Shadows in the Night

Chapter Twelve

//Chapter twleve! :3 Please enter the contest in the previous chapter, results will be announced in chapter thirteen!

Riverleap brought her paw down into the water, scooping up a floundering salmon. Crouching down, she bit it’s neck and carefully shifted the fish into her jaws. The blue she-cat lifted her tail up in triumph, glancing proudly at Berrypaw. The young cream tom had his jaws parted in awe, and Waterclaw glanced at his apprentice with disapproval. 

“That was the messiest catch i’ve ever seen!” The older warrior spat, his blue fur bristling. Riverleap rolled her eyes. I may be a younger warrior, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to fish! 

“Are you kidding?” Berrypaw meowed, his blue eyes widened in disbelief. “That was awesome!” Waterclaw groaned and beckoned for his apprentice to follow as he backed away from the river. The cream tom shot Riverleap an apologetic glance, and raced away. When the two toms were out of earshot, she let out a mmrow of laughter. 

I’ve already hunted for the clan today,  the blue she-cat thought, before taking swift bites out of the salmon’s pink flesh. She savored the taste, and licked her whiskers clean. I don’t know how the other clans eat woodland prey all the time! They’re missing out! Even after her recent meal, Riverleap’s stomach still yowled with hunger. She crouched by the riverside, and waited for another fish to come past, making sure that her shadow stayed away from the water. As she settled down among the reeds, Riverleap parted her jaws to take a bite of the minnow when a gruff meow sounded from behind her. 

“Do you want to share?” Minnowtail meowed, emerging into the clearing. Riverleap shook her head in apology, wincing as his gaze darkened, and then lit up again. Not with joy, but with something else. Riverleap couldn’t quite place her claw on the emotion. Anger? Resentment? Rage? 

“I’m going to the gathering tonight, so I can’t waste any time,” she hastily meowed as Minnowtail whipped around and prepared to leave. “Don’t go!”

The gray tom suddenly stopped, and turned back to face Riverleap. “What did I ever do to you? I love you, Riverleap. You know that, don’t you?” Minnowtail’s eyes bore into her fur, but all Riverleap could do was turn away. I don’t love you back. I’m sorry, Minnowtail. She shut her eyes and curled up into a ball, and only sprung back up to her paws when the thudding of Minnowtail’s footsteps faded away to nothing. She looked up to see the sky darkening, and panic flared inside of her. The gathering!

Running as fast as her paws could carry her, she dashed back into camp, and bumped into the patrol at the front entrance. Oakstar fixed her with a disapproving glare, and Riverleap joined her sister at the back of the group. She purred in delight, when she saw Icewhisker was hardly limping at all.

It was only two moons ago when her best friend and littermate, Icewhisker, had broken her front fore-paw after leaping into the river. My sister is so reckless sometimes. Icewhisker had been stuck in the medicine cat den for a while, but now she was finally healthy enough to go to the gathering. 

“Are you as excited to go to the gathering as I am?” Icewhisker meowed as she bounced up and down. Riverleap giggled, and playfully shoved her sister.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” Riverleap meowed and pressed herself against Icewhisker’s white fur.

“I can’t believe Bluefur let me train again!” Riverleap’s littermate exclaimed. “This is going to be the best gathering ever!” 

As the group burst into the clearing, the StreamClan cats split up and began to mingle with the crowd. Icewhisker dashed off, and Riverleap padded up to the foot of the great rock.