A Run Under Red Skies

I ran, and I swear I could hear cats after me. I ran faster. I could feel eyes on me. Birds cried out from the branches. A fox barked not far from where I was. I could see the crest of a hill. Then I was at the top before I could blink. I saw a the bottom and stopped. I could feel a bit of a chill then I was there. I turned back to where I was. I could go from one place to another without moving. A hawk screeched over head. I turned away. Back to the endless pine trees. I moved quickly though the shadows of there branches. Faster with my new found power. Wanting to get as far from my clan as possible. Afraid Vinejump would fallow. Angry at there lack of loyalty. To me. To my mother. What was StarClan doing? I trusted many of them. My mother, Snowdrift, Half-Moon, or some of the past ShadowClan leaders. A few past warriors and medicine cats from other clans. They see power in me, and see it as a strength. Some see it as something that could be used. A danger to the other clans. Something they don't understand. Most had some faith in me. Perhaps not anymore. I stand suddenly almost nose to nose with a past RiverClan warrior.

"What are you doing? Your clan needs you? You're supposed to save them." Minnowripple tells me. Someone who had been on my side once.

"They don't want me to save them. To be there. They hate me. Fear me. Drove me away. I had no choice. They fallow the deputy's word blindly. Because of the code you all wrote, and continued to follow."

"Your mother broke our-"

"All my mother did was fall in love with the 'wrong sort'. They seen my as half-ShadowClan. Half loyal to being with. More likely to be disloyal. They see me the child of a code breaker. Many already expected me to turn out like her. In a way they're right. I do not see the point. Why can't we have stronger friendships outside of clans. Take mates outside of clans. Sunleaf should have had a choice in weather or not she wanted kits or a mate at all. ShadowClan, RiverClan, Rogue, or Kittypet. It shouldn't matter. I'm lucky my mother taught me that." I say firmly.

"But the code-" He begins again.

"Is wrong." I snap. I whirl and face Splashspot, an old RiverClan medicine cat.

"Thank you for being Sunleaf's friend. She needed you. I will keep an eye on her in RiverClan."

"Thank you." I say dipping my head to the she-cat. I see a tall cat watching me from the shadows. He looks away from me when I turn to face. He wanted me to be ShadowClan's greatest warrior. I don't understand why instead of being disappointed in his clan he looks disappointed in me. That anger bubbles up again.

"We'll be here." My mother says. "Will always be here for you." Snowdrift standing next to her nods.

"I will keep you updated." She says. I nod.

"Nightwhisper. There is nothing you could do. No one you could become. No where you could go. That I would not love you." My mother says. Then once again I run. Full sprint, and 'traveling' to place to place though the shadows. My anger grows. Has even StarClan lost faith in me? I will limit my visits. So many cats still stuck in there ways. The past leaders, and Moth Flight. I will show them. I will return to my clan stronger. And I will kill Vinejump. As I run the sky suddenly change. Clear blue turns dark red. I slow.

"What's a young cat like you doing here?" A calico cat speaks up from the shadows of a tree. She's hard to see with her patterning even to me. I'm impressed my her choice in hiding place.

"I did not intend to end up here." I say simply. "It wasn't an intrusion." She laughs a little at that. A short low laugh.

"Do you know where you are? Little cat." I bristle a little at be called little. Though her plumper body, and her long fur does make her look bigger.

"The Dark Forest." I say. Like this is a casual conversation. Like we're talking about how the prey is running.

"How interesting. To have you end up here... I think I could train you if you like." I consider it a moment.

"I was a ShadowClan cat. I am Nightwhisper. Who are you?"

"I was a ThunderClan cat. I am Mapleshade."