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?
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