Red Snow

CHAPTER 5

     "Watch out!"

     Snowshade jumped  at the call. Was ShadowClan attacking? Where were the elders? His neck fur laid flat and he flattered his ears against his head when he saw the apprentices playing. Their call had ruffled the whole Clan. Foxtail growled when he came out of the warrior's den then lashed his tail in annoyance as he went back in.

     Winterpaw tackled her brother Spicepaw and pinned him down. "Mangy WindClan cat! You are now BloodClan!" She howled in triumph.

     The white tom noticed his sister watching through narrowed eyes, her belly swollen with kits. He knew she missed WindClan and didn't really want to be in the old ThunderClan camp. She only came because of the safety of her kits, but she couldn't let it show. Only Snowshade knew. He padded over to her and ran his tongue over the fur behind her ear. "Cheer up. Enjoy your life before you have to look after your kits every waking moment!" He teased.

     She turned her green eyes on him, sorrow shining. "I don't belong here." She murmured and lowered her head.

     Snowshade scoffed, "nonsense. Now come on, we can share a sparrow." He beckoned her to the fresh-kill pile with his tail and sighed when she didn't move from where she was sitting. "You have to at least make an effort. No one here will hurt you."

     "But they'll hurt my Clanmates. You'll hurt my Clanmates." Sandfeather meowed sharply and turned her head.

     "They're not your Clanmates." Snowshade sneered. "These are your Clanmates. They will take care of you and your kits. We're not monsters, you know."

     Sandfeather sighed, "as much as I want to believe that, it's not true. You're not a monster, of course, but some of the others." She shuddered. "You know some cats think Flintstar killed the previous leader? What was his name... Shrewstar?"

     Snowshade laid his tail on her shoulder trying to reassure her. But one thing plagued him; she said he wasn't a monster. She knows nothing. He thought guiltily. She didn't know he killed their mother, she didn't know he killed Berryfall, she didn't know he rejected Cherrymoon for a cat he barely knew. He frantically tried to change the subject. "Who's the father of your kits?"

     The ginger she-cat hesitated. "Ravensoul."

     "Ravensoul?" Snowshade gasped. "I thought you despised him."

     She shrugged, "that's when we were kits." She tried to hide it, but love reflected in her green eyes. Strong love. For the first time Snowshade thought about all she had lost when she crossed the border to BloodClan. Her mate, her friends, her loyalty. It must be a mother's love for her kit's, and Snowshade partly hoped love for her brother made her come back.

     He purred and rubbed against her. "Well I'm happy for you. And I'll love your kits as if they were my own." He choked when he thought about his kits, who had died with their mother.

     She shied away from from his touch. "What about you though? Have you not found a mate? I thought you and that dark ginger cat were pretty friendly. What was her name? Cherrymoon?"

     Snowshade swallowed. "No. Honeystorm was actually expecting my kits when she died. And Cherrymoon is gone."

     Sandfeather frowned. "I'm so sorry."

     The cats didn't say anything else, they just sat side by side and watched the sunset from the bottom of the hollow. Most of the Clan were sharing tongues at this time, even cats who had come from different Clans. He heard Batwing telling Gingerleaf about the battle in the RiverClan camp, when his son died. Mudshade was his name. I remember him at a gathering when I was an apprentice. If they were in the same Clan they might have been friends. No. He fought for four Clans.

     Once Sandfeather had left him to go to sleep, he picked up his paws and walked to the deputy's den. He closed his blue eyes and let sleep take over him.

     He woke up in a green field, a mouse scurried past  him and he almost chased it, but thought better of it. He didn't know who's hunting grounds these were, and if they would be angry with him. The sun was so bright he had to squint his eyes to see when a brown tabby flanked by a silver tabby came running up to him. Their fur glimmered with stars, and Snowshade realized he was dreaming. Is this StarClan?

     As the two cats got nearer he faintly recognized the silver tabby. "Featherpool?" He breathed out weakly. His mother who he has murdered. What would she say to him?

     "Snowshade." She meowed, her face expressionless.

     The other cat with her didn't greet him. He dipped his head reluctantly, as if he was dragged here by Featherpool. There was something about him... Buzzardpaw? No, it couldn't be. This cat was small, but Buzzardpaw was much smaller. Perhaps he grew in StarClan. Their pelts were nearly identical, so if this wasn't Buzzardpaw, it could only be one other cat. "Are you my father?" Snowshade murmured to the brown tabby.

     He nodded weakly. "Yes."

     Featherpool lashed her tail. "Enough of this. I have a very important message for you, my son."

     Claws gripped Snowshade's stomach. Would she kill him as he did her? Or was she really just delivering a message? "Okay."

     "You do not belong in BloodClan. You are destined for greatness, no evil. But there is nothing any of us in StarClan can do about it, you're in too deep for us. There is only one cat who can lead you to your true destiny." The silver tabby whispered, her pelt shimmering.

     Snowshade scoffed, "I don't need to hear this from you, or anyone. Whether its my destiny or not, I made my choice. Don't you want me to make my own decisions?"

     Shrewstar curled his lip in a snarl. "You make poor decisions. The worst cat I've ever met is Flintstar, and even he wouldn't kill his own mother."

     Back arched in a challenge, Snowshade walked closer to Shrewstar. "I'd do it again if I have to." Though his words were harsh, he didn't mean them. Killing Featherpool the first time crushed him more than he would ever admit. He felt sick after it. "I've killed twice, and I'll make it a third right here, right now. Cats like you don't deserve a happy ending in StarClan." That was true; he would kill Shrewstar in a heartbeat. This time he wouldn't come back. He unsheathed his claws, but while waiting for his father to make the first move he thought after what Featherpool had said. Only one cat could lead him to his true destiny. Who? Sandfeather? Lost in his thoughts, he wasn't ready when Shrewstar leapt. He crashed into his side and pinned Snowshade down with one fore paw, but Snowshade was bigger and stronger, and rolled over so he was on top of his father. This is too easy, he thought, but he felt the air knocked out of him as silver fur barreled him over.

     "Stop!" Featherpool hissed anxiously, and she let Shrewstar lean on her shoulder as he struggled to retrieve his breath. "This has gone too far. Just remember what I said." Was what she said before both cats faded away, and Snowshade was left standing panting in the field.

     I don't care what my mouse-brained mother says. This is my destiny, and I will fulfill it.