Heightened Senses has it's own webpage! *Gasp* Yes it's completely awesome. And the chat boxes are linked so I've been commenting from the Heightened Senses page this whole time, creepy right? (I know, not really. Just humor me will ya'?) And the prologue and the first chapter are up! :D Isn't it a great surprise! Got to go now!
~Firefoot
P.S. Heres the webpage!
http://thewarheightenedsenses.blogspot.com/
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Short story :D
This takes place right after the battle ends.
Darkness tumbled around her. Though she couldn't sense anything, she didn't even know who she was. All she knew was the flitting memories that were slowly dissolving from her mind. She remembered a gray tabby... and...and another tom. What was his name? His image flickered dimly like a flame, a golden tabby. Then both the images began to dissolve slowly. She yelled for help, for anything, but she couldn't hear anything. All of her senses were blocked, like someone had taken mud and filled her eyes, mouth, and ears with it. She tried to move her legs but she couldn't tell if she had legs. She couldn't see anything in front of her, so what use would her legs do? The only thing she couldn't feel was the everlasting air current, the feeling that she was falling overwhelmed her. Where am I? Who am I? She thought desperately. She tried to suck in air, but she seemed to choke on the darkness. She wasn't sure if she had closed her eyes or not, but she just wanted to sleep. At least, she thought she wanted to sleep. She couldn't remember what sleep was. The she-cat tried as she might, but nothing came to her mind when she thought about sleep, just a cold, bitter, darkness, like the place she was in now.
Faintly, she thought she knew why she was here, someone had put her here. She tried to direct the blame at someone, but she could not imagine anyone to blame.Blame took energy, and she didn't have any energy. The realization hit her like a branch to the head, she had done this, she was responsible for what was happening to her. Guilt swept over her, for what, she didn't know. She vowed to tell whoever she had blamed before she was sorry, and that she would find her way out of this place. She began to move her paws slowly, well, what she thought were paws, she wasn't sure. She swam through the eerie mass of space and darkness, maybe she was moving, or maybe she wasn't. She never reached a wall or any object of any kind, but she still swims there, her vow to find her escape still ripe in her mind while all her other memories rotted away into an abyss of sour darkness.
Darkness tumbled around her. Though she couldn't sense anything, she didn't even know who she was. All she knew was the flitting memories that were slowly dissolving from her mind. She remembered a gray tabby... and...and another tom. What was his name? His image flickered dimly like a flame, a golden tabby. Then both the images began to dissolve slowly. She yelled for help, for anything, but she couldn't hear anything. All of her senses were blocked, like someone had taken mud and filled her eyes, mouth, and ears with it. She tried to move her legs but she couldn't tell if she had legs. She couldn't see anything in front of her, so what use would her legs do? The only thing she couldn't feel was the everlasting air current, the feeling that she was falling overwhelmed her. Where am I? Who am I? She thought desperately. She tried to suck in air, but she seemed to choke on the darkness. She wasn't sure if she had closed her eyes or not, but she just wanted to sleep. At least, she thought she wanted to sleep. She couldn't remember what sleep was. The she-cat tried as she might, but nothing came to her mind when she thought about sleep, just a cold, bitter, darkness, like the place she was in now.
Faintly, she thought she knew why she was here, someone had put her here. She tried to direct the blame at someone, but she could not imagine anyone to blame.Blame took energy, and she didn't have any energy. The realization hit her like a branch to the head, she had done this, she was responsible for what was happening to her. Guilt swept over her, for what, she didn't know. She vowed to tell whoever she had blamed before she was sorry, and that she would find her way out of this place. She began to move her paws slowly, well, what she thought were paws, she wasn't sure. She swam through the eerie mass of space and darkness, maybe she was moving, or maybe she wasn't. She never reached a wall or any object of any kind, but she still swims there, her vow to find her escape still ripe in her mind while all her other memories rotted away into an abyss of sour darkness.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Epilogue
Cinderstar sat quietly on the highledge. Four seasons had passed since Bramblestar's death. He had died calmly in his sleep. She had lead her clan in peace, and the clans rarely fought anymore. Only Starclan knew how long that would last, Shadowclan had already accused Thunderclan of prey stealing. But overall, the clans were in peace.
Looking down to the camp, she could see her own son, Mountainstripe leaving camp with his apprentice, Grasspaw. Jayfeather was helping Honeyflower treat Crowfeather's sore pads. Last moon Crowfeather had moved into the elder's den with Leafpool. Strangely, Squirrelflight, Leafpool's sister, did not want to be an elder, so she still took part in warrior's duties. Cinderstar turned her head, she saw Lionblaze entering the camp with Lakefur and their apprentices Birdpaw and Fawnpaw. Her mate looked up to her, and locked eyes. Cinderstar got up and climbed down to the camp.
"How's it going?" She murmured to Lionblaze.
"Good, Birdpaw is really good at hunting," He mewed warmly,"Where's Leopardspot?" He was talking about their daughter, she was round with kits. The father was suspected to be Twigstorm, who would always check in on her.
"In the nursery, I suppose," Cinderstar answered. Lionblaze nodded, licked her head and set off towards the nursery. A flash of bright orange made Cinderstar turn around. Her deputy, Sandheart was organizing patrols.
"Leaftail, take Rainheart and Lightningsky on a hunting patrol." Sandheart reminded Cinderstar of Sandstorm, strong and determined, that's why she chose her as Thunderclan's deputy. She also wanted a cat that had lived through the Great Battle, even if she was only a kit. Seeing that everything was under control, Cinderstar turned around, running right into Dovepelt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!" Cinderstar mewed.
"Sorry Cinderstar!" Dovepelt exclaimed. the younger gray she-cat's fur was fluffed up.
"I'm fine Dovepelt," Cinderstar soothed.
"Have you seen Stonefang?" Dovepelt mewed. Cinderstar shook her head."Okay, I guess I'll keep looking for him," Dovepelt raced off.
"If you can't find him, come back!" Cinderstar called after her. Dovepelt flicked her tail in acknowledgement. Cinderstar sighed, even though her clan was getting along fine she thought she could still scent traces of the Great War. Whether it was a black hair caught in the cracks of her den left by Hollyleaf, or the tunnel in the back of the medicine den. She wondered if the Dark Forest would ever try and take over again, and her heart started beating faster. She couldn't handle that again. She hoped that none of her precious clanmates would ever have to go through the torture, death, and war that she had.
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"And that's how you cure bellyache," Echosong mewed warmly to her apprentice, Meadowpaw. She was finally back at her own camp, it had taken them longer to get back than to arrive at the lake clans. They had to stay in Thunderclan's camp while Leafbare's harshest storms left them stranded. Meadowpaw was only seven moons old, still a young and eager apprentice. She was a tawny colored she-cat and the daughter of Cherrytail and Sharpclaw. But it was Greenleaf now, and the gorge was full of chatter and life.
"Thanks Echosong! Can I go see Wingpaw now? She said she was going to do some battle training with Leafstar and I said I might come and watch!" Meadowpaw said enthusiastically. Wingpaw was her sister, a dark ginger she-cat like her father. Echosong nodded.
"Thanks!" Meadowpaw curled her tail happily and sprang down the rocks towards the training area. Meadowpaw was nothing like her sister, who was very quiet and reserved, while she herself was always nosy and very loud.
"Just like Squirrelflight and Leafpool in reverse," Echosong murmured under her breathe. She had become close friends with the two sisters while in Thunderclan, and Squirrelflight brought back fond memories of her father, Firestar.
"Echosong, I found some horsetail down by the stream. I thought you could use it," Clovertail padded up to her. She was round with kits, and Echosong suspected that Patchfoot was the father.
"Thanks Clovertail," Echosong flicked her tail over the queen's ear happily and trotted down to the river. Even though Echosong was born and raised as a kittypet, her pads had grown hard against the sharp stones of the gorge.
Echosong quickly located the horsetail, it was growing in a large bushel so she picked a few stems and headed back to the medicine den. It was sunhigh in the camp, and Skyclan was as healthy as ever. Echosong had grown bored over the past few days, and had decided to explore some of twoleg place where she grew up.
After carefully placing the herbs in her den, she climbed up the ridges of the gorge and casually walked towards twoleg place, catching a mouse on the way. Finally she reached the thunderpath, which too was quiet. She crossed it carefully though, incase any monsters decided to sneak up and attack her. Her paws thudded against the hard black stuff and she slid under a long hedge of bushes. She was in a twoleg backyard, full of flowers and twoleg things. Short, sharp grass was split in the middle with a long hard piece of stone dividing it. She hopped atop the wooden fence and carefully balanced herself along it. She crept along until she came to a small thunderpath behind the row of towleg houses. Echosong recognized the fence on the opposite side of where she stood as her old housefolk's den. She hopped down and crossed the small thunderpath, hopping back up onto the white fence. It looked almost the same, except a tree where Echosong had climbed as a kitten was gone and replaced by it was a large rose bush. Echosong jumped down to examine her old home, and a small black and brown dog ran out of the den. Hissing, Echosong launched herself back up the fence. The little thing jumped against it, barking its head off and clawing against the wood. Echosong jumped down and hissed again at the little nuisance. The sun was setting lower in the sky as Echosong made her way back to the gorge.
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Twilight stretched his long, black legs. A rabbit lie in front of him, plump and succulent. But he left it. Tonight was the half moon and Twilight was going to receive his full name in front of Starclan. He had been taught by Jayfeather everyday with Jayfeather's own medicine cat apprentice, Honeyflower. But tonight he was going to end his apprenticeship and gain his clan name. He had refused to accept one until he was in the eyes of Starclan.
"Are you sure?" Jayfeather had murmured in his ear one day.
"Yes, Starclan will need to be there to accept me," Twilight mewed proudly.
It was about ten seasons ago that the war ended, and he left the group of loners he traveled with for so long. Except for Cristy and Sasha that is. Sasha had gone to live with Riverclan because she was now to old to hunt and care for herself. Cristy had come with Twilight, she said she had liked how all the cats hunted and cared for eachother, even during Leafbare. She was a warrior now, and had taken a warrior name, Forestpelt.
Finally, Twilight stood and walked out of the camp.The sun made his pelt shine like silver as he carefully trotted through the grass thickets until he reached the border of Thunderclan and Windclan. He liked to be the first one here, to survey the surroundings. He could see a patrol of Windclan hunting on the top of the highest hill, and he could see a Thunderclan patrol border patrolling on the lake shore. He wondered how the other clans were doing sometimes, but this had been a bountiful greenleaf. All the clans were plump and herbs grew nicely.
The sun descended casually in the sky, the lake glimmering. Twilight wished everyday could be like this, but the clans bonds that had held them in peace for so long were breaking. Shadowclan had openly accused Thunderclan of prey stealing at the last gathering, and Riverclan was scented on Windclan a few days before.
"Hello Twilight," A tortoiseshell she-cat was on the other side of the stream, flanked by a gray tabby.
"Hello Honeyflower, hi Jayfeather," Twilight greeted them warmly. Jayfeather nodded briskly.
"Hows prey running in Windclan?" Honeyflower mewed cheerfully.
"Good. Though one of our warriors, Fawnsky, has been having trouble with her shoulder. I've tried a poultice of poppy seeds and marigold but nothing has worked." Twilight sighed.
"How long has this been going on?" Jayfeather mewed inquisitively.
"A few days. She keeps telling me it doesn't hurt anymore, but I can by the way she limps." Twilight muttered.
"What do you think Honeyflower?" Jayfeather murmured to his apprentice.
"Maybe if you add daisy leaves to the poultice along with goldenrod if you have any," Honeyflower mewed happily. Jayfeather nodded. Twilight spoke his thanks.
"Hey look! There's Eaglepaw and Jackelface!" Honeyflower pointed her nose towards the lake. Two cats were trotting towards them. Jackelface was Gingerstep's and Oakfur's single kit, now the Shadowclan medicine cat. Eaglepaw was his apprentice, a small, blue gray tom. He was unusually shy.
"Greetings," Jackelface mewed. Twilight dipped his head politely. Jayfeather and Honeyflower both said their welcoming.
"How's apprenticeship coming Eagelpaw?" Twilight looked down the apprentice.
"Good."
Twilight sighed, if this cat wouldn't talk to him then Twilight wouldn't ask.
"Where is Willowshine and Foxpaw?" Jackelface murmured. Twilight shrugged.
"Knowing Foxpaw, he's probably slept in," Jayfeather muttered coldly. Twilight knew Jayfeather wasn't particularly fond of the thick headed apprentice who made it a point to disagree with whatever the blind medicine cat said.
Honeyflower rolled her eyes,"Look, theres Foxpaw's ginger pelt next to the lakeside right now. Their almost here."
"No problems in Shadowclan I hope?" Twilight turned his attention to Jackelface.
"None except that Wingpaw has a bellyache that I can't get rid of," Jackelface responded.
"It is serious?" Honeyfower gasped.
"No, she can still perform apprentice duties, but they are quite painful at night." Jackelface mewed.
"What are we all talking about?" Willowshine padded up to them.
"Wingpaw has a stomach ache that I can't soothe," Jackelface filled her in.
"Have you tried watermint?" Jayfeather suggested.
"Well, I-" Jackelface was interrupted.
"Of course he tried watermint! What do you think he has thistledown for brains! Any medicine cat knows watermint cures bellyache!" Foxpaw exaggerated.
"Foxpaw! You know better than that!" Willowshine scolded. Twilight knew Jayfeather was about to hit him over the head with his paw, whether his claws were sheathed was another matter.
"As I was saying, Wingpaw is allergic to watermint, so I couldn't give her any without making her more sick," Jackelface stated, with an edge in his voice.
"Has she eaten anything poisonous?" Twilight murmured.
"Why don't we talk about this while we're walking," Jayfeather retorted angrily, but Twilight knew his anger was directed at Foxpaw. The others nodded.
"So did she eat anything poisonous?" Twilight repeated. Jackelface shook his head.
"She's been like this too long for poison to still be affecting her," Jayfeather added. Twilight nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe a mix of chervil root and and feverfew leaves," Willowshine added,"We have lots of chervil back at camp if you need any,"
"Yeah, I collected a bunch today!" Foxpaw mewed cheerfully.
"If you need any feverfew our stores are plentiful," Jayfeather added.
"I'm sure he had enough feverfew, Jayfeather," Foxpaw retorted hotly. What followed was a shrill whimper from the cheeky apprentice.
"What was that for?" Foxpaw murmured, he had stopped to examine his ear in a puddle, which now had a nick. Jayfeather growled.
"That'll teach you to not talk back to me," Jayfeather hissed. None of the other medicine cats spoke.
The rest of the patrol walked on in silence until the came to the rocky path that led down to the moonpool. Twilight's fur prickled with anticipation. He wondered what name Jayfeather would choose for him. Maybe Twilightfur? That was so long though. Maybe he would change it altogether, into Blackfur? Twilight shook his head. He hoped Jayfeather wouldn't change his whole name, his mother had given it to him as a kit. It showed history and difference between him and the other clan cats. Finally, the cats took their placed around the pool.
"I, Jayfeather, medicine cat of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve Windclan for many seasons. Twilight, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between clans, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?" Jayfeather recited carefully, his cloudy gray eyes brimming with pride.
"I do," Twilight murmured, his own eyes brimming with excitement.
Jayfeather cleared his throat,"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your true medicine cat name. Twilight from this moment on, you will be known as Twilightcloud. Starclan honors your thoughtfulness and keenness to learn." Jayfeather touched noses with Twilightcloud.
Twilightcloud! Twilightcloud thought his name was perfect! He couldn't wait until Starclan met him and called out his name!
"Twilightcloud! Twilightcloud!" The medicine cats cheered, Honeyflower was especially loud. Foxpaw was cheering as well, and even Eaglepaw was louder than his usual whisper.
"Thank-you," Twilightcloud whispered.
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Foxpaw didn't see why Twilightcloud was so special. He was just a medicine cat like everyone else. But worse was that he was a rogue before joining the clans, that meant he would never be a true clan cat. Foxpaw sneered. Even though he had cheered for his fellow medicine cat, he always felt a little twinge of anger anytime he saw him. Plus, he was good friends with Jayfeather, the old grouchy medicine cat who was always out to get Foxpaw.
"Come on Foxpaw, we're going to be late," Willowshine murmured. Foxpaw and the other medicine cats had already shared their dreams with Starclan and had woken up only a few moments before. Foxpaw's dreams were nothing unusual, just about where to find s huge supply of borage leaves. Foxpaw yawned. Nothing exciting ever happened with the clans.
"Foxpaw, I said now." Willowshine scolded. Foxpaw stretched and got up at his own pace. Willowshine was a push over, she wouldn't punish him, he never got in trouble. The only one who ever punished him was Jayfeather. Only yesterday had Jayfeather swatted him over the head with his unsheathed claws and made Foxpaw bleed. Foxpaw hadn't even done anything!
Foxpaw took a step forward and followed Willowshine out of the moonpool area. Eaglepaw, the small Shadowclan medicine cat apprentice was a pace in front of him. Foxpaw stuck out a paw and tripped him.
"Sorr-ee," Foxpaw mewed innocently. He did this to Eaglepaw every half moon, and every time Eaglepaw said nothing. The younger tom was so scared he rarely spoke, because if Eaglepaw ever told anyone what Foxpaw did to him, he knew there would be a punishment. Foxpaw sneered. Eaglepaw was weak, Foxpaw was strong. The only reason Foxpaw didn't want to become a warrior was because he was smarter than the other apprentices. His mother had told him that. She also told him medicine cats were smarter than warriors because they had to memorize all the herbs and they knew about everyone in the clan. No one could keep secrets from medicine cats. Foxpaw liked the idea of being in control of the clan without actually coming right out and saying it like Reedstar. He also knew that medicine cats could sometimes be trusted more than leaders because medicine cats had a better link with Starclan.
"Keep up Foxpaw!" Willowshine commanded. Foxpaw snorted and set their pace faster by running at the head of the patrol. If they wanted to go faster, he would make them go faster. Another cat ran next to him, a grayish looking tom. In the dim light of early morning, Foxpaw mistook him for Eaglepaw and slid his paw underneath the tom's front legs.
"Oof!" Jayfeather spat as he flipped onto his back, sending dirt everywhere.
"Foxpaw!" Willowshine gasped. Foxpaw knew there was only one way to get out of this.
"My paw!" Foxpaw gasped as he flopped onto his stomach. "Help me! Jayfeather stepped on my paw!" Foxpaw sneered inwardly.
"No I didn't! You tripped me you little foxheart!" Jayfeather spat angrily.
"Where does it hurt?" Willowshine mewed sympathetically. Foxpaw shot a spiteful glance at Jayfeather.
"Here," Foxpaw nosed his paw. He looked around at the other medicine cats. Twilightcloud has his eyes narrowed, Jackelface was watching indifferently. Eaglepaw was studying his paws, he looked up for a moment. Foxpaw caught his gaze and glared at him. Eaglepaw's eyes widened in fear then he looked back down at the dirt. Foxpaw smirked.
"I can't see anything, I think it's just bruised," Willowshine declared.
Foxpaw sniffled dramatically,"So I'll be okay?"
"I thought you were tough," Jayfeather retorted.
"I am tough!" Foxpaw sprang to his paws, angry that any cat would call him weak, especially a half clan cat like Jayfeather.
"What about your injury?" Jayfeather's eyes narrowed in triumph. Foxpaw cursed himself inwardly.
"I'm just a quick healer thats all..." Foxpaw muttered. Jayfeather nodded.
"Lets go back to camp," Willowshine murmured, he tail fluffed out in embarrassment. Foxpaw wanted to hiss at her. How could she pretend nothing was going on? She was as scared as a kittypet and the only thing she cared about was her image, not about Foxpaw.
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Oakfur's stomach roared. He hadn't eaten since this morning, but right now he was busy.
"Can catch me!" Gingerstep giggled, as she circled him. They were night hunting in Shadowclan territory, and Oakfur was having more fun then he'd had in ages.
"What's the matter?" Gingerstep murmured.
"Nothing," Oakfur sighed.
"You would tell me if something was the matter right?" Gingerstep padded next to him. Oakfur didn't respond.
"Oakfur?" Gingerstep looked offended.
"Nothing is wrong, its just," He sighed again,"I was thinking about Flowerkit," Gingerstep nuzzled him.
"Flowerkit is in Starclan now, with all the prey she could eat and she doesn't hurt anymore," Gingerstep whispered.
"But why did she have to die?" Oakfur murmured in his mate's ginger fur. Gingerstep's eyes sparkled in the moon's gentle glow.
"I don't know,"
Oakfur sighed. He hadn't meant to bring her down too, especially when they were having so much fun.
"Why don't we go down to the lake?" Gingerstep suggested. Oakfur nodded. The two cats padded silently down to the lakeside, enjoying the calm silence around them. Mist engulfed the pine trees, swirling around their paws. Oakfur yawned. His feet thudded against the forest floor, his eyes were drooping and his senses were dulled. He didn't even notice the toad that leaped out from under one of his paws. But finally, they reached the shore, the waves gently rasping on the pebbles. The moon cast a silver glow, making it look like a plump silver tabby.
Gingerstep stopped at the shore and looked out onto the lake.
