“The Clan doesn’t like Wildheart’s stay here…” Cloudstar’s voice was low.
“I know… There’s more you want to say, though.” Sandtail answered after a slight pause.
“I’m fearing how close they are becoming …” The calico tom turned to look the cream and tan she-cat in the eyes. Cloudstar’s green eyes were clouded with pity and pain for his youngest warrior and it was all too obvious to Sandtail that she too was thinking the same thing as her leader. A shiver ran through her pelt, tabby stripes now fluffed out in worry.
“If she falls in love with Wildheart we could loose one of our strongest warriors to WindClan…”
“Cloudstar-“
“Scarclaw would never leave ThunderClan!” A new voice hissed and the two cats turned to see Rainfoot glaring at them; her blue eyes cold and hard as ice. “Appleblossom was my apprentice and Scarclaw’s mentor; she has learned that her first loyalty lies with her Clan!” Rainfoot’s voice was as cold as her eyes. She had to dig her claws into the stone on the cave floor as too keep from batting her leader and medicine cat over the ears. When neither of the two cats said anything, she continued to speak through grinding teeth.
“What do you think Appleblossom, Oakleaf, and Dappleflower are thinking right now? You, calling their kit and apprentice a traitor to the warrior code!!” Rainfoot’s voice was challenging as her fur stuck up on end. Without waiting for an answer, she turned and dashed from Cloudstar’s den.
The two cats stared after Rainfoot. ‘She was right,’ Sandtail realized with a sickening jolt in her stomach ‘We were challenging Scarclaw’s loyalty…’
The fur bristled on Cloudstar’s shoulders as Rainfoot’s words set in. His blood turned hot with fury and his muscles tensed, his eyes clouded with pain.
“Dismissed.” He growled, turning stiffly to his nest of moss.
Sandtail left at the sound of his aggravated command, her tail skimming just above the stone path to her den. ‘StarClan help her…’ She prayed silently as she slipped into the crack in the rock, curling into her bedding.