Once they were a few fox-lengths from the camp entrance,
Cinderheart let go of Icecloud’s scruff and heaved a tired sigh. “Phew, you’re
really heavy!”
“Oh, so you
thought I weighed as much as a feather?” Icecloud growled, picking herself up
and scowling at her denmate. She swung back around and started back to camp.
“Hey! Why would I
bring you out here only to let you return right back to camp?”
Icecloud froze as
if all time was stopped. Then she swiveled to face Cinderheart. “What do you
want from me?” she grilled anxiously. Cinderheart observed her jumping from paw
to paw. Obviously she was holding something in.
Cinderheart
leaned in, her gaze pulling Icecloud closer. “You have a relationship with
Lionblaze. I know you do.”
“N- no I don’t!”
Icecloud protested, trembling all over. “Why would you think that?”
“Because I heard
you and him talking last night behind the nursery!”
The white she-cat
collapsed onto the ground and clenched her teeth. “Cinderheart… I… I…”
The betrayed
one’s eyes blazed. “You’re sorry? You better be. No, Lionblaze should-”
Cinderheart quit speaking for a moment when she realized that Icecloud was
producing low moans of pain. “Icecloud, are you alright?”
“Clearly I’m
not!” she snapped in response. “The kits are coming. Get Tigerheart!”
“Er, don’t you
mean Jayfeather and Briarlight?” Cinderheart questioned, puzzled. “Isn’t
Tigerheart a ShadowClan warrior?” Then the gray queen narrowed her eyes. “Wait…
he’s the father?” she grilled, shocked.
Icecloud stared
up at her. Her eyes shone with sadness and hurt. “Yes, if you need an
explanation this heartbeat, it’s that Lionblaze and I loved each other, but the
kits are Tigerheart’s, and he is in ShadowClan. Now get him.”
A lump formed in
Cinderheart’s throat, and she staggered backwards toward ShadowClan territory.
“B- but… we’ll get in trouble! He’s a rival!”
“Not to me, he
isn’t. Please, I’m begging you.”
“Who will help
you have the kits?”
“Tigerheart will.
Get him, and bring him here. I’ll be waiting… if the kits can wait.”
Cinderheart
turned around and blindly raced through the forest, instinctively knowing the
turns and twists. She finally arrived at the border. Swallowing the clump, she
crossed over it and bounded into the dark pine forest, hoping that the rank
smell of ShadowClan would lead her to their camp.
“Hello?”
Cinderheart choked on her words as she glanced around. Would anyone help her?
Just then she
bumped into a brown tabby cat, and they both collapsed onto the marshy ground.
Cinderheart wrinkled her nose. Now there certainly would be ShadowClan scent
embedded into her pelt for a while to come. She leaped up and examined the
warrior.
He was truly
handsome, his young, muscly frame blocking any lower view behind him. He had
sleek, dark brown tabby fur, and dashing, glinting amber eyes. It was
Tigerheart!
“Tigerheart,
follow me,” Cinderheart motioned for him to trail after her the way she came.
“But…”
“It’s
Icecloud. She needs you. Now.”
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