"I wonder what the other clans are doing right now," Gingerstep murmured.
"Sleeping is my guess," Oakfur yawned again.
"I wonder if Twilight received his medicine cat name tonight," Gingerstep rasped, casting her gaze towards Windclan. Oakfur tried to see any cats on the moorland, but it was too dark to see anything.
"I hope everyone is okay," Gingerstep muttered.
"Why so worried?" Oakfur mewed to his mate curiously.
Gingerstep ignored his question,"Do you remember when Echosong brought me back after the battle, I had so many poppyseeds for pain I thought the batttle was still going on-"
"And you tried to fight Bramblestar because you thought he was Tigerstar!" Oakfur interrupted. The two mates chuckled for a time. Oakfur's eyes closed again. Gingerstep started to lick his head, causing Oakfur to fall asleep next to his mate.
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"The tribe shall honor Stormfur," Stoneteller's voice echoed throughout the cave. "He lived a brave life, saving the tribe many times even though he was not born with us. He will be welcomed into the Tribe of Endless Hunting with warmth," The tribe cats yowled their agreement. Stoneteller padded over to Stormfur's body in the middle of the cave. His mate, Brook, and their kits Mouse, Cloud, and Thunder, were crouched over his body, their eyes closed but all of them were quietly praying.
"How are you?" Stoneteller murmured to Brook.
"I could be better," Brook murmured without looking up. Stoneteller wrapped her tail around Brook's neck and sat there. Stormfur was one of the oldest cats in their tribe, he had lived through so many things, like the clans, the battle with the Place of No Stars, and so much more. His wise words could've been used well in the tribe.
Stoneteller sighed, thinking back to the stories she heard as a kit about the great war. Her mentor, the Stoneteller before herself, had given her insight about the great battle. Many cats had been lost, but more had lived thanks to the bravery of the clan cats and of the tribe. Stoneteller hoped this would never happen again, at least not in her lifetime.
A gust of breeze made her long tabby fur sway, sending leaves into a puddle. Stoneteller gazed into the shallow depths. A gray tom's face was shadowed, Stormfur's. He had made it to the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Stoneteller sighed in relief, at least the Tribe of Endless Hunting was still looking out for them, just like they always had.
"Stoneteller?" Another silver gray tabby approached her.
"Yes Puddle Where Rain Falls?" Stoneteller looked up.
"Sky Where Eagles Soar is having a stomach ache, is there anything you can do?" She murmured. Stoneteller thought back to her days training as a healer. What had Stoneteller said about stomach ache? Her mind buzzed in confusion, finally, she took a deep breath to clear her mind. Chervil root. That was it. Stoneteller padded to her den in a tunnel that led to a smaller cave. She poked her head into a crevice, plucked the root off the cold stone floor. Stoneteller moved towards the shallow dips in the ground which made nests for the cave guards and prey hunters. Sky Where Eagles Soar was a cave guard, and known to have severe stomach problems. Hopefully this was not another bout of his pain that kept him awake at night and was just mild pain. Sometimes he responded well to herbs, but other times he would vomit up anything she gave him.
Stoneteller approached the brown tabby tom, who was nestled warmly in his moss laden den. It seemed one of the to-bes had left him a hawk, still warm and tempting. But Stoneteller stayed away from the prey. She pressed her paw on Sky's belly, and waited for the spasms that usually passed along it.
"Wha-" Sky rolled over lazily.
"I'm just checking, Puddle said you had a stomach ache," Stoneteller pressed her head against his soft belly fur. His heartbeat rumbled softly in her ear.
"I'm fine now, I think I just ate a tough piece of prey last night," He rolled back over.
"Wait, I just want to make sure," She pulled his scruff forcing him to roll back over.
"What now?" Sky grunted.
"Come on, I just need to check your stomach. At least eat some chervil root," She nudged the brownish pale root towards the tom.
"Fine," Sky rolled over and munched on the fat root. "And don't think I'm doing this 'cause your my sister, it's only because your the healer and leader of the tribe," He dabbed his free paw at Stoneteller's ear. She growled playfully and wacked her brother in the head with her forepaw.
"Ow, that actually hurt!" He grimaced, holding a paw to his head.
"Really?" She mewed, pulling her paw back tentatively.
"Nope," He growled as he launched himself at her, bowling her over and scattering the prey behind them. The two tussled for a few moments before Brook padded up to them.
"Why don't you two make yourselves useful, instead of playing around like a bunch of kits?" She growled, but Stoneteller could tell in her eyes she longed to play with her older brother, Talon.
"Sorry Brook," Stoneteller pulled herself off her brother and started to clean her fur.
"Yeah, we'll be more professional next time," He smiled, eyeing his sister playfully.
Brook eyed the littermates up, and smiled knowingly,"You better," Stoneteller giggled as the elder made her way back to Stormfur's side.
"If your fine, why don't you go help out a hunting patrol?" Stoneteller murmured into her brother's ear.
"Okay," He got up and trotted to a patrol that was getting their selves together.
"See you later," Sky flicked his tail at his sister's face.
"You too," Stoneteller called. She settled down in her brother's nest, and fell asleep, content that the tribe would be okay.
*Sigh* Sorry it took FOREVER to get this done. But, I wanted it to be perfect. Also Heightened Senses, the next installment of the War, really takes place before the epilogue :P Well, hope you liked Aftermath :D
~Firefoot
Looking down to the camp, she could see her own son, Mountainstripe leaving camp with his apprentice, Grasspaw. Jayfeather was helping Honeyflower treat Crowfeather's sore pads. Last moon Crowfeather had moved into the elder's den with Leafpool. Strangely, Squirrelflight, Leafpool's sister, did not want to be an elder, so she still took part in warrior's duties. Cinderstar turned her head, she saw Lionblaze entering the camp with Lakefur and their apprentices Birdpaw and Fawnpaw. Her mate looked up to her, and locked eyes. Cinderstar got up and climbed down to the camp.
"How's it going?" She murmured to Lionblaze.
"Good, Birdpaw is really good at hunting," He mewed warmly,"Where's Leopardspot?" He was talking about their daughter, she was round with kits. The father was suspected to be Twigstorm, who would always check in on her.
"In the nursery, I suppose," Cinderstar answered. Lionblaze nodded, licked her head and set off towards the nursery. A flash of bright orange made Cinderstar turn around. Her deputy, Sandheart was organizing patrols.
"Leaftail, take Rainheart and Lightningsky on a hunting patrol." Sandheart reminded Cinderstar of Sandstorm, strong and determined, that's why she chose her as Thunderclan's deputy. She also wanted a cat that had lived through the Great Battle, even if she was only a kit. Seeing that everything was under control, Cinderstar turned around, running right into Dovepelt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!" Cinderstar mewed.
"Sorry Cinderstar!" Dovepelt exclaimed. the younger gray she-cat's fur was fluffed up.
"I'm fine Dovepelt," Cinderstar soothed.
"Have you seen Stonefang?" Dovepelt mewed. Cinderstar shook her head."Okay, I guess I'll keep looking for him," Dovepelt raced off.
"If you can't find him, come back!" Cinderstar called after her. Dovepelt flicked her tail in acknowledgement. Cinderstar sighed, even though her clan was getting along fine she thought she could still scent traces of the Great War. Whether it was a black hair caught in the cracks of her den left by Hollyleaf, or the tunnel in the back of the medicine den. She wondered if the Dark Forest would ever try and take over again, and her heart started beating faster. She couldn't handle that again. She hoped that none of her precious clanmates would ever have to go through the torture, death, and war that she had.
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"And that's how you cure bellyache," Echosong mewed warmly to her apprentice, Meadowpaw. She was finally back at her own camp, it had taken them longer to get back than to arrive at the lake clans. They had to stay in Thunderclan's camp while Leafbare's harshest storms left them stranded. Meadowpaw was only seven moons old, still a young and eager apprentice. She was a tawny colored she-cat and the daughter of Cherrytail and Sharpclaw. But it was Greenleaf now, and the gorge was full of chatter and life.
"Thanks Echosong! Can I go see Wingpaw now? She said she was going to do some battle training with Leafstar and I said I might come and watch!" Meadowpaw said enthusiastically. Wingpaw was her sister, a dark ginger she-cat like her father. Echosong nodded.
"Thanks!" Meadowpaw curled her tail happily and sprang down the rocks towards the training area. Meadowpaw was nothing like her sister, who was very quiet and reserved, while she herself was always nosy and very loud.
"Just like Squirrelflight and Leafpool in reverse," Echosong murmured under her breathe. She had become close friends with the two sisters while in Thunderclan, and Squirrelflight brought back fond memories of her father, Firestar.
"Echosong, I found some horsetail down by the stream. I thought you could use it," Clovertail padded up to her. She was round with kits, and Echosong suspected that Patchfoot was the father.
"Thanks Clovertail," Echosong flicked her tail over the queen's ear happily and trotted down to the river. Even though Echosong was born and raised as a kittypet, her pads had grown hard against the sharp stones of the gorge.
Echosong quickly located the horsetail, it was growing in a large bushel so she picked a few stems and headed back to the medicine den. It was sunhigh in the camp, and Skyclan was as healthy as ever. Echosong had grown bored over the past few days, and had decided to explore some of twoleg place where she grew up.
After carefully placing the herbs in her den, she climbed up the ridges of the gorge and casually walked towards twoleg place, catching a mouse on the way. Finally she reached the thunderpath, which too was quiet. She crossed it carefully though, incase any monsters decided to sneak up and attack her. Her paws thudded against the hard black stuff and she slid under a long hedge of bushes. She was in a twoleg backyard, full of flowers and twoleg things. Short, sharp grass was split in the middle with a long hard piece of stone dividing it. She hopped atop the wooden fence and carefully balanced herself along it. She crept along until she came to a small thunderpath behind the row of towleg houses. Echosong recognized the fence on the opposite side of where she stood as her old housefolk's den. She hopped down and crossed the small thunderpath, hopping back up onto the white fence. It looked almost the same, except a tree where Echosong had climbed as a kitten was gone and replaced by it was a large rose bush. Echosong jumped down to examine her old home, and a small black and brown dog ran out of the den. Hissing, Echosong launched herself back up the fence. The little thing jumped against it, barking its head off and clawing against the wood. Echosong jumped down and hissed again at the little nuisance. The sun was setting lower in the sky as Echosong made her way back to the gorge.
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Twilight stretched his long, black legs. A rabbit lie in front of him, plump and succulent. But he left it. Tonight was the half moon and Twilight was going to receive his full name in front of Starclan. He had been taught by Jayfeather everyday with Jayfeather's own medicine cat apprentice, Honeyflower. But tonight he was going to end his apprenticeship and gain his clan name. He had refused to accept one until he was in the eyes of Starclan.
"Are you sure?" Jayfeather had murmured in his ear one day.
"Yes, Starclan will need to be there to accept me," Twilight mewed proudly.
It was about ten seasons ago that the war ended, and he left the group of loners he traveled with for so long. Except for Cristy and Sasha that is. Sasha had gone to live with Riverclan because she was now to old to hunt and care for herself. Cristy had come with Twilight, she said she had liked how all the cats hunted and cared for eachother, even during Leafbare. She was a warrior now, and had taken a warrior name, Forestpelt.
Finally, Twilight stood and walked out of the camp.The sun made his pelt shine like silver as he carefully trotted through the grass thickets until he reached the border of Thunderclan and Windclan. He liked to be the first one here, to survey the surroundings. He could see a patrol of Windclan hunting on the top of the highest hill, and he could see a Thunderclan patrol border patrolling on the lake shore. He wondered how the other clans were doing sometimes, but this had been a bountiful greenleaf. All the clans were plump and herbs grew nicely.
The sun descended casually in the sky, the lake glimmering. Twilight wished everyday could be like this, but the clans bonds that had held them in peace for so long were breaking. Shadowclan had openly accused Thunderclan of prey stealing at the last gathering, and Riverclan was scented on Windclan a few days before.
"Hello Twilight," A tortoiseshell she-cat was on the other side of the stream, flanked by a gray tabby.
"Hello Honeyflower, hi Jayfeather," Twilight greeted them warmly. Jayfeather nodded briskly.
"Hows prey running in Windclan?" Honeyflower mewed cheerfully.
"Good. Though one of our warriors, Fawnsky, has been having trouble with her shoulder. I've tried a poultice of poppy seeds and marigold but nothing has worked." Twilight sighed.
"How long has this been going on?" Jayfeather mewed inquisitively.
"A few days. She keeps telling me it doesn't hurt anymore, but I can by the way she limps." Twilight muttered.
"What do you think Honeyflower?" Jayfeather murmured to his apprentice.
"Maybe if you add daisy leaves to the poultice along with goldenrod if you have any," Honeyflower mewed happily. Jayfeather nodded. Twilight spoke his thanks.
"Hey look! There's Eaglepaw and Jackelface!" Honeyflower pointed her nose towards the lake. Two cats were trotting towards them. Jackelface was Gingerstep's and Oakfur's single kit, now the Shadowclan medicine cat. Eaglepaw was his apprentice, a small, blue gray tom. He was unusually shy.
"Greetings," Jackelface mewed. Twilight dipped his head politely. Jayfeather and Honeyflower both said their welcoming.
"How's apprenticeship coming Eagelpaw?" Twilight looked down the apprentice.
"Good."
Twilight sighed, if this cat wouldn't talk to him then Twilight wouldn't ask.
"Where is Willowshine and Foxpaw?" Jackelface murmured. Twilight shrugged.
"Knowing Foxpaw, he's probably slept in," Jayfeather muttered coldly. Twilight knew Jayfeather wasn't particularly fond of the thick headed apprentice who made it a point to disagree with whatever the blind medicine cat said.
Honeyflower rolled her eyes,"Look, theres Foxpaw's ginger pelt next to the lakeside right now. Their almost here."
"No problems in Shadowclan I hope?" Twilight turned his attention to Jackelface.
"None except that Wingpaw has a bellyache that I can't get rid of," Jackelface responded.
"It is serious?" Honeyfower gasped.
"No, she can still perform apprentice duties, but they are quite painful at night." Jackelface mewed.
"What are we all talking about?" Willowshine padded up to them.
"Wingpaw has a stomach ache that I can't soothe," Jackelface filled her in.
"Have you tried watermint?" Jayfeather suggested.
"Well, I-" Jackelface was interrupted.
"Of course he tried watermint! What do you think he has thistledown for brains! Any medicine cat knows watermint cures bellyache!" Foxpaw exaggerated.
"Foxpaw! You know better than that!" Willowshine scolded. Twilight knew Jayfeather was about to hit him over the head with his paw, whether his claws were sheathed was another matter.
"As I was saying, Wingpaw is allergic to watermint, so I couldn't give her any without making her more sick," Jackelface stated, with an edge in his voice.
"Has she eaten anything poisonous?" Twilight murmured.
"Why don't we talk about this while we're walking," Jayfeather retorted angrily, but Twilight knew his anger was directed at Foxpaw. The others nodded.
"So did she eat anything poisonous?" Twilight repeated. Jackelface shook his head.
"She's been like this too long for poison to still be affecting her," Jayfeather added. Twilight nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe a mix of chervil root and and feverfew leaves," Willowshine added,"We have lots of chervil back at camp if you need any,"
"Yeah, I collected a bunch today!" Foxpaw mewed cheerfully.
"If you need any feverfew our stores are plentiful," Jayfeather added.
"I'm sure he had enough feverfew, Jayfeather," Foxpaw retorted hotly. What followed was a shrill whimper from the cheeky apprentice.
"What was that for?" Foxpaw murmured, he had stopped to examine his ear in a puddle, which now had a nick. Jayfeather growled.
"That'll teach you to not talk back to me," Jayfeather hissed. None of the other medicine cats spoke.
The rest of the patrol walked on in silence until the came to the rocky path that led down to the moonpool. Twilight's fur prickled with anticipation. He wondered what name Jayfeather would choose for him. Maybe Twilightfur? That was so long though. Maybe he would change it altogether, into Blackfur? Twilight shook his head. He hoped Jayfeather wouldn't change his whole name, his mother had given it to him as a kit. It showed history and difference between him and the other clan cats. Finally, the cats took their placed around the pool.
"I, Jayfeather, medicine cat of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve Windclan for many seasons. Twilight, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between clans, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?" Jayfeather recited carefully, his cloudy gray eyes brimming with pride.
"I do," Twilight murmured, his own eyes brimming with excitement.
Jayfeather cleared his throat,"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your true medicine cat name. Twilight from this moment on, you will be known as Twilightcloud. Starclan honors your thoughtfulness and keenness to learn." Jayfeather touched noses with Twilightcloud.
Twilightcloud! Twilightcloud thought his name was perfect! He couldn't wait until Starclan met him and called out his name!
"Twilightcloud! Twilightcloud!" The medicine cats cheered, Honeyflower was especially loud. Foxpaw was cheering as well, and even Eaglepaw was louder than his usual whisper.
"Thank-you," Twilightcloud whispered.
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Foxpaw didn't see why Twilightcloud was so special. He was just a medicine cat like everyone else. But worse was that he was a rogue before joining the clans, that meant he would never be a true clan cat. Foxpaw sneered. Even though he had cheered for his fellow medicine cat, he always felt a little twinge of anger anytime he saw him. Plus, he was good friends with Jayfeather, the old grouchy medicine cat who was always out to get Foxpaw.
"Come on Foxpaw, we're going to be late," Willowshine murmured. Foxpaw and the other medicine cats had already shared their dreams with Starclan and had woken up only a few moments before. Foxpaw's dreams were nothing unusual, just about where to find s huge supply of borage leaves. Foxpaw yawned. Nothing exciting ever happened with the clans.
"Foxpaw, I said now." Willowshine scolded. Foxpaw stretched and got up at his own pace. Willowshine was a push over, she wouldn't punish him, he never got in trouble. The only one who ever punished him was Jayfeather. Only yesterday had Jayfeather swatted him over the head with his unsheathed claws and made Foxpaw bleed. Foxpaw hadn't even done anything!
Foxpaw took a step forward and followed Willowshine out of the moonpool area. Eaglepaw, the small Shadowclan medicine cat apprentice was a pace in front of him. Foxpaw stuck out a paw and tripped him.
"Sorr-ee," Foxpaw mewed innocently. He did this to Eaglepaw every half moon, and every time Eaglepaw said nothing. The younger tom was so scared he rarely spoke, because if Eaglepaw ever told anyone what Foxpaw did to him, he knew there would be a punishment. Foxpaw sneered. Eaglepaw was weak, Foxpaw was strong. The only reason Foxpaw didn't want to become a warrior was because he was smarter than the other apprentices. His mother had told him that. She also told him medicine cats were smarter than warriors because they had to memorize all the herbs and they knew about everyone in the clan. No one could keep secrets from medicine cats. Foxpaw liked the idea of being in control of the clan without actually coming right out and saying it like Reedstar. He also knew that medicine cats could sometimes be trusted more than leaders because medicine cats had a better link with Starclan.
"Keep up Foxpaw!" Willowshine commanded. Foxpaw snorted and set their pace faster by running at the head of the patrol. If they wanted to go faster, he would make them go faster. Another cat ran next to him, a grayish looking tom. In the dim light of early morning, Foxpaw mistook him for Eaglepaw and slid his paw underneath the tom's front legs.
"Oof!" Jayfeather spat as he flipped onto his back, sending dirt everywhere.
"Foxpaw!" Willowshine gasped. Foxpaw knew there was only one way to get out of this.
"My paw!" Foxpaw gasped as he flopped onto his stomach. "Help me! Jayfeather stepped on my paw!" Foxpaw sneered inwardly.
"No I didn't! You tripped me you little foxheart!" Jayfeather spat angrily.
"Where does it hurt?" Willowshine mewed sympathetically. Foxpaw shot a spiteful glance at Jayfeather.
"Here," Foxpaw nosed his paw. He looked around at the other medicine cats. Twilightcloud has his eyes narrowed, Jackelface was watching indifferently. Eaglepaw was studying his paws, he looked up for a moment. Foxpaw caught his gaze and glared at him. Eaglepaw's eyes widened in fear then he looked back down at the dirt. Foxpaw smirked.
"I can't see anything, I think it's just bruised," Willowshine declared.
Foxpaw sniffled dramatically,"So I'll be okay?"
"I thought you were tough," Jayfeather retorted.
"I am tough!" Foxpaw sprang to his paws, angry that any cat would call him weak, especially a half clan cat like Jayfeather.
"What about your injury?" Jayfeather's eyes narrowed in triumph. Foxpaw cursed himself inwardly.
"I'm just a quick healer thats all..." Foxpaw muttered. Jayfeather nodded.
"Lets go back to camp," Willowshine murmured, he tail fluffed out in embarrassment. Foxpaw wanted to hiss at her. How could she pretend nothing was going on? She was as scared as a kittypet and the only thing she cared about was her image, not about Foxpaw.
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Oakfur's stomach roared. He hadn't eaten since this morning, but right now he was busy.
"Can catch me!" Gingerstep giggled, as she circled him. They were night hunting in Shadowclan territory, and Oakfur was having more fun then he'd had in ages.
"What's the matter?" Gingerstep murmured.
"Nothing," Oakfur sighed.
