Shattered Sky/Chapter 13

==Chapter description==
:Violetpaw is eating a pigeon, while Darktail and the Kin are also eating. She takes in the RiverClan camp around her, thinking about how it must have been beautiful before the Kin attacked. Darktail teases her for eating the pigeon so quickly, and offers her some of his rabbit. She declines, not trusting him when he's being friendly. Scorchfur comes back from giving food to his mate, and suggests they give the leftover prey to the RiverClan prisoners as well as Needletail. He says they're beginning to look skinny and it's their responsibility to keep their prisoners healthy. At first, Darktail's eyes narrow in anger, but then he tells Scorchfur calmly that he is feeding the prisoners well. He then asks if the gray tom is doubting his ability to lead his Kin, and if he would be happier elsewhere. Scorchfur replies that he doesn't doubt Darktail and that he knows what's best. After a long silence, Darktail lets him go, but not before asking him to clean out the prisoners' den. Violetpaw feels sorry for Scorchfur, thinking that he should have kept his mouth shut. She notes that now that there were no apprentices, Darktail had saved the worst jobs for cats who had angered him, and that Puddleshine had cleaned the prisoners' den last. Violetpaw then feels a flutter of guilt as she remembered the terrible confrontation where she had gotten him into trouble, and fortunately Darktail had decided that the Kin needed a medicine cat too badly to for Puddleshine to remain on cleaning duty for long.
:After Scorchfur and the others are gone, Sleekwhisker lets out an exaggerated sigh, asking when will all the ShadowClan warriors leave. She tells Darktail that they do not understand how he works, and that it is obvious that they are not worthy of his leadership. Darktail turns a baleful gaze on her, and reminds her to not forget that she was once a ShadowClan cat. Sleekwhisker responds boldly that she has not thought of herself as a ShadowClan cat for a long time, and that she is Kin now, through and through. She states that she was one of the first cats to join him, while the others were ShadowClan right up to the time he took over the territory, and the sooner they leave, the better. She leans over so that her pelt brushed Darktail's, but the rogue leader turns a sharp glance on her, making her ease away.
:Darktail snaps that she shouldn't wish for that, and that they need the ShadowClan cats, because even with the kittypets and the new Kin, they are still outnumbered by the Clan warriors. Violetpaw thinks that is Darktail's own fault, since he shouldn't have done whatever he did to Dawnpelt and the others. She then exclaims that she is stuffed, rising to her paws and grabbing the remains of her pigeon, mumbling through the feathers that she can not finish this, but Darktail and the rest of his Kin seem not to pay any attention to her. Violetpaw then carries the pigeon over to the refuse pile, wrinkling her nose at the stench of crowfood. She thinks that this is disgusting and that they never left food to rot in the ShadowClan camp.
:Since the Kin has two territories, they were never short of prey. Violetpaw is revolted by how much they wasted, especially since Darktail kept the prisoners starving. She glances over her shoulder, making sure no cat is watching her, before slipping into a clump of long grass and wriggling toward an elder bush where she had stashed a particularly fat vole. Violetpaw has to claw her way through the tangled stems, taking long to find it, and for one moment she is afraid that some other creature had come by and stolen her prey. She relaxes as she spots the smooth curve of the vole's pelt and grabs it in her jaws, heading toward the bramble thicket where the prisoners were guarded. Violetpaw drops the vole out of sight behind a rock and then strolls up to Zelda and Yarrowleaf who are on guard. She meows a greeting and that she'll keep watch for a bit if they want to go eat. Zelda's eyes light up while Yarrowleaf swipes her tongue around her jaws, and exclaims that her belly thinks her throat's been clawed out. Both she-cats then vanish rapidly in the direction of the fresh-kill pile.
