Dark Clouds (Book I)

VII

Now

A torrent of icy rain descended from the clouds, hammering against the grass as Stormshade, hunched and soaking, trotted through WindClan camp.

Quarter-moons had passed since Sparrowstar had allied with WindClan, and with each passing day, Goldenstar had grown more and more excited.

Stormshade glanced longingly towards the warrior's den. Mouseleap will be waiting for me to return with food. He glanced up at the sky, wincing as a raindrop landed squarely on his nose. I'll catch something good for her.

He shook out his pelt, ducking into a tunnel. A grey tom leaned against the wall, staring him down with slitted yellow eyes.

"You took awhile, apprentice." The tom licked his paw, drawing it over his ears. "Sleeping in again?"

Stormshade shot him a look as he stormed past. "When was the last time you shared a nest with anyone, Sunclaw?"

Sunclaw flinched, following the younger warrior. "I was thinking we could tunnel together, you and I. You remember – never tunnel alone."

Stormshade rounded a corner, quickening his pace. "I'm not an apprentice anymore," he replied swiftly.

Sunclaw nodded. "Of course you aren't," he mewed. His voice had suddenly calmed, his pace slowing as he fell in beside Stormshade. "Listen," he breathed. "You're the... deputy, and I think we should talk."

Stormshade felt the tunnel walls brushing against his flanks. It was beginning to squeeze against his whiskers. They were nearing a dead end. The grey warrior came to a stop, lifting a paw to brush at the ceiling. Clay. "Then talk."

"I'm sure you'll agree," Sunclaw began, "that RiverClan deserves to be punished."

Stormshade felt his paw seize up. He unsheathed his claws, grazing the clay. "Go on."

"Their territory is marshy. Soft. It'll take one night." Stormshade felt Sunclaw reach up, and heard him claw a scoop out of the wall. "We dig pits. Nice, deep ones. Enough to break a leg. And then... we cover them up and wait."

Stormshade's paw seemed to freeze even more. "Break legs?" He murmured. "Sunclaw, we aren't even at war with RiverClan yet. That's–"

"What's wrong with you?" Sunclaw's voice hardened with anger. "Coward! RiverClan's been laying traps on our border for moons!"

"We could kill an apprentice!"

"An apprentice!" Sunclaw's eyes flashed in the darkness, as if he came to a sudden realization. Triumphantly, he met Stormshade's gaze, and growled. "They killed Beestream."

Stormshade felt heat well up in his chest. He rounded on Sunclaw, ramming himself into the senior warrior's side and flattening him against the wall. "Don't invoke Beestream to me, you sick rat!"

Sunclaw loosened. Stormshade pressed him into the dirt, growling, before suddenly feeling an explosion of energy beneath him. Sunclaw wrapped his forelegs around his former apprentice's shoulders, dragging him to the ground. Stormshade wrestled for a moment, but it was no use. He felt large paws pressed firmly against his shoulders.

"As soon as you keep your stinking claws to yourself," Sunclaw snarled. Hot breath stirred Stormshade's ear fur, and Stormshade growled with frustration.

"Eat dirt," he snapped, straining against Sunclaw's pin.

"Is that an order, apprentice? Deputy?"