Leafwatcher: A Short Story

I watched as Reedfang disappeared into the bush with Leafwatcher by his side, until their tails vanished from my line of sight. My eyes momentarily closed as I gathered my bearings, praying to Starclan that I wouldn't have any needs for my claws.

In front of me, I only heard the orange tom's breathing, otherwise the forest had fallen silent, as if it could sense the explosion that was about to happen with our conversation. Taking a deep breath, I reopened my emerald eyes, bracing myself for the tough discussion that I had dreaded for the longest time. Flamestar no longer left me any choice, though, as he had crossed the unspoken line we had agreed upon back in my apprenticing days.

"Wolfspirit," Flamestar meowed calmly, breaking the silence. My eyes raised up to meet his, "I understand what this looks similar to, but I assure you, nothing has happened between me and Leafwatcher...I love Morningshine with all my heart and I would neve-"

"What about that time I found you secretly meeting with Deerpatch?" I interrupted with an angry growl before he even used the chance to start his poorly-planned lie.

Instantaneously his total demeanor morphed, as his amber eyes turned from their warm and welcoming color to a dark and cold wall of stone.

He began
That I desire to assume leadership over this clan?" I growled through my teeth, anger pouring off of my pelt as I refused to budge a second time. "Flamestar, the last event I wish to happen is taking over your poorly constructed clan, where every cat holds a lie and a secret. Stop being a paranoid elder and open your eyes! There is a bounty of cracks in this clan that you don't even realize them for the simple fact that you can't focus on your own family! Why are you having relationships with she-cats from other clans? How does this even remotely aid in Darkclan's survival?" I vented in return, shocked at his fanatical accusation, implying that I was a power hungry cat who yearned to destroy