Skyclan's Destiny by Erin Hunter

Author:Erin Hunter [Hunter, Erin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nature & the Natural World, Animals, Pets, Action & Adventure, Adventure and adventurers, Fantasy fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, General, Fantasy, Cats, Adventure stories, Fiction
ISBN: 9780061699948
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-08-02T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“With so many new warriors in the Clan,” Sharpclaw meowed, “maybe we ought to think about expanding the territory.”

The sun was up, pouring golden light into the gorge, but Leafstar’s den still lay in shadow when her deputy arrived, dipping his head politely as he padded in.

“That’s a good point,” Leafstar mused, waving her tail to invite Sharpclaw to sit beside her.

“I suggest sending out two patrols, one on either side of the gorge,” the ginger tom went on. “They can investigate the area just outside our borders, and see if there are any good hunting grounds or moss places that we should include.”

“That could work,” she agreed. “And they ought to look for possible dangers as well. We don’t want to enclose territory that we can’t defend.”

Sharpclaw gave her a brisk nod. “I’ll go and set up the patrols, then. I’ll get Stick and Shorty to lead them.”

“Just a moment.” Leafstar stopped her deputy as he was rising to his paws. “There were problems the other day when you assigned Stick and Shorty to lead hunting patrols. The other cats aren’t used to them yet.”

“Then they’ll have to get used to them,” Sharpclaw snapped. “Stick and the others are full warriors of SkyClan now.”

Leafstar sighed. “True, but it’s not as easy as that. You can’t control how cats feel. Besides, is it a good idea to let newcomers lead these patrols, instead of cats who are more familiar with the territory?”

“They’ve all taken part in border patrols often enough,” Sharpclaw pointed out with a flick of his tail.

“All the same,” Leafstar mewed firmly, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to single out the newcomers for special duties instead of cats who have grown up in the Clan. Not all the time. It’s going to cause problems.”

Sharpclaw flexed his claws in annoyance, while Leafstar tried to ignore the rising tension between herself and her deputy. What’s happening to us? Why is Sharpclaw always trying to challenge me?

“The way I see it is—” Sharpclaw began, his voice rising irritably.

He broke off as a shadow fell across the mouth of the den and Ebonyclaw poked her head inside. “Leafstar, may I have a word with you?”

“We’re busy,” Sharpclaw meowed. “Come back later.”

Already ruffled by their argument, Leafstar was furious that her deputy was answering for her. “No, Ebonyclaw, it’s fine,” she replied, keeping her voice steady. “Sharpclaw and I were just finishing. Stick and Patchfoot will lead the patrols,” she added to her deputy, with a wave of her tail to dismiss him.

“Fine.” Sharpclaw gave his leader an icy glare and stalked out of the den.

Ebonyclaw watched him go. “I’m sorry if I interrupted something. . . .”

“Don’t worry about it,” Leafstar mewed. And now I suppose Ebonyclaw is going to complain about Frecklepaw helping Echosong again. If it’s not one thing it’s another. “I’ll have another word with Echosong—”

“No, it’s not that,” Ebonyclaw responded. “I wanted to talk to you about something else. Have you noticed that Shrewtooth hasn’t been himself recently?”

Leafstar blinked in surprise.

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