When they leave, Violetpaw retrieves the vole and slides through the bramble tendrils until she reached the clear space in the middle of the thicket where the prisoners lived. For a moment, none of them realize that she is there. Icewing and Mintfur lay stretched out together; Violetpaw can see every one of their ribs. Icewing's wound shows red and angry, and Violetpaw realizes that Puddleshine hadn't treated it with medicine, probably because he had not been allowed to. Reedwhisker is curled up asleep, and Brackenpelt was trying to groom herself, but the effort of turning her head seems to exhaust her. She flops down on her side, panting after a few feeble licks. Needletail is pacing in the confined space, and as she turns, she spots Violetpaw, and mutters that it's her again, and that she shouldn't take these kinds of risks, as Darktail would have her fur off if he finds her here. Violetpaw replies that she's brought her some more food, dropping the vole at Needletail's paws. Pain claws at her heart as she sees how tired and defeated her friend looked. Violetpaw then continues that she's careful, and that Darktail wouldn't find out. She then tells her to eat. Needletail falls on the prey and snatches it up, but carries it over to the RiverClan prisoners instead of starting to eat it herself. Violetpaw stares in surprise, her heart warmed by her friend's unselfishness. Needletail mews that Violetpaw's here again, and that she's brought them food. The RiverClan cats look up up listlessly, their interest suddenly sharpening as they catch the scent of the vole. Brackenpelt breathes out a praise to StarClan, her jaws starting to water. Violetpaw watches as the prisoners devour the vole; it is gone in a few heartbeats, and they only get a couple of mouthfuls each. She notices that Needletail doesn't take any-she justs looks on as the others ate. When the last scrap of prey had vanished, Mintfur meows that they can't hang on like this, and that Darktail is the cruelest cat he's ever known. Brackenpelt hushes him, giving him a warning prod, and reminds him that Violetpaw is one of Darktail's cats. Mintfur retorts that he doesn't care, and he glares up at Violetpaw, saying to tell Darktail what he said, and let him do what he likes. Violetpaw responds that she wouldn't tell Darktail anything, and that she thinks he's cruel too. Suprised, Reedwhisker asks why does she still follow him, and Needletail points out with an irritated twitch of whiskers that she doesn't follow Darktail, calling Reedwhisker a mouse-brain. She asks him if Violetpaw would bring him food if she agreed with what Darktail is doing. Violetpaw admits that she made a mistake, and that she's trying to thin of a way to help them, but in meantime she'll keep bringing them food while she can. The RiverClan cats exchange glances, the first signs of hope beginning to dawn in their eyes, but before she can say anymore, Violetpaw hears the voices and pawsteps of Zelda and Yarrowleaf. She murmurs that she's got to go, and slips quickly out of the thicket. As Zelda and Yarrowleaf come up to her, she notices that Zelda is looking at her with an odd expression. Violetpaw wonders how much of their conversation she had heard. She remembers just the night before, in the nest they still shared, that she and Zelda had stayed up talking long after darkness had fallen. Zelda had told her that she still wants to go back to her housefolk, but she doesn't think Darktail will let her. Violetpaw had not been able to find words to reply, noting that she was just as much a prisoner as the RiverClan cats. Back in the present, she wonders whether Zelda would betray her to Darktail if she had known that she was feeding the prisoners. She thinks that Zelda might, just to get into Darktail's favor, and that she can't risk trusting her. Violetpaw meets Zelda's gaze, hoping for a clue, but the kittypet's expression is unreadable. Suddenly, Darktail calls for her, his voice cutting across Violetpaw's musings, making her jump. He calls for her again, and she swiftly nods to Zelda and Yarrowleaf before bounding across the camp to where Darktail is standing with his Kin around him. As Violetpaw ran up to him, he meows that the fresh-kill pile is getting low, and that he wants her to hunt. Violetpaw obeys, keeping her expression calm and obedient, but inwardly her heart surges, and she thinks that this could just be the break she needs. 
Sunhigh is past when Violetpaw returns to the RiverClan camp and slings a rabbit on top of the growing fresh-kill pile. She has already brought back several mice and a squirrel. Violetpaw reflects that one thing about rogues, every cat is always out for themselves, and that's made her a better hunter. Even though Clan cats usually hunt in patrols, the Kin often hunt alone so they won't have to share prey. This time, Violetpaw had insisted on going off by herself, knowing that Darktail won't question her. She thinks with a shudder that Darktail has been so nice to her ever since she betrayed Needletail, and that now she's caught enough prey to impress him, she has time for a trip of her own. Violetpaw calls out to any cat who might be listening that she's going to try over in ShadowClan territory, then bounds down the lakeshore, heading past the Twoleg half-bridge, but it's not ShadowClan territory Violetpaw has in mind. She admits to herself that she can't fight Darktail alone as she heads toward ThunderClan and her sister. She hopes that Twigpaw is not too angry at her for what she did in the battle, because she desperately needs her help. Violetpaw slips swiftly and silently through the undergrowth, keeping close to the edge of the lake, all her senses alert for the sound or scent of any rogues who might be hunting in ShadowClan territory, but she does not meet any cat until she splashed through the stream that marked the border with ThunderClan. Violetpaw draws in a long breath, starting to relax, as she pads more confidently