"You would tell me if something was the matter right?" Gingerstep padded next to him. Oakfur didn't respond.
"Oakfur?" Gingerstep looked offended.
"Nothing is wrong, its just," He sighed again,"I was thinking about Flowerkit," Gingerstep nuzzled him.
"Flowerkit is in Starclan now, with all the prey she could eat and she doesn't hurt anymore," Gingerstep whispered.
"But why did she have to die?" Oakfur murmured in his mate's ginger fur. Gingerstep's eyes sparkled in the moon's gentle glow.
"I don't know,"
Oakfur sighed. He hadn't meant to bring her down too, especially when they were having so much fun.
"Why don't we go down to the lake?" Gingerstep suggested. Oakfur nodded. The two cats padded silently down to the lakeside, enjoying the calm silence around them. Mist engulfed the pine trees, swirling around their paws. Oakfur yawned. His feet thudded against the forest floor, his eyes were drooping and his senses were dulled. He didn't even notice the toad that leaped out from under one of his paws. But finally, they reached the shore, the waves gently rasping on the pebbles. The moon cast a silver glow, making it look like a plump silver tabby.
Gingerstep stopped at the shore and looked out onto the lake.
"I wonder what the other clans are doing right now," Gingerstep murmured.
"Sleeping is my guess," Oakfur yawned again.
"I wonder if Twilight received his medicine cat name tonight," Gingerstep rasped, casting her gaze towards Windclan. Oakfur tried to see any cats on the moorland, but it was too dark to see anything.
"I hope everyone is okay," Gingerstep muttered.
"Why so worried?" Oakfur mewed to his mate curiously.
Gingerstep ignored his question,"Do you remember when Echosong brought me back after the battle, I had so many poppyseeds for pain I thought the batttle was still going on-"
"And you tried to fight Bramblestar because you thought he was Tigerstar!" Oakfur interrupted. The two mates chuckled for a time. Oakfur's eyes closed again. Gingerstep started to lick his head, causing Oakfur to fall asleep next to his mate.
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"The tribe shall honor Stormfur," Stoneteller's voice echoed throughout the cave. "He lived a brave life, saving the tribe many times even though he was not born with us. He will be welcomed into the Tribe of Endless Hunting with warmth," The tribe cats yowled their agreement. Stoneteller padded over to Stormfur's body in the middle of the cave. His mate, Brook, and their kits Mouse, Cloud, and Thunder, were crouched over his body, their eyes closed but all of them were quietly praying.
"How are you?" Stoneteller murmured to Brook.
"I could be better," Brook murmured without looking up. Stoneteller wrapped her tail around Brook's neck and sat there. Stormfur was one of the oldest cats in their tribe, he had lived through so many things, like the clans, the battle with the Place of No Stars, and so much more. His wise words could've been used well in the tribe.
Stoneteller sighed, thinking back to the stories she heard as a kit about the great war. Her mentor, the Stoneteller before herself, had given her insight about the great battle. Many cats had been lost, but more had lived thanks to the bravery of the clan cats and of the tribe. Stoneteller hoped this would never happen again, at least not in her lifetime.
A gust of breeze made her long tabby fur sway, sending leaves into a puddle. Stoneteller gazed into the shallow depths. A gray tom's face was shadowed, Stormfur's. He had made it to the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Stoneteller sighed in relief, at least the Tribe of Endless Hunting was still looking out for them, just like they always had.
"Stoneteller?" Another silver gray tabby approached her.
"Yes Puddle Where Rain Falls?" Stoneteller looked up.
"Sky Where Eagles Soar is having a stomach ache, is there anything you can do?" She murmured. Stoneteller thought back to her days training as a healer. What had Stoneteller said about stomach ache? Her mind buzzed in confusion, finally, she took a deep breath to clear her mind. Chervil root. That was it. Stoneteller padded to her den in a tunnel that led to a smaller cave. She poked her head into a crevice, plucked the root off the cold stone floor. Stoneteller moved towards the shallow dips in the ground which made nests for the cave guards and prey hunters. Sky Where Eagles Soar was a cave guard, and known to have severe stomach problems. Hopefully this was not another bout of his pain that kept him awake at night and was just mild pain. Sometimes he responded well to herbs, but other times he would vomit up anything she gave him.
Stoneteller approached the brown tabby tom, who was nestled warmly in his moss laden den. It seemed one of the to-bes had left him a hawk, still warm and tempting. But Stoneteller stayed away from the prey. She pressed her paw on Sky's belly, and waited for the spasms that usually passed along it.
"Wha-" Sky rolled over lazily.
"I'm just checking, Puddle said you had a stomach ache," Stoneteller pressed her head against his soft belly fur. His heartbeat rumbled softly in her ear.
"I'm fine now, I think I just ate a tough piece of prey last night," He rolled back over.
"Wait, I just want to make sure," She pulled his scruff forcing him to roll back over.
"What now?" Sky grunted.
"Come on, I just need to check your stomach. At least eat some chervil root," She nudged the brownish pale root towards the tom.
"Fine," Sky rolled over and munched on the fat root. "And don't think I'm doing this 'cause your my sister, it's only because your the healer and leader of the tribe," He dabbed his free paw at Stoneteller's ear. She growled playfully and wacked her brother in the head with her forepaw.
"Ow, that actually hurt!" He grimaced, holding a paw to his head.
"Really?" She mewed, pulling her paw back tentatively.
"Nope," He growled as he launched himself at her, bowling her over and scattering the prey behind them. The two tussled for a few moments before Brook padded up to them.
"Why don't you two make yourselves useful, instead of playing around like a bunch of kits?" She growled, but Stoneteller could tell in her eyes she longed to play with her older brother, Talon.
"Sorry Brook," Stoneteller pulled herself off her brother and started to clean her fur.
"Yeah, we'll be more professional next time," He smiled, eyeing his sister playfully.
Brook eyed the littermates up, and smiled knowingly,"You better," Stoneteller giggled as the elder made her way back to Stormfur's side.
"If your fine, why don't you go help out a hunting patrol?" Stoneteller murmured into her brother's ear.
"Okay," He got up and trotted to a patrol that was getting their selves together.
"See you later," Sky flicked his tail at his sister's face.
"You too," Stoneteller called. She settled down in her brother's nest, and fell asleep, content that the tribe would be okay.
*Sigh* Sorry it took FOREVER to get this done. But, I wanted it to be perfect. Also Heightened Senses, the next installment of the War, really takes place before the epilogue :P Well, hope you liked Aftermath :D
~Firefoot
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Chapt 48
"No...no...no!" Jayfeather whispered in shock. Lionblaze was approaching Hollyleaf. The two were talking to out on the highledge. Jayfeather could only listen as his littermates argued.
"Just leave us alone Hollyleaf," Lionblaze warned,"I don't want to hurt you," Jayfeather took a step forward, he knew what he would have to do if the pair broke into fighting.
"Stop? After all this? Seems like you never knew me too well, Lionblaze," Hollyleaf chuckled. "I won't give up until I'm dead! Oh wait, it seems like that already happened!" She hissed.
"Hollyleaf, listen to me!" A cat yowled from the camp hollow. "What Leafpool and I hid from you was wrong, but would you have it any other way?" It was Squirrelflight, she was begging Hollyleaf.
"We should have never been born!" Hollyleaf hissed.
"No, you should have. You should have been born, because you had three parents that loved you through and through. And-and if you don't then your just selfish!" Squirrelflight spat. Hollyleaf snorted.
"Breezepelt, Hawkfrost, and Ivyshade, restrain her." Hollyleaf ordered. Jayfeather could hear Squirrelfight struggling under her aggressor's strength.
"Ivyshade please," Lionblaze approached Dovepelt's sister,"You know what is right,"
"Get away from her," Hollyleaf hissed at her brother, thrusting him backwards.
"Ivyshade come on! You know how a warrior acts! Cinderheart trained you to know right from wrong!" Lionblaze pleaded.
"B-but the warrior code..." Ivyshade stammered.
"Yes Ivyshade! You are doing this for the warrior code!" Hollyleaf encouraged.
"A warrior helps those in need. A warrior stands up for what is right." Lionblaze recited carefully. "A warrior does not watch kits suffer, a warrior does not attack a medicine cat, a warrior defends her clan!" Lionblaze huffed.
"These warriors have appointed deputies that haven't had apprentices, made kits apprentices before six moons, have had kits with mates from other clans, eaten prey without feeding the elders first, the list goes on and on! We must kill these cats to protect the code!" Hollyleaf mewed furiously.
"Warriors don't need to kill one another to win a battle," Lionblaze argued. Jayfeather hissed, this was going no where and the battle was to start again soon if Hollyleaf got angry enough to attack Lionblaze.
"I-I..." Ivyshade murmured.
"Come on Ivyshade! Remember what we said together when we found each other in the dark forest, about never leaving each other alone?' Breezepelt hissed in her ear, just loud enough for Jayfeather to hear. Jayfeather hissed, who could ever love his flea pelt half brother?
"Ivyshade please? We were best friends as apprentices! I want my kits to honor your name, not be ashamed of it!" Dovepelt pleaded to her sister. It was true, Dovepelt and her sister were very close as apprentices and when they had just become warriors.
"I... can't do this..." Ivyshade whispered. The younger she-cat joined Lionblaze and stood at his side.
"Fine. I'll do it without you, but be warned, Ivyshade. When we destroy these mange pelts, you'll join them." Hollyleaf murmured. She backed away and began to watch Squirrelflight struggle beneath Breezepelt's and Hawkfrost's weight.
"Cats of Starclan, Tribe of Endless Hunting, and the ancients. Please watch over us today," Jayfeather whispered to himself. Sleet rained down from the sky still, like and endless thunder in the hollow. He took a pace forward.
"Hollyleaf," He hollered to his sister,"Hollyleaf!" He heard Hollyleaf's pawsteps stop.
"What?" She hissed impatiently. That was all Jayfeather needed. He launched himself at his littermate and the cats in the hollow burst out fighting. He swatted at her ears and tried to hold his grip. But he knew he was nothing against a seasoned warrior. Thankfully his brother joined him.
"What are you doing!" Lionblaze hissed.
Jayfeather ignored his question,"What ever happens, you have to let me do it. By myself." He hoped Lionblaze would understand, he couldn't bring himself to say the exact words. But his brother didn't understand.
"Get off me you cowards!" Hollyleaf spat,"Breezepelt! Hawkfrost! Get rid of her!" The sinster she-cat hissed crazily. Jayfeather could hear Squirrelflight's shrieks of pain as his half brother and Bramblestar's half brother attacked his aunt. Jayfeather struggled under Hollyleaf's weight, she was ripping deep wounds in his shoulders. Lionblaze was on her back, wrenching her flank out with his teeth. Squirrelflight was still struggling. Another scent hit the roof of his mouth, and Jayfeather was prepared to fight this cat too. But the cat ran past him, sending waves of stars and wind into his nose. This cat was from Starclan.
"Ashfur!" Lionblaze mewed in amazement. Then Jayfeather realized he could see the gray tom and the whole clearing, the cats fighting and dying. A whole patrol of cats reigned down from the sky, Bluestar, Firestar, Cloudtail, Graystripe and many more. Then Feathertail swam down the sleet filled sky leading a group of cats with mud smeared on their fur, The Tribe of Endless Hunting had come as well!
Jayfeather gasped, then fell short when Hollyleaf bit his flank. She had no mercy for her brothers. Another larger tom ran past Hollyleaf's shoulder, Bramblestar! Bramblestar was greeted by Ashfur who was defending Squirrelflight.
"Ashfur! What are you doing here?" Bramblestar growled.
"I know I can never be her mate, and what I did was wrong, but I want to apologize. Please let me help," Ashfur mewed, dipping his head respectfully. Bramblestar nodded and joined in on protecting his mate.
"Lionblaze," Jayfeather gasped as Hollyleaf swung a claw down his nose,"Help me!" Lionblaze swung around and picked Hollyleaf off Jayfeather. Jayfeather got up and panted. His fur was cold and wet with sleet, and mud stuck to his sides. Finally, he could tell that they were even with the Dark Forest's assault. But where was Skyclan?
"Jayfeather, watch-" Lionblaze yowl was cut off as four Place of No Stars warriors leaped onto his back. Hollyleaf sprinted full force at Jayfeather, knocking him off his paws. Winded, for a moment, he sprang to his paws. But again Hollyleaf swiped her claws under him. He fell to his side.
"You think you can defeat me!" Hollyleaf spat at his face. "You can't Jayfeather! You're blind!" She swiped her claws down his face, scarlet blood trickling down his forehead into his eye. He was beginning to feel transparent, like he was floating away. He tried to feel the ground but it was not underneath him. He thought he could hear Hollyleaf taunting him more but it sounded distant.
"Jayfeather..." A voice whispered. Jayfeather spun around, trying to catch the voice, but all that was there was air.
"Jayfeather... open your eyes..." The voice whispered louder. Jayfeather had thought he was still blind, but as he opened his eyes, he could see the clearing below him, and a gray tabby tom standing in front of him.
"Jayfeather..." The tom whispered. Jayfeather stared him straight in the eyes. Something about him was familiar. The tom stepped towards him and touched noses. Jayfeather felt coldness sear trough his body like a blade of wind. All the warmth he had ever felt was ripped away. He almost fell to his knees, rocked by the fierce coldness that seeped into his bones. His whole body shook. Jayfeather tried to call out, but his voice seemed to frozen within his throat, stuck there forever. He could only watch as the mysterious tom floated down, his body almost transparent except for the outline of Jayfeather's own gray tabby pelt. The two cats had switched bodies, or at least minds. Jayfeather tried to follow but he could not move his frozen paws. He began to panic.
"Please...." He whispered so quietly he wasn't sure he had actually said anything. He tried to follow the tom with his eyes, but they seemed to freeze over in the wind. Finally, Jayfeather blacked out, but his paws were frozen in mid-air, his legs stiff and rigid, so he did not fall.
"Help! Help me please!" Jayfeather was in a forest he did't recognize. His paws ran faster than he ever had before, but whatever was chasing him was catching up. Jayfeather pumped his legs faster and faster, but the beast seemed to take two steps when he took one. Jayfeather turned back, but all he could see was the bushes behind him. When he wasn't looking, a root took him off his paws. He hit the ground with a thud. Jayfeather struggled to get up, but the monster over took him. It had no distinct shape at first, but gradually, it's face began to grow small green eyes. It's body began to shrink down to the size and shape of a cat. Jayfeather struggled under its weight. The beast looked exactly like Hollyleaf. She threw her claws over his face, ripped flesh from his face. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to imagine waking up. The pain finally stopped and he opened his eyes. the beast was now a helpless kit, but still looked like Hollyleaf. How could a kit change to a monster so quick? He approached it cautiously, sniffing it when he came close enough. Instantly it changed back to the original glob of darkness. It began to turn pale orange, then gradually growing brighter until it's pelt was like a flame. The eyes stayed green and it shrunk back to a cat. The cat padded up to him, he ducked away but it began to purr and lick his head gently, just like Squirrelflight had done in the nursery with him as a kit. He stopped squirming and enjoyed the gently rasp of her tongue. He closed his eyes and dozed. When it stopped he looked up. he figure was gone. Jayfeather stood and looked over his shoulder. The ginger cat was sitting, its back to Jayfeather . Jayfeather approached her. Waves of grief and fear flowed off her. Jayfeather stood beside her. She looked up and sighed. She seemed to not notice his presence, just looking past him. Jayfeather turned to look at what she was looking at, and when he looked back, the dark figure returned. Jayfeather backed away. Another cat formed, his eyes dark with anger. The cat was black. Jayfeather retreated, thinking it was Hollyleaf again. But the cat sneered and followed him, stalking him slowly. Jayfeather started to run, breaking through the ferns and undergrowth. The cat hissed and followed. The black cat's eyes haunted him, the amber eyes scorching through his pelt.
"Get back here you coward!" Breezepelt's voice whispered in his ear. Jayfeather ran until he the ground vanished from beneath his paws. Jayfeather was falling into a stone hollow. Jayfeather cast a glimpse back behind him. Breezepelt had turned into a red beast with a long snout and its tail streaming out behind him. Jayfeather hit the ground, his bones feeling broken. But the blur of blackness had drifted down the wall. Its form was hidden, until the blackness turned gray, then white and split into two. Jayfeather gasped. The one cat turned bright ginger, while the other faded into creamy gray.
"Help me Tigerheart!" The she-cat with creamy fur called. Jayfeather could only watch as an invisible figure began ripping tufts of fur across her body. The ginger tom tried to get to her but another force blocked him. He was lifted in the air, blood gushing from his throat. Tigerheart fell to the ground, his body limp and rugged.
"Tigerheart no!" The she-cat whispered. She tried to push the forces away but they pushed her down, slicing a gash down her throat. Jayfeather had seen this before, in the first battle with the Place of No Stars. He closed his eyes, wishing for this nightmare to be over. When he opened his eyes, the blob was approaching him, threatening to swallow him up. But the mass shrunk in size, its black color fading to gray, then white. Green eyes showed love. Half Moon! She padded towards him, wrapping her tail around him. Jayfeather purred. She licked the top of his head. They sat there for a while.
"I love you Jay's Wing," Half Moon whispered. Jayfeather winced.
"Half Moon, there's something I need to tell you," Jayfeather murmured. Half Moon turned to him.
"What is it?" Half Moon murmured. Jayfeather licked the top of her head, and opened his mouth to explain. But her form was fading.
"Half Moon no!" Jayfeather yelled. She was morphing into the black blob again. The cloud of fog inched forward. It grew larger and larger and moved faster. It threatened to cover him completely. Jayfeather hissed threateningly. But his body ached from the fall. The dark mass covered his eyes, suffocating him. He tried thrashing about but he lost consciousness.
Jayfeather breathed in suddenly. His body was no longer cold and he was in his own body back on the ground. His vision was gone once again.
"Get off me Jayfeather," A ragged voice hissed underneath him. Hollyleaf! What was she doing under his claws? Her breathe was rasping and her struggles were growing weaker.
"Strip you of your soul..." A voice whispered in his ear. Jayfeather flinched. He didn't want to do this.
"Send you to blackness..." The strange cat continued. It sounded like all the cats that had ever died were speaking through him.
"Strip you of your soul," Jayfeather closed his eyes, picturing what he was about to do. The battle raged on around him.
"Get off me you fox heart!" Hollyleaf screeched below him. Jayfeather shuttered.
"Will not harm again..." The voices echoed.
Jayfeather stuttered,"W-will not harm again."
"What is he doing?" A cat hissed nearby, clearly over hearing Jayfeather's strange chant.
"Will not harm again..."
"Will not harm again," Jayfeather whispered. A tear swam down his cheek.
"Get him off her!" Tigerstar raged, his pawsteps growing nearer.
But the ancient voices did not waver,"Will not see again..."
"Will not see again," Jayfeather cringed when Tigerstar's pawsteps grew so close he could hear the sleet patter off his coat. But the assault never came.
"Keep going Jayfeather!" Lionblaze hissed,"I'll protect you!" Jayfeather breathed in deeply. His brother must have been listening the whole time, not understanding what Jayfeather was doing, but he somehow must have known it was important.
"The evil will not be seen... the evil will not be heard..." The ancients murmured.
"The evil will not be seen, the evil will not be heard." Jayfeather could hear the words he was saying being echoed around him. Lionblaze was performing the ceremony with him, but on Tigerstar!
"Your memory shall vanish with your spirit..." They whispered. Jayfeather repeated it, but his tone was no more than a whisper.
"By water, wind, fire, and earth..." The voices grew louder.
"By water, wind, fire and earth," Jayfeather grew louder with them.
"I condemn you to a soulless afterlife! You will never harm anyone again!" Jayfeather and the spirits mewed in harmony. Hollyleaf gasped as Jayfeather lunged at her throat, biting her flesh until her could taste the salty blood. She scratched his sides, he flinched at the pain of her claws digging into his fur. But he held on. She began to quiver as spasms ripped through her body. Jayfeather knew there was no way she could recover. He stepped off her. His body was shaking. Hollyleaf let out strange gurgling noises and tried to screech. A few tail lengths away Lionblaze was repeating the same verses.
"Thank-you Jay's Wing..." Thousands of cats whispered in his ears. Jayfeather tried to listen for Half Moon's gentle voice, but there were too many there.
"Thank-you Jayfeather..." Jayfeather's own warrior ancestors whispered in his head. It seemed the starry cats were leaving the clans to finish the battle. Jayfeather could hear the battle raging on around him still, but he was no longer worried. Hollyleaf and Tigerstar were gone forever. Peace surrounded the clans like a mother protected her kits.
"Tigerstar is gone." Lionblaze approached him. Jayfeather nodded. "Where did you learn that... that curse?" Lionblaze shivered.
Jayfeather ignored his question,"You should keep fighting. Or at least go looking for Skyclan," He couldn't believe the Skyclan cats could be lost for this long with Heathertail to guide their way.
"Skyclan arrived while you were battling Hollyleaf." Lionblaze reminded. Jayfeather thought back. All he remembered was Hollyleaf under his paws. Somehow, he had fought, defeated, and killed Hollyleaf. He thought he remember feeling weightless, but his paws were as heavy as stone, and then there were his nightmarish dreams. Jayfeather shuttered inwardly.He couldn't shake the feeling of another gray tabby watching him.
