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Clear Sky was sitting in the middle of the flat rocks his ears pricked He was scanning the forest that crowded the edges of the stone tail twitching excitedly Thunder narrowed his eyes Had Clear Sky spotted prey A familiar mew sounded from the trees beyond So you decided to take me up on that hunting lesson Thunder froze as Star Flower stalked from the trees and crossed the stone She stopped just in front of Clear Sky and raised her bushy tail The suns rays flashed through the clouds and turned her golden pelt to fire Lightning Tail stiffened beside Thunder Whats she doing here Thunder didnt answer Jealousy was scorching through his chest as he watched the shecat weave around Clear Sky A low growl rumbled in his throat No wonder he didnt want me to patrol with him Im not here for hunting lessons Clear Sky blocked Star Flowers path She stopped her eyes glittering playfully Then why are you here I invited you to meet me so I could teach you the ways of the forest Clear Sky brushed around Star Flower his eyes never leaving hers He stopped close to her muzzle You dont need to teach me anything he meowed Ive learned all I need to know And Ive learned it the hard way I told you Star Flower purred throatily We have more in common than you think Clear Sky half closed his eyes Perhaps we do Star Flower let her tail slide beneath Clear Skys chin Thunder curled his claws deep into the soft earth imagining its softness flowing beneath his muzzle She had used the same gesture when talking to him He stared at his father willing Clear Sky to step away from the treacherous shecat But Clear Sky stood still while Star Flower padded slowly around him You were going to give me some lessons in leadership she murmured Not yet Clear Skys eyes flashed Before you can lead you must learn how to follow Hes encouraging her Rage surged beneath Thunders pelt Then fear He knew better than any cat how Star Flower could turn against those she pretended to care for Shed once convinced him that she wanted to join his groupthat she wanted to be his mate But shed only been spying for One Eye Shed told him she truly cared for him but only after One Eye had died The anger burned in his belly Why had she told him that When shed reappeared last halfmoon a tiny hope had sparked in his heart that shed returned to the forest for him He watched his pelt bristling as Star Flower lay down her tail swishing over the stone She looked up at Clear Sky her radiant green eyes catching the light Enjoy the sunshine with me Thunder turned away and marched through the forest growling under his breath Lightning Tail bounded after him Thunder I should have known Thunder snarled She never felt anything for me Lightning Tail barged across his path Wait Thunder glared at him Are you going to say that you told me so Hurt sparked in Lightning Tails gaze and Thunder felt instantly guilty Im sorry He hung his head Im just glad you saw this before you did something mousebrained like telling her you loved her Lightning Tail suddenly leaned closer You didnt did you No Thunder snapped Im not that dumb Lightning Tail glanced back toward the rocks It looks like Clear Sky is Thunders heart lurched Hed been so wrapped up in his own feelings he hadnt considered his father Shes using him What for Lightning Tails eyes darkened with worry Because she can Thunder growled bitterly Because hes the leader and becoming his mate would give her power and influence But he knows shes treacherous Lightning Tail reasoned He must realize what shes doing and why Perhaps hes just seeing how far shes willing to go Thunder nodded slowly Clear Skys main goal had been bringing the cats together not finding a mate Of course Hes letting Star Flower play her stupid games making a fool of herself He stared blankly at Lightning Tail his gaze clouding Was that all it was with me too A stupid game Pain seared his heart He shook out his pelt fighting grief Leave me alone Lightning Tail I need to think Lightning Tail stared at him anxiously Youre not going back there to confront them No Thunder retuned his friends gaze solemnly Clear Sky can make his own decisions I dont want anything to do with Star Flower He saw Lightning Tails fur smooth Dont stay out too long the black tom urged Thunder dipped his head I just need to clear my thoughts He watched Lightning Tail head away until he was no more than a shadow moving through the wilting undergrowth Making for the river Thunder broke from the trees and gazed over River Ripples marshes The reeds stirred and bent in the breeze A gust whipped Thunders whiskers against his cheeks As he glanced downstream to where the boulders rose above the water a deep ache twisted his heart I really thought she had come back for me But theres only one cat Star Flower cares about and thats Star Flower