Default Title - Write Your Own

Chapter Eight

"I am not the cat I used to be!" Lakeleap yowled, raking her claws down Seedheart's neck.

The light brown she cat gasped, pulling away from Lakeleap. "ShadowClan has always been strong," she snarled. "But that doesn't give them permission to bully everyone else."

"Bully?" Lakeleap hissed. "We're defending our territory!"

"By killing me?" Seedheart growled. "Lakeleap, we're friends! When I was in ShadowClan, we were speaking lots! Why would you betray me?"

Lakeleap's eyes were cold. "Why would you betray ShadowClan?"

Seedheart never answered. Flowerclaw screeched, "Retreat!"

The RiverClan cats headed back towards their own territory. Minnowpelt threw a glance at Mistyheart over her shoulder. There was guilt, clear in her eyes.

Get of my territory, foxheart!

How dare Minnowpelt give her such a pitiful look? She had tried to steal ShadowClan territory! Mistyheart felt fury rush through her. She dug her claws into the ground.

I'm pretty sure what they did was against the Code! Plus... what if losing even a whiskerlength of territory damaged ShadowClan? Why give Minnowpelt the benefit of the doubt?

She looked away, tearing up the grass beneath her claws. They're all foxhearts!

If things had been different, if Mistyheart had been stronger, she would have taught Flowerclaw a lesson he didn't forget ever, not even once he was dead.

"We have to report to Palestar," Lakeleap growled softly. "She'll have to decide how we handle this. Come on."

The three ShadowClan warriors headed back to the camp, but Mistyheart couldn't stop thinking. She had to hate Flowerclaw, Seedheart and Minnowpelt. There was no other way. They were planning to take our territory! They set scent markers and everything!

Every so often, images would flash in Mistyheart's mind. Minnowpelt's sweet smile, Seedheart's teasing voice, the intrigue she felt whenever Flowerclaw spoke. I want to claw them, all three of them!

Upon entering the camp, Lizardclaw headed straight over. "Mistyheart! You're hurt!"

Mistyheart growled in response. "Isn't that obvious?" She was imagining the blood of Flowerclaw on her claws.

"RiverClan tried to take some of our territory," Lakeleap explained. "I'm going to report to Palestar. Mistyheart, do you want to come with me?"

"Okay." Mistyheart answered, following her older Clanmate towards her mother's den. Thank StarClan we beat that RiverClan patrol!

"Palestar!" Lakeleap called into the leader's den. "Palestar, we have important news!"

"Come in." Mistyheart heard her mother's voice. She sounded confused.

Lakeleap and Mistyheart entered. There was silence for several moments, before Lakeleap mewed.

"A RiverClan patrol was setting scent markers in our territory. We beat them and they ran away, but I'm worried they'll come back," Lakeleap explained, before turning briefly to Mistyheart. "We're both worried."

Palestar's ears flattened. "RiverClan!" she exclaimed. "Why are they causing trouble so often? They used to be much more peaceful."

Suddenly, Mistyheart had an idea. "When did they stop becoming so peaceful?"

Palestar mewed in response, "At some point during your apprenticeship."

Mistyheart lowered her voice. "When did Cloverstar become leader?" She glanced at Lakeleap, seeing the she cat narrow her eyes suspiciously. Oh, she heard. I never was the best at whispering.

Palestar looked puzzled, but simply answered, "I think, when you were a little kit. He's a young leader, but he was definitely leading before you were apprenticed."

Did Cloverstar just wait before allowing RiverClan to become so cruel? What happened? Why were RiverClan peaceful back when I was a kit?

"Okay, thank you." Mistyheart mewed, feeling as though her mother had given her some valuable information, something that perhaps her companions hadn't taken note of yet.

Palestar sighed. "There will have to be more patrols along the RiverClan border," she decided. "I don't like the way they're acting. We won't stand by and let them get away with it."

Mistyheart nodded. "Will we all be safe?" She asked.

Palestar didn't answer.

Hollyberry called from outside, "Mistyheart, Lakeleap, I need to check your wounds! Come out, please!"

Mistyheart turned to Palestar, who smiled, looking a little nervous. "He needs to check you, and you do look quite hurt."

Mistyheart and Lakeleap left the den, Palestar following so she could make an announcement to the Clan regarding the fight with RiverClan. Hollyberry led Mistyheart and Lakeleap to his den, but Mistyheart paused. She didn't want to go in.

It seemed disrespectful to miss the meeting. It was important! Hollyberry turned to her, looking confused, "Hurry up, Mistyheart," he growled. "Do you want to bleed out?"

"StarClan, please forgive me," Mistyheart whispered. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" She followed the medicine cat into his den.

"Why are there three kits here?" Lakeleap asked as they entered.

Bluekit, Tallkit and Yellowkit were all in the den, Bluekit and Yellowkit sorting through herbs, Tallkit watching calmly from the corner of the den.

Hollyberry turned to her. "They're not doing any harm, they're just helping."

Lakeleap narrowed her eyes. "But they're kits!"

"And they need experience," Hollyberry argued. "Yellowkit, some cobwebs, please!"

"Of course, Hollyberry!" Yellowkit purred happily, beginning to search for cobwebs.

"Oh... I think I found the cobwebs already," Bluekit padded over to Hollyberry, cobwebs on her paw. "These are cobwebs, right?"

"Oh, yes, they are," Hollyberry meowed, taking the cobwebs from the grey furred kit and beginning to press them on Mistyheart's pelt. "Oh, but I think I'll need more. Yellowkit, now that you know where the cobwebs are, why don't you get some?"

"Sure!" Yellowkit grabbed some cobwebs, heading straight over to Hollyberry, looking eager. "Here you go!"

Hollyberry continued to press the cobwebs onto the pelts of Lakeleap and Mistyheart, and Liontuft, who had already been recovering in the den.

"This is so easy!" Yellowkit purred. "Thank you for letting me help, Hollyberry!"

Hollyberry smiled warmly. "It's no problem, I'm happy for the help." There was affection in his voice as he addressed Yellowkit.

Yellowkit opened his eyes to Hollyberry. Hollyberry was the first cat he ever saw. Does he even have any memories of his real parents?

Bluekit sighed a little, looking slightly left out. She glanced at Tallkit, but the stocky she kit was simply staring at Hollyberry and Yellowkit, eyes flicking between her brother and the medicine cat.

Hollyberry let out a purr of amusement. "Tallkit, I can tell you're not interested in herbs. That's okay, you're going to be a great warrior." He nodded to the sandy she cat, encouraging her to come over.

Tallkit smiled a little, padding over and sitting down beside Hollyberry, pressing herself against his shoulder. He gasped in surprise. "You're already strong!" He purred.

Mistyheart watched as Hollyberry interacted cheerfully with Tallkit and Yellowkit. Bluekit watched awkwardly from the side, looking through the herbs again, murmuring the names of them under her breath.

Mistyheart was interested, finding it quite sweet how gentle Hollyberry was being with the two rogue kits. However, every time she tried to be happy, she felt anger rush through her.

How dare RiverClan try to take territory from my Clan?