"Come on," Lionblaze mewed,"We haven't won this battle yet," Jayfeather's brother sprang back into battle. But the Dark Forest warriors were being driven off without the presence of the two scariest cats the forest had ever seen to guide them. Sighing, Jayfeather yowled his thanks to whatever ancestors were listening and followed his brother into the battle.
"Just leave us alone Hollyleaf," Lionblaze warned,"I don't want to hurt you," Jayfeather took a step forward, he knew what he would have to do if the pair broke into fighting.
"Stop? After all this? Seems like you never knew me too well, Lionblaze," Hollyleaf chuckled. "I won't give up until I'm dead! Oh wait, it seems like that already happened!" She hissed.
"Hollyleaf, listen to me!" A cat yowled from the camp hollow. "What Leafpool and I hid from you was wrong, but would you have it any other way?" It was Squirrelflight, she was begging Hollyleaf.
"We should have never been born!" Hollyleaf hissed.
"No, you should have. You should have been born, because you had three parents that loved you through and through. And-and if you don't then your just selfish!" Squirrelflight spat. Hollyleaf snorted.
"Breezepelt, Hawkfrost, and Ivyshade, restrain her." Hollyleaf ordered. Jayfeather could hear Squirrelfight struggling under her aggressor's strength.
"Ivyshade please," Lionblaze approached Dovepelt's sister,"You know what is right,"
"Get away from her," Hollyleaf hissed at her brother, thrusting him backwards.
"Ivyshade come on! You know how a warrior acts! Cinderheart trained you to know right from wrong!" Lionblaze pleaded.
"B-but the warrior code..." Ivyshade stammered.
"Yes Ivyshade! You are doing this for the warrior code!" Hollyleaf encouraged.
"A warrior helps those in need. A warrior stands up for what is right." Lionblaze recited carefully. "A warrior does not watch kits suffer, a warrior does not attack a medicine cat, a warrior defends her clan!" Lionblaze huffed.
"These warriors have appointed deputies that haven't had apprentices, made kits apprentices before six moons, have had kits with mates from other clans, eaten prey without feeding the elders first, the list goes on and on! We must kill these cats to protect the code!" Hollyleaf mewed furiously.
"Warriors don't need to kill one another to win a battle," Lionblaze argued. Jayfeather hissed, this was going no where and the battle was to start again soon if Hollyleaf got angry enough to attack Lionblaze.
"I-I..." Ivyshade murmured.
"Come on Ivyshade! Remember what we said together when we found each other in the dark forest, about never leaving each other alone?' Breezepelt hissed in her ear, just loud enough for Jayfeather to hear. Jayfeather hissed, who could ever love his flea pelt half brother?
"Ivyshade please? We were best friends as apprentices! I want my kits to honor your name, not be ashamed of it!" Dovepelt pleaded to her sister. It was true, Dovepelt and her sister were very close as apprentices and when they had just become warriors.
"I... can't do this..." Ivyshade whispered. The younger she-cat joined Lionblaze and stood at his side.
"Fine. I'll do it without you, but be warned, Ivyshade. When we destroy these mange pelts, you'll join them." Hollyleaf murmured. She backed away and began to watch Squirrelflight struggle beneath Breezepelt's and Hawkfrost's weight.
"Cats of Starclan, Tribe of Endless Hunting, and the ancients. Please watch over us today," Jayfeather whispered to himself. Sleet rained down from the sky still, like and endless thunder in the hollow. He took a pace forward.
"Hollyleaf," He hollered to his sister,"Hollyleaf!" He heard Hollyleaf's pawsteps stop.
"What?" She hissed impatiently. That was all Jayfeather needed. He launched himself at his littermate and the cats in the hollow burst out fighting. He swatted at her ears and tried to hold his grip. But he knew he was nothing against a seasoned warrior. Thankfully his brother joined him.
"What are you doing!" Lionblaze hissed.
Jayfeather ignored his question,"What ever happens, you have to let me do it. By myself." He hoped Lionblaze would understand, he couldn't bring himself to say the exact words. But his brother didn't understand.
"Get off me you cowards!" Hollyleaf spat,"Breezepelt! Hawkfrost! Get rid of her!" The sinster she-cat hissed crazily. Jayfeather could hear Squirrelflight's shrieks of pain as his half brother and Bramblestar's half brother attacked his aunt. Jayfeather struggled under Hollyleaf's weight, she was ripping deep wounds in his shoulders. Lionblaze was on her back, wrenching her flank out with his teeth. Squirrelflight was still struggling. Another scent hit the roof of his mouth, and Jayfeather was prepared to fight this cat too. But the cat ran past him, sending waves of stars and wind into his nose. This cat was from Starclan.
"Ashfur!" Lionblaze mewed in amazement. Then Jayfeather realized he could see the gray tom and the whole clearing, the cats fighting and dying. A whole patrol of cats reigned down from the sky, Bluestar, Firestar, Cloudtail, Graystripe and many more. Then Feathertail swam down the sleet filled sky leading a group of cats with mud smeared on their fur, The Tribe of Endless Hunting had come as well!
Jayfeather gasped, then fell short when Hollyleaf bit his flank. She had no mercy for her brothers. Another larger tom ran past Hollyleaf's shoulder, Bramblestar! Bramblestar was greeted by Ashfur who was defending Squirrelflight.
"Ashfur! What are you doing here?" Bramblestar growled.
"I know I can never be her mate, and what I did was wrong, but I want to apologize. Please let me help," Ashfur mewed, dipping his head respectfully. Bramblestar nodded and joined in on protecting his mate.
"Lionblaze," Jayfeather gasped as Hollyleaf swung a claw down his nose,"Help me!" Lionblaze swung around and picked Hollyleaf off Jayfeather. Jayfeather got up and panted. His fur was cold and wet with sleet, and mud stuck to his sides. Finally, he could tell that they were even with the Dark Forest's assault. But where was Skyclan?
"Jayfeather, watch-" Lionblaze yowl was cut off as four Place of No Stars warriors leaped onto his back. Hollyleaf sprinted full force at Jayfeather, knocking him off his paws. Winded, for a moment, he sprang to his paws. But again Hollyleaf swiped her claws under him. He fell to his side.
"You think you can defeat me!" Hollyleaf spat at his face. "You can't Jayfeather! You're blind!" She swiped her claws down his face, scarlet blood trickling down his forehead into his eye. He was beginning to feel transparent, like he was floating away. He tried to feel the ground but it was not underneath him. He thought he could hear Hollyleaf taunting him more but it sounded distant.
"Jayfeather..." A voice whispered. Jayfeather spun around, trying to catch the voice, but all that was there was air.
"Jayfeather... open your eyes..." The voice whispered louder. Jayfeather had thought he was still blind, but as he opened his eyes, he could see the clearing below him, and a gray tabby tom standing in front of him.
"Jayfeather..." The tom whispered. Jayfeather stared him straight in the eyes. Something about him was familiar. The tom stepped towards him and touched noses. Jayfeather felt coldness sear trough his body like a blade of wind. All the warmth he had ever felt was ripped away. He almost fell to his knees, rocked by the fierce coldness that seeped into his bones. His whole body shook. Jayfeather tried to call out, but his voice seemed to frozen within his throat, stuck there forever. He could only watch as the mysterious tom floated down, his body almost transparent except for the outline of Jayfeather's own gray tabby pelt. The two cats had switched bodies, or at least minds. Jayfeather tried to follow but he could not move his frozen paws. He began to panic.
"Please...." He whispered so quietly he wasn't sure he had actually said anything. He tried to follow the tom with his eyes, but they seemed to freeze over in the wind. Finally, Jayfeather blacked out, but his paws were frozen in mid-air, his legs stiff and rigid, so he did not fall.
"Help! Help me please!" Jayfeather was in a forest he did't recognize. His paws ran faster than he ever had before, but whatever was chasing him was catching up. Jayfeather pumped his legs faster and faster, but the beast seemed to take two steps when he took one. Jayfeather turned back, but all he could see was the bushes behind him. When he wasn't looking, a root took him off his paws. He hit the ground with a thud. Jayfeather struggled to get up, but the monster over took him. It had no distinct shape at first, but gradually, it's face began to grow small green eyes. It's body began to shrink down to the size and shape of a cat. Jayfeather struggled under its weight. The beast looked exactly like Hollyleaf. She threw her claws over his face, ripped flesh from his face. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to imagine waking up. The pain finally stopped and he opened his eyes. the beast was now a helpless kit, but still looked like Hollyleaf. How could a kit change to a monster so quick? He approached it cautiously, sniffing it when he came close enough. Instantly it changed back to the original glob of darkness. It began to turn pale orange, then gradually growing brighter until it's pelt was like a flame. The eyes stayed green and it shrunk back to a cat. The cat padded up to him, he ducked away but it began to purr and lick his head gently, just like Squirrelflight had done in the nursery with him as a kit. He stopped squirming and enjoyed the gently rasp of her tongue. He closed his eyes and dozed. When it stopped he looked up. he figure was gone. Jayfeather stood and looked over his shoulder. The ginger cat was sitting, its back to Jayfeather . Jayfeather approached her. Waves of grief and fear flowed off her. Jayfeather stood beside her. She looked up and sighed. She seemed to not notice his presence, just looking past him. Jayfeather turned to look at what she was looking at, and when he looked back, the dark figure returned. Jayfeather backed away. Another cat formed, his eyes dark with anger. The cat was black. Jayfeather retreated, thinking it was Hollyleaf again. But the cat sneered and followed him, stalking him slowly. Jayfeather started to run, breaking through the ferns and undergrowth. The cat hissed and followed. The black cat's eyes haunted him, the amber eyes scorching through his pelt.
"Get back here you coward!" Breezepelt's voice whispered in his ear. Jayfeather ran until he the ground vanished from beneath his paws. Jayfeather was falling into a stone hollow. Jayfeather cast a glimpse back behind him. Breezepelt had turned into a red beast with a long snout and its tail streaming out behind him. Jayfeather hit the ground, his bones feeling broken. But the blur of blackness had drifted down the wall. Its form was hidden, until the blackness turned gray, then white and split into two. Jayfeather gasped. The one cat turned bright ginger, while the other faded into creamy gray.
"Help me Tigerheart!" The she-cat with creamy fur called. Jayfeather could only watch as an invisible figure began ripping tufts of fur across her body. The ginger tom tried to get to her but another force blocked him. He was lifted in the air, blood gushing from his throat. Tigerheart fell to the ground, his body limp and rugged.
"Tigerheart no!" The she-cat whispered. She tried to push the forces away but they pushed her down, slicing a gash down her throat. Jayfeather had seen this before, in the first battle with the Place of No Stars. He closed his eyes, wishing for this nightmare to be over. When he opened his eyes, the blob was approaching him, threatening to swallow him up. But the mass shrunk in size, its black color fading to gray, then white. Green eyes showed love. Half Moon! She padded towards him, wrapping her tail around him. Jayfeather purred. She licked the top of his head. They sat there for a while.
"I love you Jay's Wing," Half Moon whispered. Jayfeather winced.
"Half Moon, there's something I need to tell you," Jayfeather murmured. Half Moon turned to him.
"What is it?" Half Moon murmured. Jayfeather licked the top of her head, and opened his mouth to explain. But her form was fading.
"Half Moon no!" Jayfeather yelled. She was morphing into the black blob again. The cloud of fog inched forward. It grew larger and larger and moved faster. It threatened to cover him completely. Jayfeather hissed threateningly. But his body ached from the fall. The dark mass covered his eyes, suffocating him. He tried thrashing about but he lost consciousness.
Jayfeather breathed in suddenly. His body was no longer cold and he was in his own body back on the ground. His vision was gone once again.
"Get off me Jayfeather," A ragged voice hissed underneath him. Hollyleaf! What was she doing under his claws? Her breathe was rasping and her struggles were growing weaker.
"Strip you of your soul..." A voice whispered in his ear. Jayfeather flinched. He didn't want to do this.
"Send you to blackness..." The strange cat continued. It sounded like all the cats that had ever died were speaking through him.
"Strip you of your soul," Jayfeather closed his eyes, picturing what he was about to do. The battle raged on around him.
"Get off me you fox heart!" Hollyleaf screeched below him. Jayfeather shuttered.
"Will not harm again..." The voices echoed.
Jayfeather stuttered,"W-will not harm again."
"What is he doing?" A cat hissed nearby, clearly over hearing Jayfeather's strange chant.
"Will not harm again..."
"Will not harm again," Jayfeather whispered. A tear swam down his cheek.
"Get him off her!" Tigerstar raged, his pawsteps growing nearer.
But the ancient voices did not waver,"Will not see again..."
"Will not see again," Jayfeather cringed when Tigerstar's pawsteps grew so close he could hear the sleet patter off his coat. But the assault never came.
"Keep going Jayfeather!" Lionblaze hissed,"I'll protect you!" Jayfeather breathed in deeply. His brother must have been listening the whole time, not understanding what Jayfeather was doing, but he somehow must have known it was important.
"The evil will not be seen... the evil will not be heard..." The ancients murmured.
"The evil will not be seen, the evil will not be heard." Jayfeather could hear the words he was saying being echoed around him. Lionblaze was performing the ceremony with him, but on Tigerstar!
"Your memory shall vanish with your spirit..." They whispered. Jayfeather repeated it, but his tone was no more than a whisper.
"By water, wind, fire, and earth..." The voices grew louder.
"By water, wind, fire and earth," Jayfeather grew louder with them.
"I condemn you to a soulless afterlife! You will never harm anyone again!" Jayfeather and the spirits mewed in harmony. Hollyleaf gasped as Jayfeather lunged at her throat, biting her flesh until her could taste the salty blood. She scratched his sides, he flinched at the pain of her claws digging into his fur. But he held on. She began to quiver as spasms ripped through her body. Jayfeather knew there was no way she could recover. He stepped off her. His body was shaking. Hollyleaf let out strange gurgling noises and tried to screech. A few tail lengths away Lionblaze was repeating the same verses.
"Thank-you Jay's Wing..." Thousands of cats whispered in his ears. Jayfeather tried to listen for Half Moon's gentle voice, but there were too many there.
"Thank-you Jayfeather..." Jayfeather's own warrior ancestors whispered in his head. It seemed the starry cats were leaving the clans to finish the battle. Jayfeather could hear the battle raging on around him still, but he was no longer worried. Hollyleaf and Tigerstar were gone forever. Peace surrounded the clans like a mother protected her kits.
"Tigerstar is gone." Lionblaze approached him. Jayfeather nodded. "Where did you learn that... that curse?" Lionblaze shivered.
Jayfeather ignored his question,"You should keep fighting. Or at least go looking for Skyclan," He couldn't believe the Skyclan cats could be lost for this long with Heathertail to guide their way.
"Skyclan arrived while you were battling Hollyleaf." Lionblaze reminded. Jayfeather thought back. All he remembered was Hollyleaf under his paws. Somehow, he had fought, defeated, and killed Hollyleaf. He thought he remember feeling weightless, but his paws were as heavy as stone, and then there were his nightmarish dreams. Jayfeather shuttered inwardly.He couldn't shake the feeling of another gray tabby watching him.
"Come on," Lionblaze mewed,"We haven't won this battle yet," Jayfeather's brother sprang back into battle. But the Dark Forest warriors were being driven off without the presence of the two scariest cats the forest had ever seen to guide them. Sighing, Jayfeather yowled his thanks to whatever ancestors were listening and followed his brother into the battle.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
NEW CONTEST!
This time the winner gets to choose Wolfpaw's warrior name! He will get his warrior name probably chapter 12 or so, but it could be chapter 20. Who knows? Well, here it is...
- A house has four sides which all face north. A bear walks by. What color is it?
- What did the monkey say when it ran out of bananas?
- Two boxers are in a fight. One boxer knocks the other out, yet no man landed a single blow. How is this possible?
- What is cowhide most commonly used for over all the world?
- Why is it illegal for a man to marry his widow’s sister?
- He who makes it doesn’t want it. He who buys it doesn’t use it. He who uses it doesn’t know it. What is it?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Chapt 47
Dovepelt reared back on her hind legs, shaking her attacker off. She turned around and swiped her claws down the she-cats pale gray face, leaving a streak of scarlet on the bridge of the cat's nose. Dovepelt jerked her head back and snarled viciously. The she-cat bit her shoulder and ripped a chunk of fur off. Hissing and screeching, Dovepelt lunged at her attacker, biting her throat angrily. Dovepelt shook her around like a dead squirrel and threw her to the ground savagely. Dovepelt spat at the ginger she-cat , who was now bleeding heavily from her neck wound. Sleet poured from the sky, turning the ground pink. Dovepelt stared at her, then joined back in the battle. She saw Jayfeather dragging Thornclaw behind a cleft in the rock. She ran towards him, dodging the battling cats. Finally she reached the gray tabby tom, who was with Willowshine treating injured cats. Bumblestripe and Whitewing were guarding them.
"Have you seen Hollyleaf?" Jayfeather murmured loud enough for Dovepelt to hear. She cats her senses out in the clearing, battling cats no match for her highly trained powers, but she did not locate the black she-cat.
"No, why?" Dovepelt replied.
"No reason," Jayfeather mewed while patching Thornclaw's shoulder. Suddenly Jayfeather hasped and grabbed cobwebs to press against Thornclaw's shoulder. Willowshine rushed over, Thornclaw was shaking heavily.
"What's happening?" Dovepelt shrieked.
"He's going into shock and bleeding out faster than we can stop," Jayfeather mewed bluntly. The cobwebs were quickly becoming scarlet red and had to be switched frequently. Finally, Thornclaw lay still, blood oozing around him, and rain and snow pattering against his golden fur. Jayfeather looked up.
"He's dead," Jayfeather rasped. Dovepelt put her nose into his soft fur, breathed in his scent, and looked back up to Jayfeather.
"Have you seen Skyclan?" Dovepelt put in.
"I haven't seen anything," Jayfeather retorted,"But no, I haven't heard or scented any other Skyclan patrols." Dovepelt sighed. Looking back to the battling cats, Dovepelt could see they were losing.
"We're going to lose," Dovepelt whispered, so quietly, she wasn't sure anyone could even hear her. She held Jayfeather's unseeing gaze for what felt like lifetimes, then he turned away and dragged Thornclaw's body to the back of the crevice. Dovepelt turned back to the battle raging in the camp, dragging her eyes towards the top of the clearing. She tried and send her hearing powers towards the outside of the camp, but she was too depressed at the thought of being destroyed with her clanmates. She imagined her kits, who were with Squirrelfight, Ashfoot, and a few other warriors guarding all the kits. Letting out a raging caterwaul, Dovepelt launched herself at a tawny tom. She furiously drew her claws across his pelt, leaving him to bleed on the wet ground. Lightning seared the sky, lighting up the clearing for a heartbeat. A dark shape was standing on the highrock, watching with a smirk.The cat's eyes glinted in the lightning. They were green.
"Jayfeather!" Dovepelt screeched. Within a heartbeat, Jayfeather was out of the crack in the wall.
"Over here!" Dovpelt hollered. Jayfeather ran towards her, stumbling over a few dead bodies.
"Where is she?" Jayfeather panted, knowing why Dovepelt had called him out.
"The highrock, she's just sitting there and watching." Dovepelt explained. Dovepelt saw Hollyleaf stand up, turn her head towards the other side of the clearing. She grimaced.
"Stop!" A flash of lightning lit the sky again as Hollyleaf called out the command. Why is she doing this? Dovepelt thought to herself. A glimmer of hope sat neatly in her mind. Maybe she's giving up!
"I would like to apologize for my actions," Hollyleaf called out clearly. The confused cats had stopped fighting and only watched the she-cat talk.
"I feel that all of you would like to know why I am doing this," Hollyleaf mewed innocently,"But can't you see? This is only for the warrior code, I'm protecting it against cats who have destroyed it. Cats who fall in love with other clans," Her crazed stare landed on Leafpool and Crowfeather who were fighting two other cats before Hollyleaf called a halt to the battle.
"Kittypets and Rogues," She glared at Bumblestripe and another cat Dovepelt couldn't see,"And the cats who don't even respect the warrior code," she finally rested her cold stare on Brook and Stoneteller.
"So as you can see, with all you gone, the warrior code can survive!" Her tail curled up in excitement. No cat spoke. There was utter confusion in all the cats. Dovepelt herself was very confused. How could there be a warrior code without warriors? Or clans for that matter? Dovepelt thought.
"No." A cat spoke quietly.
"Excuse me?" Hollyleaf replied calmly.
"I said no," The cat stepped out. It was Mountainpaw! The large apprentice was pushing past the cats and climbing up to the highledge.
"Get down from here!" Hollyleaf growled.
"No," Mountainpaw replied smoothly, still walking up to Hollyleaf. The she-cats claws extended and she tackled Mountainpaw. They screeched and fought in a battle until another form joined them. A golden tom! Dovepelt thought it was Thornclaw at first, but she remembered he was dead. Then the cut in the ear told her it was Lionblaze. The golden tabby pulled the two cats apart and laid a paw on Hollyleaf's throat.
