CotS #1: The Dark Path (currently being rewritten)

Chapter Nine

"I... I get uncomfortable around her," Swanpaw meowed hoarsely. "It's so scary! Like she's trying to attack me all the time. All of them! That Lightcry has this burning gaze, and Sunstreak and Earthmist pick fights with everybody. I don't want them to join the Clan, Feathermist's descendants or not! I think their blood is filled too much with rogue!"

I nodded. "I know it's hard." I didn't really understand, because I'd never really had a problem with them, though.

Swanpaw sighed. "They should only take in Cocoaleaf, Iceleaf and Mudwish. They're the only nice cats. And maybe Lightcry. She's intimidating, but not so bad."

"Stormdawn!"

I heard Iceflame calling my voice, and whipped around. "Yes?"

"Iceleaf's training with you today," she said, "And I'm watching. I want you to go full-out on her, Stormdawn."

I would've argued, but there was absolutely nothing I could do if Iceflame was watching. But I didn't need to go full-out.

I was nimble and agile. I dodged all of Iceleaf's clumsily played blows but didn't harm a whisker on her.

"STORMDAWN! ATTACK HER!" Iceflame bellowed.

Iceflame raised her voice. "Give it your ALL! Imagine she's a FOX!" Iceflame spoke extremely ferociously, like she herself believed Iceleaf was as dangerous as a fox. I knew Iceleaf was nowhere near that dangerous, but...

I knew what Iceflame expected of me, and I had no choice.

I blinked at Iceleaf, and said the single word: "Sorry."

The next hour passed with Iceflame heartlessly making me attack Iceleaf with all my might. I had struck, nipped and kicked every inch of Iceleaf I could reach, including her swollen belly. She looked so in pain, and I was regretful about it. I held back each time her eyes clouded with pain, but there was only so much I could do to help her. Hold back, and Iceflame would scold me. Not attack at all, Iceflame would probably replace me. Fight her with all my might, and it would damage Iceleaf, but keep my position in the Clan safe.

Finally, Iceleaf just collapsed. "Break?" she whispered. I nodded, but Iceflame shook her head.

"I'm tired," I told her.

Iceflame shrugged. "Iceleaf, you'll fight ME then!"

I knew that was way, way worse, but there was absolutely nothing I could do now. I had already told Iceflame I was fatigued, and if I went back on my word now, Iceflame would doubt me in the near future. That was something I could not allow.

Iceflame attacked Iceleaf way faster than I had, her moves coming in rapid-fire. Her swollen belly slowing her movements, there was no way Iceleaf could keep up. She was hit by many blows, over and over again, and Iceflame seemed to be deliberately aiming for her belly. It winded Iceleaf each time and caused her great pain. It was a miracle Iceleaf hadn't started kitting yet.

Finally, Iceleaf just fainted from the exhaustion.

"Tsk!" Iceflame snorted. "What a sorry excuse for a cat! Stormdawn, Swanpaw, bring her back to camp. I'm going to join Mudwish's training session with Woodfur and Oakpaw."

"Mudwish and Iceleaf? Isn't this a bit targeted?" I asked.

Iceflame narrowed her eyes. "Don't make me hate you, Stormdawn." It was strange, hearing those words coming from the grandmother who had been a mother to me.

I had no idea what was going on. Literally no idea. I hoisted Iceleaf onto my back, Swanpaw helping from the back, and we brought her back to camp. Unfortunately for us, Mudwish was in camp. He looked up as we entered, and shock crossed his face as he saw Iceleaf's unconscious body between us.

"Iceleaf!" he cried, running up to her. "Is she dead?"

"She fainted," Swanpaw answered helpfully, "from overexertion. She was fighting Stormdawn for an hour, and then Iceflame for about ten minutes."

Mudwish glared at me. "Why didn't you do anything?"

"There is absolutely nothing I can do with the deputy watching me!" I snarled furiously. "Believe it or not, Mudwish, I am not risking my position in the Clan for you!"

His eyes widened, and then he sighed. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. But she needs medical attention. She'll be kitting any day now. She should be resting!"

"That is something I intend to do," I said. "Tomorrow, tell Iceleaf to cough and cough a lot. Swanpaw and I will go into hysterics and say she'll make us all sick, so she should be confined to the medicine den. I'm sure Emuwing won't consent to throwing a sick cat out."

"So she'll miss training." It dawned on Mudwish.

"And if you're lucky," I added, "she'll kit tomorrow. Newborns need their mother, and that's another thing Emuwing won't risk."

I walked off after that, telling Swanpaw to get some rest before the mini Gathering that night, with us meeting up with the cats who lived by the stream.

I brought some prey to share with Wheatpelt. She was there with her kits – Skykit, Fluffykit and Nightkit, but she didn't look very interested in them. Fluffykit ran up to me.

"Stormdawn!" she squeaked excitedly.

"Where have you been?" Wheatpelt asked dully. "It's like you only care about Iceleaf nowadays!"

"You've already kitted, haven't you?"

Honestly, I'd grown to dislike Wheatpelt these past moons. Any more of this attitude and I wouldn't be there at all, no matter what I'd promised.

I was pretty sure Wheatpelt could see that in my eyes, and my short temper nowadays.

"This isn't enough for us to share." Wheatpelt pawed the rabbit.

"Who said we're sharing?" I asked dryly, and exited the den.

Wheatpelt didn't call after me, instead, she watched me go sorrowfully, without saying a word, and turned back to her kits, whatever energy she might've had gone. Skykit and Fluffykit watched Wheatpelt unhappily, and Nightkit stared after me accusingly, but I didn't look back, and saw none of it.

ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴇᴅɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ, 5ᴛʜ ꜱᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