✧ Devious Fates ✧ | COMPLETE WARRIOR CATS FANFICTION STORY |

// Chapter Two

"Thank you StarClan for the prey that has been given," Spottedpelt meowed, dipping her head to a fresh-kill rabbit. The rabbit had a grey coat and a still, dysfunctional body.

Spottedpelt hauled the rabbit up by the neck, blinking open her eyes. Her partner, Flakepelt, travelled over through the moor towards her with a shrew in his jaws. He gave her a slight nod.

The two figures were surrounded by a long blanket of rolling plains, sand expanses, and moors, with long rows of ferns and shrubs that swayed in the long gusts of wind. The WindClan territory was prone to the spine-crawling element. Spottedpelt and Flakepelt practically ignored the wind as they traipsed near to the edges of the meadow.

"I hope the Clan will be thankful for what we caught," Flakepelt sighed. "Jayheart never seems to thank us for the prey we bring back. He pushes us away and assigns us on more patrols."

Spottedpelt took a moment to reply. "Well, I'm sure he's just busy," she meowed through a mouthful of rabbit fur. She knew in her mind, though, that her statement probably wasn't true. Jayheart never treated her nicely. She always prayed that maybe, just maybe there was a sincere layer to him, in that maybe he was just stressed with his deputy position.

"You're his own daughter," Flakepelt protested. "I've never seen him treat you like an equal. I don't think it's fair."

"Not everything is fair," Spottedpelt admitted.

"But you need to stand up for yourself!" Flakepelt insisted with urgency. Spottedpelt's fur bristled at Flakepelt's demand.

"What do I have to stand for?" Spottedpelt queried, making an effort to keep her tone reasonable and calm. She always felt nervous around Jayheart. She was afraid he would rip her fur off in his fury.

"You have everything to stand up for!" Flakepelt exclaimed. Spottedpelt's coat went hot. "Jayheart doesn't consider your opinion. He treats you like an apprentice!"

Spottedpelt's tone was doubtful. "You don't know if he considers my opinion or not," she retorted.

Flakepelt exhibited a surrendering puff. "Let's just finish our hunting trip," he presumed dryly. Spottedpelt grunted in agreement, not wanting to drop the prey from her jaws.

She sprung around a gathering of logs and bushes of thorns, bolted through a small dip in the ground, and finally emerged in front of her Clanmate. Vinestar had assigned them to check the territory in the Bordering Marsh on the edge of the ThunderClan border. Spottedpelt's neck fur lifted. The strong stench of ThunderClan stung her nostrils. It was half a dozen tail-lengths inside of WindClan territory.

Spottedpelt set down her prey, and her eyes widened. Keep calm. She investigated the scent. It soaked the brambles and bracken at the marsh, absorbing into the mud and filling the air. Her fear and anxiety increased as she saw starling feathers dispersed in the middle of the scene. It seemed the ThunderClan invaders made no effort to hide their scent.

"ThunderClan!" Flakepelt growled, voice laced with anger and fear. "They stole prey from our territory."

Spottedpelt didn't reply; she was deep in trance of investigating the scene. Why are you so worried? It's just some ThunderClan scent. Spottedpelt couldn't help her discomfort, though. The ThunderClan cats were strong and brave. She hoped if her Clan did get in trouble with ThunderClan they would be able to settle it.

"We need to tell this to Vinestar!" Flakepelt prompted.

"Okay," was all Spottedpelt could reply with as she was half in a daze. Vinestar should be able to solve this. A second uncertain comment tugged at Spottedpelt's mind: I hope.