Smokewing looked at Dovesong’s blue eyes only making her smile grow before saying, “The life that I built in Skyclan may be good, but if anything, I’d like to come back to Thunderclan and rebuild my life there to finally finish what I started. I’d like to go back even if it means giving up hopes of becoming leader ever, Skyclan was the closest thing to a perfect life that I’ve ever had, but I think I can get closer,” her mew was as soft as it had been when Dovesong was a kit. Smokewing began get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside every time she looked at Dovesong. The strange and soothing feeling that made her smile. Smokewing looked up, turning her head to gorge, then seeing figures coming closer from the distance. Dovesong looked at Smokewing, then seeing the cats in the distance and flattening her ears. “Who’s that…?” Dovesong asked, her tail coming nearer and nearer to her legs. Smokewing swallowed, “I’m not sure, maybe someone from my clan.” Dovesong grumbled, beginning to brace herself for the worst. “Maybe we should’ve tried to go to Thunderclan” Smokewing murmured, standing up and stepping in front of Dovesong like a shield. As the figures came to view of recognition “It’s Enzo and Lilac…” The color and energy seemed to leave Smokewing at the sight of her mate and daughter, then she heard a voice one that sounded like Duckpaw calling for her, so she started running toward the voice. “You know uhmm… you know that you can follow me, right?” Smokewing called to Dovesong, stopping dead in her tracks and whipping around to her. Dovesong shook her head and flattened her ears to her heads in dismay before making a gesture to her leg. Smokewing stopped and watched as Dovesong tried to stand up her right leg hanging loosely as she collapsed down. Smokewing looked in horror, her teeth slightly clenched while her lips parted to show them. Dovesong shook her head, “Just leave me, go, you’ll be better off without me,” She growled, as Smokewing stayed put in her position, the other cats coming closer every minute they wasted talking. “Leave without you? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!” Smokewing yelled, “I’M NOT MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE FOR A THIRD TIME!” She sighed, “I can’t just leave you to die, or go missing. I’m not making myself more depressed.” She began pacing toward her friend with a straight face, “You are coming with me or you’re dying in front of my face, you pick.” Dovesong paused, “What do you mean die in front of your face?” Dovesong went silent, not making eye contact with Smokewing as she looked down “I mean Enzo and Lilacflower…” Smokewing said, “If they’re coming like that, they’re looking for trouble, okay.” Dovesong eyed Smokewing, “What do you mean they’re looking for trouble?!” Dovesong exclaimed with a frown on her maw. Smokewing shook her head, “It’s just something cats like them seem to do,” She replied, looking back at Lilacflower and Enzo as they’re figures came nearer. An eerie feeling washed over Smokewing as she watched her mate and kit pace towards her and Dovesong. A feeling of guilt, betrayal, and fear.
Smokewing knew she had to choose between her family and the place where she’d left an unfinished life behind her many moons ago. Two lives I could lead she thought, but what if I could live both? I can! What Smokewing realized was that she could live two live if she wanted to. “Okay, Dovesong, I’ll see you later I promise, and I always keep my promises,” she said before beginning to walk over to her family occasionally glancing over her shoulder at Dovesong. Dovesong looked down feeling the grief that she was losing Smokewing all over again. Why does she always leave...? Dove song began to try to stand up, her hind leg still hanging loosely as she hobbled back home to the Thunderclan camp. “Hi Enzo...” Smokewing murmured as she walked near the two. “Where have you been! You left us, your family, worried sick about you! You could’ve died!” Enzo snapped immediately, his ears pinning back. Lilacflower stepped forward eyeing her mother. “Who was that?” Smokewing paused, “My old- friend… She means no harm!” Smokewing’s ears pinned back, farther then Enzo’s. “We’re going home Smokewing. Come on now,” Enzo remarked, turning and leaving. Smokewing followed, her tail hanging low. “Dovesong!” Winterstar called, rushing over to her, “Where were you? What happened!” He said quickly, the words rushing out like the waterfall Dovesong fell down. “One, I was trying to save Ravenpaw, but it was too late. Smokewing killed her by dropping her down the gorge. She tried to do the same to me, but I managed to make it out alive. The only thing that happened to me is a few scratches and my leg,” Dovesong huffed, the last parts cancelling out as her ears began to ring, and her heart caught in her throat. Winterstar looked down, his ears flattening onto his head as his tail tucked. “I’ll make a meeting about Ravenpaw’s death, and I’ll warn the clan about watching out for Smokewing. After all, she’s taken out quite a few of cats on our patrols single handedly lately.” Winterstar grumbled, walking off to the Highrock. “All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around the Highrock for a clan meeting!” Winterstar yowled as he sat down and neatly wrapped his tail on top of his paws. “It has come to my attention that last night, former apprentice, now Smokewing of Skyclan, killed our medicine apprentice Ravenpaw last night and attempted to kill our medicine cat Dovesong,” gasps erupted from the crowd of cats below the rock, as Dovesong stepped up into the front to face her clanmates, “It’ll be alright, you are safe, we just have to increase the number of cats in our patrols, and the number of patrols over all,” Dovesong said calmly with a smooth voice as whispers emerged from the clan. Some cats thought it was dumb, others were scared for their lives, thinking they would be the next target of murder.
