The Shadows - A Cat Story ✔

Chapter 8

[Author's note: If you notice any errors in my writing, find something confusing, or have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know! Thanks for reading!]

Stream took a deep breath. She had explained her plan to the others, and in a few moments it would take action. They had reached the camp, leaving Ash in a tree nearby. Stream wouldn't be the one to walk into camp first. She could relax if she wanted to, but her energy was rising by the second.

Spider led the way, Flame and Rain flanked her sides, and the younger cats followed behind.

Cats stared at them from all directions, not one said a word, and most had a look of approval on their face. Now it was Stream's turn to step in.

"I must speak to Ash! Where is he?" the she-cat stepped through the stand-outs.

"He left the camp this morning for an unknown reason, and he hasn't returned. Night said he would come back, and we didn't need to send out a patrol." Root spoke up, and as he did, other cats started to get alarmed.

"What if he's hurt?"

"I heard he killed himself!"

"What would upset him enough to leave camp?"

Cats and their questions crowded around Root. The tom looked overwhelmed. The voices started rising as they fought to speak over each other.

"Silence!" A voice rose above all, as Night stepped out of his den. The cats crowded around him, now, begging for answers.

"Quiet!" Night snarled. "Branch witnessed him drown in the river."

A dark brownish, almost black she-cat stepped forward. "Why would he do that? Who upset him? I will shred my claws through their throat and paint their blood on a leaf to remember their evil!"

The leader's eyes widened fearfully as other cats agreed angrily. "Now calm down, he was trying to take my leadership anyhow, so now I'm safe."

Stream jumped in front of his nose. "What did you do to him?!"

"I told him to leave otherwise I'd have Mud rip his throat out- I- I mean he said I had to let him leave or he'd rip my throat out," Night accidentally admitted the truth, but tried to cover it up.

"What kind of leader are you?" Stone blurted out. "You threatened to kill your successor?! You can't be leader forever! Look at Zinnia- she grew up beside Ash, and if he's dead, I'm leaving- and so is she!"

The Shadows began yowling agreement as Night tucked his tail between his legs. The next part of Stream's plan was the part she hadn't told Ash. Ash hadn't need to know this part.

"Night," She spoke calmly. "The way we live, separating the Shadows from the stand-outs- its twisted. I mean, you all remember Nectar, right? Ash still doesn't know he has a brother. That alone is heartbreaking," Stream continued. "How can we live like this? How can more litters be split apart and never know their siblings? If this is what life is like in the Shadows, maybe there shouldn't be any shadows at all."

Again, cats started rising up to agree, and Night still stood utterly alone on his side. "Fine. Those who want to leave, go. Those who want to stay- I will continue to lead you," The dark leader smirked at Storm.

The white she-cat couldn't hold in her anger any longer. "Night! Shove this nonsense up under your tail! I challenge you to a battle!"

This was not part of the plan. "Stream, I don't think-" Spider was cut off by his leader.

"And what do I get if I win?" The leader growled menacingly, a hint of agreement already in his voice.

The blue-eyed she-cat put her face into her opponents, trying to seem brave. "If you decline my challenge, you can leave and never come back! If you accept, we will go away from the camp- so I don't get your blood everywhere," She mewed, and Night started to protest, but she continued. "If you win, we will remain with you under your orders. If I win, Ash takes charge of this place, and you leave."

"That's it?" Night asked, grinning.

Stream nodded her head. "Accept or decline?"

"Challenge accepted."

The Shadows and the stand-outs showed worried expressions and doubt in their eyes. They followed Stream and Night to a tree outside the camp.

Flame stepped forward. "Ready?"

The two cats nodded.

"Go!" Flame's yowl rang loud, and now Stream could hear blood roaring in her ears.

The black tom was quick, he leaped at the she-cat, pinning her down. But she was smart, and she kicked her hind legs at the tom's stomach, bowling him over. She was quick to leap to her paws, and the tom struggled to his. She leaped on his back, digging her claws in as deep as she could. He jumped around, trying to buck her off, but she clung on. Then he fell as his legs collapsed beneath him. She just needed to bend down for the killing bite.

There was a pause, and she realized that she couldn't do it.