"Go. Now." He hissed to his son. The black and orange apprentice's eyes widened.
"No," Mountainpaw's tail twitched impatiently.
"Mountainpaw," Cinderheart was calling from the back of the camp,"Please, do as your Father says," Dovepelt looked back to Mountainpaw. He was narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. After a few heartbeats he carefully walked back down to the camp, where a few warriors greeted him quietly. Lionblaze nodded respectfully to his son.
"I'll give you one chance to walk away from all of this," Lionblaze looked at his sister.
"No, oh no," Dovepelt turned to Jayfeather. He was whispering quietly to himself, barely audible. His eyes were round with some emotion Dovepelt couldn't recognize. Was it fear for his sister? Or was it a fear for Lionblaze?
"Have you seen Hollyleaf?" Jayfeather murmured loud enough for Dovepelt to hear. She cats her senses out in the clearing, battling cats no match for her highly trained powers, but she did not locate the black she-cat.
"No, why?" Dovepelt replied.
"No reason," Jayfeather mewed while patching Thornclaw's shoulder. Suddenly Jayfeather hasped and grabbed cobwebs to press against Thornclaw's shoulder. Willowshine rushed over, Thornclaw was shaking heavily.
"What's happening?" Dovepelt shrieked.
"He's going into shock and bleeding out faster than we can stop," Jayfeather mewed bluntly. The cobwebs were quickly becoming scarlet red and had to be switched frequently. Finally, Thornclaw lay still, blood oozing around him, and rain and snow pattering against his golden fur. Jayfeather looked up.
"He's dead," Jayfeather rasped. Dovepelt put her nose into his soft fur, breathed in his scent, and looked back up to Jayfeather.
"Have you seen Skyclan?" Dovepelt put in.
"I haven't seen anything," Jayfeather retorted,"But no, I haven't heard or scented any other Skyclan patrols." Dovepelt sighed. Looking back to the battling cats, Dovepelt could see they were losing.
"We're going to lose," Dovepelt whispered, so quietly, she wasn't sure anyone could even hear her. She held Jayfeather's unseeing gaze for what felt like lifetimes, then he turned away and dragged Thornclaw's body to the back of the crevice. Dovepelt turned back to the battle raging in the camp, dragging her eyes towards the top of the clearing. She tried and send her hearing powers towards the outside of the camp, but she was too depressed at the thought of being destroyed with her clanmates. She imagined her kits, who were with Squirrelfight, Ashfoot, and a few other warriors guarding all the kits. Letting out a raging caterwaul, Dovepelt launched herself at a tawny tom. She furiously drew her claws across his pelt, leaving him to bleed on the wet ground. Lightning seared the sky, lighting up the clearing for a heartbeat. A dark shape was standing on the highrock, watching with a smirk.The cat's eyes glinted in the lightning. They were green.
"Jayfeather!" Dovepelt screeched. Within a heartbeat, Jayfeather was out of the crack in the wall.
"Over here!" Dovpelt hollered. Jayfeather ran towards her, stumbling over a few dead bodies.
"Where is she?" Jayfeather panted, knowing why Dovepelt had called him out.
"The highrock, she's just sitting there and watching." Dovepelt explained. Dovepelt saw Hollyleaf stand up, turn her head towards the other side of the clearing. She grimaced.
"Stop!" A flash of lightning lit the sky again as Hollyleaf called out the command. Why is she doing this? Dovepelt thought to herself. A glimmer of hope sat neatly in her mind. Maybe she's giving up!
"I would like to apologize for my actions," Hollyleaf called out clearly. The confused cats had stopped fighting and only watched the she-cat talk.
"I feel that all of you would like to know why I am doing this," Hollyleaf mewed innocently,"But can't you see? This is only for the warrior code, I'm protecting it against cats who have destroyed it. Cats who fall in love with other clans," Her crazed stare landed on Leafpool and Crowfeather who were fighting two other cats before Hollyleaf called a halt to the battle.
"Kittypets and Rogues," She glared at Bumblestripe and another cat Dovepelt couldn't see,"And the cats who don't even respect the warrior code," she finally rested her cold stare on Brook and Stoneteller.
"So as you can see, with all you gone, the warrior code can survive!" Her tail curled up in excitement. No cat spoke. There was utter confusion in all the cats. Dovepelt herself was very confused. How could there be a warrior code without warriors? Or clans for that matter? Dovepelt thought.
"No." A cat spoke quietly.
"Excuse me?" Hollyleaf replied calmly.
"I said no," The cat stepped out. It was Mountainpaw! The large apprentice was pushing past the cats and climbing up to the highledge.
"Get down from here!" Hollyleaf growled.
"No," Mountainpaw replied smoothly, still walking up to Hollyleaf. The she-cats claws extended and she tackled Mountainpaw. They screeched and fought in a battle until another form joined them. A golden tom! Dovepelt thought it was Thornclaw at first, but she remembered he was dead. Then the cut in the ear told her it was Lionblaze. The golden tabby pulled the two cats apart and laid a paw on Hollyleaf's throat.
"Go. Now." He hissed to his son. The black and orange apprentice's eyes widened.
"No," Mountainpaw's tail twitched impatiently.
"Mountainpaw," Cinderheart was calling from the back of the camp,"Please, do as your Father says," Dovepelt looked back to Mountainpaw. He was narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. After a few heartbeats he carefully walked back down to the camp, where a few warriors greeted him quietly. Lionblaze nodded respectfully to his son.
"I'll give you one chance to walk away from all of this," Lionblaze looked at his sister.
"No, oh no," Dovepelt turned to Jayfeather. He was whispering quietly to himself, barely audible. His eyes were round with some emotion Dovepelt couldn't recognize. Was it fear for his sister? Or was it a fear for Lionblaze?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
*Sigh*
Because of my forgetfulness, I have forgotten a big part of the story. Do any of you remember, There will be five who will bring the four to one ? Yeah well, because I've left that out, I feel I need to write another story. Another part of The War. Yup. Don't know exactly what its going to be about, or who, but it will happen. So probably a week or so after this first "book" is done look for Warriors: The War: Heightened Senses. Don't really know why I chose that title, but it sounds pretty awesome. So... yeah... Keep checking in...
~A Forgetful Firefoot :P
~A Forgetful Firefoot :P
I drew this a few days ago for a contest.
I drew this for a contest, it's Ivypaw, I thought I would share it with you guys too!
~Firefoot
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Contest!
I decided to make a quick contest until the next chapter comes out. The contest ends September 29th. Here it is!
The first person to answer this riddle will get to choose a warrior name to appear in the epilogue. Example:
Say I won, I could choose any character that doesn't have a warrior name already and decide their name! Like Honeykit would be Honeyflower or anything like that. So here's the riddle:
A rooster lays an egg on the roof of a pointed house. A tornado comes from the east, a hurricane from the west, a tsunami from the north, and a sand storm from the south. Where does the egg land?
Please post your answer as a comment, NOT in the chat box. Also post your name for the cat.
Best of luck,
~Firefoot
The first person to answer this riddle will get to choose a warrior name to appear in the epilogue. Example:
Say I won, I could choose any character that doesn't have a warrior name already and decide their name! Like Honeykit would be Honeyflower or anything like that. So here's the riddle:
A rooster lays an egg on the roof of a pointed house. A tornado comes from the east, a hurricane from the west, a tsunami from the north, and a sand storm from the south. Where does the egg land?
Please post your answer as a comment, NOT in the chat box. Also post your name for the cat.
Best of luck,
~Firefoot
Chapt 46
Lionblaze followed Leafstar to fetch the battle patrols. It was finally time for the battle with the Dark Forest, and strangely he was eager for it to start. The sun was barely over the horizon, casting blood like rays on the camp. Hopefully, that was not an omen of the battle to come. A few gray clouds floated over the sky, threatening to brake. It felt too warm, even in leafbare for snow, but the air was cold and crisp that morning.
Lionblaze poked his head into the warriors' den. A few of the warriors who did not wake up to Dovepelt's arrival were still sleeping. Sharpclaw padded in after him.
"Wake up. It's time for the battle," The deputy mewed loudly. The warriors razed their heads, the bolted up as Sharpclaw finished his sentence. Every cat was going in this battle, except for the elders and Echosong, but they too would accompany them to Thunderclan territory and help those who were hurt.
"Everybody go and eat, share as much fresh kill as possible, and then report to Leafstar," Sharpclaw instructed. The others shook their heads rapidly. Lionblaze nodded politely as Sharpclaw walked out. Lionblaze followed him. He saw Echosong leaving the camp with Sparrowpelt at her side.
"Where are they going? Don't they know were about to have a battle?" Sharpclaw hissed.
"Gingerstep is hurt in the forest somewhere, they are going to find her," Dovepelt retorted, she was walking up to Leafstar. Sharpclaw narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything.
"Come on," Lionblaze mewed hastily,"Leafstar is organizing patrols." The ginger and white leader was putting the clan into three groups; her patrol, Sharpclaw's patrol, and Lionblaze's patrol. In his patrol was Woody, Tinyfoot, Chestnutfur, Rockfur, and Waterpaw. Each patrol was five cats, and Lionblaze guessed Dovepelt would be with him. Heathertail was in Leafstar's patrol along with Sparrowpelt, Sagewhisker, Patchfoot, and Clovertail. Then Sharpclaw was in charge of Cherrytail, Petalnose, Fernpaw, and Robinpaw. Leafstar's patrol would lead the clan into battle, and when the signal came, Sharpclaw's patrol would enter along with Lionblaze. Lionblaze looked up to the cloudy sky and wondered if any Starclan cats would join their attack today, but the vast grayness gave no answer.
Lionblaze turned when he heard a cat entering the camp; it was Sparrowpelt dragging a ginger clump of fur, Gingerstep! She looked horrible, blood smeared on her body, her fur wet and sticking up in clumps, and her one paw was twisted in an awkward angle. Only the faint rise and fall of her chest reassured Lionblaze that his friend was alive. He ran up to Echosong as she entered the camp behind Sparrowpelt.
"How is she?" He murmured.
"Her paw is dislocated and broken, but it will heal. For now I need her to lie down and eat some poppy seeds."
"But what about the battle?" Lionblaze protested.
Echosong sighed,"That's what I've been worrying about. If she wakes up, I'll need to tell her that I won't be here. I'l leave her a few simple herbs, like poppyseeds and goldenrod poultice, but I can't do anymore," Lionblaze nodded, this was the best an medicine cat could do. He left her to clean her up and try and wake her.
"Cats of Skyclan," Leafstar's voice rang above the camp,"We are about to depart for war. I don't want any of you to worry, we have Starclan on our side. These, these vermin that call themselves cats, are our prey. Kill them, so we don't have to lay our eyes on them again." Lionblaze had a sudden fear, if these cats went straight to the Dark Forest, couldn't they just come back again? This war would go on forever, farther than even when Lionblaze was dead and long forgotten. None of the other cats seemed to have this fear, or atleast they didn't show it, so Lionblaze kept his mouth shut. Like Leafstar said, they had Starclan on their side.
"Gather the patrols, we leave now," The clan burst into cheers and Lionblaze led his patrol of of the safety of the camp. The frost that was on the ground the night before had melted in a slush on the forest floor.
"Lionblaze wait, I have an idea," Dovepelt called up to him.
"What is it?" She came up to his side, her gray pelt dulled and bones sticking out of her wiry frame.
"There is a tunnel, leading into the medicine den that Hollyleaf and her crew don't know about. That's how me and Gingerstep got out. But I think we could use it to attack." Dovepelt murmured.
"Go on," Lionblaze encouraged.
"Well, if this patrol hid there before the battle started we could get into the camp easier. When Leafstar's patrol is in the camp, the Place of No Stars cats would be guarding the entrance. We could-"
"Attack from all sides," Lionblaze finished. This was brilliant! "Take the lead, show us where to go," Lionblaze mewed warmly. He couldn't believe that only a few seasons ago, Dovepelt was his apprentice, now she was a confident warrior, and a queen no less. He almost purred with affection if it weren't for the growing doom of battle. The final rays of the sun flew over the horizon.
"We have to hurry, they'll choose who they're going to kill soon," Dovepelt mewed bluntly. Lionblaze looked back, his patrol was moving slower than he wanted.
"Come on! Let's go!" He encouraged, and gradually broke into a sprint. The river was coming up ahead, flowing freely without the ice. The patrol ran towards the stepping stones, barely feeling the drops of water on their fur as they glided through the trees. The pine forest was now behind them and they were in the middle of Thunderclan territory. Making sure the Skyclan cats were keeping close, he sprinted faster, slowing as they neared the camp.
"Is there anyone there?" Lionblaze hissed to Dovepelt. He waited for her to cast out her senses.
"There are three cats leaving the camp, but I think they're heading towards Windclan territory. Leafstar's patrol is nearing Thunderclan territory. Heathertail should be able to find the way back to the camp. Sharpclaw seems to be with them." Dovepelt looked back up to him, eyes sparkling. Lionblaze nodded.
"You take the leader, we need to get to that tunnel," Lionblaze panted. Dovepelt ran to the front and swerved away from Thunderclan's camp for a ways. Lionblaze could smell Thunderclan cats, even though he was steering away from them.
"Here, thats the tunnel," Dovepelt stopped beside what looked to be an old badger set below a boulder. The opening was barely big enough for a cat, about a tail length high and a tail length wide. But fresh air told Lionblaze that there was an opening on the other side.
"Careful, there are rocks and steep slopes as we go down, but it leads right into the medicine den," Dovepelt warned. She waved her tail towards it and Lionblaze entered first. Darkness engulfed him, he had to use his whiskers to guide him down the bumpy trail. His sides brushed the walls as the tunnel got narrower, he stumbled once on a large rock, hurting his front paw. The other cats behind him were doing no better, Waterpaw let out a hiss as she tripped over the same rock.
"Only a little further," Dovepelt murmured quietly. Lionblaze pressed on. Finally he could smell the fresh air and a gust of wind blew his fur to the side. The scent of rain carried on the breeze, but the air was heavy with something else. A curve in the path led to a rock wall, Lionblaze slipped around it, and suddenly he was in the medicine den.
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The medicine den was full of bustling cats at the front of the den. No one noticed the new arrivals, and Lionblaze wasn't sure what was holding their attention up front. He pushed his way to the front of the crowd, but stood behind a large tabby, Bramblestar. Hollyleaf was standing in front of them, fury glazing over her eyes.
"Where did they go?" She spat angrily,"Where did those fox hearted clan mates of yours go?" She looked down at a young brown tabby, Lionblaze's own son, Mountainpaw.
"You," She snatched the apprentice,"Where is Dovepelt and Gingerstep?" She shook him by the scruff.
"I don't know," He mumbled quietly.
"What? You don't know? You don't know?" She hurled Mountainpaw at the medicine den's stone walls, but he fell short and landed in a bush.
"If this is how it's going to be, I'm going to kill two cats today, end everyday until they come back," Hollyleaf hissed. Her emerald gaze slid over the crowd.
"Ivyshade and Breezepelt," She hollered over her shoulder,"Choose wisely." Hollyleaf walked away from the group, and two sinister looking cats stood in front of them. Breezepelt; Lionblaze's own half brother, and Ivyshade; Cinderheart's old apprentice. Breezepelt flicked his tail resentfully in front of the clans.
"You first," Ivyshade growled. Breezepelt nodded.
"Crowfeather, I choose Crowfeather," Breezepelt spat. Two black cats pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Crowfeather walked past Lionblaze, gasped a little when he saw him, but said nothing and gave only a proud nod to his son. Nightcloud was following him, and for a spilt second Lionblaze thought she was going to help her son kill her former mate. But as Crowfeather padded up to Breezepelt, Nightcloud started hurling words at her dead son.
"Traitor!" She spat angrily,"Killing your own father because of some petty grudge! I raised you better! Now your nothing but a crow food eating foxheart who take orders from a cat with thistle down for brains! You could have been great, a leader if you put your mind to it!" She stared down her son. But he didn't flinch.
"No, Mother, it's you who has thistledown for brains. You could have been with us, joined our army and lived with me. I could've taken care of you. But now you are just another fool standing in that medicine den." Nightcloud returned his burning gaze. Lionblaze could feel the tension in the air.
"You could have been a great warrior for Windclan, a great son. Maybe if you were than Crowfeather would have praised you like he praised his other sons." Nightcloud ventured, even though Lionblaze could see it hurt her to mention him and Jayfeather. Now Breezepelt looked utterly hurt. His fur was fluffed up twice it's size since she mention his half brothers.
"Your no longer my mother. And Crowfeather never wanted to be my father." Breezepelt pinned his father down by the throat and unsheathed his claws to attack. Nightcloud ran out into the clearing and pinned down her own son, attacking him furiously. Ivyshade just watched her den mate, flicking her tale occasionally. Crowfeather had joined the brawl, but it was over as soon as it started. Skinny Nightcloud was no match for her well fed, muscular son. She had deep gashes on her shoulders and flanks. Crowfeather had a torn shoulder, and Breezepelt had a few scratches down his side and a bite mark on his ear.
"You!" Breezepelt turned to Crowfeather,"Go back. I'll deal with you later," Crowfeather slunk away back into the medicine den. Nightcloud was still alive, barely breathing on the cold ground. Breezepelt walked over to her, looked down at her, and killed her with a single unsheathed claw. Lionblaze thought he saw regret flash in his eyes just for a moment. But he limped over to the warriors' den and slid into the darkness.
Lionblaze's attention turned to Ivyshade who had stood their quietly. Finally she spoke.
"Leopardkit," She mewed with no emotion in her voice. Lionblaze tensed. He would not let this piece of fox dung kill his precious daughter.
"Someone get her," Ivyshade mewed with an edge on her voice. No cat moved.
"Fine. Everyone move, I'll get her." Ivyshade pushedd through the cats. Lionblaze moved to the side, and his behind Bramblestar again. Where is Leafstar? Lionblaze thought fearfully. He knew he couldn't start the battle with the reinforcement of Skyclan, but his precious daughter was going to be slaughtered. The gray sky was growing darker, and clouds blocked out the sun. Ivyshade came out with a small spotted bundle in her teeth. A gray she-cat was chasing after them. Cinderheart!
"Leave my kit alone! She didn't do anything to you Ivyshade!" Lionblaze's mate hissed furiously.
Hurry up Leafstar! Lionblaze thought impatiently again. He searched the tops of the cliffs for any familiar shapes, but only Dark Forest warriors roamed around the camp. Ivyshade was ignoring Cinderheart's calls, instead she was laying Leopardkit on her back, and held her down with one paw. Lionblaze took a deep breathe and launched himself at her.
"Attack!" Lionblaze caterwauled. Confused, the cats in the medicine den were delayed for a heart beat, then they attack full force. Dark Forest warriors streamed out of their dens and from outside the camp. Lionblaze was battling Ivyshade still, and he stood over Leopardkit protectively.
"I thought you were dead," Ivyshade hissed.
"That doesn't seem to stop you!" Lionblaze retorted angrily. He swatted at her ears and bit her shoulder. He was much too powerful for her, she was never a really good fighter. He bit her throat and waited for her to return to the Dark Forest. It seemed that a cat had to stay in the Dark Forest for a while before returning to the real world. Lionblaze looked up. Even though the clans and the tribe were fighting like all of Starclan, they were losing. But Lionblaze pressed on. He saw Darkstripe up ahead, fighting with Hawkfrost against Thornclaw and Cedarclaw. Thornclaw was limping pitifully and Cedarclaw was fighting like a Lion. Lionblaze joined in and attacked Hawkfrost.
"That little fox heart lied to us! She said you were dead!" Hawkfrost hissed angrily. Lionblaze ripped his claws down Hawkfrost's tabby pelt. Hawkfrost hissed in fury and jumped on Lionblaze's shoulders. Lionblaze tried to shake him off, but Darkstripe was biting his legs. Cedarclaw was doing his best to nip at Darkstripe's hind legs. Lionblaze growled in fury as Hawkfrost dug his claws into his skin. He fell to his belly and rolled on his back, dislodging Hawkfrost. Lionblaze whirled around and sliced his claws across Darkstripe's eyes, blinding him. Lionblaze didn't know if Darkstripe would regain his vision once he entered the Dark Forest, but the golden tabby hoped he didn't.
Leaving Darkstripe to squirm on the ground in pain, Lionblaze flew at Hawkfrost. Rain pattered the hard ground and lightning split the air. Their claws met in each other's fur and tails lashed furiously. Lionblaze clawed at Hawkfrost's back, trying to gain power over him. Finally, he was able to get a grip on the tabby's fur and flip him onto his back, exposing his delicate underbelly. Hawkfrost hissed in fury. Lionblaze held him down with a paw on his throat. Hawkfrost tried to kick him off with his hind legs, but he was growing weaker. Lionblaze put him out of his misery with a long, deep cut from chin to tail. Blood pooled around his dead body. Lionblaze looked up, they were still losing.
Skyclan where are you?" Lionblaze yowled in his mind. The rain had turned to sleet and was pelting down at the cats in camp, making the battle that much harder. Lionblaze was soaked to his skin from the cold precipitation. Turning, Lionblaze saw Bramblestar fighting off two cats at once, but they were smaller and slower than he was. He saw all the elders fighting off a Place of No Stars cat, the kits and apprentices were also attacking two cats. He saw his own son leading the group.
