lightningfeather leaned in a little to her. "I'm sorry about Goldleaf," he meowed quietly. Sunpaw scooted in a little, her back to Goldleaf and Applefoot. "That's okay." Only her eyes betrayed how miserable she really was. Why did he choose her? Why not someone else? Someone like...

She couldn't complete the thought. Lightningfeather snorted. "It is not okay! For pretty much his entire life, he's hated Applefoot. And everyone thought he liked you. But he was just playing with you. Just ignore him."

Sunpaw nodded, her eyes downcast. "Why, though?"

Cinderpaw shrugged. "All anyone knows is that she was mad as a badger when she came in and saw Goldleaf curled up with you!"

"He was curled up with me?" Sunpaw gasped. Lightningfeather nodded grimly. "Started dozing right beside you. She was mad."

Sunpaw growled. "Why would he do that? The mouse heart."

Cinderpaw nodded. "I know."

Sunpaw lay down, averting her eyes. Her heart felt like a stone. "Look! It's Silverstar, announcing who will be going to the Gathering!" Cinderpaw gasped suddenly. Sunpaw looked up. Lightningfeather's silver mother was indeed mounting the Rock Pile. "Cats of CloudClan!" She yowled. "The cats going to the Gathering will be me, Brightsky, Featherpelt, Cloverfur, Willowfur, Skypelt, Hailheart, Whiteswirl, Greenflower, Applefoot, Goldleaf, Lightningfeather, Sunpaw, Stonepaw, Cinderpaw, Rosefoot, and Windheart. Be ready by twilight."

She leaped down off the Rock Pile. "Yes!" Lightningfeather hissed, grinning. "We have the Gathering together!" He touched noses with Cinderpaw.

Skypelt padded over. Hastily, Lightningfeather and Cinderpaw untwined their tails and moved away from each other. "We're going to do swimming practice in a few minutes with Frostpaw, Stonepaw, Cinderpaw-" she dipped her head to Cinderpaw and Lightningfeather, then continued. "Lightningfeather, Applefoot, and Goldleaf."

Sunpaw nodded. "Why so many cats?" Lightningfeather asked. "Remember Raincloud?" Skypelt meowed. Lightningfeather blinked. "Oh."

"It's in ten minutes, so meet at the entrance to camp," Skypelt instructed before hurrying off. "Who's Raincloud?" Sunpaw asked. "Snowblaze's sister. She drowned a while ago, when they were both young warriors."

Sunpaw nodded, lowering her eyes.

✨🐱✨

It was twilight. Sunpaw was hurriedly chewing a mouse. Silverstar had decided to allow them to eat fresh forest prey, seeing as they had so much prey. Sunpaw couldn't remember the last time she'd had fresh mouse.

"CloudClan! Time to go to the Gathering!" Silverstar yowled. Sunpaw got to her paws and padded to the entrance. "Sunpaw?"

Sunpaw turned around. Goldleaf was standing there. "What do you want?" She snarled. "Sunpaw, listen, I-"

Sunpaw cut him off, her tail lashing angrily. "I have nothing to say to you, Goldleaf. Go tell it all to your mate." The last word was scathing as Sunpaw whipped around, tail swishing through the air. She stalked over to Cinderpaw and Lightningfeather.