toward the ThunderClan camp, but she grows tense again as mixed scents of ThunderClan and RiverClan flow over her from a bank of ferns just ahead. A moment later the fern fronds wave and three cats pushed their way into the open. Violetpaw sees a young gray-and-white tom she recognizes Dewnose, but the other two are less familiar, though she had seen them now and then at Gatherings, and knows they come from RiverClan. She thinks she should remember their names and recognizes them as Podlight and Beetlewhisker. Violetpaw waits, and dips her head respectfully as the patrol bounds up to her. Dewnose asks her what is she doing here, and to her relief he sounds surprised rather than hostile. She meows hastily that she doesn't mean any harm, and that she's come for help and to see her sister. Podlight asks roughly why should they believe her, and how do they know that she isn't part of a rogue plan to attack. Dewnose gives the RiverClan tom a shove, asking him if Darktail wanted to attack, would he send an apprentice to warn them. Violetpaw assures them that she is here alone, and Dartail doesn't know, and if they don't believe her, they could leave some cat to watch the border while they escort her in. Podlight gives her a curt nod, seeming satisfied with that. Beetlewhisker asks anxiously if the prisoners are okay, and if Darktail will let them leave soon. Violetpaw, not sure how to answer, tells him after a moment's hesitation that they're still alive, and that they're part of the reason she's here, but she needs help. Dewnose nods, a pleased expression on his face, and he mews that he'd better take her to Bramblestar. Podlight adds sharply Mistystar too. Dewnose flicks his tail in annoyance, muttering sure, and that she'll be taken to Mistystar also. Violetpaw follows Dewnose through the forest, the two RiverClan warriors flanking her on either side. As she emerges into the clearing from the thorn tunnel, she halts for a moment, overwhelmed by the crowds of cats in front of her. She wonders if all the ShadowClan and RiverClan cats have ended up here. Violetpaw notes that she hasn't given much thought to Clan cats the Kin had displaced, and now she is stunned by how crowded the ThunderClan camp is. 
Over on the other side of the camp, she catches a glimpse of Juniperclaw and Strikestone, and feels a jolt of relief that at least Dawnpelt's kits had made it there safely, but she then spots Rowanstar beside them; he has seen her, and the look he gives her is cold and unfriendly. Violetpaw cringes inwardly, feeling more nervous than ever. She asks herself why did she think that these cats would greet her as a friend, thinking that she hardly knows any of them, and the ones that she does know probably think of her as a traitor. Dewnose touches her shoulder with his tail-tip, saying that he'll take her to Bramblestar. Violetpaw hesitates, asking if she could possibly talk to Twigpaw first, and Dewnose's gaze clouds with concern, making her even more agitated. She begins to ask what's wrong, before Dewnose intercepts her gently, telling her that he thinks he knows a cat that can help her. He hurries off, weaving his way through the groups of cats in clearing, until he disappears behind a bramble screen; Violetpaw remembers that was the entrance to the medicine cat den. A moment later, Alderheart appears, and at the sight of him Violetpaw feels a rush of relief, knowing that he was Twigpaw's friend, and that surely he will help her. 
Alderheart meows as he bounds up to her that thank goodness she's alright, asking how is she, and how has Needletail been since he visited with Mothwing. He says that he knows she said things were fine, but they didn't seem fine. Violetpaw tells him that not fine is right, and that in fact, they could hardly be worse. She says that she thinks Darktail has gone a bit crazy since he had killed Rain, and that all he cares about is loyalty. She also says that he punishes any cat who he thinks isn't loyal to him, and that includes Needletail. Concern floods into Alderheart's eyes, and for a heartbeat he seems to gaze into the distance, as if he sees something terrible there. Violetpaw realizes that he had been very close to Needletail, and he must be upset to the think of her being ill-treated. Soon his expression turns thoughtful, and he asks Violetpaw if he can trust her. She nods eagerly, and assures him that he can. She tells him that she knows now that it was a mistake to stay with Darktail, and that she should have left along with Rowanstar when the rouges took over ShadowClan, but she wanted to stay with Needletail, and that she knew that she would never leave. Encouraged from Alderheart's understanding look, she adds that she wanted to believe it would all turn out okay, asking him if he ever felt like that. Alderheart's eyes are full of affection, and Violetpaw almost feels as if he was her kin, and she thinks truly like her kin, not like Darktail. Alderheart replies that he has felt like that, and tells her to listen close, and that they have been looking for some cat in the rogue camp to help them because they have an idea and they have also come up with a plan too. He explains the plan to Violetpaw, who feels her pads begin to prickle with excitement, as she listens, intrigued, and her fur feels warmer as hope kindles within her. Alderheart finishes at last that for their plan to work, they need a cat who can influence Darktail. Violetpaw, more excited than ever, tells him that Darktail trusts her, and that she can do whatever he wants. Alderheart's gaze is warm as it rests on her, and he thanks her. Violetpaw feels a huge sense of relief, thanking him and ThunderClan, and that he's showing her a way out. Alderheart meows that he'd better take her to meet with the other leaders. 
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==Notes and references==
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Shattered Sky
Category:A Vision of Shadows arc