"Honeykit and Flamekit, bite! Foxkit and Waterpaw tackle. I'll get him onto his back and Twigpaw and Leafpaw you can hold him down until me and Rainpaw kill these foxhearts!" Mountainpaw commanded. All the cats swarmed around the two cats,who were startled by the ferocity of the younger patrol. Lionblaze looked for a car who needed help, and his eyes landed on Stormfur and Brook. They were fighting against four other cats while protecting their three kits. Lionblaze launched himself across the clearing and landed on a tabby she-cat who was nipping at Stormfur's haunches.
"Thank Starclan your here Lionblaze!" Stormfur murmured in his ear while helping him attack the cat. Lionblaze ripped at the tom's shoulder which sent him screaming away in pain. Brook was hissing furiously while standing over her three small kits. The three other cats, a tom and two she-cats, were circling her and biting her when her attention was on the one in front of her. Lionblaze joined her around her kits and swatted at the tom's ginger ears. Stormfur was tussling on the muddy ground with one of the she-cats and Brook was confronting the other. Lionblaze kept one eye on the kits while he dodged the large tom's paws. One knocked him on the head. He was strong but not quick and Lionblaze was able to flip him over his own paws. He ripped his claws into the ginger tom's throat, blood pulsed out and turning the slush beneath him pink. Lighting shook the air, the clouds were so thick it was as if it was night, and against the lightning's burst of light, Lionblaze could see a figure silhouetted on top of the highledge. At first he thought it was Crowfeather, but the eyes were green, not blue like his father's. The cat had a strange twinkle in it's eye, and was gazing fondly at the cats below. It looked towards Lionblaze, then stopped dead in its track when the two locked eyes. All it's happiness disappeared, and replaced by shock and fury. It padded to the end of the highledge, still holding Lionblaze's gaze. Lionblaze couldn't figure out who this cat was in the sleet and ran coming down.
"Stop!" The cat yowled, Lionblaze realized it was his sister, Hollyleaf. But why was she stopping the battle?
Lionblaze poked his head into the warriors' den. A few of the warriors who did not wake up to Dovepelt's arrival were still sleeping. Sharpclaw padded in after him.
"Wake up. It's time for the battle," The deputy mewed loudly. The warriors razed their heads, the bolted up as Sharpclaw finished his sentence. Every cat was going in this battle, except for the elders and Echosong, but they too would accompany them to Thunderclan territory and help those who were hurt.
"Everybody go and eat, share as much fresh kill as possible, and then report to Leafstar," Sharpclaw instructed. The others shook their heads rapidly. Lionblaze nodded politely as Sharpclaw walked out. Lionblaze followed him. He saw Echosong leaving the camp with Sparrowpelt at her side.
"Where are they going? Don't they know were about to have a battle?" Sharpclaw hissed.
"Gingerstep is hurt in the forest somewhere, they are going to find her," Dovepelt retorted, she was walking up to Leafstar. Sharpclaw narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything.
"Come on," Lionblaze mewed hastily,"Leafstar is organizing patrols." The ginger and white leader was putting the clan into three groups; her patrol, Sharpclaw's patrol, and Lionblaze's patrol. In his patrol was Woody, Tinyfoot, Chestnutfur, Rockfur, and Waterpaw. Each patrol was five cats, and Lionblaze guessed Dovepelt would be with him. Heathertail was in Leafstar's patrol along with Sparrowpelt, Sagewhisker, Patchfoot, and Clovertail. Then Sharpclaw was in charge of Cherrytail, Petalnose, Fernpaw, and Robinpaw. Leafstar's patrol would lead the clan into battle, and when the signal came, Sharpclaw's patrol would enter along with Lionblaze. Lionblaze looked up to the cloudy sky and wondered if any Starclan cats would join their attack today, but the vast grayness gave no answer.
Lionblaze turned when he heard a cat entering the camp; it was Sparrowpelt dragging a ginger clump of fur, Gingerstep! She looked horrible, blood smeared on her body, her fur wet and sticking up in clumps, and her one paw was twisted in an awkward angle. Only the faint rise and fall of her chest reassured Lionblaze that his friend was alive. He ran up to Echosong as she entered the camp behind Sparrowpelt.
"How is she?" He murmured.
"Her paw is dislocated and broken, but it will heal. For now I need her to lie down and eat some poppy seeds."
"But what about the battle?" Lionblaze protested.
Echosong sighed,"That's what I've been worrying about. If she wakes up, I'll need to tell her that I won't be here. I'l leave her a few simple herbs, like poppyseeds and goldenrod poultice, but I can't do anymore," Lionblaze nodded, this was the best an medicine cat could do. He left her to clean her up and try and wake her.
"Cats of Skyclan," Leafstar's voice rang above the camp,"We are about to depart for war. I don't want any of you to worry, we have Starclan on our side. These, these vermin that call themselves cats, are our prey. Kill them, so we don't have to lay our eyes on them again." Lionblaze had a sudden fear, if these cats went straight to the Dark Forest, couldn't they just come back again? This war would go on forever, farther than even when Lionblaze was dead and long forgotten. None of the other cats seemed to have this fear, or atleast they didn't show it, so Lionblaze kept his mouth shut. Like Leafstar said, they had Starclan on their side.
"Gather the patrols, we leave now," The clan burst into cheers and Lionblaze led his patrol of of the safety of the camp. The frost that was on the ground the night before had melted in a slush on the forest floor.
"Lionblaze wait, I have an idea," Dovepelt called up to him.
"What is it?" She came up to his side, her gray pelt dulled and bones sticking out of her wiry frame.
"There is a tunnel, leading into the medicine den that Hollyleaf and her crew don't know about. That's how me and Gingerstep got out. But I think we could use it to attack." Dovepelt murmured.
"Go on," Lionblaze encouraged.
"Well, if this patrol hid there before the battle started we could get into the camp easier. When Leafstar's patrol is in the camp, the Place of No Stars cats would be guarding the entrance. We could-"
"Attack from all sides," Lionblaze finished. This was brilliant! "Take the lead, show us where to go," Lionblaze mewed warmly. He couldn't believe that only a few seasons ago, Dovepelt was his apprentice, now she was a confident warrior, and a queen no less. He almost purred with affection if it weren't for the growing doom of battle. The final rays of the sun flew over the horizon.
"We have to hurry, they'll choose who they're going to kill soon," Dovepelt mewed bluntly. Lionblaze looked back, his patrol was moving slower than he wanted.
"Come on! Let's go!" He encouraged, and gradually broke into a sprint. The river was coming up ahead, flowing freely without the ice. The patrol ran towards the stepping stones, barely feeling the drops of water on their fur as they glided through the trees. The pine forest was now behind them and they were in the middle of Thunderclan territory. Making sure the Skyclan cats were keeping close, he sprinted faster, slowing as they neared the camp.
"Is there anyone there?" Lionblaze hissed to Dovepelt. He waited for her to cast out her senses.
"There are three cats leaving the camp, but I think they're heading towards Windclan territory. Leafstar's patrol is nearing Thunderclan territory. Heathertail should be able to find the way back to the camp. Sharpclaw seems to be with them." Dovepelt looked back up to him, eyes sparkling. Lionblaze nodded.
"You take the leader, we need to get to that tunnel," Lionblaze panted. Dovepelt ran to the front and swerved away from Thunderclan's camp for a ways. Lionblaze could smell Thunderclan cats, even though he was steering away from them.
"Here, thats the tunnel," Dovepelt stopped beside what looked to be an old badger set below a boulder. The opening was barely big enough for a cat, about a tail length high and a tail length wide. But fresh air told Lionblaze that there was an opening on the other side.
"Careful, there are rocks and steep slopes as we go down, but it leads right into the medicine den," Dovepelt warned. She waved her tail towards it and Lionblaze entered first. Darkness engulfed him, he had to use his whiskers to guide him down the bumpy trail. His sides brushed the walls as the tunnel got narrower, he stumbled once on a large rock, hurting his front paw. The other cats behind him were doing no better, Waterpaw let out a hiss as she tripped over the same rock.
"Only a little further," Dovepelt murmured quietly. Lionblaze pressed on. Finally he could smell the fresh air and a gust of wind blew his fur to the side. The scent of rain carried on the breeze, but the air was heavy with something else. A curve in the path led to a rock wall, Lionblaze slipped around it, and suddenly he was in the medicine den.
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The medicine den was full of bustling cats at the front of the den. No one noticed the new arrivals, and Lionblaze wasn't sure what was holding their attention up front. He pushed his way to the front of the crowd, but stood behind a large tabby, Bramblestar. Hollyleaf was standing in front of them, fury glazing over her eyes.
"Where did they go?" She spat angrily,"Where did those fox hearted clan mates of yours go?" She looked down at a young brown tabby, Lionblaze's own son, Mountainpaw.
"You," She snatched the apprentice,"Where is Dovepelt and Gingerstep?" She shook him by the scruff.
"I don't know," He mumbled quietly.
"What? You don't know? You don't know?" She hurled Mountainpaw at the medicine den's stone walls, but he fell short and landed in a bush.
"If this is how it's going to be, I'm going to kill two cats today, end everyday until they come back," Hollyleaf hissed. Her emerald gaze slid over the crowd.
"Ivyshade and Breezepelt," She hollered over her shoulder,"Choose wisely." Hollyleaf walked away from the group, and two sinister looking cats stood in front of them. Breezepelt; Lionblaze's own half brother, and Ivyshade; Cinderheart's old apprentice. Breezepelt flicked his tail resentfully in front of the clans.
"You first," Ivyshade growled. Breezepelt nodded.
"Crowfeather, I choose Crowfeather," Breezepelt spat. Two black cats pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Crowfeather walked past Lionblaze, gasped a little when he saw him, but said nothing and gave only a proud nod to his son. Nightcloud was following him, and for a spilt second Lionblaze thought she was going to help her son kill her former mate. But as Crowfeather padded up to Breezepelt, Nightcloud started hurling words at her dead son.
"Traitor!" She spat angrily,"Killing your own father because of some petty grudge! I raised you better! Now your nothing but a crow food eating foxheart who take orders from a cat with thistle down for brains! You could have been great, a leader if you put your mind to it!" She stared down her son. But he didn't flinch.
"No, Mother, it's you who has thistledown for brains. You could have been with us, joined our army and lived with me. I could've taken care of you. But now you are just another fool standing in that medicine den." Nightcloud returned his burning gaze. Lionblaze could feel the tension in the air.
"You could have been a great warrior for Windclan, a great son. Maybe if you were than Crowfeather would have praised you like he praised his other sons." Nightcloud ventured, even though Lionblaze could see it hurt her to mention him and Jayfeather. Now Breezepelt looked utterly hurt. His fur was fluffed up twice it's size since she mention his half brothers.
"Your no longer my mother. And Crowfeather never wanted to be my father." Breezepelt pinned his father down by the throat and unsheathed his claws to attack. Nightcloud ran out into the clearing and pinned down her own son, attacking him furiously. Ivyshade just watched her den mate, flicking her tale occasionally. Crowfeather had joined the brawl, but it was over as soon as it started. Skinny Nightcloud was no match for her well fed, muscular son. She had deep gashes on her shoulders and flanks. Crowfeather had a torn shoulder, and Breezepelt had a few scratches down his side and a bite mark on his ear.
"You!" Breezepelt turned to Crowfeather,"Go back. I'll deal with you later," Crowfeather slunk away back into the medicine den. Nightcloud was still alive, barely breathing on the cold ground. Breezepelt walked over to her, looked down at her, and killed her with a single unsheathed claw. Lionblaze thought he saw regret flash in his eyes just for a moment. But he limped over to the warriors' den and slid into the darkness.
Lionblaze's attention turned to Ivyshade who had stood their quietly. Finally she spoke.
"Leopardkit," She mewed with no emotion in her voice. Lionblaze tensed. He would not let this piece of fox dung kill his precious daughter.
"Someone get her," Ivyshade mewed with an edge on her voice. No cat moved.
"Fine. Everyone move, I'll get her." Ivyshade pushedd through the cats. Lionblaze moved to the side, and his behind Bramblestar again. Where is Leafstar? Lionblaze thought fearfully. He knew he couldn't start the battle with the reinforcement of Skyclan, but his precious daughter was going to be slaughtered. The gray sky was growing darker, and clouds blocked out the sun. Ivyshade came out with a small spotted bundle in her teeth. A gray she-cat was chasing after them. Cinderheart!
"Leave my kit alone! She didn't do anything to you Ivyshade!" Lionblaze's mate hissed furiously.
Hurry up Leafstar! Lionblaze thought impatiently again. He searched the tops of the cliffs for any familiar shapes, but only Dark Forest warriors roamed around the camp. Ivyshade was ignoring Cinderheart's calls, instead she was laying Leopardkit on her back, and held her down with one paw. Lionblaze took a deep breathe and launched himself at her.
"Attack!" Lionblaze caterwauled. Confused, the cats in the medicine den were delayed for a heart beat, then they attack full force. Dark Forest warriors streamed out of their dens and from outside the camp. Lionblaze was battling Ivyshade still, and he stood over Leopardkit protectively.
"I thought you were dead," Ivyshade hissed.
"That doesn't seem to stop you!" Lionblaze retorted angrily. He swatted at her ears and bit her shoulder. He was much too powerful for her, she was never a really good fighter. He bit her throat and waited for her to return to the Dark Forest. It seemed that a cat had to stay in the Dark Forest for a while before returning to the real world. Lionblaze looked up. Even though the clans and the tribe were fighting like all of Starclan, they were losing. But Lionblaze pressed on. He saw Darkstripe up ahead, fighting with Hawkfrost against Thornclaw and Cedarclaw. Thornclaw was limping pitifully and Cedarclaw was fighting like a Lion. Lionblaze joined in and attacked Hawkfrost.
"That little fox heart lied to us! She said you were dead!" Hawkfrost hissed angrily. Lionblaze ripped his claws down Hawkfrost's tabby pelt. Hawkfrost hissed in fury and jumped on Lionblaze's shoulders. Lionblaze tried to shake him off, but Darkstripe was biting his legs. Cedarclaw was doing his best to nip at Darkstripe's hind legs. Lionblaze growled in fury as Hawkfrost dug his claws into his skin. He fell to his belly and rolled on his back, dislodging Hawkfrost. Lionblaze whirled around and sliced his claws across Darkstripe's eyes, blinding him. Lionblaze didn't know if Darkstripe would regain his vision once he entered the Dark Forest, but the golden tabby hoped he didn't.
Leaving Darkstripe to squirm on the ground in pain, Lionblaze flew at Hawkfrost. Rain pattered the hard ground and lightning split the air. Their claws met in each other's fur and tails lashed furiously. Lionblaze clawed at Hawkfrost's back, trying to gain power over him. Finally, he was able to get a grip on the tabby's fur and flip him onto his back, exposing his delicate underbelly. Hawkfrost hissed in fury. Lionblaze held him down with a paw on his throat. Hawkfrost tried to kick him off with his hind legs, but he was growing weaker. Lionblaze put him out of his misery with a long, deep cut from chin to tail. Blood pooled around his dead body. Lionblaze looked up, they were still losing.
Skyclan where are you?" Lionblaze yowled in his mind. The rain had turned to sleet and was pelting down at the cats in camp, making the battle that much harder. Lionblaze was soaked to his skin from the cold precipitation. Turning, Lionblaze saw Bramblestar fighting off two cats at once, but they were smaller and slower than he was. He saw all the elders fighting off a Place of No Stars cat, the kits and apprentices were also attacking two cats. He saw his own son leading the group.
"Honeykit and Flamekit, bite! Foxkit and Waterpaw tackle. I'll get him onto his back and Twigpaw and Leafpaw you can hold him down until me and Rainpaw kill these foxhearts!" Mountainpaw commanded. All the cats swarmed around the two cats,who were startled by the ferocity of the younger patrol. Lionblaze looked for a car who needed help, and his eyes landed on Stormfur and Brook. They were fighting against four other cats while protecting their three kits. Lionblaze launched himself across the clearing and landed on a tabby she-cat who was nipping at Stormfur's haunches.
"Thank Starclan your here Lionblaze!" Stormfur murmured in his ear while helping him attack the cat. Lionblaze ripped at the tom's shoulder which sent him screaming away in pain. Brook was hissing furiously while standing over her three small kits. The three other cats, a tom and two she-cats, were circling her and biting her when her attention was on the one in front of her. Lionblaze joined her around her kits and swatted at the tom's ginger ears. Stormfur was tussling on the muddy ground with one of the she-cats and Brook was confronting the other. Lionblaze kept one eye on the kits while he dodged the large tom's paws. One knocked him on the head. He was strong but not quick and Lionblaze was able to flip him over his own paws. He ripped his claws into the ginger tom's throat, blood pulsed out and turning the slush beneath him pink. Lighting shook the air, the clouds were so thick it was as if it was night, and against the lightning's burst of light, Lionblaze could see a figure silhouetted on top of the highledge. At first he thought it was Crowfeather, but the eyes were green, not blue like his father's. The cat had a strange twinkle in it's eye, and was gazing fondly at the cats below. It looked towards Lionblaze, then stopped dead in its track when the two locked eyes. All it's happiness disappeared, and replaced by shock and fury. It padded to the end of the highledge, still holding Lionblaze's gaze. Lionblaze couldn't figure out who this cat was in the sleet and ran coming down.
"Stop!" The cat yowled, Lionblaze realized it was his sister, Hollyleaf. But why was she stopping the battle?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Chapt 45
"Jay's Wing, you will help me attack Fringed Eagle," Furled Bracken's throaty meow was directed at the gray tabby tom. Jayfeather nodded, he was prepared for anything now after the long training session with Stone Song and the others.
"Alright," Furled Bracken surveyed his patrol of cats; Shy Fawn, Stone Song, and Jay's Wing were all huddled around the tribe's leader. The sky was growing darker as the sun settled below the horizon. A patrol during the day had spotted Fringed Eagle crossing the moors, and had followed him as far as the Pine Forests- way on the other side of the lake, so Furled Bracken decided to set out earlier. They wanted to catch him as he was going to sleep. Nothing mattered to them anymore, not even mercy, they would kill Fringed Eagle at any cost. Jayfeather had learned from Half Moon that Fringed Eagle had savagely attacked and killed many tribe cats and stolen kits. But the worse was yet to come. Fringed Eagle was a ruthless killer- and hunter. He ate what he caught, and the elders of the tribe called him a kin eater. Half Moon said he had teeth longer than any Sharpclaw's and claws sharper than the talons of the hawks that flown above looking for prey on the moors. Jayfeather was terrified of the thought of being a kit sneaking out of camp looking for an adventure, only to be caught between the claws of this murderous cat eater.
"He has a tribe name," Jayfeather had said to Half Moon earlier,"How did he get it?"
"I swear you must have bees in your brain if you forget this story," Half Moon had sighed,"I don't even know how many times the elders have told us this story. Fringed Eagle was born here in this tribe, his mother was Fish Leap's mother's mother, not Fish Leap's mother's littermate, but a litter older than her. He never really socialized with any cat. The elders say, one Leafbare it was so cold, no prey at all could be found, and many kits died. Fringed Eagle had buried them, and we don't know for sure- but many think he ate them. Soon apprentices and a few elders died. He always volunteered to bury them, especially alone. All Leafbare he was full and plump while the rest of the tribe starved. The leader then was Snake Bite, and she confronted Fringed Eagle about this. Fringed Eagle only said he was more used to the cold than us. Then Greenleaf came, and cats stopped dying. Fringed Eagle must have been yearning for cat meat, because he tried to kill his softpaw by drowning him in the river. It worked and his softpaw was dead. Another sharpclaw was hunting nearby and had stumbled upon Fringed Eagle, eating his softpaw. When Fringed Eagle had saw the sharpclaw, he attacked almost killing her. Fortunately, she managed to escape and tell the tribe before anyone else got hurt." Her gaze darkened as she finished.
"Then what?" Jayfeather murmured, mesmerized by the chilling details of which she told the story.
"Fringed Eagle was banished from the tribes and for a long time we didn't see him. Last Leafbare we lost a sharpclaw. A patrol soon found her remains, half buried under a leaf pile. Her bones were stripped bare, except for her head and tail. Another cat's scent was all around her bone's, and the patrol followed it to a clearing," Half Moon had settled closer to Jayfeather," And in the clearing, that's where they saw him. Fringed Eagle was running, faster than any cat who chased him. He ran out of our territory, but he didn't leave forever. We could scent him almost everyday from then on." Half Moon finished. She looked hollow and frightened, and even though Jayfeather knew he shouldn't do this because he was a medicine cat and because he wasn't the real Jay's Wing, he pressed his gray tabby fur against hers.
But now, standing on the moor with the patrol, Jayfeather was not able to be comforted by Half Moon's sweet scent. Furled Bracken was in the lead, carefully trotting through the tall grasses. Jayfeather was a step or two behind him, watching for any signal of the terrifying cannibal. Suddenly, Furled Bracken stopped.
