Wild Shadows (Book Two; Series One)

Chapter 16

  Silvermoon pounced onto the bird, snapping it's neck, and turning to Smallpaw. "Did you see that?" She asked. Smallpaw nodded softly. "You try, there's a vole over there." She meowed, flicking her tail in the direction. Her apprentice nodded, stalking off. Silvermoon waited by that spot, her tail wrapped neatly around her. She was enjoying the time with her apprentice. Though she did feel bad for dismissing her brother. 

 She heard a rustle, and a purr. Silvermoon whipped her head around, seeing Blackfeather's amber eyes. He had the same confident and cocky walk, as he made this way towards her. Silvermoon backed away, barring her teeth. "Calm down Silvermoon.." He murmured. "Look, I don't remember how I hurt you.. I don't remember why I was so angry." Blackfeather replied. He had the audacity to press his head to Silvermoon's. Silvermoon struck her claws against his cheek. Blackfeather writhed away, staring at Silvermoon lowly. "Stay away from me Blackfeather. You will never, ever, be close to me again." She growled powerfully. Blackfeather looked hurt, but gave a solemn nod. 

 Smallpaw came running towards Silvermoon with a vole in his mouth. "StoneClan! They're at the border, I-I saw them cross!" He cried. Her eyes widened. "Go back to camp! I'll handle this." Silvermoon growled, giving Smallpaw her bird. The apprentice nodded, rushing back to camp. "What about me?" Blackfeather asked. "You better leave me alone!" Silvermoon mimicked, before running to the border. 

 Silvermoon sniffed the air. They had just passed by the border. She tried following their scent, to try and chase them off. She felt her paws thud on the forest floor as she tried to keep up with them. But she was just heading for camp. As she ran into the camp, the battle had already started. So Silvermoon leaped in. 

 There was only a couple cats that could fight in camp. Redsnow, Blackfeather, Webbedfoot, Blazefur, Cloudtuft, and Multistar. Silvermoon leaped at a StoneClan cat from behind, not caring who it was. She dug her teeth into their scruff, dragging them to the ground with just that. She looked under her, meeting eyes with Dustfur. "Oh hey, how are you?" Silvermoon asked, digging her claws into the tom's shoulders. Dustfur bit Silvermoon's arm, looking at her with a friendly look, before using his back paws to kick her off. "I'm fine, but you'll need that bite checked out." Dustfur replied, before running off to attack Redsnow. It seemed all the cats were trying to tackle down the AlderClan deputy. She hoped the patrols would return soon. Across the clearing, she saw a group of cats ganging up on Cloudtuft. Silvermoon raced over to help.

 She saw Goldenclaw and Rockshine had been the ones attacking him. Silvermoon jumped in front of Cloudtuft, taking an initial hit across her leg. Cloudtuft gasped, but Silvermoon gave him a nod. He understood. Silvermoon leaped at Rockshine, biting into his soft neck fur. He growled, trying to throw her off, but Silvermoon latched herself onto him, digging her claws into his fur. Rockshine howled in pain, biting into Silvermoon's ear, nicking it. She continued to bite and dig her claws into him, before the tom slashed his claws across her shoulder. Silvermoon loosened and fell onto her back. She expected the tom to pin her, but Cloudtuft head-budded him before he could. Rockshine just scrambled off, running off his with tail between his legs. But there was still Goldenclaw, who leaped at Cloudtuft. He pinned the tom, and yowled for more cats to restrain Silvermoon. What was their plan? To restrain as many cats as possible? Silvermoon dug her claws down Goldenclaw's back, hearing the tom yowl. Cloudtuft kicked Goldenclaw off, biting his paw. "I'll surrender!" The golden tabby hesitantly cried. Her friend let go, and watched as he scrambled off. "Are you okay?" Cloudtuft asked softly. Silvermoon nodded with a purr, ignoring her scratches that tingled and stung. She pressed her head to Cloudtuft's. 

 After scaring off one more cat, she saw the deputy rake her claws across Redsnow's neck, and all went silent as the tom screeched so loud, a couple crows flew off. "You.. You stupid StoneClan mongrel.." Redsnow hissed weakly. Minnowdusk was about to go in for another blow, when suddenly Multistar leaped at the deputy, digging his teeth into her neck. "StoneClan retreat!" She announced, and she pulled away from the leader. Silvermoon watched the cats filter out, and patrols filter in. "Multistar, what happened?" Thornbush asked with a huff. "StoneClan attacked." Multistar growled. "If they want to attack us in the heart of our camp, when we are most vulnerable, if they want to hurt my Clan.. my kin.. so be it." He hissed. "Badgersight, Branchstalk, take care of the injured, specialize in Redsnow, he has a nasty wound." The leader commanded. Branchstalk uncomfortably nodded, along with Badgersight. Silvermoon blinked. What would happen?

 Silvermoon and Cloudtuft were the last to be examined. They spent their time waiting to be healed by cleaning each other's wounds. In the den, Branchstalk was murmuring anxiously, as he twitched. Alan was tackling and playing with Branchstalk's tail. Redsnow was laying in his nest, breathing slowly and roughly. How could that be the vicious monster that may have killed Silvermoon's dad? She felt Badgersight press chewed goldenrod to Silvermoon's forehead and other wounds. "Stay in here overnight, okay?" She murmured. Silvermoon nodded. Badgersight went to tending to Cloudtuft's wounds. Silvermoon noticed the den was still a wreck, herbs and seeds scattered everywhere. But, she didn't pay much attention. It wasn't her den. "My poor baby!" A voice cried. It was her mother. Hollyeyes pushed through the den, pressing close to Silvermoon. "I'm alright Mom, I promise." She purred. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here!" Hollyeyes whimpered. "It's alright, please, I'm okay." Silvermoon consoled her mother. Badgersight tried to shoo her out of the den, but nothing stopped Hollyeyes. 

 Night fell onto the den, and she still hadn't seen Branchstalk fall asleep. He was sadly mumbling to himself, while Alan slept on top of him. "Branchstalk.." She whispered. Branchstalk looked at her. "Are you hungry? Cold? Hurting?" He asked. Silvermoon shook her head. "Love you." She replied. "I love you too."