Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Chapter 8

When the meeting was over, Smokekit looked around the clearing in search for the two new mates. Her fur was bristling like crazy and her sharp teeth gritted against each other.
Her eyes came to a halt as Smokekit watched Hollywish meet Bluesong at the other side of camp. To her surprise, their tails entwined and the she-cat pushed up against the Tom.
The kit squinted her eyes, thinking of how upset Lionstripe might be if he found out he was being...cheated on? Smokekit really hated to admit it to herself -and would really hate to admit it to Lionstripe- but Hollywish was now not only stealing Lionstripe's attention away from her, but she was also cheating on her mate and Smokekit's best friend!
The grey she-kit bent her brows and stood up. She had no idea a she-cat was standing behind her until Smokekit's face plunged into her fur.
"Aaaah!" The kit grumbled as she staggered backwards. She looked up to see Sunpool, a beautiful golden long-haired she-cat who was known to be the most loyal cat in the Clan. Her eyebrows remained steadily in their place as Smokekit straightened her neck.
"Greetings, Smokekit!" Sunpool gazed at the kit with loving green eyes, "Why are you in such a big hurry?" She asked softly and grazed her stubby tongue across Smokekit's forehead.
Smokekit watched her breath come out in steam from the cold air. She hesitated at first, but then meowed in return, "I have to speak to Lionstripe," She said clear and loud as if needing to go immediately and she was fairly impatient.
"Okay then, if you must." Sunpool gave her chest a lick and watched Smokekit race across the clearing.
By the warriors' den, Lionstripe was getting ready for a quick hunting patrol with Jaystep, Ashtail, and Pinepaw. He was giving orders, to Smokekit's surprise. Bluesong must have put him in the place of deputy while he was gone. Gone with Hollywish, Smokekit thought bitterly, but then her face lit up when Lionstripe called on her. "Hey, Smokekit, could I get you to join us?" He smiled at her.
This must be his thought of chance to change my opinion on Hollywish and him, Smokekit assumed. "Of course," She mewed adolescently, trying to sound more like a full grown she-cat, rather than the pathetic rank she played now.
Lionstripe let a purr rumble out of his throat. He flicked his tail at the exit where they all pushed their way through before Lionstripe began once again, "Ashtail, you can take your apprentice, Pinepaw, towards our regular hunting grounds and gather as much prey as possible. Smokekit and I will take over the OwlTree. We need to get more prey into the fresh kill pile if the Clan is going to get through leafbare this season."
The white Tom nodded before his black tail disappeared behind Pinepaw's tabby hind and their mingled scent stretched the forest walls. Lionstripe led the way to the OwlTree easily, twisting and turning through the tight undergrowth until they appeared, crawling to the outside of a small tunnel.
"Kits are not allowed to hunt," Smokekit reminded him with a sigh, "It's against the warrior code." Her tail rested on a twisted log as she sat down. "So I guess you can go without me..."
Lionstripe turned to her with a blank expression, but then smiled. "That's not why I'm here, Smokekit."
Now's your chance, Smokekit thought, looking at the warrior with her big green eyes.
"I came to talk to you about Hollywish."
Yes!
"I noticed her giving you a hard time lately." He sat beside her and rubbed his nose into her neck gently. "The reason she is being like this, is because she said she really wants kits of her own. I guess she's been testing you out to see how you'd react."
Smokekit squinted her eyes, trying to process the reason. More like excuses. "I can see that being an excuse- urg, I mean reason.." -Smokekit lied and faked a slight sob. She shook her head dramatically,- "I just-..." Smokekit stopped. She could never tell Lionstripe what she thought about Hollywish. The words had planned perfectly in her head; Hollywish is a dirty, lying fleabag! She doesn't deserve you! She's a horrible no-good barrel of badger droppings!!
And now, she blew it. Lionstripe got up and padded about a fox-length away until glancing over his shoulder. "I have seen her around Bluesong..." His face weakened with sadness at the thought of the new subject.
"How could you know that?!" Smokekit yowled before hanging her head. She hadn't planned those words, and Lionstripe was probably furious; and she knew it when he spun around to face her.
The warrior's fangs parted in a snarl, but spoke no words. His eyes opened into tiny green slits. He was clearly angry, and upset, but who wouldn't be? If Smokekit's mate ever cheated on her, she'd be furious just like he is now.
"I know!" The kit closed her eyes and got up. Her paws ached from the way to the OakTree, but she carried herself quickly to Lionstripe's side. "I know. You don't have to worry, Lionstripe. I know." The words seemed to be tumbling out of her mouth unstoppably. She felt Lionstripe's tense muscles pipe down.
His gazed shifted until it met hers. "How do you know?" He meowed as soft as the wind. His fur pelted down and lay flat. "It was so unexpected..." Lionstripe meowed sadly under his breath. The breeze seemed to carry off his words and left Smokekit to wonder what he said.
"Because I've known from the start." She mewed comfortingly. Her grey pelt pushed up against his as her eyes closed tight. What are you doing?!, a voice yowled in her head, are you just going to let him in? Pretend everything will be alright now that you're buddies again? Well it won't be!

Three sunrises passed and Lionstripe and Hollywish started seeing each other less. But when they did, they purred together and shared tongues for long moments before Hollywish turned away from him and went with Bluesong. The blue-grey cat and the new black queen would disappear for hours before returning.
On the fourth moon, Smokekit entered the camp. She just returned from a quick walk with Crowfur around the borders to check the scent marks. Smokekit watched Crowfur return to his den before padding towards hers.
The camp was silent. Wind whistled through the cold air, making it even more eerie than before. It was just outside the nursery when Smokekit heard specific voices from the inside.
When she poked her head into the fern hole, her eyes gave a sudden glare when she saw Hollywish laying on a thin layer of moss. Whitewind was on the other side of her. She seemed to be building her den close to the other queens'.
"I'm so glad to be able to be with you tonight, especially on such short notice." Hollywish purred, more in a raspy tone. Her voice rusty with...pain?
Smokekit scooted forward to get a closer view of the she-cat. "What are you doing in here, Hollywish?" She meowed, giving a worried glance at Coalstorm who let Willowkit suckle under her warm stomach.
"She's going to have kits!" Whitewind burst out with excitement.
The kit dropped her head to the side. She couldn't fully understand what the white queen had said. "Hollywish? Kits?" Smokekit cooed to herself.
Lionstripe.