"Tonight we shall face an enemy like no other," Furled Bracken whispered,"But we must be strong. I only ask of of my patrol one thing. When the time comes for Fringed Eagle to die, you must promise that it will be me, and me alone that kills him." Furled Bracken turned around, looking into each cats' eyes. Jayfeather guessed that it was a pride thing for Furled Bracken to kill this cat that threatened his tribe for so many seasons.
"Do you promise?" Furled Bracken murmured. Each cat, including Jayfeather, nodded their heads determinedly. Furled Bracken breathed in a gust of air, and turned around. Jayfeather could hear him mutter to himself,"Guide our paws well tonight, fire, wind, earth, and water, we will need all your help,"
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The final rays of the sun were making the lake's usually blue water stained scarlet. Jayfeather wondered if this was a bad omen. None of the other cats seemed to notice, and without his warrior ancestors, Jayfeather felt utterly alone. Furled Bracken began to pick up the pace, until the whole patrol was running full speed along the shore, sending sand and pebbles in the air. Just as they reached the pine trees, the sun set fully, and an owl hooted above them. Jayfeather shivered, this day was full of evil omens. Something bad was going to happen.
Silently, the group padded through the pine forest, the slippery needles did not crunch as they padded on them. Soon, they reached a clearing, Furled bracken stopped dead in his tracks. The rest of the patrol hid below low lying pine branches and watched. A broad shouldered, orange golden tom was gathering his pile of fresh kill and dragging it into a hollowed out tree trunk. Jayfeather could see his long claws, but it seemed to fit more to call them talons. The murderous cat thankfully could not smell the patrol, with the wind blowing in their direction and prey covering his senses. Jayfeather looked to Furled Bracken, he was murmuring something over and over, but Jayfeather couldn't catch his words. Shy Fawn was behind him, digging her claws into the ground, and Stone Song had his teeth bared. Looking back, Jayfeather saw Fringed Eagle's emerald green eyes glint in the darkness, then close as he fell into sleep. This was there chance. Furled Bracken lifted his tail slowly, and carefully padded into the clearing. Jayfeather watched each of his paws slide into the slippery needles, not making a noise. The rest of the patrol was doing the same. They reached the hollowed tree, and Furled Bracken let out a fierce caterwaul. Fringed Eagle shot up out of his nest, and fluffed up his fur making him look twice his size.
"Get out of here!" Fringed Eagle commanded.
"Not until your dead!" Furled Bracken roared. The two toms hurled themselves at each other. For a heart beat they fought alone until Jayfeather and the others jumped in to help. Even though Fringed Eagle was horribly outnumbered, he was doing as good as the other. He swiped his claws down the bridge of Jayfeather's nose, and Jayfeather bit his hind leg. He could feel the warm, sticky blood in his mouth. Shy Fawn was batting at his ears and Stone Song was clawing at his back. Suddenly, Fringed Eagle fell to the ground. Thinking he was dead, Jayfeather nosed his fur. Fringed Eagle shot up, grabbed Jayfeather by the scruff, and ran.
"Jay's Wing!" Stone Song roared, pelting after him. Jayfeather couldn't breathe, every time Fringed Eagle moved his front leg, it hit him, knocking them wind out of him. He tried to scratch at his kidnapper, but his claws just raked the air. Fringed Eagle was Running towards what would be Thunderclan territory, and Jayfeather remembered this place was full of badgers. Fringed Eagle never seemed to get tired, as he ran through the stream, soaking himself and Jayfeather. Finally he stopped, and slammed Jayfeather against a tree.
"Let me go!" Jayfeather screeched. Fringed Eagle ignored him.
"It's been a long time since I've had cat meat ," He nosed at Jayfeather's fur,"and you're nice and plump. All Softpaw's are, my softpaw especially." He sighed. He lifted Jayfeather again, and smacked him against the tree. Jayfeather saw spots. He was too dazed to fight back. Fringed Eagle smacked him again, and again, until Jayfeather blacked out. Jayfeather opened his eyes, he was watching Fringed Eagle smack his limp body against a tree. He could see that he was still breathing. Next to him a large hairless mass.
"Hello Jayfeather," It was Rock,"How is your time with the tribe going?"
"I'm being smacked up against a tree! That's how my time in the tribe is going!" Jayfeather hissed,"Why am I here?" He winced as he felt a dull pain in his head.
"For a time of watching and listening. Your tribe mates are coming for you," Now that Jayfeather realized, he could hear cats crashing through the brambles and calling his tribe name. Furled Bracken crashed through the brambles on the other side of where Fringed Eagle was and attacked him. Jayfeather's body fell limply to the ground as the two cats fought. Shy Fawn and Stone Song joined the fight. Finally the patrol over powered Fringed Eagle. Furled Bracken had his paw on the golden tabby's throat.
"Go and listen to Furled Bracken, quickly," Rock nudged him towards the tribe leader. Jayfeather sat next to Furled Bracken. He was muttering something again.
"Strip you of your soul, send you to the blackness. Will not harm again, will not see again." Furled Bracken murmured, in a trance.
"What are you doing?" Fringed Eagle spat angrily. But Furled Bracken did not flinch. Stone Song and Shy fawn just watched their leader.
"The evil will not be seen, the evil will not be heard. Your memory will vanish with your spirit." Furled bracken grew louder, fury in his eyes. "By the water, wind, earth and fire, I condemn you to a soulless afterlife! You will never harm anyone again!" Furled Bracken bit down on Fringed Eagle's throat. Fringed Eagle thrashed for a few moments, then lay still. Jayfeather was too shocked to speak, he just walked back to Rock.
"Remember that young Jayfeather," Rock murmured,"There will be a time when you will need this," Jayfeather turned back to Rock.
"Why did he do that?" The gray tabby murmured. Rock sighed.
"Furled Bracken has taken away the soul of Fringed Eagle, he will not spend his after life along with any other cat. Which means he can not hurt any other cat." Rock mewed. He began to fade away, and Jayfeather went blind again.
"Alright," Furled Bracken surveyed his patrol of cats; Shy Fawn, Stone Song, and Jay's Wing were all huddled around the tribe's leader. The sky was growing darker as the sun settled below the horizon. A patrol during the day had spotted Fringed Eagle crossing the moors, and had followed him as far as the Pine Forests- way on the other side of the lake, so Furled Bracken decided to set out earlier. They wanted to catch him as he was going to sleep. Nothing mattered to them anymore, not even mercy, they would kill Fringed Eagle at any cost. Jayfeather had learned from Half Moon that Fringed Eagle had savagely attacked and killed many tribe cats and stolen kits. But the worse was yet to come. Fringed Eagle was a ruthless killer- and hunter. He ate what he caught, and the elders of the tribe called him a kin eater. Half Moon said he had teeth longer than any Sharpclaw's and claws sharper than the talons of the hawks that flown above looking for prey on the moors. Jayfeather was terrified of the thought of being a kit sneaking out of camp looking for an adventure, only to be caught between the claws of this murderous cat eater.
"He has a tribe name," Jayfeather had said to Half Moon earlier,"How did he get it?"
"I swear you must have bees in your brain if you forget this story," Half Moon had sighed,"I don't even know how many times the elders have told us this story. Fringed Eagle was born here in this tribe, his mother was Fish Leap's mother's mother, not Fish Leap's mother's littermate, but a litter older than her. He never really socialized with any cat. The elders say, one Leafbare it was so cold, no prey at all could be found, and many kits died. Fringed Eagle had buried them, and we don't know for sure- but many think he ate them. Soon apprentices and a few elders died. He always volunteered to bury them, especially alone. All Leafbare he was full and plump while the rest of the tribe starved. The leader then was Snake Bite, and she confronted Fringed Eagle about this. Fringed Eagle only said he was more used to the cold than us. Then Greenleaf came, and cats stopped dying. Fringed Eagle must have been yearning for cat meat, because he tried to kill his softpaw by drowning him in the river. It worked and his softpaw was dead. Another sharpclaw was hunting nearby and had stumbled upon Fringed Eagle, eating his softpaw. When Fringed Eagle had saw the sharpclaw, he attacked almost killing her. Fortunately, she managed to escape and tell the tribe before anyone else got hurt." Her gaze darkened as she finished.
"Then what?" Jayfeather murmured, mesmerized by the chilling details of which she told the story.
"Fringed Eagle was banished from the tribes and for a long time we didn't see him. Last Leafbare we lost a sharpclaw. A patrol soon found her remains, half buried under a leaf pile. Her bones were stripped bare, except for her head and tail. Another cat's scent was all around her bone's, and the patrol followed it to a clearing," Half Moon had settled closer to Jayfeather," And in the clearing, that's where they saw him. Fringed Eagle was running, faster than any cat who chased him. He ran out of our territory, but he didn't leave forever. We could scent him almost everyday from then on." Half Moon finished. She looked hollow and frightened, and even though Jayfeather knew he shouldn't do this because he was a medicine cat and because he wasn't the real Jay's Wing, he pressed his gray tabby fur against hers.
But now, standing on the moor with the patrol, Jayfeather was not able to be comforted by Half Moon's sweet scent. Furled Bracken was in the lead, carefully trotting through the tall grasses. Jayfeather was a step or two behind him, watching for any signal of the terrifying cannibal. Suddenly, Furled Bracken stopped.
"Tonight we shall face an enemy like no other," Furled Bracken whispered,"But we must be strong. I only ask of of my patrol one thing. When the time comes for Fringed Eagle to die, you must promise that it will be me, and me alone that kills him." Furled Bracken turned around, looking into each cats' eyes. Jayfeather guessed that it was a pride thing for Furled Bracken to kill this cat that threatened his tribe for so many seasons.
"Do you promise?" Furled Bracken murmured. Each cat, including Jayfeather, nodded their heads determinedly. Furled Bracken breathed in a gust of air, and turned around. Jayfeather could hear him mutter to himself,"Guide our paws well tonight, fire, wind, earth, and water, we will need all your help,"
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The final rays of the sun were making the lake's usually blue water stained scarlet. Jayfeather wondered if this was a bad omen. None of the other cats seemed to notice, and without his warrior ancestors, Jayfeather felt utterly alone. Furled Bracken began to pick up the pace, until the whole patrol was running full speed along the shore, sending sand and pebbles in the air. Just as they reached the pine trees, the sun set fully, and an owl hooted above them. Jayfeather shivered, this day was full of evil omens. Something bad was going to happen.
Silently, the group padded through the pine forest, the slippery needles did not crunch as they padded on them. Soon, they reached a clearing, Furled bracken stopped dead in his tracks. The rest of the patrol hid below low lying pine branches and watched. A broad shouldered, orange golden tom was gathering his pile of fresh kill and dragging it into a hollowed out tree trunk. Jayfeather could see his long claws, but it seemed to fit more to call them talons. The murderous cat thankfully could not smell the patrol, with the wind blowing in their direction and prey covering his senses. Jayfeather looked to Furled Bracken, he was murmuring something over and over, but Jayfeather couldn't catch his words. Shy Fawn was behind him, digging her claws into the ground, and Stone Song had his teeth bared. Looking back, Jayfeather saw Fringed Eagle's emerald green eyes glint in the darkness, then close as he fell into sleep. This was there chance. Furled Bracken lifted his tail slowly, and carefully padded into the clearing. Jayfeather watched each of his paws slide into the slippery needles, not making a noise. The rest of the patrol was doing the same. They reached the hollowed tree, and Furled Bracken let out a fierce caterwaul. Fringed Eagle shot up out of his nest, and fluffed up his fur making him look twice his size.
"Get out of here!" Fringed Eagle commanded.
"Not until your dead!" Furled Bracken roared. The two toms hurled themselves at each other. For a heart beat they fought alone until Jayfeather and the others jumped in to help. Even though Fringed Eagle was horribly outnumbered, he was doing as good as the other. He swiped his claws down the bridge of Jayfeather's nose, and Jayfeather bit his hind leg. He could feel the warm, sticky blood in his mouth. Shy Fawn was batting at his ears and Stone Song was clawing at his back. Suddenly, Fringed Eagle fell to the ground. Thinking he was dead, Jayfeather nosed his fur. Fringed Eagle shot up, grabbed Jayfeather by the scruff, and ran.
"Jay's Wing!" Stone Song roared, pelting after him. Jayfeather couldn't breathe, every time Fringed Eagle moved his front leg, it hit him, knocking them wind out of him. He tried to scratch at his kidnapper, but his claws just raked the air. Fringed Eagle was Running towards what would be Thunderclan territory, and Jayfeather remembered this place was full of badgers. Fringed Eagle never seemed to get tired, as he ran through the stream, soaking himself and Jayfeather. Finally he stopped, and slammed Jayfeather against a tree.
"Let me go!" Jayfeather screeched. Fringed Eagle ignored him.
"It's been a long time since I've had cat meat ," He nosed at Jayfeather's fur,"and you're nice and plump. All Softpaw's are, my softpaw especially." He sighed. He lifted Jayfeather again, and smacked him against the tree. Jayfeather saw spots. He was too dazed to fight back. Fringed Eagle smacked him again, and again, until Jayfeather blacked out. Jayfeather opened his eyes, he was watching Fringed Eagle smack his limp body against a tree. He could see that he was still breathing. Next to him a large hairless mass.
"Hello Jayfeather," It was Rock,"How is your time with the tribe going?"
"I'm being smacked up against a tree! That's how my time in the tribe is going!" Jayfeather hissed,"Why am I here?" He winced as he felt a dull pain in his head.
"For a time of watching and listening. Your tribe mates are coming for you," Now that Jayfeather realized, he could hear cats crashing through the brambles and calling his tribe name. Furled Bracken crashed through the brambles on the other side of where Fringed Eagle was and attacked him. Jayfeather's body fell limply to the ground as the two cats fought. Shy Fawn and Stone Song joined the fight. Finally the patrol over powered Fringed Eagle. Furled Bracken had his paw on the golden tabby's throat.
"Go and listen to Furled Bracken, quickly," Rock nudged him towards the tribe leader. Jayfeather sat next to Furled Bracken. He was muttering something again.
"Strip you of your soul, send you to the blackness. Will not harm again, will not see again." Furled Bracken murmured, in a trance.
"What are you doing?" Fringed Eagle spat angrily. But Furled Bracken did not flinch. Stone Song and Shy fawn just watched their leader.
"The evil will not be seen, the evil will not be heard. Your memory will vanish with your spirit." Furled bracken grew louder, fury in his eyes. "By the water, wind, earth and fire, I condemn you to a soulless afterlife! You will never harm anyone again!" Furled Bracken bit down on Fringed Eagle's throat. Fringed Eagle thrashed for a few moments, then lay still. Jayfeather was too shocked to speak, he just walked back to Rock.
"Remember that young Jayfeather," Rock murmured,"There will be a time when you will need this," Jayfeather turned back to Rock.
"Why did he do that?" The gray tabby murmured. Rock sighed.
"Furled Bracken has taken away the soul of Fringed Eagle, he will not spend his after life along with any other cat. Which means he can not hurt any other cat." Rock mewed. He began to fade away, and Jayfeather went blind again.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Chapt 44
Dovepelt's fur quivered in the Leafbare wind. She was standing side by side with Gingerstep. Dovepelt could hear Hollyleaf sleeping in her den, curled in a bed of moss. There were four guards out tonight, one in the front of the camp, two guarding the medicine den,and one in the center of the camp. Dovepelt flicked her ears towards the warriors' den where most of the cats slept. One cat was tossing in his nest, but all the others were sleeping soundly.
"Can we go?" Gingerstep whispered quietly. Dovepelt checked around the territory again, but no cat was in the forest.
"Yes, no cat is in the forest," Dovepelt added hastily,"Where is Skyclan staying?"
"The Shadowclan camp." Gingerstep pointed her nose towards the Shadowclan border. Dovepelt nodded. The two she-cats made their way to through the forest. Dovepelt carefully picked her paws off the ground so she did not crack the twigs and iced over snow. She had to unsheathe her claws so she would not slip and fall. She walked a few tail-length's forward near a shriveled brown fern. She whipped around as she heard a gasp and a crack against the ice. Gingerstep's paw was splayed awkwardly behind her, her eyes screaming out in pain that she could not voice. Dovepelt carefully raced over to her.
"My paw, I think it's broken," Gingerstep whimpered with clenched teeth. Before responding, Dovepelt reached her senses out to the stone hollow, no cats were stirring in the camp.
"What are we going to do, we'll have to get you back to camp," Dovepelt helped her up. She could stand on three paws, but her left front paw was bleeding heavily.
"i can't go back like this, the blood trail will lead them right back here," Gingerstep winced as she moved her paw.
"And there's no way you can make it through the tunnel back to the medicine den. Come on, we have to get you to the Shadowclan camp by morning," Looking up she saw the crescent moon floating right above them,"Come on, it's moonhigh already." Dovepelt helped her limp slowly across the territory, pausing every few steps to let her breathe. Her blood left an eery trail behind them, if Hollyleaf found them missing, it wouldn't be hard to follow their trail. Gingerstep gasped as she slipped a little, tapping her bent paw on a broken tree limb. By now her paw was soaked in blood.
"We need to find something to stop the bleeding," She added as Gingerstep slumped to the ground,"and fast." She scanned the forest for any silver silk of a cobweb in the white light of the Moon. She could not tell between the light reflecting off the snow of the forest floor and the icicles on the trees where she would find cobwebs.
"There's no cobwebs, I'll try and find some leaves," She turned back to Gingerstep. She was laying on the ground, eyes closed, and the snow around her was scarlet. Dovepelt thought she was dead until she raised her head.
"Please," Gingerstep rasped,"Hurry." Dovepelt knew that all the leaves left in the forest would be under the snow , a full mouse length deep. Dovepelt began digging, her paws going cold with the snow digging into her claws. The snow was packed hard, and the top layer was frozen. Her claws were being torn and she began to bleed a little, finally she had reached the frozen ground underneath. There were a few dead brown leaves, Dovepelt scooped them up and trotted back to the ginger she-cat. Carefully wrapping Gingerstep's paw in the leaves. Gingerstep squeaked a little, but other wise her mouth was firmly shut. Dovepelt looked up at the moon, it had barely moved since she had checked it before- they still had enough time to make it to the camp if they didn't stop again.
"Can you keep going?" Dovepelt murmured.
After a moments hesitation, Gingerstep nodded.
"Then let's go," Dovepelt mewed. They set off again, a little slow at first, but as Gingerstep got used to her limp, she tottered on her three legs. Dovepelt looked up to the night sky again, the moon had moved down the sky, the night was almost over. Dovepelt nudged Gingerstep along faster, they were halfway to the border. Dovepelt no longer worried about cracking the ice and twigs beneath her, she went through the forest as quick as she could while still supporting Gingerstep. They were finally at the border, when the first streaks of sunlight pierced the black sky.
"This is no use," Gingerstep murmured,"We'll never make it to the camp in time. You go ahead, I'll try and find Echosong when I limp my way there," There was no fear in the younger warrior's eyes, just a cold determination to help her clanmates back at the stone hollow.
"Be careful, Gingerstep," Dovepelt whispered in her friends ear.
"Go, now," Gingerstep shoved her a little with her head. Dovepelt gave her a lick on the ear, and she sprinted towards the Shadowclan camp. The pine needles made the ground slippery, not to mention the ice. Slipping through the trees, she could scent many cats up ahead. The entrance to the camp was a thick barrier of thorns and twigs. The sides scraped against her pelt, but Dovepelt didn't care. She had to get to LionblazeDovepelt thought that they would attack her, but Lionblaze burst out after them.
"Dovepelt! You're here!" Lionblaze's amber eyes looked past her,"Where is Gingerstep?"
"We must hurry, she's hurt. I think she broke her paw," Dovepelt quickly explained what happened to the young ginger she-cat. Another tom came up beside Lionblaze, an older ginger tom.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" He whispered into Lionblaze's ear.
"Don't worry," Lionblaze mewed,"She's a friend." The ginger tom stared at Dovepelt for a moment, his deep green gaze piercing through her gray fur like a sharpened thorn. He nodded and trotted off. Another cat came up beside Lionblaze. She was a brown and cream tabby.
"Leafstar, this is Dovepelt. She was my apprentice many seasons ago, she is one of the three," Lionblaze gestured to Dovepelt. Dovepelt dipped her head respectfully.
"Greetings. I am guessing that this is Gingerstep's sign." Leafstar mewed. Lionblaze nodded.
"We need to help Gingerstep. She's out in the forest somewhere with a broken paw!" Dovepelt hissed. Her patience was beginning to fade with fear for her friend. Leafstar nodded.
"Echosong, we need you," Leafstar called. A small pretty silver she-cat trotted through a small whole in a den and appeared next to the group.
"What's wrong?" She murmured. Dovepelt explained the story once more.
"I'll go out right away, can I have a warrior please?" Echosong mewed. Leafstar dipped her head. Echosong padded away calling a dark brown tabby.
"How bad is it at the clans?" Lionblaze mewed.
"They are starting to kill us off one by one, everyday at dawn," Dovepelt looked back up to the sky, the sun was barely over the horizon,"They've already killed Firefoot and Cherrytail. They're not giving us enough fresh kill or letting us use dirt place. I came to get you and Skyclan to attack today. If I'm gone any longer they'll figure it out and kill more cats!" Dovepelt pictured her six small kits being slaughtered at the claws of an evil cat like Hollyleaf.
