snakestar

~~~

FEATHERFLIGHT WAS ACTING weird. The gray-and-white she-cat has been randomly disappearing from camp; she was gone from the nest when her mate, Eaglestorm, wakes up, and returns only when the sun's setting, with little explanations as to where she's been.

To Snakestar - and the rest of ShadowClan - it was fairly obvious where Featherflight's been. The gray-and-white she-cat wasn't as sneaky as she thought.

When ShadowClan was forced to abandon their camp, Caelus had begged to come with them, but Snakestar had given him a firm no. It didn't matter to him that Caelus had saved his littermates' lives - and his, likely, with the distraction he'd caused. No, Caelus was a loner, a rogue. Rogues couldn't be part of ShadowClan.

Featherflight had been furious, asking Snakestar how he could possibly be so heartless. The ShadowClan leader felt that the bulk of her anger came from grief over Ivorystar's recent death. The fact that Caelus was Ivorystar's father didn't help much.

So, simply put, Featherflight was sneaking out of camp to see Caelus. The white tom was likely wandering around the area; no way he was back with the rogues after the stunt he'd pulled.

Thus, as the sun was beginning to set, the cats of ShadowClan pretended once again not to listen in or watch as Eaglestorm stalked up to Featherflight just as his mate returned.

"Where've you been?" the orange tom demanded, twitching his tail-tip agitatedly. 

"Nowhere." Featherflight shook out her pelt. "Is there any prey? I'm starving."

"No," Eaglestorm meowed curtly, darting in front of her to block her path to the fresh-kill pile. "Hard working cats caught this today while you were off fraternizing with the enemy."

Featherflight's eyes flashed. "I don't know what you're accusing me of," she mewed coolly, "but if you're referring to Caelus, he's not the enemy. He saved Viperfoot's life. And I haven't seen him since we were forced out of our territory-"

"Likely story," Eaglestorm hissed. "You can't do this to me, Featherflight. We have two kits together. They'll be affected-"

"Well Frozenlight and Sweetstorm aren't the ones making the scene, are they?" the gray-and-white she-cat spat. "And I'm not doing anything. You're overreacting-"

"Then where have you been all day?" Eaglestorm lashed his tail. "Why won't you tell me that you've been doing?"

"I've just been taking a walk, calm down." Featherflight lifted her muzzle. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm dreadfully tired. I'm going sleep."

Eaglestorm hissed, but the gray-and-white she-cat ignored him, breezing past her mate in favor of the warriors den. The cats of ShadowClan, as usual, watched this exchange, but when everyone returned to their previous activities once it was over, Snakestar watched Eaglestorm carefully.

The orange tom looked around, as though trying to spot anyone who was still watching. Only Frozenlight and Sweetstorm met his gaze; Frozenlight gave her father a sad little smile, but Sweetstorm's eyes were blank.

She had always been a bit of a mama's girl, and Snakestar can't imagine that seeing Featherflight betray Eaglestorm in such a blatant way was easy for her.

To be frank, Snakestar didn't know what in the world was going on with Featherflight. He didn't realize her feelings for Caelus ran so deep. He didn't think he could ever feel so strongly for a loner that he'd choose them over a strong ShadowClan warrior, even if that loner were Frozenlight. 

The fact that Featherflight clearly decided the opposite was concerning.

The ShadowClan leader frowned. It was just wrong. There was no other word to describe it, and he felt that a great part of it could be attributed to this lack of Clan pride after they moved into the Highstones. 

ShadowClan was falling apart, and no matter what, Snakestar had to fix it. He just needed an idea.

~~~

IT WASN'T SO MUCH AS AN IDEA rather than the opportunity that presented itself to Snakestar that fateful night. The Clan was laying around as usual, trying to keep warm in the cold leafbare. The prey pile was empty, discarded bones thrown here and there. The ShadowClan leader was crouched near the mouth of his den, flicking his tail as he observed his disgruntled cats with frustration.

"Snakestar! Snakestar!" Whitefoot's yowl broke through the brittle night as Snakestar's former apprentice charged into camp. He slipped on a frosted stone and started sliding, almost taking out several Clanmates in his path, but he soon scrambled back onto his paws, his excitement undeterred. "Snakestar!"

"I'm right here, Whitefoot." Snakestar's voice came in a low drawl as he shot the white tom an unimpressed look. Even as a warrior, Whitefoot continued to embarrass him. "What is it?"

Every night, Snakestar arranges to have a cat go down the Highstones and take a quick lap around the Clan territories. Usually nothing would be reported and seen, and a tired, hungry, and frozen ShadowClan cat would grumpily return. But Whitefoot's eyes were glittering tonight.

"Something happened in WindClan," Whitefoot mewed. "When I was down there, there was an uproar. I could hear yowling and noises all the way from the border, and-"

"I don't need the whole story, Whitefoot," Snakestar interrupted curtly. "Just the short version will do."

He had no idea what this information would provide them, and was growing increasingly annoyed with his time being wasted. For all he knew, WindClan was having their celebration for stealing ShadowClan's land.

Whitefoot swallowed. "Right. Well, I think..." He trailed off. "I think Swiftstar died."

This got Snakestar's attention, and he sat up immediately, ears standing up on his head. "Swiftstar died?" he breathed back, his eyes wide. "If you're lying right now, Whitefoot, I swear-"

"I'm not! At least, I'm not trying to!" Whitefoot protested. "I heard a lot of cats calling Swiftstar's name, and, well, I don't know why they would in this hour unless something's happened."

Snakestar considered this. Swiftstar was old. He was the oldest cat in these forests. With all that's happened recently, it's not impossible to believe that his health hadn't kept up, or maybe his age had finally caught up with him.

Either way, this was an opportunity.

"Good work, Whitefoot," Snakestar barked, leaping to his paws. Whitefoot puffed out his chest a little at this praise.

By now, cats were beginning to notice this exchange, and Snakestar saw them glancing at him and Whitefoot from the corner of their eyes. Perfect. He needed them to be alert for this.

Raising his voice, he jumped atop a boulder. "Cats of ShadowClan! I have important news!"

Slowly but surely, his Clanmates trickled towards him. The majority had a look of exhaustion discontent; some, like Birdfrost, were shooting Snakestar daggers (those he would have to deal with); very little, like Viperfoot, stared up at Snakestar with a hopeful expression.

"I've received news that WindClan will be switching leaders soon. Very possibly tonight." He waited a moment for these words to sink in. "These are the cats that attacked our camp, so these are the cats we must get our revenge from."

"What?" Birdfrost scoffed. "You don't want us to go down there and attack WindClan, do you?"

"No." Snakestar met her gaze steadily. "Very soon, WindClan's deputy and medicine cat will be climbing up into the Highstones to the Mothermouth. Despite StarClan's absence, Cherrylight will still try and get her nine lives. And if we have it my way"- he paused, his eyes darkening -"Cherrylight and Whiteberry won't descend the Highstones alive."