A small sigh escaped the tortoiseshell she-cat's lips. It was too quiet for her liking; the clearing. The cat shook her transparent pelt and parted her jaws to take in the scent around her. Just the all-too familiar pungent tang of slimy moss and damp ferns filled her mouth. She closed it quite harshly, as if to shut out the disgusting smell.
Heartbeats had passed, and he still hadn't shown up. The dark ferns held no movement inside of them, and even though she pricked her ears, she couldn't hear even the faintest of pawsteps. Clicking her tongue, the see-though cat pranced down from the dead log she had been sitting on; shaking her head with irritation as her paw-pads made contact with the moss.
"Sorry I'm late, Mapleshade,"
The ferns shook as a snow-white tom burst throughout the thick undergrowth on the opposite side of her, panting slightly. He murmured the words of apology, his eyes searching the tortoiseshell cat's face, trying to read her expression. Was she angry?
The tortoiseshell's reply held thinly disguised insults. "As expected of you, Snowtuft," she sneered at him, "Always late." The tom, Snowtuft, held Mapleshade's gaze for a while before retorting.
"And I see you haven't disappeared yet? I thought an ancient cat like you must have been forgotten already."
Mapleshade snorted. "After the Great Battle, the Clans include me in their nursery tales. It helps me keep going, even if it's strained," she purred roughly only for a heartbeat, as if the act of it made her sick.
The ginger tortoiseshell turned to Snowtuft, making the tom's pelt bristle in alarm and fear. Mapleshade tilted her head at him, her mouth forming what could be guessed as an attempt at a smile. Snowtuft shifted his paws on the hard ground, clearly uncomfortable.
"Look at you. Relax, you cowardly furball," she snapped, "I just have a mission for you."
"A mission?" The tom echoed, unsure of what she was telling him. Surely there was nothing more they could do, having lost the battle?
Mapleshade nodded, a pleased look lighting her eyes. "I'm so glad, really, the code- loving cats made another prophecy before I faded away." She looked at Snowtuft, waiting for his reaction. When the snow-white tom didn't respond, she rolled her eyes and went on.
"Harsh snow will bring destruction to all, but a single cat, as pure as a rose, darker than night, will blossom through the snow and save the Clans."
Snowtuft leaned forward, pricking his white-furred ears as far as they would go, ready to hear what he had to do.
Mapleshade's voice rang out clearly in the forest, echoing throughout the Place of No Stars.
"Find the cat; the snow, Snowtuft. Train that cat to our side, no matter what method you have to use, and kill the rose. We will watch StarClan fall, their tails caught because of their own prophecy.
Then, they will see that they are weak; they always were, and always will be."
Hello, it's Dovey again. I've had a lot to deal with, but now I'm back! Reviews are always helpful; they only take a minute. Thanks for all the support,
Dovefoot.