Chapter Eleven

Starfleck, meanwhile, was hurrying back to ThunderClan as fast as her paws could carry her across the land. ‘Oh StarClan, I am going to be in so much trouble with Midnightstar!’ The sounds of grass being pushed past her, was drowned out by how heavy her breathing had become.

Leaping over fallen logs, and catching the scents of the markers from the last patrol, it took the she-cat several minutes before skidding across the ground. Tearing up the grass in the process, and throwing dirt everywhere, Starfleck didn’t have the luxury of catching her breath.

Pushing herself through the brambles and sprinting through the narrow tunnel, Starfleck practically launched herself through the air to come leaping into the camp itself. Barely acknowledging the stares as she passed several apprentices, a wide smile began to slowly creep onto her face.

“I don’t see Midnightstar anywhere close by,” Mewled Starfleck as she headed in the direction of the warriors’ den, “Should be able to catch some sle-”

“Sleep you were about to say?” Finished a dark voice just behind her as the looming shadow of Tigerflower passed over her.

Groaning in misery, and knowing she had been caught, Starfleck took her time turning her body around to meet the gold amber eyes of ThunderClan’s deputy. Like his namesake suggested, Tigerflower’s pelt was black with orange oblong stripes adorning him from head to toe. 

Even the expression he was giving her was akin to a tiger stalking its prey: poised and ready to pounce. An expression that he used to give to those who were breaking rules.

“Tigerflower, may StarClan greet you on this after-”

“Hold your tongue, kit,” Tigerflower growled as he cut her off sharply, ears perching high up on his head to show his disappointment.

The she-cat knew she was in deep trouble with him. Being called a kit meant serious consequences.

“You were outside of ThunderClan for StarClan knows how long,” He grumbled while his tail flicked sharply behind him. Tigerflower wasn’t mincing his words nor did he lower his voice. “I understand that Midnightstar gave you permission to clear your head about the separation between you and Nighthawk.”

Flinching sharply at the reminder that her own mate had left her, the hollow hole inside her chest began to expand a bit, but Tigerflower ignored her and pressed onwards.

“That doesn’t excuse you from lingering and neglecting your duties as a warrior of ThunderClan. What if you were killed and we didn’t know of it? Losing you, or any other cat in this clan, would be a hefty blow.

A loss that we cannot afford to lose, again.”

Shrinking meekly as her ears flattened completely against her head, her entire body scrunched up in apology, Starfleck reluctantly understood; or at least began to understand, what Tigerflower was referring to.

With Nighthawk having to decide to leave ThunderClan with Kestrelkit in favor of ShadowClan, Midnightstar and Tigerflower had been a little firmer on them. Not just with her. Likewise, however, it didn’t seem as though Tigerflower was looking for an apology for her actions.

Hearing the larger tom sigh with aggravation and defeat, Starfleck slightly inclined her head up a bit. “This will be your only warning, Starfleck,” Rumbled the deputy of ThunderClan between clenched fangs. It was as though he was regretting not punishing her.

Assuming she was being dismissed, and with a little bit of eagerness starting to slide into her body, Starfleck was about to depart from him. 

“I wasn’t finished, kit,” He growled with annoyance, tail curling over his muscular back. Such a growl reverberated in her entire soul, causing the she-cat to stop swiftly.

‘Now it’s back to being kit,’ Starfleck thought glumly as the sounds of Tigerflower’s pawsteps creeped up on her left.

“Because of your careless actions, you’re going to go hunting with Spiderwhisker, Snakepaw, and Heartlily. And better make it quick. Spiderwhisker does not have the patience like I do.” Tigerflower finished as he walked past her.

If Starfleck had thought her heart had been hollowed out, it was definitely now sinking faster than a kit drowning.