Thunder And Shadow

Violetpaw stared in disbelief as Spikefur, Sparrowtail, Mistcloud, and Rippletail padded to join Scorchfur. They glared m alevolently at Rowanstar.

Scorchfur lashed his tail. “Why should we m eet with the Clans who refused to help us?”

Spikefur hissed. “They were prepared to let us die!”

Rowanstar pushed between Tawny pelt and Tigerheart, stopping short of the rebellious warriors. “I am the leader of ShadowClan, and I say we’re going.”

Scorchfur huffed. “Where were you when Crowfrost handed our hostage over to ThunderClan without a fight?”

“Holding an apprentice hostage wasn’t going to change any thing,” Rowanstar retorted.

Tawny pelt had told the ShadowClan leader what had happened while he was ill. “Sickness is no excuse for a Clan to act like rogues.”

“And how do rogues act?” Spikefur stepped forward. “Do they withhold herbs while innocent cats die? Or is that just Clan cats?”

Mistcloud’s ears twitched. “Onestar behaved badly and the other Clans let him. We are not like them. We don’t want to be like them.”

Rowanstar’s eyes rounded sy m pathetically. “If you want to air y our grievances, come to the Gathering. Speak with the other Clans. Perhaps we can make them see that they’ve treated us badly.”

“Words didn’t work before,” Scorchfur snarled. “Why should they work now?”

“I’ll speak to them for y ou.” Rowanstar’s tone was conciliatory. “You can stay here and I will report back what they said.”

Scorchfur narrowed his eyes to threatening slits. “If you go to the Gathering, don’t bother coming back,” he hissed. “ShadowClan doesn’t need a leader as weak as y ou.”

As he spoke, Spikefur turned toward the entrance to the camp.

Violetpaw’s heart lurched as she saw shadowy figures stream ing into the clearing. She tasted rogue scent, and as the shapes m oved into the moonlight, she recognized Darktail, Rain, Raven, and the rest of their campmates. Violetpaw felt sick. Needletail was with them, and Sleekwhisker and Cloverfoot. Every cat from the rogue camp was here except Beenose. Had she left them?

Had the sickness killed her?

Violetpaw pressed against Dawnpelt, asham ed of her trem bling paws. What are they doing here? Why have they come?

Spikefur padded to greet the rogues, dipping his head to Darktail before turning back to Rowanstar. “We need new leadership,” he growled. “Strong leadership.”

Rowanstar’s eyes sparked with fury. He glared at Spikefur, and then his gaze flitted angrily around the rebellious cats before resting finally on Darktail. “Are you suggesting that we give our Clan over to rogues?” His mew was icy.

Violetpaw saw the m uscles rippling across Rowanstar’s shoulders. His ribs still showed through his pelt from the illness, but as his hackles rose, she remembered what a fierce warrior he was.

He faced Darktail. “You will take this Clan over m y dead body.”

Delight sparked in Darktail’s gaze. “That sounds fair.”

The rogue leader flung him self at Rowanstar.

Violetpaw gasped.

Rowanstar reared, but the force of Darktail’s attack pushed him back. Rowanstar’s hind legs trem bled as he dug his paws into the earth and braced him self against the snarling rogue. Ey es flashing, Darktail turned his head and bit into the ShadowClan leader’s neck.

Rowanstar grunted, twisting beneath Darktail as he tried to shake him off. But the ShadowClan leader must have lost his balance. With a j erk, Darktail flipped him onto his side, jaws still gripping his neck.

Help him! Violetpaw stared at her Clanmates. They drew closer, their eyes wide with shock.

Why doesn’t someone help? Her gaze flitted from the Clan cats to the rogues. Needletail, where are you? But as soon as she spotted her friend, she knew she would not stop the attack. Needletail was watching the attack with excitement—just like the rest of the rogues.

Rowanstar hissed, struggling free from Darktail’s grip. He turned on the rogue leader, but Darktail was quicker. He dived beneath Rowanstar’s belly and heaved him off his paws. As

Rowanstar fell, Darktail lashed out, slicing the ShadowClan leader’s m uzzle. Blood splashed across the clearing, shining darkly in the moonlight.

Tigerheart snarled and leaped at the rogue leader.

At last! Violetpaw leaned forward, blood roaring in her ears.

Tawny pelt hurled herself after Tigerheart, and together they shoved Darktail away from Rowanstar. Batting at him with vicious blows, they drove him back toward his campmates.

Tigerheart glanced at Tawny pelt, and together they began stalking toward the glowering rogues, snarling. But then, suddenly, Tigerheart looked around and seem ed to realize that he and Tawny pelt were the only cats m oving to defend their leader. “Wait,” he hissed to Tawny pelt, looking around the camp. She dropped onto all four paws, narrowing her eyes as she glared at the invading cats.

The rest of ShadowClan watched, unm oving.