"We'll ;eave right away. We've already made battle plans," Lionblaze mewed firmly. Dovepelt was a little surprised that Lionblaze made orders without consulting Leafstar. Shrugging off her wariness, she followed Lionblaze and Leafstar to collect the battle patrols.
"Can we go?" Gingerstep whispered quietly. Dovepelt checked around the territory again, but no cat was in the forest.
"Yes, no cat is in the forest," Dovepelt added hastily,"Where is Skyclan staying?"
"The Shadowclan camp." Gingerstep pointed her nose towards the Shadowclan border. Dovepelt nodded. The two she-cats made their way to through the forest. Dovepelt carefully picked her paws off the ground so she did not crack the twigs and iced over snow. She had to unsheathe her claws so she would not slip and fall. She walked a few tail-length's forward near a shriveled brown fern. She whipped around as she heard a gasp and a crack against the ice. Gingerstep's paw was splayed awkwardly behind her, her eyes screaming out in pain that she could not voice. Dovepelt carefully raced over to her.
"My paw, I think it's broken," Gingerstep whimpered with clenched teeth. Before responding, Dovepelt reached her senses out to the stone hollow, no cats were stirring in the camp.
"What are we going to do, we'll have to get you back to camp," Dovepelt helped her up. She could stand on three paws, but her left front paw was bleeding heavily.
"i can't go back like this, the blood trail will lead them right back here," Gingerstep winced as she moved her paw.
"And there's no way you can make it through the tunnel back to the medicine den. Come on, we have to get you to the Shadowclan camp by morning," Looking up she saw the crescent moon floating right above them,"Come on, it's moonhigh already." Dovepelt helped her limp slowly across the territory, pausing every few steps to let her breathe. Her blood left an eery trail behind them, if Hollyleaf found them missing, it wouldn't be hard to follow their trail. Gingerstep gasped as she slipped a little, tapping her bent paw on a broken tree limb. By now her paw was soaked in blood.
"We need to find something to stop the bleeding," She added as Gingerstep slumped to the ground,"and fast." She scanned the forest for any silver silk of a cobweb in the white light of the Moon. She could not tell between the light reflecting off the snow of the forest floor and the icicles on the trees where she would find cobwebs.
"There's no cobwebs, I'll try and find some leaves," She turned back to Gingerstep. She was laying on the ground, eyes closed, and the snow around her was scarlet. Dovepelt thought she was dead until she raised her head.
"Please," Gingerstep rasped,"Hurry." Dovepelt knew that all the leaves left in the forest would be under the snow , a full mouse length deep. Dovepelt began digging, her paws going cold with the snow digging into her claws. The snow was packed hard, and the top layer was frozen. Her claws were being torn and she began to bleed a little, finally she had reached the frozen ground underneath. There were a few dead brown leaves, Dovepelt scooped them up and trotted back to the ginger she-cat. Carefully wrapping Gingerstep's paw in the leaves. Gingerstep squeaked a little, but other wise her mouth was firmly shut. Dovepelt looked up at the moon, it had barely moved since she had checked it before- they still had enough time to make it to the camp if they didn't stop again.
"Can you keep going?" Dovepelt murmured.
After a moments hesitation, Gingerstep nodded.
"Then let's go," Dovepelt mewed. They set off again, a little slow at first, but as Gingerstep got used to her limp, she tottered on her three legs. Dovepelt looked up to the night sky again, the moon had moved down the sky, the night was almost over. Dovepelt nudged Gingerstep along faster, they were halfway to the border. Dovepelt no longer worried about cracking the ice and twigs beneath her, she went through the forest as quick as she could while still supporting Gingerstep. They were finally at the border, when the first streaks of sunlight pierced the black sky.
"This is no use," Gingerstep murmured,"We'll never make it to the camp in time. You go ahead, I'll try and find Echosong when I limp my way there," There was no fear in the younger warrior's eyes, just a cold determination to help her clanmates back at the stone hollow.
"Be careful, Gingerstep," Dovepelt whispered in her friends ear.
"Go, now," Gingerstep shoved her a little with her head. Dovepelt gave her a lick on the ear, and she sprinted towards the Shadowclan camp. The pine needles made the ground slippery, not to mention the ice. Slipping through the trees, she could scent many cats up ahead. The entrance to the camp was a thick barrier of thorns and twigs. The sides scraped against her pelt, but Dovepelt didn't care. She had to get to LionblazeDovepelt thought that they would attack her, but Lionblaze burst out after them.
"Dovepelt! You're here!" Lionblaze's amber eyes looked past her,"Where is Gingerstep?"
"We must hurry, she's hurt. I think she broke her paw," Dovepelt quickly explained what happened to the young ginger she-cat. Another tom came up beside Lionblaze, an older ginger tom.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" He whispered into Lionblaze's ear.
"Don't worry," Lionblaze mewed,"She's a friend." The ginger tom stared at Dovepelt for a moment, his deep green gaze piercing through her gray fur like a sharpened thorn. He nodded and trotted off. Another cat came up beside Lionblaze. She was a brown and cream tabby.
"Leafstar, this is Dovepelt. She was my apprentice many seasons ago, she is one of the three," Lionblaze gestured to Dovepelt. Dovepelt dipped her head respectfully.
"Greetings. I am guessing that this is Gingerstep's sign." Leafstar mewed. Lionblaze nodded.
"We need to help Gingerstep. She's out in the forest somewhere with a broken paw!" Dovepelt hissed. Her patience was beginning to fade with fear for her friend. Leafstar nodded.
"Echosong, we need you," Leafstar called. A small pretty silver she-cat trotted through a small whole in a den and appeared next to the group.
"What's wrong?" She murmured. Dovepelt explained the story once more.
"I'll go out right away, can I have a warrior please?" Echosong mewed. Leafstar dipped her head. Echosong padded away calling a dark brown tabby.
"How bad is it at the clans?" Lionblaze mewed.
"They are starting to kill us off one by one, everyday at dawn," Dovepelt looked back up to the sky, the sun was barely over the horizon,"They've already killed Firefoot and Cherrytail. They're not giving us enough fresh kill or letting us use dirt place. I came to get you and Skyclan to attack today. If I'm gone any longer they'll figure it out and kill more cats!" Dovepelt pictured her six small kits being slaughtered at the claws of an evil cat like Hollyleaf.
"We'll ;eave right away. We've already made battle plans," Lionblaze mewed firmly. Dovepelt was a little surprised that Lionblaze made orders without consulting Leafstar. Shrugging off her wariness, she followed Lionblaze and Leafstar to collect the battle patrols.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Chapt 43
Lionblaze paced around the camp. It was a day after Gingerstep had left and he couldn't stand waiting here for a signal. Skyclan was growing used to Shadowclan's old camp, the nursery had been patched up and the elders were gossiping under the Tall Pine. Leafstar was checking in on all the cats in the dens, making sure everyone was comfortable. No one could leave the camp, except for at night to hunt. Echosong had found Flametail's herbs and was settling in nicely.
Lionblaze hissed quietly. How could any cat relax at a time like this? He wanted to be back helping the clans, fighting beside his clanmates.
"I know how it feels," Heathertail was suddenly next to him,"I feel like I could just run back to the clans and fight them. But what good would that do? We would get killed. We have to wait for Gingerstep's signal." the two cats had grown closer over their journey, even with their troubled past.
"What if she didn't make it," Lionblaze gulped,"What if she was...killed?"
"Than Starclan would send us a sign." Heathertail mewed.
"Starclan has nothing to do with this. We hold our destiny in our own paws." Lionblaze spat. Heathertail didn't flinch.
"No, Starclan are always with us. If we don't believe they can help us, we will all die," her gaze ripped through his pelt,"They haven't deserted us before, and they won't now." Heathertail stood up and padded away.
"Don't forget that Lionblaze," She mewed so only he could hear. Lionblaze watched her go, still unsure that their warrior ancestors truly cared about he clans around the lake. Would they be there to fight with them when Gingerstep gave them her signal?
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Lionblaze tossed in his bedding. Sleep would not come to him tonight with his mind full of memories of the first battle. He remembered seeing Graystripe being torn apart by a whole group of cats. He recognized one as Darkstripe. Lionblaze had tried to help him, but he was attacked by another Dark Forest warrior. By the time he got to Graystripe, he was dead.
the next memory flashed in his mind, the vision of Breezepelt racing across the battle field, and plowing down Crowfeather. Breezepelt had learned Tigerstar's battle moves, and had pinned down his father, ready to strike his throat with an unsheathed paw. Lionblaze had been close enough to attack Breezepelt this time, so he tackled the black tom.
"This is not your battle!" Breezepelt spat to his half brother. Lionblaze bit his ear, making Breezepelt screech in fury.
"That is your father, how could you betray your family, your clan, the Warrior Code?" Lionblaze hissed in his ear.
"I'm protecting it from half clan cats like you!" Breezepelt used his hind legs to flip Lionblaze off him, and jumped on his shoulders. Lionblaze reared back and sent the dark tom to the ground. Lionblaze pinned him down again.
"Good-bye Breezepelt," He murmured. For a moment fear flashed through Breezepelt's amber eyes. Lionblaze thrust his teeth into his half brother's throat until he could taste the salty liquid. That's when Dovepelt had called an alarm that Firestar was being attacked.
Lionblaze shook his head, he didn't want to relive that again. Another memory appeared, a happier one. After Firestar had appeared fighting as a Starclan warrior, Lionblaze had gone to check on Cinderheart who was with Jayfeather and the other medicine cats behind a boulder. He saw Cinderheart laying slumped over a tussock of grass, with Jayfeather and Kestrelflight over her.
"Jayfeather! I need to talk to you!" Lionblaze limped to his brother. Jayfeather didn't look up.
"She's going to be okay Lionblaze. Are you hurt?" Jayfeather mewed, wrapping cobwebs around Cinderpelt's wounds.
"No, I'm fine. It's just well, Firestar's dead." Jayfeather finally looked up.
"How?" he murmured.
"Tigerstar attacked him. They fought, than I fought with them, and Firestar killed Tigerstar. Firestar was bleeding so much, and he died. But h-he told me something." Lionblaze guided his brother away from the other medicine cats.
"What are you doing? It's dangerous to be out here!" Jayfeather hissed at his littermate.
"I needed to talk to you alone," Lionblaze had to yell over the sound of fighting cats,"We have to forgive Leafpool and Squirrelflight. Now. or everything will fall apart. Family is the only thing we have,"
"I don't know Lionblaze. So much has happened,"Jayfeather murmured,"I'll try." Lionblaze nodded, the two cats walked back to the medicine cats.
"Should we tell them now?" Lionblaze murmured into his brother's gray tabby ear.
"We can tell Leafpool for now, she's helping us," Jayfeather answered. Lionblaze could see his mother's white and brown tabby fur mingling among to wounded warriors and apprentices. Jayfeather approached her and said something Lionblaze couldn't catch. Leafpool's tail curled up in joy.
"Do you really mean it?" Leafpool's amber eyes blazed with happiness even though it was in the middle in the battle.
"Yes, we forgive you," Lionblaze mewed. Jayfeather added his apology. Leafpool rushed up to the both of them, covering Lionblaze in licks.
"I'll tell Squirrelflight as soon as I see her," Leafpool added quietly,"You do forgive her? Right?" Jayfeather and Lionblaze nodded simultaneously and Lionblaze explained he had to go fighting.
Lionblaze trotted away, giving one last look at his mother. She was watching him go, her eyes filled with love and concern.
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"Lionblaze," A brown paw poked at his ribs,"Wake up you lazy fur ball. Leafstar has called a clan meeting. Come on. Wake up." Lionblaze opened his eyes, Woody was standing over him.
"Hurry up!" Woody poked him harder this time.
"Alright, I'm getting up," Lionblaze threw his paws underneath him and hauled himself out into the camp. The dim sunlight of leafbare barely warmed his cold fur. Leafstar was standing on a low branch on the tall pine. She was talking as Lionblaze exited the warriors' den.
"...Signal will come any time now. I believe we should be ready for it. Sharpclaw, Sparrowpelt, Rockfur, and Lionblaze will help sort out our battle plan. Cherrytail, you organize battle practice sessions, I want to make sure that every clan member can defend his or herself," Lionblaze searched for the tortoiseshell fur of Cherrytail, but he could not see her past the hoard of cats in front of the camp.
"Sharpclaw will organize hunting patrols for tonight, no less than three cats though. If any dark forest cats are roaming around I don't want them caught without proper defenses." Leafstar dismissed the clan with a flick of her tail. Lionblaze padded across the camp, grabbing a piece of fresh kill, a frog, and quickly made his way to the leader's den. He pushed into a den made of thickly intertwined branches and low lying bramble thickets. The den was big enough for all the cats that had been summoned. As in all the dens, there was no moss, it was too difficult to gather while going out to hunt at night- not to mention dangerous.
Leafstar entered the den behind them, clearing the way as she padded through and stood in front of Lionblaze.
"This is going to be a very important battle. I think we can pull it off, if we have the correct strategy. Does anyone have any ideas?" Leafstar mewed. Lionblaze began to munch on his frog as he thought. The only thing that came to his mind was, How could Shadowclan eat these vile things? They have the taste of mud and slide down my throat!
"I think we should have different patrols of cats go in at a time. You could have wave one of the attack, and when you give the signal, wave two would come in," Sparrowpelt suggested. Leafstar nodded thoughtfully.
"When would we attack? Right when Gingerstep sends her signal, or would we wait?" Rockfur questioned.
"A night attack would be harder, but we would have the advantage of the night," Sharpclaw added.
"But the Dark Forest cats live in a Dark Forest, I think they would see a little better than us. They wouldn't suspect an attack during the day," Sparrowpelt argued.
"But how could we travel through the whole of Thunderclan territory without being spotted in daylight?" Sharpclaw hissed.
"I haven't worked that out yet," Sparrowpelt admitted.
"Lionblaze," Leafstar looked down at the golden tabby,"You haven't said anything yet. What do you think we should do?"
Lionblaze chewed his frog thoughtfully for a moment before answering.
"I think we should do it like this..."
Lionblaze hissed quietly. How could any cat relax at a time like this? He wanted to be back helping the clans, fighting beside his clanmates.
"I know how it feels," Heathertail was suddenly next to him,"I feel like I could just run back to the clans and fight them. But what good would that do? We would get killed. We have to wait for Gingerstep's signal." the two cats had grown closer over their journey, even with their troubled past.
"What if she didn't make it," Lionblaze gulped,"What if she was...killed?"
"Than Starclan would send us a sign." Heathertail mewed.
"Starclan has nothing to do with this. We hold our destiny in our own paws." Lionblaze spat. Heathertail didn't flinch.
"No, Starclan are always with us. If we don't believe they can help us, we will all die," her gaze ripped through his pelt,"They haven't deserted us before, and they won't now." Heathertail stood up and padded away.
"Don't forget that Lionblaze," She mewed so only he could hear. Lionblaze watched her go, still unsure that their warrior ancestors truly cared about he clans around the lake. Would they be there to fight with them when Gingerstep gave them her signal?
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Lionblaze tossed in his bedding. Sleep would not come to him tonight with his mind full of memories of the first battle. He remembered seeing Graystripe being torn apart by a whole group of cats. He recognized one as Darkstripe. Lionblaze had tried to help him, but he was attacked by another Dark Forest warrior. By the time he got to Graystripe, he was dead.
the next memory flashed in his mind, the vision of Breezepelt racing across the battle field, and plowing down Crowfeather. Breezepelt had learned Tigerstar's battle moves, and had pinned down his father, ready to strike his throat with an unsheathed paw. Lionblaze had been close enough to attack Breezepelt this time, so he tackled the black tom.
"This is not your battle!" Breezepelt spat to his half brother. Lionblaze bit his ear, making Breezepelt screech in fury.
"That is your father, how could you betray your family, your clan, the Warrior Code?" Lionblaze hissed in his ear.
"I'm protecting it from half clan cats like you!" Breezepelt used his hind legs to flip Lionblaze off him, and jumped on his shoulders. Lionblaze reared back and sent the dark tom to the ground. Lionblaze pinned him down again.
"Good-bye Breezepelt," He murmured. For a moment fear flashed through Breezepelt's amber eyes. Lionblaze thrust his teeth into his half brother's throat until he could taste the salty liquid. That's when Dovepelt had called an alarm that Firestar was being attacked.
Lionblaze shook his head, he didn't want to relive that again. Another memory appeared, a happier one. After Firestar had appeared fighting as a Starclan warrior, Lionblaze had gone to check on Cinderheart who was with Jayfeather and the other medicine cats behind a boulder. He saw Cinderheart laying slumped over a tussock of grass, with Jayfeather and Kestrelflight over her.
"Jayfeather! I need to talk to you!" Lionblaze limped to his brother. Jayfeather didn't look up.
"She's going to be okay Lionblaze. Are you hurt?" Jayfeather mewed, wrapping cobwebs around Cinderpelt's wounds.
"No, I'm fine. It's just well, Firestar's dead." Jayfeather finally looked up.
"How?" he murmured.
"Tigerstar attacked him. They fought, than I fought with them, and Firestar killed Tigerstar. Firestar was bleeding so much, and he died. But h-he told me something." Lionblaze guided his brother away from the other medicine cats.
"What are you doing? It's dangerous to be out here!" Jayfeather hissed at his littermate.
"I needed to talk to you alone," Lionblaze had to yell over the sound of fighting cats,"We have to forgive Leafpool and Squirrelflight. Now. or everything will fall apart. Family is the only thing we have,"
"I don't know Lionblaze. So much has happened,"Jayfeather murmured,"I'll try." Lionblaze nodded, the two cats walked back to the medicine cats.
"Should we tell them now?" Lionblaze murmured into his brother's gray tabby ear.
"We can tell Leafpool for now, she's helping us," Jayfeather answered. Lionblaze could see his mother's white and brown tabby fur mingling among to wounded warriors and apprentices. Jayfeather approached her and said something Lionblaze couldn't catch. Leafpool's tail curled up in joy.
"Do you really mean it?" Leafpool's amber eyes blazed with happiness even though it was in the middle in the battle.
"Yes, we forgive you," Lionblaze mewed. Jayfeather added his apology. Leafpool rushed up to the both of them, covering Lionblaze in licks.
"I'll tell Squirrelflight as soon as I see her," Leafpool added quietly,"You do forgive her? Right?" Jayfeather and Lionblaze nodded simultaneously and Lionblaze explained he had to go fighting.
Lionblaze trotted away, giving one last look at his mother. She was watching him go, her eyes filled with love and concern.
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"Lionblaze," A brown paw poked at his ribs,"Wake up you lazy fur ball. Leafstar has called a clan meeting. Come on. Wake up." Lionblaze opened his eyes, Woody was standing over him.
"Hurry up!" Woody poked him harder this time.
"Alright, I'm getting up," Lionblaze threw his paws underneath him and hauled himself out into the camp. The dim sunlight of leafbare barely warmed his cold fur. Leafstar was standing on a low branch on the tall pine. She was talking as Lionblaze exited the warriors' den.
"...Signal will come any time now. I believe we should be ready for it. Sharpclaw, Sparrowpelt, Rockfur, and Lionblaze will help sort out our battle plan. Cherrytail, you organize battle practice sessions, I want to make sure that every clan member can defend his or herself," Lionblaze searched for the tortoiseshell fur of Cherrytail, but he could not see her past the hoard of cats in front of the camp.
"Sharpclaw will organize hunting patrols for tonight, no less than three cats though. If any dark forest cats are roaming around I don't want them caught without proper defenses." Leafstar dismissed the clan with a flick of her tail. Lionblaze padded across the camp, grabbing a piece of fresh kill, a frog, and quickly made his way to the leader's den. He pushed into a den made of thickly intertwined branches and low lying bramble thickets. The den was big enough for all the cats that had been summoned. As in all the dens, there was no moss, it was too difficult to gather while going out to hunt at night- not to mention dangerous.
Leafstar entered the den behind them, clearing the way as she padded through and stood in front of Lionblaze.
"This is going to be a very important battle. I think we can pull it off, if we have the correct strategy. Does anyone have any ideas?" Leafstar mewed. Lionblaze began to munch on his frog as he thought. The only thing that came to his mind was, How could Shadowclan eat these vile things? They have the taste of mud and slide down my throat!
"I think we should have different patrols of cats go in at a time. You could have wave one of the attack, and when you give the signal, wave two would come in," Sparrowpelt suggested. Leafstar nodded thoughtfully.
"When would we attack? Right when Gingerstep sends her signal, or would we wait?" Rockfur questioned.
"A night attack would be harder, but we would have the advantage of the night," Sharpclaw added.
"But the Dark Forest cats live in a Dark Forest, I think they would see a little better than us. They wouldn't suspect an attack during the day," Sparrowpelt argued.
"But how could we travel through the whole of Thunderclan territory without being spotted in daylight?" Sharpclaw hissed.
"I haven't worked that out yet," Sparrowpelt admitted.
"Lionblaze," Leafstar looked down at the golden tabby,"You haven't said anything yet. What do you think we should do?"
Lionblaze chewed his frog thoughtfully for a moment before answering.
"I think we should do it like this..."
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